Summer Abundance

Nobody has told our garden about the drought, apparently. Bryce has put a ton of work into it and it really shows. Last year we had a few measly plants that I plopped into the ground pretty late... I was shoveling with a big cast on my foot, so I'll use that as my excuse. Well, the Bryce has gone wild over this 4'x15' plot by our house. It's in the front yard because our back yard is shady shady and full of glass (don't ask). He has tilled manure from my grandmother's farm, starting back in March. We planted our vegetables in May (just after that awful frost!) and they have gone crazy!



Last year, pests got fifty percent of what I planted (you could see little toothmarks in the strawberries). It is so true that healthy plants are the best pest-deterrent. This year, you could see that something was eating the leaves of the peppers just after we got them in the ground. Once the plants settled into the good soil, though- forget about it! They just shot up. We used some organic fertilizer in the first month or so, but haven't done much of anything lately. We haven't even had to weed, because of the cloth we put down between the plants (what is that stuff called?)

Last week, Bryce picked about 15 pounds of veggies out of our little garden (mostly cucumbers and green beans and squash) and you can see 20 or 30 tomatoes that will be ripe soon. We are going to turn into vegetables ourselves! (I will be a tomato- Bryce is clearly a watermelon). Have I introduced you to the guardian of our little vegetable wonderland?

I think he has a little something to do with the lack of rodents, too. Here he is hanging out on the prolific cucumber vine, enjoying some shade. So- if you live in the neighborhood- come on over and pick some for yourself (and say hi to the snake)!