Garden Update

The self-watering container plants are growing like gangbusters... The tomato plant (orange blossom) has lots of blossoms, so I'm hoping for a bumper crop!

Our peppers (below are Ace peppers) also have lots of pretty little white blossoms.

And, look! Below you'll see our first squash of the year. Okay, I know it's small, but it's the little yellow sliver. I'm sure in a few weeks I'll be up to my ears in squash!

Below is the garden bed, complete with stakes and cages for the tomato plants. I put newspaper down between the rows to help keep the weeds down.


Finally, below is a picture of our lambs' ears. Notice the fuzzy bumble bees. When I took this picture there were about 15 bees doing their thing.

Happy Father's Day, everyone!

Last night couldn't have been better for a baseball game... The seats were high (but right behind home plate) and the weather was comfortably warm and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Oh, if only the Indians won!

(Has there ever been a better day for baseball?)

(Our seats were almost to the top, but the view was great!)

(It was 70's night and the promotion was 70's style baseball hats.)

(Jenny & John didn't wear their hats....)

We got a chance to see a grand slam in the 10th inning, we only wish it was from the Indians!

Farmers' Market Finds

After work yesterday I stopped by Orrville's weekly Farmers' market. It was fairly small, but that's what I would expect so early in the growing season. I was able to pick up a couple of nifty things, though...

Considering that yesterday was our wedding anniversary, I was so happy to see some very pretty peonies, which were my flowers at the wedding. I just couldn't pass them up!

Below you'll see what I bought:The strawberries are really quite yummy (considering I'm not really a fan of fruit!) and the cilantro is perfect. I also picked up some asparagus, which is really kindof out of season and didn't look that great, but we'll see how it tastes!

The Massillon farmers' market doesn't open until July. For a list of local farmers' markets, check out http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Ohio.htm.

Why bother going to a farmers' market? Find out by reading Barbara Kingsolver's newest book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life.

This is my book club's August selection, and I have to say it's one of the best books I've read in a long time. Click on the title's link to visit the author's website to find out more.

Where were you four years ago?

I know where I was...

(Hiding in a doorway so Richard won't see me!)

Yes, folks, it was four years ago when many of us met at Stan Hywet at the scenic terrace overlook for our little wedding ceremony. Thankfully the weather that day was a lot like it is today, warm and sunny!

(Trying not to trip...)

(Waiting to greet everyone...)

(Practicing those fancy moves we learned that Spring...)

If you were one of the folks who joined us that day, I hope you have as many wonderful memories as we do!

We're gonna live off the fat of the land...

Okay, so maybe we can't get by on just one little radish...


But it was sure exciting to eat! Richard and I shared this little radish a couple of days ago. I'll probably harvest the rest of them this week. They're small, but I read that if you let them go too long they will get very strong tasting (this one was already really strong!) and start to split.

I can't wait for our squash to get here! Looks like we're on our way:


What a cheerful little plant this is! Hopefully it will keep getting bigger!

My veggies are in...

After a very chilly and windy spring start, I was able to plant my vegetable garden last weekend. It was still very windy, and a couple plants just couldn't take it. I probably should have "hardened them off" a bit longer than I did, but I was anxious to get them in the ground.

Above is one of my tomato plants that I started from seed back in March. At least now our office won't be "glowing" with the grow lights at night!

Above is a zucchini plant that I direct-sowed a couple of weeks ago. Looks like my squash are off to a good start. I planted a couple zucchini, yellow squash, and patty pan varieties.

This is my garden, which is on a hill. After doing some research I found out that for best results I should create individual raised row beds, which help develop the roots and gives more room to move between the rows. It is a lot tidier than last year's willy-nilly arrangement!

After doing more research, I discovered the "self-watering container" method of extending my garden space. I was able to purchase a variety of self-watering contains from a garden supply company (Gardener's Supply Company). They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, like the smaller ones above for my two eggplant plants.

These are the larger containers which can be used for one or two tomato plants (one plant is in the container on the left) or several smaller plants, like peppers. I just have to keep the reservoir filled and the plants get their water from the bottom of the planter. I now have taken advantage of the extra driveway space!

If you're interested in self-watering containers, there's a book that has been very helpful:
Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers by Edward C. Smith.

Hopefully I'll have lots of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, radishes, and brussels sprouts to share this summer an fall!

Richard plays with Fire

Every now and then Richard gets a chance to attend a live burn and take pictures of Akron Brass products in use. A couple weeks ago he got up early on a Saturday morning and took the following pictures as the Applecreek Fire Department trained...

Here you can see that Richard doesn't have to get too close to take some good pictures...

Okay, with the last one I had to remind Richard that I didn't sign up to be married to a fireman... Too Close!!!!