- The Garden Gate
We have a big garden and try to grow plants that we can harvest and enjoy all year round.
Today, I decided to see what the neighbors were up to….
…I had seen them busy with their homes over the past few weeks…..
They were all occupied inside so I went on to visit the other neighbors………….
They expressed their dismay at my not bringing any vegetable scraps or at least some weed pullings so I moved on…..
the magnolia has been blooming so wonderfully this year…..
We have had several years of very harsh weather and this Spring and Summer have been filled with mild temperatures and wonderful rain so you can see the flowers giving thanks…….
The Gardner found this beauty on the property and brought it home to enjoy.
We are still harvesting Artichokes, so many that we have decided to let some bloom and enjoy the wonderful flowers…..
………..you do remember The Demoniac Vegetable – Artichokes blog post don’t you??!?
………but enough of all this let’s go to the garden….
all sorts of wonders…..corn, green beans, okra, white onions, yellow onions, red onions, cabbage……oh my!
………and then yummy cabbage…..when you garden organically, even the bugs get to eat a little…….
………almost ready for the kitchen…….
….the Fennel so prolific, we are unable to eat all the bulbs….
..now blooming and producing seed…….yum, more for next year……
..the carrots peeking out…..
….beautiful peaches…hopefully the squirrels won’t eat them all……..
….Figs…..they never make it out of the garden….we eat them right off the trees..
..this tree is from a cutting from my Great Grandmother’s tree……sigh…..
..even pears this year……..yippee….
- More Sqaush growing
Elmer beat me to the Garden and has harvested this morning’s Yellow Crook Neck Squash and Honduran Beans. Here they are nestled in his shirt.
The Herbs are going wild…….for years I so longed for fresh herbs and now I have a jungle of them….
..sometimes I wish I was a cat so I could just roll around in them and enjoy the beautiful fragrances……
Beautiful Basil
…….Omnipotent Oregano……..
…..Timid…..yet Terrific Thyme……
…..Tender Tarragon……..
….Powerful and Potent Papalo….
…………back to the kitchen…….the rains are starting again……
………the counter full of garden goodies…….green beans…….
…….marvelous……..magnificant………beets….
……..cabbage already in the steamer……..
……then the final creation…….Augustine has worked his magic on the wonders from the garden and produced a Magnificent Vegetable Soup…..complete with garnish of Jalapenos, Fresh Lemon and Avocado………
…..I saved you a bowl…..wish you could join me……
Tales and Travels of the Tinman 
Luscious. Good neighbors. Rather than jacked up cars and old sofas in the backyard.
Mary R
LOL you are lovely……..miss you!
Good fences make good neighbors, by my beloved Robert Frost
Sometimes you just make me smile.
I am glad………because, you my friend, have brought thousands of smiles to my face!
Lovely garden you have, thank you for sharing. And how special that you have a cutting from your Grandmother’s tree… Truly special 🙂
Thank you so much for coming to visit. I am so glad you enjoyed it………and yes the continuation of the tree through the generations is so wonderful.
Beautifully fresh! Thank you for sharing your garden!
Thank you for taking a walk in it with me!
Oh my, what beautiful pictures! Wish my garden looked like yours. But with all the tender loving care, my little Hunter will have it ready in no time!
I wish I could join you, too! I’m simply amazed at the sheer abundance of what you have growing in your garden. How do you find the time to take care of it all? It’s like a farmer’s market! You really seem to have everything. I’ve always dreamed of doing something like this, but have never had the energy or the space to do so. I really admire you’re gumption!
we are quite spoiled………really. We have a full-time, live in gardener – groundskeeper. Check out https://the-tin-man.com/2012/03/01/leap-year-dinner-on-the-deck/ his name is Elmer and he is a life saver and a kind and wonderful person.
Love it!
Thank You!
You have a magical garden
Our spring has been short and it is already hot and summery, your pictures were really refreshing, thank you so much
I am so happy you enjoyed!
Hi, I enjoy your blog, and so I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. http://highheelgourmet.com/2012/05/15/versatile-blogger-award/
You can read about what you need to do here: http://versatilebloggeraward.wordpress.com/vba-rules/
Congratulations!!!
Please note, the award is completely optional and you do not have to accept.
I am very honored! Thank you so very, very much!
Awesome! The pictures are incredible and what a way to end, slurp! xx
Thank you so much Neha! The soup was wonderful.
I do miss my gardes so much, what beautifil artichokes
When your chicks are old enough give them some plain Greek yogurt, mine love it and it is hilarious to watch them try to eat it!
I will do. They are such fun! I love to catch all the hoppers in the garden and bring them as gifts. They just go wild.
Yes they do! Mine like to “play” with their bugs, sometimes I feel bad for them. LOL.
Such beautiful pic!
I must have been under the meds the dentist gave me when I wrote my comment….I meant “I miss my garden so much and the artichokes are beautiful!” It would be so relaxing to sit near your garden all day with a bottle of wine and a good book…ahhhh the quiet of it all (totally unlike our everyday life)
I loved your “drunken” comment!
I swear I could smell the herbs!
What a clement climate (at least this year) and how fertile your soil. Everything looks wonderfully fresh. I’ve never seen an artichoke growing before! I think I vaguely knew it was in the thistle family and sure enough, the flower looks like a thistle. We had B-I-G round artichokes yesterday for teatime, they were out of this world delicious, but that was extraordinary for around here. They have such a long trip to get here– yours only have to waltz in from the backyard!
This is my very, very first attempt to grow atrichokes and I cannot tell you the joy and pleasure I have attained by watching, eating and enjoying the blossoms. You have reminded me of that joy. Thank you so very much for your comments!
WOW … what a beautiful and large garden you have!! Very impressive. I had to laugh at the photo of your cabbage leaves and your comment about organic gardening … even the bugs eat a little. I just saw that very same thing on my cauliflower yesterday! My worm had quite a feast in one day!! I had never seen an artichoke growing … quite stunning!
Now I don’t want to post my little gardens after seeing yours! lol Ahhh but I’m still proud of my little first garden. 😉
No, please post your garden! I so enjoy seeing what others are doing. So few people take the time to garden these days. I am glad you enjoyed the artichokes! This is my first time growing them and I fear the last. We happened to have a mild spring with lots of rain so they were happy.
Lovely garden and the soup looks delicious! Thanks for visiting my blog.
I am pea green with envy. Would that all who love gardens and vegetables have their own Elmer. I am surrounded by commercially grown vegetables (just south of Vancouver). And I am able to have a winter garden, but I swoon over your bountiful produce. Virginia
Yes, Elmer is a jewel. We would not be able to give the time to the garden that it needs without him. I will share your comments with him, it will make him proud.