On The Other Side

I've been resistant, but today I acknowledge the gardens are on the other side of summer ... you know the side of summer where the leaves are yellowing, the bug damage is more noticeable, the weeds continue to triumph and even the second and third of the succession plantings are winding down. It's also the time when garden chores can easily fill the day, leaving me wondering where the time went.

 

But, this movement to late summer is not all bad for it's the time for harvest and the time for preservation.

The first batch of homegrown heirloom tomato sauce ready for the oven yesterday

Great success with pickling cucumbers this year.
Early Russian Picklers and Little Fingers (in case you wondered)

Planted lots of sunflowers to enjoy from the kitchen windows.
Orchard in the distance

These hollyhocks are remnants of ones planted by Thelma Metzger.
They surprise me every year!
Next year, we'll have a new strain courtesy of Cindy Alackness who dropped off seeds from hers last year. Hollyhocks are biennials meaning the plant requires two years to complete its life cycle.
During the first year, they grow roots and a rosette of of leaves. The second year they bloom. 

Summer Heat

I'm watching the radar as yet another storm front races toward us from the west this afternoon. My last post back in April (gulp!) lamented the late spring and the cold weather. Not much changed until mid-June, when after a frosty morning on June 14, it's been hot and dry, punctuated by gusty thunderstorm.

Let these pictures taken today bring you up to date on Metzger Heritage Farm.

Garlic on the left, potatoes and Oregon Giant snow peas
Garlic is later this year because we didn't get it planted
until spring but the crop looks promising.

This jungle is just inside the high tunnel.
You're looking at soybeans (a new variety I'm trying for edamame)
and cannellini beans. In the background onions and shallots.

I've been anxious to get something to grow around the sluice
pipe besides weeds. So this year, in addition to the weeds, I am enjoying
sunflowers, calendula and dill as I stand in the kitchen looking
out at the orchard and sweet corn. Final planting of beets and
carrots went in the ground today, just below the sweet corn.

The amazing Fortex pole beans.
Stringless and very tasty.