Friday, July 14, 2017

Black Raspberries


 We've got about half a back yard full of black raspberry bushes that are keeping us pretty busy. These bowls were just one days picking.




Sometimes I invite them to tea.


Choices are nice so I put out a bowl of fresh black raspberries, fresh raspberry scones and some homemade black raspberry jam.


Lilies


I love the way these lilies wave hello as you enter the garden through the arbor.



These were a gift from my Mom and had been at the home place for decades.



They make me smile every year and inspire me to do something special for Mom every time.



I took this photo a couple of days ago but waiting for better sunlight and a few more blooms will make all the difference as I search for just the right image to use on some note cards.










I plan to make photo cards, cards from a drawing and then to painted ones. One in watercolor and the other in acrylics.



Saturday, July 8, 2017

Tomatoes



I love tomatoes but usually don't grow very many because I hadn't planned on freezing or canning them. This year I ended up with extra plants and I'm glad that I did because the weather has been crazy and they never did grow as large as usual.


I had to squeeze the tomatoes in wherever I could find room. I'm growing 3 different varieties this year but only have one or two plants of each.



Three of them are in a raised planter box and the others are in pots. 3 of those ride up and down the driveway in the wagon to catch the sun and 2 stay in place on the sunny end of the garden. It's going to be a great way to see which places and methods work better than others.


Many of them already have blossoms or small tomatoes on them so I'm hoping for good results.



For me a garden is a learning place as well as a growing one.







I'm pleased with the results so far and when everything gets ripe I plan to wheel the potted ones to the end of the driveway and sell them where people can pick their own off the plants which should be both fun and satisfying for the people who can't grow gardens of their own.