One down!

One down....many more to go! 

It's hard to believe this little creature could be so destructive in the garden. 

Huckleberry Pickin'

One of the things we look forward to all year...Huckleberry pickin' time! 

The boys enjoyed the first ripe berries of the season today!

Harvesting the rest of the Garlic Scapes

After work this evening I was able to sneak out in the garden and harvest all the remaining garlic scapes...

1½ lbs.....Into the dehydrator, they go!

Somebody has been eating my beans...

Weekly garden update

weekly view...

Looking forward to the Blueberries!

Broccoli heads are still on the small side...With the heat that is due to arrive this week, I am hoping these hold out and get a little bigger...With the extreme temperature change,  that they may just bolt before they size up.

Mammoth Dill is finally starting to grow...

Pea Pods are coming on,

The one and only Kale plant that we have left...

Managed to save this one from the gophers. It's in a container on the back patio.

Romaine lettuce is growing along beautifully!

Tiny Tim is planted in the  raised bed in the greenhouse...and it is loaded with little green tomatoes! Shouldn't be too much longer before we are eating these little gems.

Water logged

It's been raining for days here in North Idaho...and I left these poor babies out when I was transplanting a few days ago. 

I think they have plenty of water now.....don't you?

Pure Delight

Flowers don't worry about how they're going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful. ~Jim Carrey

All though the blossoms on the bush have not opened yet... 

I was able to force these little darlings, a few days early!

I picked the blossoms the day after I posted here

Picking the buds before they bloom, makes it easier to brush any unwanted ants off .... 

After the rain

Enjoying the small things today....Sometimes we are so busy trying to contain, shape and control our gardens, that it's nice to slow down and take notes from Mother Nature. 

After weeding the garden and battling the gophers..I took a little time to walk around the property after the rain. We often overlook daisies...taking them for granted. They grow anywhere, simple yet persistent and tenacious. 

Along the path through the woods... Johnny's have jumped up little and proud!

Along the way, an unexpected surprise... A Mountain Lady Slipper Orchid!

and.... I have surely found the place where the fairies dance!

Little pink tinker bells everywhere!

Collecting Scapes

We planted 4 varieties of garlic last fall... One variety is early and has already started to yellow on the tips, 

and the hardneck variety has sent up scapes. The garlic scapes can be harvested when young and tender. They are considered to be a culinary delicacy.

I like to collect the scapes and dehydrate them...They will be ground down into our homemade garlic powder and garlic salt blend.

I spy........ Beans!

It sure didn't take long for the October Beans to pop up and stand to attention, after they were soaked and  pre sprouted 18 days ago.

Don't overlook the small guys

Have you ever noticed all the little ants on your Peony buds? Not to fear....they are not devouring your precious buds. They are attracted to the sugar secretion. 

Our Blossoms should be opening any day.

Pea Blossoms

Both pea varieties that we planted in April are reaching and sprawling up the fence. The Alaska variety has set blossoms, while Cascadia have yet to bloom. Both are open pollinated heirlooms.

With the difference in bloom times...I can be certain that they will not cross pollinate.

Full Bloom

Enjoying the Big, Beautiful Blossoms of the Clematis that grows on the back step. This plant gets the least amount of attention of all the plants in the yard and seems to reward us with the most amazing amount of blossoms.

 I planted this about 15 years ago and didn't really have any other idea about gardening, other than you put the plant in the ground and it should grow....Little did I know!

The year after I planted it, we had our driveway paved and the pave crew had paved our walk way, right up to the back step. The clematis roots were covered by the pavement and I was sure that I would never see it again. 

The following year it surprised me by coming back bigger and more beautiful. Each year, she ups the ante with her bounty of blossoms.

I am thankful for her patience and understanding through the years, as I learned that there is more to gardening than just plunking a plant in the dirt!

Lettuce like gangbusters

2 lb. 5 oz.Harvest this morning....We are going to be eating like rabbits this week!