Hi Friends! Here it is already August and I haven't shown you much of our garden yet so I thought I'd take you on a summer garden tour today.
Welcome to our vegetable garden! This sign is actually near the entrance and greets anyone who wants a little look-see at what we're growing. The old wooden easel is one that we found at the auction several years ago, and we've used it in our garden ever since.
Earlier this year, I put together this little display on it using an old twig wreath, a sign that I already had but repainted, and a miniature shovel that I took off another wreath.
I tucked some vinca into this little watering can that came off the old wreath, too. In June, a local garden club took a real garden tour!
Here are some of the members of the Lydia garden club along with my mom who is seated on the left. I think they had a great time touring the garden and having a little strawberry lemonade and lemon oreos for refreshment. (Have you tried those yet? They are delicious!) Luckily, it had not turned hot yet even though it was June, but let me tell you, it has been HOT, HOT, HOT since then!
The tomatoes have loved the heat, though! Here is one of our Cherokee Purple heirloom tomato plants and it has grown much taller since I took this photo. We have had a ton of tomatoes this summer, and they have been the tastiest and the juiciest that we've ever had. You know what that means, don't you? I have been in the kitchen making and canning my Homemade Spaghetti Sauce, freezing Creole Sauce, and making Tomato Jam. I'm still perfecting that recipe so I hope to have that ready to share with you very soon!
The blue trellises that we made in early spring have been a great addition to our garden this year. Underneath them we planted white mandevilla vines and they have been blooming prolifically all summer and should continue to do so up until frost. The other interesting blooms you see in this photo are onion blooms!
We put birdhouses on the top of some of the trellises and watering cans on others. If you'd like to see how we made these, you can read our post Wooden Pyramid Shaped Trellises.
On the three tall wooden obelisks, we attached some chicken wire and planted our cucumbers around them. We got lots of cucumbers but in hindsight, we would not use the chicken wire again. Some of the baby cucumbers grew through the wire and got large before I spotted them. When that happened, all I could do was to break off the part of the cucumber that wasn't stuck in the wire!
Along the back of the garden, I planted lots of sunflowers and birdhouse gourds.
We've never grown birdhouse gourds before so this is a learning experience for us. I found out from our Facebook readers that they take about a year to totally dry.
The bees have enjoyed the happy sunflower faces as much as we have!
And there are even more here along the side of the garden where the painted plastic pots are holding zinnias and jalapeno pepper plants.
Have I told you that we're participating in a seed trial for P. Allen Smith? Oh my word! I was so excited when I got a personal phone call from him early this spring. He was as personable and gracious as he is on TV! Well anyway, here is one of the pumpkin vines growing in the back corner of the garden.
This variety is supposed to grow 200 pound pumpkins so you can imagine my excitement at seeing the first baby pumpkin.
The vines have grown very well but right now, there are only 2 pumpkins forming and growing. Did you realize that pumpkins are green before they ever turn orange?
We purposefully plant a lot of flowers in our garden to attract the beneficial insects. These giant zinnias are now over 5 feet tall!
Remember the fountain that we put in a galvanized tub earlier this year?
Lucy uses it as her personal water fountain! Here she is sporting her summer buzz cut!
Looks quite different, doesn't she? Her coat is already growing back in since I took this photo.
I hope you've enjoyed going on our summer garden tour today. But as for us, "a gardener's work is never done!" We're making plans and preparing for our fall garden.
Joanna
Hi there, Jane. I always love strolling through your gardens and seeing what you guys have added. When I see all your veggies, I always wish I had planted more.
Nan, Odessa, DE
What state are u gardening in?
Tell us about your fall garden, please. Do you grow kale?
How did u attach the skirt to your new sink in your garden dining area?
What is under the sink skirt?
Thanks for inspiring me!
Robyn
My favorite garden!!! Love the pics!! I have had lots of tomatoes and they have been delicious!!! Thanks for all your inspiration!!!!!!????
judy murdock
never have planted a fall garden before-please tell me what you plant and when to plant it please.I am in upstate S.C.
Noreen
Happy August to you! I love seeing your garden and all your bounty. Love your gourd. Lucy does look quite different, but I'm sure she feels so nice.
Have a great day!
Noreen
[email protected] Life At Lydias House
Oh Jane, your garden is always so full and beautiful! As I have said many times before, I would love to be your neighbor!! I planted a tiny garden this year in my little sunny spot. It is 10 feet long and 3 feet wide! I will be blogging it soon since I was late planting it this year! Congratulations on the seed trial for P Allen Smith! We just went to his farm at the end of June for our 35th anniversary trip. You must go. It is wonderful. I will be blogging it soon too so you may want to see the post when I get it up. I have many, many pictures to go through. He was there and was very personable. He hosted an event for bloggers not long ago so maybe you and Leo will be invited to the next one!
Libby Wilkie
Beautiful! I agree, the gardeners work is never done, no matter how hot it is! Yes to zinnias and more zinnias!
Lynda Ramage
Loved all your pictures. I, too, like to garden and can't get enough of it. My Black-Eyed Susans have kept everything happy here in our little area of S.C., and now with all the rain, things are looking great. Have you ever planted a Loofa Plant? I put one out this summer and it has gone wild, but love it! Thanks for all you share. So happy to see what you do. (P.S. A friend is going to P.A.S.'s for her birthday. I do envy her on this one!) Blessings
Loretta Shumpert
The most beautiful pictures. I hadn't thought about pumpkins being green before they turned orange but it makes sense. Just last month I told a friend up north that we can't grow pumpkins here as it's too hot.....but what do I know? 🙂 🙂 🙂
Sandy
I always love your garden tour. I know how much work goes into it to keep it looking that awesome. P. Allen Smith....WOW!!!
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage
Jane,
Loved the tour today. Your garden is amazing. I love all your birdhouses in the garden too.
Congrats on the trial for P Allen Smith.
Hugs,
Kris
Linda
IAM sure you were excited about getting a call from P Allen Smith. I always loved watching his show. I don't see it on t v any more ? His house was so pretty and Ofcourse his yard . Lucy is just cute , cute , cute ! ????
Nancy
I love following your blog! Your garden is so creative and lovely. Thanks for sharing your world with us all.
Annie
Oh so beautiful. Here in Massachusetts our summer has been too hot and little rain. No hydrangea flowers at all just huge leaves.
Sally
Wow that's really beautiful
Liz @ Sit With Me In My Garden
Hi Jane- you two sure put together a nice garden! Love those giant zinnias and the sunflowers. How exciting about growing the pumpkin seed trial for P. Allen Smith! I hope you will post updates as the pumpkins start to get larger and put on weight! I've heard it takes a lot of water to keep those big ones going. I plant annuals to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. I don't have a good area with enough sun to plant a vegetable garden except out front of our home but it would look very awkward to do that here. I agree with Mary- it would be fantastic to visit P. Allen Smith's home! I liked him the minute I saw him which I believe was on PBS many years ago.
Debbie
Truly beautiful thank you
Sherry
Lucy is a doll
Mary
Jane, I loved your garden tour and your sign on your easel is wonderful! You should set up a honor system roadside stand with your bounty and surplus of tomatoes next to it 🙂 Cherokee Purples are our favorite heirloom variety but we haven't had very many good ones this summer. I love to see those cheery sunflowers and pretty vines growing and on your fence and trellises. How exciting to be asked to do a seed trial for P. Allen Smith?!! Wouldn't you love to see his garden and home!