The First Precipitation of Summer

Rose "Birthday Girl"

We awoke to cloudy skies and by 7:00 AM there was the softest sound of rainfall on the roof. It never really rained this morning, but we did get what I would call heavy showers at times. It ended by 9:00  AM but it was enough that the ground was damp and the air smelled clean. We need a lot more rain to help put out the fires and really renew the earth but even the 10th of an inch we got this morning was certainly a welcome gift.

Blush Tomatoes

One of my "new-to-me" tomato varieties is getting close to having its first ripe fruit. I purchased my "Blush" plant this Spring down at the Territorial Seed store. The signage mentioned that it had come in 2nd in a taste testing contest that they had held and I was also intrigued by its bullet shape. So home it came with me! The plant is now nicely covered with tresses of fruit. The immature tomatoes are a pretty soft green with dark green streaks. As they ripen they turn a strong yellow color with red streaks. A really pretty tomato in both stages. "Blush" appears to be growing well for me. It will be fun to see what my total harvest is from this plant and also to hear what my taste-testers at work think of its flavor.

The First 100 Degree Day

Rudbeckia Fulgida "Goldstrum"

It took until August, but Summer has officially arrived with full force! Today it hit 102, out first 100+ degree day of the year. Sadly, it is also suppose to be that warm tomorrow as well. I guess the good news is, this heat wave waited until August and didn't arrive months earlier like it has in the past few years.

Chesnok Red Garlic Harvest

Not too much to report in the harvest department this week. I did harvest my "Chesnok Red" garlic plants this past week. I was worried about the bulb size becasue they looked so much smaller than the "Music" bulbs did when they were lifted. Well they are a lot smaller, but I think they are more "normal" garlic sized. My average bulb size was 2.6 oz. The smallest bulb was 1.8 oz and the largest came in at 3.4 oz. My total "Chesnok Red" this year was 2 lbs. 4.0 oz.

Green Patty Pan Squash

Yesterday I had the first male and female blossom open on the "Green Patty Pan" Summer Squash plant that I purchased at the Farmer's Market. The blooms opened while I was gone all day at work, so I can only hope that an industrious bee found its way to the plant and did a little pollination for me. I have been slowly gathering recipe ideas from the internet for patty pan squash, so I am hoping for a good harvest that will allow me to try a variety of new kitchen ideas.

Music Garlic Harvest and the Last of the Sweet Peas

Yesterday I processed the "Music" garlic that I harvested back on Wednesday. Normally I like to have them cure for a week before I clean the bulbs and store them, but I am leaving on vacation soon and am in a bit of a time crunch.

I am so pleased with this harvest. This is my second year growing this variety. I first purchased my stock at the Common Ground Fair in Maine, in September of 2015. So this is my second year with "Music" and it really performed well. Pictured above, my biggest bulb weighing in at 7.5 oz.

I ended up harvested 17 bulbs. The average bulb size was 6.2 oz. The largest bulb was 7.5 oz. and the smallest came in at a healthy 5.0 oz. My total "Music" harvest for 2017 was 6 lbs. 9.8 oz. In comparison, the 2016 harvest was also 17 bulbs. But the average bulb size was 4.8 oz. and the total harvest was 5 lbs. 1.0 oz.

After cleaning the "Music" bulbs, I dug up my "Chesnook Red" garlic. I am not happy with this variety this year. I know that "Music" produces larger bulbs, but the "Chesnook Red" bulbs look really small. I will wait to process and weight them, but I think it might be time to order some new stock to plant this Fall.

"Wiltshire Ripple"

I also cut what are probably the last 2 sweet pea bouquets of the year. After a cooler May, a wet and cool June, and a cooler July, Summer decided to show up. These 90 degree days the last few days have taken a toll on the 2 sweet pea towers. But what a year they had. They absolutely thrived in the cooler weather. The "Wiltshire Ripple" produced more blooms than any sweet pea variety that I have ever grown. And the Royal Family" Mix did well too, after a tough start becasue of rabbit damage. Until next year.

First Tiny Titus Cannellini Beans

The "Titus" Cannellini bush beans down in the Big Garden began to bloom about a week ago. Soon the snow white blossoms began to drop and tiny, immature beans were revealed. It's hard to tell at this point what kind of harvest its going to be this year, as the plants have really just begun blooming. But the plants look healthy and are continuing to produce new, leafy growth so I am optimistic about the a nice long spell of bean production. 

Golden Celebration Rose

Our "Golden Celebration" rose opened its first blooms this weekend. It was the last of the 5 new roses that we planted this Spring to bloom. Since we didn't expect any of the roses to bloom this first year, these displays, although small, have been a real bonus.

This award wining variety from David Austin, released in 1992,  has lovely golden-yellow blooms. They don't appear to be as cupped in shape with this first flush as they were described in the catalog. But that might change as the plant matures. They do have a very soft, floral scent. It will be fun to watch as this plant grows to reach its final 4.5' by 4.5' size.

Rose Birthday Girl

The first bloom opened this past weekend on the "Birthday Girl" floribunda rose. This rose is one of the 5 new roses that we purchased this Spring for one of our new flowerbeds. "Birthday Girl" has semi-double flowers with cream centers and pink and yellow edges. It is a repeat bloomer throughout the Summer and Fall. It should be a knock-out bush after it matures in a few year and gets covered in these vivid blooms.