Hey, all. It is supposed to be in the high 80s and mid 90s this week, so I got out and got a few things done this weekend before the ground turns to lava. This post will bring you up to speed on just how fast things are growing around here! My July 2 post, linked here, will have similar photos to what you’ll see in this post, for perspective.
I spent a glorious hour Sunday morning weeding. I’d let things get a little out of hand, so it was productive work that gave me a close up look at how things are going. In the herb beds, the mint, anise hyssop, oregano, and lemon balm are having their way with things. A random comfrey plant has taken up residence, which I’m not mad about by any stretch. The garlic chives in their pot are doing well, but the lavender and the whatever the hell is in that other big pot that I totally forgot what it was, those aren’t doing so hot. I’m going to move them out into the sunnier part and see what happens.
Getting into the main vegetable garden was so much fun. In the southeast bed, the one I designated as solely asparagus and strawberries, I was rewarded for brutally removing all of the flowers from the dozen additional strawberry plants I planted this year. They’re sending out runners like crazy! And, weirdly, the asparagus is sending up more shoots. I’ll leave them be, but next year I’m going to be the Hollandaise Queen.
In the northeast bed, where I’ve laid down cardboard to let the soil recover this season, the pots of tomatoes and bell peppers I put there on July 2 (see previous post linked above) have gone bonkers! Not Baby Billy Bible Bonkers, but bonkers nonetheless! Compare the prior photo with this one!
The southwest raised bed is finally showing me something. There’s a little tomato on the Celebrity, and the celery is finally making stalks. I’ve never grown celery, so I’m enjoying this experiment. The Foundling Home for Orphaned Tomato Plants is working out okay, of the nine plants that I planted and wished good luck to, there are four that are going to town and looking happy. The real star of this bed is the Sugar Baby watermelons. They’re running rampant, and I have three tiny melons.
The northwest bed is giving me all kinds of snow peas. I had a fine breakfast of them as I was weeding. Cucumbers are starting to come on, and the cantaloupes are flowering. I’m not sure how vigorous those vines are, but they’re on their own. I’ll water and weed, but I’ve got no plans to fertilize. A rambling rose I thought I dug out last fall is laughing at me every time it catches my shin. I’m training it up the baby crib trellis, and this fall I’ll try to dig it out again.
The 8 Ball zucchini is enjoying the protection of the blue barrel planter. The deer don’t seem interested in the foliage that’s showing over the top. I have a ton of flowers below the top edge and this little squash ball. 8 Ball has a really nice flavor and is one of my longtime favorites.
As you can see here I’ve got plenty of lettuce. I made shrimp salad yesterday and I’ll be eating it this week over these delicious greens. There’s romaine/cos and butter lettuces in there. I’m particularly interested in the one closest to the gloves. It’s an heirloom variety called Grand Rapids which I got from the Mendon Public Library in my hometown of Mendon, MI. Their seed library is fantastic and very well stocked!
The Dana Nessel Tomato Jungle is certainly enjoying these hot and muggy days. The Michigan AG’s campaign sign is keeping it corralled and fending off the deer. You see Joe and Kamala are backing her up! This bed contains three heirloom varieties, Arkansas Traveler, Mr. Stripey, and Big Rainbow. They’re all flowered out and I have a few small tomatoes getting started.
Here’s a front view – again, compare it to the July 2 photo. It’s a beast and I’m almost ready to net the plants once the tomatoes start ripening up.
Today I noticed I’ve got eggplants, real, honest to gosh eggplants! I can already taste the baba ghanoush I’m making of these beauties. This is another experimental plant I’ve never done before, but I’m really enjoying it. Pretty flowers, pretty leaves (aside from the one you see here which was immediately removed), and pretty fruits.
in the ongoing Animal Antics segment, I’ve got three for you this time. Remember Raccoonzilla and her family? Now I’ve got a ridiculously sized opossum hanging out.
The does continue to have no shame. They eat from the front steps, and they clearly don’t care that the kitchen door is right there. You see she took a swipe at the tomatoes, but was far more interested in the wild sweet peas I’ve got below the camera.
I’m pretty sure I’ve shared video before of the does dining at the Front Step Diner, but the other night at 4 am I got the buck! I don’t see him often so it was cool to see this. Most of the things on the steps are strong-tasting things that they don’t generally care for, but of course they have to come see if the menu has changed.
That’s all I’ve got for now, and I hope your gardens are growing well.
The Amy Experience 
Your eggplants are adorable!
Loving the animal antics. Now that’s a possum 😃
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They ARE! They’re super cute, they’re not going to be huge eggplants, but I’ll definitely be getting some good eating. And the animals, my gosh, they’re ridiculous. All of them. The whole menagerie!
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