Pictures From The Garden

My Wild and Abundant Garden

I'm sitting here posting these pictures while listening to Carly Simon.  My 18 year old has a hilarious love of 70's music.  I'm not complaining.....  Here are some pictures to catch up on what's going on in the garden.  It has matured in so many ways.  I'll post plenty of pictures as we go, but here's a start.

My style of gardening is slightly controlled wild abundance.  Throw enough seeds in the garden and something is going to grow.  Different years yield different abundance.  Makes it exciting and fun.  My family isn't always sure what I am going to be dragging in.  The goal is to have variety and something maturing throughout the year.  Right now I am harvesting, beans, beets, carrots, asparagus, chard, collards, mustard,  a variety of herbs, mulberries, black berries, green onions..........................I'm sure I missed something.

Anyway

I love to save seed.  These seed pods are from a Chinese green.  I bought the first seeds from Bakers Creek Heirloom seed Company years ago.  There has never been a need to plant them again.  I have plenty of volunteers each year.  I do save some seed each year.  Just in case!

 Two of my favorite bean varieties.  Taste and quality are two reasons I choose them, but honestly I keep coming back because they are drop dead gorgeous!

 Dragon Tongue Bean again from Bakers Creek Heirlooms.  These pods are gorgeous yes....but they taste really awesome too.  Even when you miss picking for a day and they get a little too large....still tender and yum.

 Golden Wax Bean, these are destined to become pickled dilly beans.

 Lettuce is seed too!

 Some baby carrots on last nights chicken dinner along with herbs:  bay leaf, parsley, rosemary and thyme.

 The front garden is starting to lose it's winter blues.

 My poor pecan trees...still naked as can be.

 The beds are getting a bit worn.  When they fall apart Byron will replace them for me. The banana trees are starting to perk up.  I even have a stalk of bananas forming.

 Mirliton (Chayote), ginger, garlic, cilantro/coriander  (saving seed).

 Swiss Chard, Green Onions, Cilantro

 My potted plants on the front porch.  I love these little bbs.

Return

A lot has changed in my life.  A lot of surprising sudden changes.  But finally I am ready to return to blogging.  Really just sort of wondering is there anyone still out there?

Not that I blame anyone for giving up.....it has been a long time.  There were things that hit me from the blind side that I had to deal and cope with.  I'm not really sure if I am finished, but I am getting closer to the other side. Maybe one day I can talk about it.

There are some new things in my life.  I am a Grandmother.  This is my new little guy!

 Also some new baby chicks.  Eleven of them.  My sweet little hen was such a good setter!  So proud of her!  She also is a good little Mama to her babies.

But.....   Some things haven't changed....I still love Jesus and my family.....and I still adore gardening, chickens, frugality, cooking, canning, crochet, knitting, art, and a lot of other things.

I am looking forward to writing and sharing.  I just didn't have the courage in the recent past.  Just maybe...just maybe....this will help return the courage that sometimes I feel I have lost.  Although I must not have....I am still here!