In the Garden

{images of my garden}

Well, the crazy rain has subsided, but the weather is still chilly for july, which nips the growing season in New England. My gardens are like jungles from all the rain. The elephant ear hostas ear almost as big as my house. I found one ripe-ish tomato today, which is truly a miracle. Luckily I am so wrapped up in my children's sports that I am not worrying too much about the gardens.

The little growth of PI along my driveway has me spooked though. I get it by just looking at it. I wish the skunk that sprays the neighborhood everynight would catch some. Perhaps after one spray the neighbors would learn to let their dogs out before dark. At least the barking has subsided and the crickets and frogs can be heard.

It won't stop raining.

I don't live in London. Although Heather Nova's song is stuck in my head, I don't even live in Seattle. It's been raining for weeks. My tomatoes are swampy and sad. I didn't want to risk the high water table issues that plagued my home grown investments for a few years in a row. This year, I potted the early girls and the rest of the rouge delectables. Mother Nature is torturing me! Yellow leaves are not a good sign... Mr. Sun, please shine on Worcester, Massachusetts.

In the Garden

{Images from the garden, for Nancy}

The foxglove shot up over the last couple days, as well as the parsley and other herbs getting nice and full. My helper, Soleil and I planted a dozen more tomato plants, sweet 100's and some early girls that we bought at the farm stand last week. We are having fun watering them and watching them grow. The bumblebee visits are also entertaining for a 20 month old.

In the Garden

{mmm, things are starting to grow. the hostas are huge and the herbs are ready...
plus, you see I have help with all the work}

So... Sweet 100's

{image via gardencrossing}

Sweet 100's have to be my favorite garden veggie. My dad grew many different types, but this one drew me into the garden like an uninvited deer. To his dismay he would watch his garden daily and things would just disappear. After school I went straight to the Sweet 100's and picked myself a bunch, eating them as I went along. The smell of the vines and the fresh garden soil are reminiscent of summer and the sweet and tangy taste of this bright red stunner is the most quintessential "home grown" element of gardening to me.

The New England growing season is short, so you have to plan ahead, starting with pretty mature plants and mixing in younger ones, to ensure you will have fruit before Labor Day! The Sweet 100's are prolific and fast growers, bearing you fruit until frost. They are reliable and hardy and by far, my favorite!

Spring is Springing!

The crocus is one of the hardiest and earliest bloomers of the spring. Planted in bunches they display as a carpet of color. I did not realize that saffron comes from the stigma of the Crocus sativus, which has red stigma. There are about 30 culitvated variations of the crocus, ranging from white to violet, yellow and all shades in between.

Although the warm sun has brought us the early girls, there were a few fall leftovers that were stunning...

{a dried Rose of Sharon pod}

{a dried bunch of bittersweet}

Gardens, Green, and the Armsby Abbey

{our hibiscus and our hummingbird visitor}

Today, I am thinking of all things "garden". It has been years since my self proclaimed award winning garden (to rival that of my Dad's) has been planted. 100% because of the high water table where I live. You see the new development up the hill, the developers and the city did not take the little neighbors at the bottom of their hill into account, and now our Cinco de Mayo festivities are kept to the very edge of the muddy abyss. Celebrating spring is huge. It deserves it's own parade, national holiday and facebook group. March and April in New England are spent waiting for May. This also shortens our very short NE growing season all the more.

{kale in season now via farmfresh.org}

{more amazing images on this CSA flickr group}

Remember a few months ago, I posted on CSAs...Community Supported Agriculture? Well this is your reminder to keep the local farmers in mind this season. Here is your Local Food Guide to Worcester County Farms for you Worcester peeps. You drive by them everyday. Their produce tastes a lot better than the stuff you buy at the Big dude takes your moneY. Did you know that right in Shrewsbury at Green Hill Farm is a CSA offering summer to fall pickup? For you other US people, here is the Local Harvest CSA listing. My European/Asian friends, you are lucky enough to have farmers markets in most neighborhoods. I envy you and your street corners.

{image via armsby abbey}

So, coming back to my hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts, Armsby Abbey supports locally grown agriculture. My inspiration for the whole garden thing was definitely perked by an message I received from Armsby Abbey a few days back. They have their new websites up and they are looking good. Alec lists the origins of his ingredients. That smarty pants. {check out what I mean here.} Doesn't it just make you want to eat there? OK, they have the whole beer thing going on, but I will settle for one of those outstanding cocktails and a ray of sun. I love knowing where my stuff comes from. I love knowing that it was grown right near my house, by the sweet guy I have been buying my pumpkins from for 15 years. Ah hah, I also see outside seating. {Oh sunny day, please come our way...I may have to duke it out for a seat there.} For those of you that don't know, and I did not...The Dive Bar, also owned by Alec has a TON of outside seating, and some really great local music. Can't wait to check that patio out. So, Alec if you happen to read this, count me in on all your Worcester ideas and festivals. I will be glad to help out.

Here is a short list of other restaurants west of here and another short list east of here that do as well. Mmm Panda East, haven't been there in a while. As you can see the cool people living out near Amherst and Northampton have it down! Living there for a few years made some of the earthy goodness rub off on me.

So, relish the smell of fresh veggies. Try to grow your own! Teach your kids to plant, compost and be proud to serve them up to friends. It's pretty amazing for the little ones. I can't wait to get started and head out to Farmer's Daughter to buy some seedlings.

Window boxes

{window boxes of Romania}

Balconies and potted flowers are so abundant in Europe, but not so much here. Every place the sun that can shine, suggests a warm home for flowers. I love seeing the raging colors and spirited windows everywhere. There is nothing like flowers grown at home or fresh vegetables picked at the moment of ripeness from a few steps away. Now is the time in New England to think about planting. Growing your own vegetables is healthier and so convenient. Not to mention a thrill for the children.

Flowers, gardens and secret spaces

Image via ffffound

When I was a stay at home mom (SAHM as my friend Sarah informs me) I used to garden everyday with my children. Teaching them how to plant seeds, watch them grow into seedlings and then transplant them into the flower and vegetable gardens. When I began to work after they went to school, I would miss our gardens and our time spent there, often jumping right in them from the car to grab a stray weed, or to pick a few for the dinner table...I would always dirty up my shoes on the way into the house.

Next Cirque?
Image via ffffound by mixologies: Puppet | Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiello

How I would love this gypsy wagon for my studio!
This lucious image by d.sharp journal was ffffound.