Attack of the 50 foot Lilies

These monsters are in full bloom. (Click on photos for large view)

So yes, they are in full blooom, but how big are they really? I'm 5'11" (I just got home from work, I don't garden in these clothes.)

OK maybe not 50 feet tall but still......

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

A Sunny Saturday Morning

Welcome Jessica, I'm glad you are here.

I've been a litle remiss in posting, life keeps getting in the way blogging. The nerve!

It's a beautiful sunny morning, so I grabbed the camera and my coffee and stepped out the back door. There is something for everyone this morning.

I'll start with the vegetables, but if you wish to jump to the flowers, Scroll down.

Green beens starting to blossom

Hairy Tomato blossoms

Cukes growing up the mesh trellis, so far so good!

A healthy start

The peppers are also doing well.

Giant Marconi (sweet)

Hot banana

Greens are a mixed bag. They are growing well, but something is eating them, I will put up a short fence this weekend.

Chard, lettuce, and shallot

Lettuce is happy

Rabbit(?) damage



Eggplant



Green tomatoes in the Growbox

All in all I am rather pleased with the Squarefoot garden attempt. So far so good.

Flower Power!
This week the lilies burst onto the scene.

Good view of Stamen and Carpel. The Anthers will stain fabric, be careful!

I cut this Clematis down to 6" tall last fall. It's over 8' tall now.

One of my favorites, Coreopsis "Moonbeam" just starting to bloom, in a week or so it will be a golden carpet.

That's what I'm up to this morning, now I'm off on a field trip. More about that later!

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Of flowers and vegetables.

Honestly, I sometimes first go out with the camera to postpone the mowing and weeding. Today was such an occasion. You've seen the roses, but what is happening elsewhere?  Click on pictures for a larger view.

Along the west garden path, the lupine volunteer is in bloom.

And the drifts of beardtongue are blooming.

The foxglove re-seeded. I love the exotic look of them. The new ones are not as muscular as the original plant but they are lovely. Keep in mind they are toxic if you have pets or small children who are still jamming everything into their mouths.

The lilies are massive! Some are taller than I am and they are loaded with buds. It looks like it will be a spectacular display this year, and I know I'll have to tie them up. The second picture is for comparison. That stalk is thick!

Let's pop over to the Squarefoot garden and see what is happening.

The squashes are starting to fruit.

I've pulled two more fat radishes and the French breakfast radishes are about ready for harvest. I need to bake some bread to go with them.

I am excited about the prospects of Brussels sprouts this fall. So far the plants look vigorous. Here is one in a cage.

The turnips are very healthy, and and the roots are starting to thicken.

Peppers are full of buds. I have about 15 pepper planst so hopefully we'll be  pickling some to put up for the winter.

The eggplant is blooming. They are such pretty plants, the fruit is an extra!

And finally, the Thai basil is blooming, so it is time to pinch it back. But before I do, here it is.

Now I can't put off the chores any longer. I have to get busy.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!


The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Color on a rainy morning

I can hear the cardinal singing birdie-birdie-birdie and it's been raining for the last day,  and though it is quite cool, the moisture has spurred the plants, particularly the spring bulbs and ferns to furious growth.

Lets take a walk.....

The first Narcissus is blooming.

These tulips will be the most delicate cream color when they bloom. For now, I'll enjoy the green.

The water is beaded up on the sedum.

And the lilies look prehistoric as they thrust up.

The creeping phlox will be spectacular when it blooms. You can see an iris bed in the background.

The lungwort is in bloom. Some years ago a fellow gardener gave me some, and it continues to pop up around the garden, I love the speckled leaves.

The Hellebore is in bloom! Just in time - The "Lenten Rose"

This tiny tulip is one of the first that I planted seven or eight years ago. I like the way it looks with the volunteer fern.

Speaking of ferns, what a difference a few days makes!  I need to move some of these out.

The bleeding hearts are growing fast as well. These get enormous back in the shady area of the garden.

And the final shot, fern, lungwort and bleeding heart all together.

How does your garden grow?

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!



The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener