This Texas summer has been pretty kind to us. We suffered very few 100+ degree days and enjoyed rainfall at times. Already the morning air is cooler and the sun slants at a less intense angle. We have enjoyed many of our crops all summer long including peppers, okra, eggplants, a few cherry tomatoes, melons, and black-eyed peas both fresh and dry.
Already we have seeded some fall and even winter crops such as blue corn, broom corn, ornamental gourds, winter squashes, Armenian cucumbers, sugar snap peas, beans, dino kale, swiss chard, radishes, carrots, and beets. I never thought I'ld find myself looking forward to a change from the tastes of summer to those of winter. I can't wait for a salad of fresh garden greens which only the cooler weather can bring!
A few of the recent sites in the garden include:
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| Guacamole keeps an eye on the yard for us |
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| Okra pods left to make seeds for next year's crop would make a nice addition to a dried fall arrangment |
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| The zinnias are amazing in their own beauty and ability to attract butterflies |
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| Sunflowers, which grew up of their own accord, ensure that their offspring will do the same next year |
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| Native pigeon berry ground cover, planted in April, shows off its striking fall berries |
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| Native beautyberry, also planted in April, does the same |
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| A newly created bed is seeded with the first of the winter crops |
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| Blue corn tassels |
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| Broom corn |
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| A striking eggplant |
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| Gourds climb quickly up the new trellis stretched between the old giant sunflowers |
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| A climbing gourd tendril |
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| A native rock rose displays both bold and subtle beauty |
