garden update

Bee Balm.  I planted this last year from seed and it barely survived the summer.  It wasn't too fond of the heat and high humidity and became infected in July with a powdery mildew. I cut it way back in the fall. 

Well, it survived the winter and came back to give quite a show.  The plants are about three feet high and attract all types of bees, butterflies and even the hummingbird.

Purple Coneflower.
These are also from seeds planted last year. They have shot up this spring and summer to be about three feet tall.  They've outgrown their present locale and I think I'll transplant them to a new spot this fall.

Gladiolus.
Bulbs planted last fall.
Remind me of Drop Dead Fred.

Carrot lovers.
A sign that I planted them too close together.
But I love their pose....

Squash.











And last, but most certainly not least, the tomatoes have made their first appearance.  Last year, I grew them from seed.  I was so pumped to finally have a yard that I wanted to experience the whole process.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to eat a tomato until August!  

So, this year, I bought seedlings from Pike's and put them in fairly EARLY ( on April 15, the frost date) even though everyone said it was too early.  But, no mishaps, and they've already started fruiting!


My summer crop includes beans, tomatillos, jalapeno peppers, squash, tomatoes as well as herbs including thyme, oregano, basil, cilantro, dill, mint, and parsley.  I've learned that dill and cilantro are cool weather loving plants.  They've bolted in the summer heat and begun to flower and so not many leaves are being produced.