Good Pickings!!

And, they are here. The tomatoes are becoming ripe and I can literally see the life in them. The Greek oregano dries so well and, happily, I already have a jar full! Even though the Japanese beetles are having a field day with my basil, there is still plenty for the picking and I have begun to bag the leaves and put them in the freezer. I'm still using last years' haul!!!

Let us remember it is just mid-July...I'm going to have a ton of tomatoes!!!!

Week #2 in the Garden!!!

It has only been 2 weeks and the garden has really changed!! I've already been putting in stakes to hold up the tomato plants, the Greek oregano is filling in, but I find I am fighting off the beetles, who love to eat the basil. I've put coffee grounds around each plant along w/ some chopped garlic...apparently, they don't like either, so I'll see if it works.

The potted flowers on the stoop in front of the house are so pretty. I have to remind myself, that it is still May/June, and that the foliage will be filling out ALOT over the next couple of months. (Next time, I'll have some pictures of the window boxes.) I put the 'red' mulch in the front of the house and it has made a huge difference in the appearance giving it a 'finished' look and the 'red' is a wonderful addition to our color scheme. I see a huge difference in the newer hostas from all the moisture the mulch provides.