Garden Dreams and Dirty Nails: Summer's Full Swing

true blue! my only pampered plant.

new grape vine!

Sometimes I wish I had a swing, an old fashioned rope swing with a wood seat. In a couple of years the maple's tree branch may be strong enough!
I'm sitting outside writing this in what is an absolute perfect summer evening, a light breeze, perfect temperature, the ponds are bubbling and the garden is happy. Our little expansion,( I call it phase 5 of the "plan"), with a small rock wall is ready for plantings. I planted some green beans on the southern edge, and divided and transplanted all of the prairie smoke to the rock edge. With the prairie smoke moved we can see the pond from the porch.

The hops have significantly expanded their territory.
Already growing on the new arbor!

The peas did great and I will probably plant some more, never know, we could have an extended summer. The beans are good and our small tomatoes are ripening, but the zucchini, rutabaga, and peppers seem to be very slow. We just haven't had too much heat, but it has been a fabulous summer. I'm glad for the farmer's market!

I love how the lilies take turns blooming. First the magenta, and now the large yellow lilies.

we've seen a lot of monarchs and yellow swallow tails this summer, love that! Gives me hope.

Time to dig. Don't let that pretty dark earth fool you, underneath are rocks, rocks, and more rocks, oh and a few thousand ants! The only plants for sure going in here are the prairie smoke, a prairie clover and some crimson clover. The south side will be used for vegetables, like beans. You can never have too many beans, or peas, or tomatoes, or...