What did you do in the garden today?

[Nym]

I picked some dry beans and said hi to Chickpea the toad View attachment 4204532

Chickpea has some great camo going on!

 

[Minanora]

I pulled weeds this evening, picked strawberries, picked tomatoes. Got my first blue egg!

 

[Justagalwithchicks]

I pulled weeds this evening, picked strawberries, picked tomatoes. Got my first blue egg!

WOW - that seems big for a first egg! So pretty

 

[Minanora]

WOW - that seems big for a first egg! So pretty

It's long. That's for sure. I was very surprised. Here's it next to a SOE egg, large, and a fake green egg.

Edited to add that my DS told me he wants to wake up early so he has enough time to eat it before school tomorrow. He likes to eat the first egg a chicken lays.

Cracks me up. Won't get up early for pancakes but pullet eggs... Gotta eat that ASAP.

 

[Nym]

Picked green beans and cucumbers. Canned pickle relish and beans. Did some watering and looked over my tomatoes. They are doing well despite the weather. I planted a small (like 20 seeds) of late sweet corn and it is about halfway there until ready. Picked some bush style acorn squash. It is pretty small so may go back to regular kind. Saw this battered Yellow Swallowtail and thought of how beautiful she still is and what journey she must of had. We have had a huge amount of swallowtails this year. Lots of caterpillars on dill and carrots growing all summer.View attachment 4205357

Precious.

 

[jxp]

I’ve noticed a big difference in natural rain water and using town water that’s loaded with chlorine, fluoride, and who knows what they add to our local drinking water.

Same

 

[Rick589]

I’ve noticed a big difference in natural rain water and using town water that’s loaded with chlorine, fluoride, and who knows what they add to our local drinking water.

I feel you on this. We have been on well water for about 34 years now and are fortunate to have our aquifer be the same as a popular natural spring just up the road a few miles. Our water is fantastic right out of the ground so when I taste any city water it simply tastes disgusting to me, in particular the taste of the chlorine.

 

[dirkandlorie]

Just hand watered the plants that are still growing. Picked some more black beans, and good news the seeds I planted last week are sprouting. Still no rain. May get something on Friday. I harvested the tarragon and a load of oregano. The tarragon dried quickly. Now the house is saturated with the aroma of oregano. Tomorrow I may harvest parsley. I’m chipping away at the weed whacking in the back yard. Also need to get the mowing done before labor day. I believe 2 of my old Columbian Wyandotte’s are starting their molts. It looked like they had a pillow fight in their coop yesterday. Lol! And yes: SM is San Marzano tomatoes. I had grown Roma's for years and tried SM 6 years ago. I really do prefer them for my sauces. This year just has not been good for tomatoes due to the heat. I’m looking at using shade cloths and finishing my rain barrel water collection setup. I’ve noticed a big difference in natural rain water and using town water that’s loaded with chlorine, fluoride, and who knows what they add to our local drinking water. Fingers crossed for a better growing season next year.

I have 3750 gallon capacity with the rain barrels I have set up, and still those barrels will run dry and ill be forced to use the city water. Yuck! For drinking I use the zero water filtration pitcher, and hope it helps. Have you ever read your water report? I get one once a year with one of the bills, and its shocking. Arsenic, lead, etc. levels are supposed to be below certain levels but "if its a hardship to the community " they don't have to comply.
Anyway, hardening off my fall kale, turnips and mustard now and trying to find time to plant the carrots. New tarps and plastic have arrived for wrapping the coop with, so I have that to take care of first. Our weather swings back and forth so much I have the clear tarps hung from a cable around the coop/run so I can open and close easily as the weather dictates. Using 14 mil greenhouse tarp with mesh running through it this year and hoping it lasts longer than the last one

 

[jerryse]

Cool weather has me thinking of making a pot of Chilli. Chop up some of my Roma tomatoes to add in. I have tall garden Phlox about done blooming. Thinking of collecting some seed when it is ready. Try to make more. These trace back to my childhood. Traded around by family and neighbors. I have had improved colors, but they die out. These survive with neglect. Light blue and whites.

 

[Molpet]

I’ve noticed a big difference in natural rain water and using town water that’s loaded with chlorine, fluoride, and who knows what they add to our local drinking water.

I have well water. The rain water does the garden best. I think the nitrogen, especially if a thunderstorm.

4 wells on the property. 2 aren't usable. One in use has terrible tasting water, the chickens drink it but the dog won't. The 4th has good tasting.