Monday, June 3, 2013

Herb & Veggie Harvest, Toad, Comfrey Tea & Fruit


Time to start harvesting herbs to dry!  Here is some lemon thyme and raspberry leaves.


Picked a little oregano and lemon balm too.  Even though we have had lots of rain and up and down weather things seem to keep growing!


I was able to harvest this one day.  Radishes, spinach and lettuce,  swiss chard and one lone asparagus!


I am very happy to see this nice big toad visiting in one of my gardens!


We planted this clematis along our back fence last year.  I am so pleased with the way it is growing and love that color!


More lettuce and the following picture of spinach picked another time.


I think this is about the last of my spinach.  Has anyone had luck growing spinach in the summer?  If so, tell me your secret!


This is my comfrey tea brewing!  First time to try this to fertilize my garden is this year.  My "wonderful gardener" looked at the water when I ask him to carry it to the garden and said, "Your not going to use that dirty water, are you!"  He thought I was making it to drink!  It is a five gallon pail so that would be a lot of drinking!


My sheep have finally decided it is warm enough to come out into the garden!


We enlarged our little fountain garden a little.  Even though I have not gotten it completely weeded the flowers are blooming anyway!


Another view of it!


My peach tree limb has the peach tree leaf wilt but it has a lot of little peaches on it.  They told me to use some organic stuff on it next March but too late to do anything this year except fertilize it and keep it watered.  Wonder if I will get any peaches?????


This is my Chojuio Dwarf Pear tree and it has little pears developing.  I see the little black spot  and wonder if someone could tell me what that is and if it will be a problem.  What should I do about it????


You need two dwarf pear trees for pollination and this is my Hosui pear.  It has a black spot too.  This is my first year to have the little pears developing on them.  Sure hope I get to harvest some!  I fertilized all my fruit trees.  Then Coco became very sick.  I worked an organic fertilizer into the soil, watered and put mulch over it.  I see she dug holes in the mulch so have an idea she ate some!  After spending money to take her to the vet she is doing much better.  We have spent more money on this dog then our four kids put together when they were growing up!  She has developed a special place in our hearts!


My last harvest of asparagus.  Now I will let it grow to develop more for next year.  Sure have enjoyed eating it.  Can anyone tell me why sometimes they curl around like that one in the picture??


Baking is at the bottom of my "to do" list when it is gardening season!  I felt sorry for my "wonderful gardener" and baked him a raspberry pie yesterday.  The raspberrys were in our freezer from our yard last year.  Wow!  I sure posted a lot of pictures this time! Have a wonderful week enjoying your gardens!




23 comments:

Shawn Ann said...

Those are some gigantic asparagus! So what does the comfrey tea do for your garden? Always looking for new ideas! And that is one great toad you have. I hope he helps you keep the bugs away!

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Shawn Ann, I have sure enjoyed my asparagus! Comfrey tea is a fertilizer for the garden. There are different instructions out there. This is my first time to try it and these are the instructions I am using. Using a five gallon bucketthat you have filled half way with water, fill it with fresh comfrey leaves. Set the bucket in the sun and allow it to ferment until the water turns brown. It may swmell at first but the odor will go away. To use it, add one cup of it to a gallon of water and use it on your new and your established plants. Carol Bowby uses it in her video of her garden. I will try to post it.
http://frugallysustainable.com/2012/01/day-14-starting-your-own-urban-garden/ Thanks for visiting! Nancy

kitsapFG said...

That is some really good sized asparagus - not sure why you are getting some curling, they look perfectly healthy to me though despite the shape.

Sorry Coco was so sick. I hope your little fur baby is on the mend.

Lisa said...

LOVE all your pictures!!! You and your gardener have been busy! Glad to hear Coco is feeling better. A vet's visit $$ is like a pediatric $$ visit, isn't it?! Your garden is lovely as is your harvest. Love the color of your clematis.

Vicki said...

Hi, Nancy! I hope you get to harvest lots of peaches and pears from your trees. Our peach tree also has something that is too late to treat it for, but the peaches look like they are doing fine. Your gardens are beautiful like always! I really like your little sheep. The toad not so much. :) They always surprise me and make me squeal! Now I have seen all your pretty flowers and feel the urge to get up and work outdoors!!!

Have a great day.

:)Vicki

Daphne Gould said...

Raspberry leaves are edible? I'm trying to think what you would use them in. Tea?

I'm so worried about my fruit trees. I've never grown them before and really don't know much about them. They have so many diseases and require so much spraying that I just won't do. I have lots of little peaches too. One already has been attacked by a bird I think. When they get bigger I think I'll have to put on some bird netting.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi kitsapFG, Coco is doing much better but still on meds for another day. My fruit trees are turning out to be expensive and I am not having much luck with any of them! Thanks for visiting! Come again! Nancy

Felecia Cofield said...

Hi Nancy! Love all the photos! And your harvests are nice! The fruit trees are looking good too! Sorry about Coco! Glad she's better! I too, love the clematis! They are my favorite climbing vine, besides wisteria! I guess one has to share fruit with the birds and other pests, if one wants to grow fruit without a lot of time and money spent! Thanks for sharing! Have a great week! Blessings from Bama!

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Lisa, Thanks! Coco is not completely better but on the mend hopefully! My fruit trees are turning out to be expensive!! I hope my clematis keeps growing! Glad you could visit! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Vicki, Thanks! I hope you were able to get lots accomplished outside today! I am beginning to think that I am not a fruit tree grower as am not having very good results with the four dwarf trees I have! Maybe I will be surprised. Glad you could visit! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Daphne, Shawn Ann's Home and Garden on my side bar said that she was drying raspberry leaves. I can't remember exactly but I think she was making tea from them to relieve cramps. I googled them and it said all that plus they have lots of vitamins. Thought I would try to use a few to maybe flavor tea and also get the benefit of vitamins.
I think I have decided I am probably not a fruit tree grower! I don't want to do chemicals on them either and I seem to have something wrong with all four of my fruit trees. Sympathize with you and if anyone can succeed you can! Thanks for visiting! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Bama Girl, Thanks! There seems to be something wrong with all four of my dwarf fruit trees. Peach, two pears and a sweet cherry. I am beginning to think I am not a fruit tree grower! Coco is a lot better but not completely. Hoping she will recover soon. Glad you could visit!! Nancy

Bernideen said...

What wonderful things from your garden! Back in the late 70's I planted 28 fruit trees in my yard in Virginia - I always wonder about them!

(It looks like the asparagus uncurls as it grows taller - the one on the left was very young - like ferns)I hope you joined my linking party with this garden post!

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Bernideen! Wow! 28 fruit trees! That sounds like a lot of work. Too bad you couldn't have reaped the harvest! I tried to join your linky party so will see if it comes up. Thank you for inviting me!! Please come again. Nancy

Little Miss Maggie said...

You have an amazing garden. All I grow is herbs and half the time I forget they are out there. You have the best of the green thumbs because you grow edibles.

chateau chic said...

It looks like you must be a full time gardener!! You have beautiful flowers and produce to show for all our hard work.
Mary Alice

Poppy said...

Hi Nancy,

So nice to meet you! Your fountain garden is absolutely charming! Love all the purple and yellow lovelies surrounding it! Gardening is hard work and your raspberry pie looks scrumptious; what could be more gratifying than a slice of this sweetness!?

Thanks for dropping by my place and hope you have a nice weekend!

Poppy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Little Miss Maggie, Let's put it this way. I try to grow edibles!! Sometimes not too successful. I have to work at using my herbs too. Thank your for visiting!! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi chateau chic, Thanks! It does take a lot of time and energy to garden but I love to do it. My husband does not like to do it though! Glad you could visit! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Poppy, Thank you! I have to agree that gardening is a lot of work but I enjoy it! Hubby not so much! I see you were once from Toronto. We lived in Pt. Huron and went to see Phantom of the Opera in Toronto. Loved it! Glad you could visit!! Nancy

Reginas Cottage said...

hello nancy,
love all your photos!!! great harvest of herbs.that remind me that i must harvest my herbs too.today i harvest elderberry flowers and leaves from blackcurrants.
your clematis is a dream......love the colours.
have a wonderful week,
regina

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Regina from Home and Garden, Sometimes harvesting herbs is fun but sometimes taking them off the stems is time consuming and not so fun! I want to harvest my elderberry flowers this year too to make a syrup to keep me well. My flowers are not ready yet. Thanks for visiting!! Nancy

Kathryn D. Duke said...

NANCY...YOU are the WINNER of my "Summer Wallet Give Away" !!!!

could not find your email..sorry.

send me your mailing address and I will get it in the mail on Monday...

CONGRATS TOO...

Kathy

http://quiltrestoration.blogspot.com/

Progress in the Courtyard!

  It was so nice to look out my bedroom window this morning and see the Clematis blooming instead of a pile of snow.  It is a rainy day agai...