Monday, July 22, 2013

Too Hot, Too Dry & Too Old!


Too hot, too dry and too old pretty well sums up my gardening week last week!!!  My rain barrel is empty and I have used city water but probably not enough.  Makes the bill go up and up and up!!  I am still able to harvest a bit of lettuce and the cherry and sungold tomatoes are ripening.


The raspberrys are getting smaller and fewer but the first part of the week was still okay.  They need water!!!


Sad looking pepper but I harvested it because I needed one to use!


Harvesting cabbage and carrots.


Made up a batch of regular cole slaw to go with our meals and a batch of freezer cole slaw.  We are enjoying our cabbage and carrots used this way!


My one little bush produced a few blueberries and there are just a few more ripening.  Few more raspberries picked, two cucumbers, more cherry and sungold tomatoes and a zucchini!  


This Rose Atari Scented Geranium didn't bloom from when I bought it last year.  I kept it over the winter and started new ones.  I don't know if this one is the original or not but happy to see it is going to bloom this year!  It is in a pot in the ground in the fountain area.


The two blackberry bushes are starting to produce.  I never know when I am suppose to pick them.  If they pull off easy I pick and if they don't I leave them.  Is that the way you do it?  If I pick them too soon I notice they are bitter.


This is just a random picture along one of the fences.  I transplanted the sunflowers that the birds planted and the cosmos came up from last year.  I am thankful the perennials seem to keep blooming even though the weather has been so hot and dry.  I have to admit this is not my best gardening year so far!  But I will be right back out there trying again next year!! LOL  Think positive!!!!!!

24 comments:

Shawn Ann said...

Your raspberries look far more perfect than mine! ;) I bet you are picking your blackberries at the right time. I would assume it is when they are easy to pull as well. We had blackberries our first year in this house and then we let someone come and transplant them to their own yard to make room for the garden. There were a bunch there, and grapes too. I didn't keep any of them.

stoneyacres said...

We have been so hot this year as well, but luckily for us we haven't been very dry. In fact we have had a lot of rain in July. I usually have to water every 3 days but I've only watered twice all month!!

I'd love to see a recipe for that freezer coleslaw. Sounds like a good way to use up the extra cabbage when we have it around!!

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Shawn Ann, Thanks! It just seems so hot and not getting as much from the garden as I would like when I see what everyone else is getting! LOL Thanks for visiting! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi stoneyacres, We sure do need the rain plus the heat doesn't help! I will send you the freezer cole slaw recipe. Hope you like it! Thanks for visiting! Nancy

nutmeg gardener said...

Beautiful raspberries Nancy! I'm sorry for your dry spell, we've been very dry too this month, but finally got a bit of rain yesterday. Need more though.

kitsapFG said...

I hope you get some rain soon to fill up those water barrels and give the garden a drink. I pick my raspberries and blackberries just as you described.

Bernideen said...

I think your garden offerings are wonderful! Fresh garden produce is always wonderful!

Daphne Gould said...

Your raspberries look so good. Mine are having trouble because we don't water them enough. I wish we would get rain too. It has been very hot with no rain in sight.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi nutmeg gardener, Thanks! The raspberries really need to be watered which we have not been doing. Sure wish we would get a nice gentle rain! Thanks for visiting! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

kitsapFG, Thanks for the info about how you pick your berries. I only have one rain barrel and sure wish it would get filled up again soon! Thanks for visiting! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Bernideen, Thanks for your encouragement! I guess a little fresh produce is better than none. Thanks for visiting! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Daphne, We should probably water our raspberries but the water bill will be high enough as it is. They are so thick that they almost need to be watered from the bottom. Wish for a nice gentle rain for the both of us!! Thanks for visiting! Nancy

Annie*s Granny said...

Don't say that awful 3-letter word again! We're not old, we're....uh, MATURE!!!

I'd like that freezer slaw recipe, too. Please. :-)

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Annie*s Granny, My mind doesn't think I am old but I have not convinced my body of that fact yet! I will send you the freezer slaw recipe! Thanks for visiting! Nancy

Audrey said...

Hi Nancy ... glad you are still getting some harvest from your garden, regardless of size. With all these fresh veggies, makes me want to go to the farmers market tomorrow. I believe I will do just that. I am hungry for fresh corn and good vine ripe tomatoes.
Thanks for sharing.
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures

Lisa said...

Your raspberries look beautiful! Seems everyone is having a time with their garden this year - including us. 'Nothing' is normal - either too much rain, or not enough - with temps soaring and poor air quality to even be outside able to breathe. I'd like your freezer coleslaw recipe too! Hang in there!

Reginas Cottage said...

hi nancy,
your harvest looks wonderful,especially the raspberries.
your freezer coleslaw looks delicious!! here is it also hot and the soil is very dry.
you asked me somethings.
I use the elderflower vinegar for saladdressing. it taste wonderful.
the rose are from my garden!
wish you a wonderful restweek,
love regina

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Audrey, Produce is ripening slowly and it has turned cooler so that is nice. Hope you were able to get your corn! I didn't plant any. Maybe I need to go to the Farmer's Market too! Thanks for visiting! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Lisa, Your right! Nothing is normal anymore it seems. It has cooled off some so that is nice. Thankful for the little bit of produce we do harvest. I will send you the freezer slaw recipe! Thanks for visiting! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Home and Garden, Thanks! It has finally cooled off here but still no rain. Thank you for your information! Do you use the elderberry vinegar in a dressing like a fruit dressing? Thanks for visiting! Nancy

lil red hen said...

Yes, I do hope you get rain tonight! We can use more, but things have begun to get green again.

Your vegetables look so pretty! I find it a little frightening to think how dependent we are on food from stores.

My youngest daughter has worked this summer at the agricultural experiment station and has brought us blackberries and peaches for free. She's as "brown as a berry" as the saying goes from hoeing, pruning, etc. in the hot sun.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi lil red hen, Thanks! Little past 8:38p.m. and no rain yet! We can try to grow our own food but are so dependent on the weather and other things so even though we don't like it we have to buy from stores. Fun to try though! what a great place for your daughter to work! Thanks for visiting! Nancy

The Polka Dot Closet said...

YOur veges look great, hate to hear you are having a dry spell, but no matter how much water you pour on them, nothings is as good as rain!

Carol

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi the Polka Dot Closet, Still no rain here so had to water a little. Got a little dark this afternoon and I was hopeful but nothing happened! My poor little veggies! Thanks for commenting! Nancy

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