Mid-Season Garden Check-In

So it’s mid-summer and I wanted to take a pulse on the growth of the garden so far. I spend as much time watching it and inspecting it and, lately, watering it like crazy due to the heat and lack of rain.

Whats up, Gnomey?

My herb pot

My basil is growing like gangbusters!!!! I am nuts about ensuring I pinch off all the flower buds before they start growing. This makes the taste of the leaves better (not bitter) and also allows the plant to keep sending shoots up from the ground instead of getting taller and flimsier. I’ve been pinching leaves here and there for recipes – and loving every bit of it!

Look how tall that basil is!

Ground level

My tomatoes are doing really well! I have a zillion black cherry and yellow teardrop tomatoes that I am practically trying to COMMAND to turn ripe every day when I walk past……I also have roma tomatoes – it’s hilarious to watch tomatoes grow in an oblong oval shape. And my Early Girls are large and green…….I am willing them to turn ripe as well.

Early Girl

View of all 4 tomato plants from the back

These oblong tomatoes crack me up

I forgot to get a pic of my jalapeno plant…..but there are 3 decently-sized peppers on there, and I picked and used one last weekend for my muffins.

And then there’s my flower garden – it’s all come to life! The butterfly bush and milkweed are attracting TONS of monarchs and other butterflies – love watching it!

Flowerbed

And my hydrangea has 3 big blooms on it this year. I turned the color from blue to pink 3 years ago. It was originally in my front yard, but I transplanted it when I moved into the house 6 years ago. It took a while to catch on in the back yard. I am so proud of it 🙂

Hydrangea

I’ll update again in the middle of august to see how everything is growing! In the meantime, let’s all do a lil rain-dance – not only for me and other casual gardeners, but for our local farmers, too!!

Tags: Garden