Send in the Tomatoes

Every year the great tomato harvest starts!  Right now, we are bringing in about three to four of our biggest bowls full of heirloom tomatoes per week.  Both Alex and I have said that we need more for next year.  We're pretty sure we have a case of tomato hoarder syndrome, among other things.  Because of this we have to stay super organized.  We write notes, take pictures, and start saving seeds from only the best looking tomatoes.  Here are the pictures of all of the tomatoes harvested so far.  We cannot believe how amazing the colors and flavor are this year.  If you see one tomato you want, let us know and we will make sure we get some seeds or a plant to you for next year. 

Garden in Mid-August & Harvest Day

The yard is a bit overwhelming.  Our tomatoes are reaching past our property line, the pumpkins are taking up all of our free space, the heat has killed four new peonies, and it's just plain hot!  But with enough water and a prayer we had a fun harvest morning.  Perhaps we will have  a harvest party in September when the weather feels better.  We are loving some of our great new plants we have played with this year.  Definitely some that will be making a come back for many years to come. We are going to have a good list by the end of the year. 

Alex in his picking outfit.

Tomatoes, peppers, green hubbard squash, tomatillos, cucumbers, zucchinis, and an egg!

The cages are tipping

Do you see a Casper pumpkin?

The green bean tent - we are so excited for pickled beans.  Anyone have a good recipe?

Our cleaning lady took all of the flowers for her dinner tonight.  We should start doing that - again, anyone have a good recipe?

Tomatoes which have already gone in the over for heirloom roasted tomatoes.

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Garden in Mid-July

Most gardeners would agree that you should step away for at least a week to let everything grow.  We went to Mexico the end of June/beginning of July, which was more than enough time to let everything grow.  Our tomatoes went for touching the bottom ring on their cage to reaching out.  We got home just in time to pick a couple of summer squash, many weeds, and we were able to start pollinating our tomato flowers.  It will be exciting to see what the rest of July and August have in store.  Canning, freezing, and blanching I'm sure.  Now we are also looking ahead to fall, to determine what we want in our cold weather harvest.  Enjoy!

Oh, we now have a flock of flamingos that guard the herb garden.  But they don't lay any eggs.

Mirco-toms & Red Robin Mini Tomatoes - Even if you live in an apartment there are plenty of options for you to have some fresh fruit/vegetables.

Alex did plant the tomatoes close to one anther, we barely have enough room to get around to see everything.  But they are looking good!

We have decided that for next year we can increase our pumpkin patch for sure.

View facing the pergola, it has been too hot to sit out during the day or night.

These are the green and blue hubbard trellising up the stands left from the previous owners.

Pole beans reaching the top of the pole?  That wasn't supposed to happen.

Alex is more than thrilled at the success of his rhubarb patch - Joe is not because that means twenty recipes with rhubarb next year.  Where is Seema when we need her?

Tomatillos and tomatoes outgrowing their cages.

The potatoes are slow this year, partially because we planted them so late.  But the potato box is in need of another slat and more straw.

Even the chickens are happy!

Apricot Jam

What would you do on the last day of your extremely relaxing vacation (pictures to come soon)?  Did apricot jam pop into your mind first, because that is what Alex thinks about.  Our friend Heather has an old and beautiful apricot tree in her yard with apricots ripe for the picking.  However, Alex is traveling this week, which met we needed to can yesterday!  Even though we always complain about the heat and sticky messes it can be pretty fun.  Don't mind the grubby clothes, you really don't need to dress up to can.  Thanks to Laurel, Chelsea, Bella and Hailey for making such a fun afternoon. 

This is the picture that started the entire mess!

Ready to jam and turn into apricot leather.

There are only a few ingredients: sugar, pineapple, brown sugar, orange juice, and of course apricots!

We paused to take a picture while Alex was bossing/instructing us to fill all of the jars perfectly.

We had to pause to feed Chelsea.  She is WTP to eat her own grapes.

Joe teaching Chelsea how to be practically perfect!

18 pints & 46 half-pints later.