"Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them."

   In my last post, I talked about cleaning up from the storm and weed damage. Just before I got ready to have the front of my plot tilled, for my autumn veggies, I learned the truth behind my weed woes. It seems my plot, and surrounding plots, had been infested by nut grass. I was fighting a losing battle all summer with my weed removal methods. After researching, I found that tilling only brings the nut grass seeds to the surface and awakens them. So what did I do?

The garden next to me is overtaken with weeds...

   I did not have the plot tilled. I decided to embrace some of these weeds and give up on the idea of a picture-perfect garden. They appeared to protect my established plants, especially my melons, from deer and other critters. I am only putting my weeding efforts into protecting my new seeds and plants. The rows without plants will be kept back with a weed-eater. I have cleaned up the front of the garden by hand and planted my autumn greens. Once I decided to use the weeds to my advantage, I only put minimal work into weeding the needed areas. Now, I can love my garden even more and focus on the positive aspects. Despite the setbacks and hardships, I am not taking the easy, toxic way of weed and pest removal. I am enjoying my chemical free produce, and doing my part to help the environment. Now my garden is in good enough shape to continue my harvesting and venture into crop rotation.

   After a large number of my corn was wiped out by the storms, I planted new corn in a different section of the garden. I planted the seeds in a box form to hopefully protect them more from the elements, and they have been growing beautifully. I just recently planted new pumpkins in the front of the garden. The tomatoes have been pruned for more produce. I have also taken cuttings from the plants and started new roots. These plants will be rotated to the other side of the garden.

   Now that my garden is in good shape for fall, I can concentrate on harvesting. And boy have I been harvesting! I got my first cantaloupe and watermelons. They were absolutely mouth-watering and delicious! Even my iguana, Reptar, approves.

Happy Iguana with organic fruits and flowers from the garden...

Back on Track...

   Since my last post, I have been trying to weed and clean up as much as possible. I sadly lost half of my corn, so I replanted more corn and most definitely fertilized this time. Unfortunately, between the rain and scorching sun, it has been hard to maintain those dang weeds!! They keep coming back ten-fold and overtaking my garden. But I decided I wouldn't let that keep me down. So, I knocked back the rows of weeds with a weed-eater. I have been weeding around my smaller plants, and will mulch around them in hopes that will keep the weeds at bay. Soon, I'll till the front of the garden and plant my Jack-o-Lantern pumpkins and Autumn greens.

  Thankfully, my hard work is paying off. Summer harvesting has really kicked in! I got my first round of tomatoes, okra, jalapeño and banana peppers, corn, and Sugar Pie pumpkins. And let me tell you...nothing tastes better than fresh, organic veggies! Sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper, boiled corn on the cob drizzled with butter, and fried okra are absolutely dee-lish!!! I am going to make pumpkin puree to swirl in my Greek yogurt and roasted jalapenos with cream cheese, too. Yum!
 

  Oh, and my watermelon and cantaloupe plants are looking soooo good! It makes my mouth water just thinking about them lol. So excited!!

I also brought one of my sunflowers home for a decorative treat. Hopefully by my next post, I will have my garden completely cleaned up and new seeds planted.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back...

   After my last post, I was feeling pretty good about my garden. I had it cleaned up, fertilized, and started planting new seeds. My garden was beginning to produce vegetables, and I thought the bulk of my hard work was behind me. Boy oh boy, was I wrong!!
   We had a string of hard storms over the past weekend. After waiting a few days to let the garden dry, I was shocked at what I had found. The corn and borage were beaten down. Tomato plants were knocked over. It was a disaster!! Not to mention the weeds were back in full force. My heart was broken. I put so much work into my garden, and to see it in that shape was very discouraging. But after assessing the damage, I decided there was nothing else to do but suck it up and get in recovery mode.

   I drove around the other gardens to see their damage, and went home sad but determined to repair my garden. At least I am getting beautiful cucumbers, and the corn still standing is almost ready to harvest. The tomatoes are close to turning red also. I am so ready for tomatoes and watermelon!!

My beautiful and delicious cucumbers!

  
   In my next blog, I'll talk about the steps I am taking to recovery. I have a lot of work ahead of me.
Here are pictures of the damage done to the surrounding gardens...

The Garden of Forgiveness...

   It has been a week since I fertilized my plants. If you remember from my last post, some of the babies in my garden were sending out an SOS by turning yellow. It's funny how nature has a way of talking to you without speaking. Fortunately, my garden has been very forgiving of my newbie mistakes, and I am excited to say my plants are recovering. The corn is now a beautiful shade of green. The pumpkins, melons, and cucumbers are slowly losing that dry, yellow look. The only plant that hasn't recovered yet is the squash.

   I didn't test the soil today, because I wanted to lightly fertilize it one more time this week. I will test it later in the week after the forecasted rain comes. I am eager to see the results. I can already tell that positive changes are happening, and the work I have been putting in the garden is highly appreciated by my plants and other forms of life (but not the beetles lol). Which brings me to talk about one of the best parts of my garden...the borage. It has brought in bees from all over. They are surrounding the garden. I couldn't be more happy to know that I am feeding one of the most important and highly-needed creatures to our environment, while in turn they are helping my garden flourish.

  

Those aren't my weeds next to the borage!!😮

                                                                   That cucumber beetle can stay on that borage and off of my veggies!! lol

This is what happens when your plants and the bees are happy-- take a look at the photos and then wait for it......wait for it......

Roma Tomatoes!!!                                                          Pumpkin

 Okra  

Pickling Cucumbers

                     
And now for the big reveal....


   I have harvested my first cucumber!! This was the most beautiful pickling cucumber I have ever seen! I immediately took it home, rinsed it off, and sliced a piece. It tasted so fresh. I sliced the rest of the cucumber. After drizzling a little bit (well, maybe more than a little lol) of Ranch dressing (it's the healthy kind, I promise) and a sprinkle of black pepper...I ate the most enjoyable, cool, refreshing summer snack, and it was grown by me. ME!! I did that!! Words cannot express how amazing it feels to participate in helping our environment thrive and to provide myself with fresh, organic food.

   Now that I have enjoyed the fruits (or just one fruit so far lol) of my labor, it's back to weeding. I have almost completely cleared them out, but it's an everyday struggle. My garden will be beautiful and WEED-FREE!!!