How Does My Garden Grow...Now?

The garden seems to be doing great this year.

In the upper garden, some of the lettuce has been harvested and tastes great, the handful of strawberries we have collected are superb. The broccoli is still growing but shows no signs of florets. I fear the weather has turned too hot for broccoli which prefer the cold.



The peas are still blooming so nothing is ripe yet. And my pumpkin plants are just starting, so I am not sure they will be ready come October.

In the main garden, however, my tomato plants are flourishing with lovely yellow blossoms all over. I have had to plant then all around the outside, the main area where the deer travel in. I ran out of tomato cages and staked a few. The two that were not staked or caged yet have been nibbled on, most likely by the deer. I had to stake the cucumber plants in order to train them away from the tomato and pepper plants. It seems to be working.



The other week I was weeding in my main garden when a neighbourhood dog came bounding through five backyards to come visit. He was a fairly large, heavy set Labrador 'teenager'. He went straight through my garden. I tried to minimize the damage by holding him back but he was too strong and he bounded through my onion patch (left side of picture). When the owner finally came to claim him, he didn't even apologize! If it happens again, I have some choice words to say.

My lower garden, the one closest to the forest is a bit touch and go at the moment. The corn planted on the outer edges are growing but the inner seeds never did sprout. In place of the invisible corn I planted a few late pumpkin seeds, just to see and then two days later I found the pumpkin seeds dug up and all piled up on the edge of the garden bed, very neatly, might I add. Something strange is afoot in that garden, but I haven't quite put my finger on it.



My two cantaloupe plants have been nibbled on some but the blossoms are still very much alive so we shall see what kind of fruit I have in the end.

Nothing is ever boring in the garden. There is always something new happening. A freshly sprouted plant, a new danger to protect them from or a new technique to try. I really do love working in my garden. When I head out each morning I never know what to expect.