Herbs in the Garden » fruit trees

What’s up in the July Garden

herbgal — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:59:24 +0000

Jacob's Cattle Bean Plants

July has been beastly hot, but nearly everything is doing really well in the garden!

Flowers are blooming, weeds are prolific, veggies are iffy, medicinal and culinary herbs are thick, and most of the small and tree fruits are either finishing up or nowhere near ready depending on what you’re looking at.

I’m excited, we may actually get to enjoy a few of these peaches this year! Most years they are eaten by Japanese beetles but since they are currently busy destroying roses, nectarines and Marshmallow, we have hope for a fresh, home grown peach.

Young Peaches

Most of the flowers are doing nicely, too. Except for the ones hubby keeps mowing down.

Anyone that knows me know that my flowers have to be tough. I’ll water when needed, but absolutely no floral mollycoddling goes on around here. Heck, I don’t deadhead most of the time… but I will go out and cut bouquets when I’m feeling girly.

Which leads us to this next photo…

It just sort of happened. It’s what the late TV painter, Bob Ross would have called a “happy accident”.

In a girly fit of flower arranging I set the pitcher on the birdhouse while snipping and filling it with blooms. I stepped back and LOVED the way it looked sitting there so much that I probably took 56 pictures of it.

Bouquet on Birdhouse

I also killed the rechargeable camera batteries, but it was totally worth it. Don’t you agree?

Blooming in the Garden

herbgal — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 03:26:36 +0000

No, there is not much going on in the herb garden yet- some things are sending up new growth, but that’s about it.

The weather is supposed to take a cold turn tonight with temperatures dropping back near freezing. After making sure that seedlings and tender plants were safely tucked in the greenhouse I decided to take a few pictures of some blooming shrubs and edible landscaping. If it all gets hit by frost tonight I’ll have gorgeous photos to remember them by. You know, exactly like Better Homes and Garden’s gorgeous photo spreads… I’m pretty sure they use a little bitty Canon and a cell phone to take their best shots, too…

First up for my show and tell, my favorite lilac-Mount Baker.

The fragrance is delicious.

Honestly-I just want to shove my nose into these flowers, snort deeply and keep it there all spring.

Mount Baker Lilac

Next…

Blueberry Blossoms

Blueberries in Bloom

Most years we don’t get many berries unless I cage them early. The chickens pick off the lower ones, and the wild birds get the upper berries. They are all such little pigs.

And finally,

Apple Blossoms

This crazy tree does not know it’s been pronounced dead…twice. It has blown over, been completely uprooted and snapped at the base of the trunk. Now it simply reclines.

This photo is from a few years ago – after the second time it went over in a bad storm. We had lots of trees to clean up and I hadn’t gotten around to cutting it down when I noticed it was still producing fruit.

It’s a Zombie Apple Tree!

Recumbent Zombie Apple Tree

Although a professor of mine from some years ago would have told me to “prune it at the roots” I did not have the heart to cut down a tree so determined to live.

Today it still grows in it’s happy-yet wonky-condition and even produces plenty of gorgeous Rome apples for me each fall!

I just consider it a living sculpture these days.

Nectarine in the Herb Garden

herbgal — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:10:41 +0000

Remember the Sacrificial Nectarine tree?

Here it is bathed in early morning sunlight and absolutely glorious in pink.

Nectarine Bloom

Nectarine in Bloom

Nectarine Blossoms

Beautiful, isn’t it?

The Sacrificial Nectarine Tree

herbgal — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:09:48 +0000

Yep, the poor nectarine tree makes it’s yearly sacrifice to the hordes of Japanese Beetles.

The !#&$%! beetles get to it every year. I have read that besides roses, the fruits of peaches, nectarines and such are among the favorite foods for the hideous beasts. The good news is they are so busy destroying the nectarines that they generally spare the apple trees and roses right next to it. They also have yet to discover the Apricot tree about 50 yards away (crossing fingers behind her back.)

They eat the fruit right down to the pits,or stones. See how this fruit is absolutely covered in the darn things?

Japanese Beetles Eating Nectarines

Japanese Beetles Devouring Nectarine

After the beetles get finished there is not a nectarine left on the tree. The birds won’t eat the blasted beetles and they seem to have no natural enemy.

Guard your fruit, folks! These wee beasties are true wretches.

Nectarine and Rose

herbgal — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:34:58 +0000

I love the way this Gardenia rose decided to grow up the tree known around here as The Sacrificial Nectarine. Gardenia is a once bloomer, and not my favorite rose, but I do like the way it has decided to make a scene here!

So why do I call this tree The Sacrificial Nectarine?

Stay tuned for pictures in an upcoming post and I’ll show you!