Pretty in Pink

The the past few years it has seemed like the flowers in the garden have been predominantly orange, with some complementary purple thrown in.

This year, the theme is pink, pink and more pink.

For some reason known only to the flowers themselves, it was only the pink blooms from last year that self-seeded.

This pink Cosmos is at least four foot tall and it's really put on a nice show.  The only problem has been that it's in front of the shorter Salvia Greggi and Pineapple Sage and blocking them  (and any hummingbirds that may be enjoying from view!

These pink Cleomes are about 4 feet tall as well.  They are more or less past their best now (this photo was taken a week or so ago).  I'm collecting seeds so I can start some seedlings and put them where I want them next year.  

I think this giant Violet Queen zinnia is more of a fuchsia pink than violet, but I love it anyway.  I had thrown several seeds directly into the island bed, but this was the only one that came up.  I've got more seeds, but probably too late to try and get them started now.  My bad.

In other news, I had been lamenting the total lack of Monarch butterflies in the garden so far this year, but in the past week or so there has been at least one female, laying eggs and enjoying some nectar.

I've only found two first instar caterpillars so far (click on the photo below to see the larger version and you may see one), but I'm sure there are more eggs around, ready to hatch.

I've set up the mesh  cage on the patio again and have ordered some more water picks to help me keep my milkweed clippings fresh.  I'm ready for the Monarch Nursery to get underway!

Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.

The Fruits of Our Labors

I have to admit, I don't eat as many vegetables as I should. I used to be one of those "ewww, it's green, I don't like it" people.  There are many vegetables I just don't care for, so our vegetable garden is small and simple.  We've had disappointments in the past, but we still keep trying.

This year I would say the results are mixed.  The green bean I selected very quickly grew up the bean tower and started flowering, but that was as far as we got.  Not a single bean and now it's looking heat-stressed already and summer hasn't really got going yet.  

Perhaps I selected the wrong variety - the one I chose was "Tenderstar" a runner type, which reminded me of the runner beans we used to have in England. Perhaps that variety doesn't do well in our climate.  Next year, I'll get them started earlier, and maybe plant a couple of different varieties.

We are, however, having better success with the Roma tomato I selected.  It's doing very nicely and we've harvested several delicious fruits already.

I had thought that the Sir Crunch-a-Lot cucumber was a flop.  It had lots of flowers but we didn't see any fruit forming for ages.  

Then earlier in the week, I noticed two huge cucumbers hanging from the frame.  Yay!  Success!

So this afternoon I went out in the rain and picked a cucumber and some tomatoes... 

... and sliced and diced them and tossed them with a light balsamic vinaigrette to go with our dinner tonight.

Can't wait to taste it :-)

Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.