Nearing the End of Summer

It seemed when the calendar changed to September and Labor Day was here, I immediately thought of fall.  The truth is that around here, September is a pretty warm month ... almost as if it were still summer.  I remember, as a teacher, I used to have many a sweater and sweatshirt with a fall theme.  I could never wear them until October/November because it was always too warm in September! 

Well, I've purged my closets of those things.  I've decided to enjoy summer a bit longer!  That includes wearing shorts, sunglasses and, yes, WHITE attire! 


But enough of that!


Even with blistering temperatures last week, the garden still amazed me this morning! 


 


Kale, okra, peppers, tomatoes, a cucumber and parsley!!



We don't have a big vegetable garden but the green beans and tomatoes have done very well.  The last two weeks it has really kept me busy!  After eating and sharing all we could, I started canning.  This is the first year I have had this many beans.  I've just put 54 quarts and 5 pints on the shelves in the basement! 

I also canned some stewed tomatoes and froze marinara sauce.  I'm very happy to have these for winter but am also glad this part of my summer is over...

I hope!  Think I'll have to pick again this evening!

 

 

 

 

 I also wanted to show off my mailbox clematis!  When the kids were young, after seeing it, one of their friends asked what was EATING our mailbox?!  To be honest, I'm not exactly sure which variety it is but it certainly is healthy and quite heat and drought tolerant!

 

 

 

 



 Just a few photos of the beautiful blooms!

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you know which variety it is, please let me know. 

 

Who could pull these little Morning Glories?  I know many consider them weeds but think how hard they've tried to survive through that thick mass of clematis vines!  And then, there they are; adding a gentle pop of color, just those two!  I had to leave them!  Wouldn't you?

Thanks for sharing my Amazing Monday!   I'm hoping you have a wonderful week!!

 

 

Linking to:

 

Amaze Me Monday

Tuesdays at Our House

Home{work} Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday

 

 

 

 

 

LCMO Master Gardeners' Garden Tour

Garden Tour

Our local Master Gardener group hosted a garden tour for it's members several weeks ago.  We visited 3 lovely, yet unique gardens.  It was so interesting to see how each of us takes the information we receive and utilizes it to our own tastes and needs.

 

Our group has been in existence for 2 years and we have about 30 members.  This was our first (annual) garden tour. 

 

 

The first stop was The Lloyd Family Garden.  They use raised beds which are irrigated.  Aren't they lush?

 

 

Admiring the tomato plants.

 



 

 

Just look at this herb garden! 

 

 

 

One unique thing the Lloyds do is hydroponic gardening.  He grows some of his tomatoes and peppers using this method.

 

 

 

 

Many of us had never seen this system before so Mr. Lloyd explained the whole process.  He fills these containers with pebbles and puts his plants in them.  Several times a day he "waters" the plants with nutrient rich water which he stores in a large container.  These plants yield LOTS of produce  during the summer!


The next stop on our Tour was Vern's Veggies and Vineyards.

Vern and his wife have an expansive area they garden.  Vineyards (which he harvests to make a little wine!), raised vegetable beds, berry patches, and lots and lots of flowers.

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

This hosta bed is a sample of the beautifully planted and maintained gardens throughout the several acre gardens.  Below is another sample of a perfectly manicured flower bed!

 

 

 





The back porch roof is even a grape arbor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final stop on our Tour was The Hill's Cottage Gardens.  Mr. and Mrs. Hill love the look of native plants and flowers and have created individual outdoor rooms around their yard.  Everywhere you turn, there is a new surprise to delight the visitor!

 

Here is just a sample of their gardens.

 

 

 

 

The Giant Wisteria!

 

 

What a lovely addition to the outdoor dining area.

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't this a restful place near the Koi pond?

 

 

 

When the tour was over, Mrs. Hill had a lovely dining area set up in her front yard.  Everyone brought a dish to share and we had a delicious dinner.  Fortunately, the weather cooled with a nice breeze so we were really able to enjoy the food and company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed our First Annual Master Gardener Tour as much as we did!  Many thanks to the three host families!  We had so much fun viewing and learning about our fellow gardeners!

 

 

Linking to:

 

Oh, The Places I've Been