GARDENING... AND THEN SOME

For first time in a long time I have an overabundance of summer squash from the garden. Most of the time the pests are so bad that I end up with a diminished and damaged crop… but not this year.

Mums that were planted last year. They are doing great.

Amaryllis with four blooms.

1/16/15.

Gas was $2.94 per gallon around here on Halloween and as of December 19th it is down to $2.49.

Every morning when I let the chickens out they run as fast as they can to the compost pile to see what's new.

Finally back below $3.00 a gallon. How long will it last?

Rhode Island Red

I really like the Silver Laced Wyandotte chickens. They were pretty unattractive as chicks, but now their color is so unique.

Fall sunflowers

I'm trying out these vertical planters for my lettuce to help keep it out of the chicken's reach. So far so good.

A fresh layer of mulch for the garden just in time for winter.

The Fall garden, from top left. Squash, zucchini, sunflowers, pole beans, okra, and cucumbers. The row of pineapple is still doing well and a few amaranth came up from the Spring garden. The white cages are protecting the mustard and collard greens from the chickens.

Vincas blooming in the garden.

Fall garden update: the squash and cucumbers are producing. Also have rattlesnake beans and okra doing well. The tomato seedlings kind of stalled and I must have had bad lettuce seed. Still, it's coming right along.

The bees enjoying some crystallized honey. Yes, it’s the same picture blown up a few times.

The chickens are growing, but haven't laid yet. Silver Laced Wyandotte, Gold Laced Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, Austrolorp, Brahma.