garden update: early July

Whether it's flowering plants I put in myself, or the never-ending, ever-changing waves of volunteer/roving/unstoppable flowering vines that grace the perimeter of our yard... we are very much in flower. Despite the foggy weather...what do you know, it really looks like Summer out in the garden. I'm totally loving it. 


I really never have grown many ornamentals in my short gardening career... but I kinda get it now. Between the intoxicatingly fragrant sweet peas that grace the front arch, the ravishing roses, and the incredibly sweet, naturalized jasmine vines... my gosh, it smells REALLY good out there... come, have a look around.






'Tahitian Sunset' rose



Nigella Sativa flower, surrounded by baby blossoms. Eventually, these will form beautiful horned seed pods, which you can dry and shake out aromatic seeds for cooking.



Summer squash blossoms -- this is one of three colors of 'flying saucer'-shaped squashes: yellow, light green and dark green.



Flowering French thyme



'North Shore' sweet peas...



...which appeal to all ages



'Music Box' knee-high sunflowers



'Music Box' knee-high sunflowers




Medium-height sunflowers, getting closer to blooming. We're about to leave for vacation, and I just know they're going to open while we're away. Which is fine: I love walking outside after a trip to see what the clever plants have been up to.



Snacktime in the gah-gah. Mister man is getting really good about just eating the dark blue berries... before, he would pull just about anything off and shove it in before I could intervene. Progress.



My own first tomato snacks of the season. Super sweet.



Yellow pear tomatoes



Red pear tomatoes



'Violet Jasper' tomato... getting a little closer to the intended shade



Some other color of pear tomato... we're (happily) quite lousy with little tomatoes



In other summer plant departments: 'Trombetta' summer squash. This should climb up the arch and bear slender, long and curved lime-green squashes. Hopefully, like tiny tomatoes, we'll be lousy with summer squash before long.



Also next up will be three colors of pole beans: green, yellow wax and purple. They are crazy vigorous--popped up in no time.



And, as I mentioned yesterday, artichokes popping up all over. I am over the veggie moon...



...but not quite as over the moon as I am about my main man garden helper. Was there ever a sweeter little guy?