Monday, July 12, 2010

July 2010 Garden


After being away for 2 weeks on the mainland, our garden didn't look to bad, though it does lack all the important summer crops like okra, peppers and tomatoes. We just started a bunch of new seeds this week to get things on their way. The Hawaiian squash we'd been growing since the late springtime has really done well spreading itself all over the garden and there are numerous fruits on the vines. Unlike other squash varieties we have tried to grow here, this one has not been affected by the white mildew on the leaves. Even now, it continues to blossom and fruit.


















Russell has been working on the 3 Sisters combo: Corn, Squash, and Beans. The beans are a bit slow, though the corn is moving right along beside our established squashes. We tasted a small ear of corn yesterday and it was very sweet and tender.







































Also, we planted some Lima beans in early June that are starting to take off and fill out.




















A little damage to the leaves of the (Little Finger) Eggplant, but they have finally begun to fruit!


















We are also growing many more herbs, including Holy Basil
(Tulsi) which Russell just researched and found that it is not only good for the immune system but also good for easing tension and stress. We are drying the leaves and flowers to use for tea.





















The Tobacco plants have been flowering. They have cool little pink trumpet-like flowers. Tobacco is supposed to be a great beneficial for the garden.
On their way are: Calallo (Jamaican Amaranth), Muskmelon, Cotton, Ashwagandha.

The Endless Mountains & Ricketts Glen State Park, PA

We went to the mainland last month for a quick visit in Florida and then headed up to PA for our friends' wedding out in the country, about 3 hours west of Philadelphia. It was located in Lopez, PA in the Endless Mountains region. A very rural setting and that was peaceful and green. The wedding itself was incredible because it involved an amazing amount of beautiful hand-made aspects. Everything from the home-brewed Mead that we all toasted to the occasion, to the hand-made felt flower bouquets that garnished the dinner tables; it was all very sincere and full of thoughtfulness. Russell got to film part of the ceremony with Brendan's old Super-8 camera. The camera looked pretty good with the hat and vest. . . he and Brendan were the only 2 guys with vests at the wedding.
























































































Over the weekend, we also went on a beautiful hike along the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park. The trail meandered along a gently flowing creek and eventually passed by over a dozen lovely waterfalls.