Friday, August 5, 2016

Summertime.... Roxanne Rustand

How is your summer going?  The old song "Summertime...and the living is easy" keeps running through my head these days, though honestly, summer isn't all that easy!  Case in point--the garden we so lovingly till and plant each spring, with high hopes for all of those wonderful fresh veggies displayed on the seed packets.
But despite having a tiller and using Preen, what we are remarkably good at is growing wonderful weeds.  Here is how we start, in the top photo...and below, how we usually end up.
The second photo is what happened last summer, when  we were gone for two weeks. It's like a jungle!

Actually, this summer we  did have a few types of plants that went crazy in a nice way---the watermelon and zucchini  (but which inexplicably died after growing like mad), the tomatoes, and our Great Wall of Green Beans--pole beans which have overpowered the entire line of six foot tall, heavy woven wire fencing we put up this spring, then the plants began strangling anything they could reach with a tendril.


The green beans have been tricky in other ways--they manage to hide their tender, young and edible beans perfectly.  By the time we notice, the beans are over mature, tough, leathery and lumpy from the seeds they bear. But...at least the tomatoes and green peppers are doing well this year!

What do you like to grow in your garden--flowers?  Vegetables?  And how well is it all doing this year? Do you have any hints or advice for a complete novice like me? Though maybe I am a lost cause...

Best wishes for a wonderful summer!


Roxanne Rustand
USA Today Bestselling Author
The Single Dad's Redemption, Love Inspired 7/2016
An Aspen Creek Christmas, Love Inspired    12/16
A London Christmas (Sweet Christmas Kisses Anthology 2016)
www.roxannerustand.com 
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10 comments:

  1. Hi, Roxanne. My husband was a fabulous gardener. In order to avoid the green been dilemma you describe, he planted Royal Burgundy. They are dark purple, and easy to find when picking. But when you cook them, they turn green. And did I mention they're delicious? I'm in an apartment now, and garden produce shared by others is like manna. I'm glad you enjoy yours.

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    1. Royal burgundy....I've never hard of it! Thanks so much for offering that idea!
      I would sure be happy to share our produce with you....or anyone else here. But I doubt anyone is near Iowa! :)

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  2. I didn't plant tomatoes this year and I'm so full of regret!

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    1. We are overwhelmed with tomatoes. Stop by--please! :)

      Seriously, two years ago we had great tomatoes and the green peppers were non-existent. Last year--great green peppers and NO tomatoes that ever fully filled out or ripened. So i just try to tell myself that whatever I regret not planting might not have grown anyway. :)

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  3. My summer is going way, WAY too fast!

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    1. I know!!! How can we be into August?! I heard someone on NPR say..."and now the days are getting shorter..."

      And though logically I understand that to be true, it's something I don't want to think about!

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  4. My summer has been spent traveling. My daughter graduated from university in Ireland, so we spent 3 weeks there on a home exchange. Now dh and I are enjoying our cabin in upstate NY for a few weeks.

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    1. What a lovely summer you have been having!! How did she happen to choose Ireland? What was her major? And why did that not ever cross my mind back in my college days!

      I love Ireland....we spend a week there and a week in England several years ago, then two weeks in Scotland the following year. I so want to go back!

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  5. I love flower gardens and vegetable gardens. We have flowers in flower boxes on our back deck. My Daddy and Mama taught me the love of gardens.

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    1. How fortunate you were! I imagine there are a lot of young folks these days who have never had that opportunity to learn appreciation for gardens, and how to make them prosper.

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