Early Autumn Gardening

 It really does not feel like fall considering it has been over 90 degrees every day, since the middle of July...but this morning it really cooled off and it finally felt like Autumn

 I have started some cool season veggies
like carrots, broccoli, cabbage, beets and tons of new mesclun and lettuce

 I thought I might try a late season tomato and see what happens ...I planted two, about a month ago 

but as luck would have it.... last night the raccoons were out 

and made short work of the squash plants

what you think your garden should look like 

 and what it actually is
at the end of the summer

can be very different things

I did not get even a single zucchini this year....all munched

 there really is no way to stop the critters
especially when you have good looking zucchini!

the weird thing is that they ate the stalks too...they even ate some of the hot peppers and eggplant!

and the squirrels have been even worse...but it's all part of gardening...you take the good with the bad

 ouch!
those raccoons are so destructive...
we don't have deer in the Arbolada, because there is no water source this time of year, but I have heard that they are a huge problem for those that live near the creeks.

 I planted chives between my tomato plants and have really enjoyed them all summer...

I was about to pull them
  up, but then saw these blossoms forming

 nice to have some chive blossom's in a salad !

 I have planted chives in a variety of ways either self sowing in a large area
or dividing up little six packs form the nursery...both methods work pretty well

 Lately I have tried a new method for sowing seeds directly in long rows
as opposed to larger 24 x 24 inch plots in the raise beds

The new seedlings need to be really well irrigated or they die and some seeds need direct sunlight to germinate so be sure to read the back of the seed packet 

 The grapes were a success...but these are three years old now, so we knew most of them would produce this year

again, the critters had a hey day...but we enjoyed some grapes too

 I really love how the vines trellis along the fence
enclosing the four apple trees

 this variety is a champagne style grape
which is really small and purple when it ripens...and really delicious

Our family citrus orchard is finally in great shape...
after hours and hours of TLC, spraying, mulching, pruning and watering

I think these trees are probably about 30 plus years old,
so it takes time to have large beautiful citrus trees,
but boy do they produce the fruit

the goal is to get the  branches to fall almost to the ground
with an enclosed sheltered canopy

 this is a better picture and you can see how the branches are just above the soil
 and loaded with green oranges that will begin to ripen this winter

this is such a beautiful time of year for gardening...and next month, October,

 is the busiest gardening month of the entire year...so rest up!

bye for now

kelley

Kelley's Klassic Summertime Lemonade

 Start with about a dozen lemons...I have Meyer lemons and Eureka lemons in my orchard

 The Meyer's are so delicious and can be found in most supermarkets...I've seen bags at my local Trader Joe's too!  The difference in the size and color of the lemons is really funny!  Meyers tend to have lots of seeds but yield a lot of juice

 Get out you juicer and juice away....

 You will need about 2 cups of juice 

for a nice large quart pitcher

 Add 2 cups of cold water to your lemon juice

 make a simple syrup by adding 1/2 to 3/4 cup of superfine sugar 

to 

 1 cup of water

regular granulated sugar is fine too

 I usually heat up the sugar water in the microwave

 to get the sugar to dissolve faster

 Add the syrup water to your lemonade mixture and test for sweetness...we like it pretty tart and the Meyer lemons are incredibly sweet as it is

 Add some lemon slices to your pitcher 

and garnish your glasses with lemon slices

Fill glasses with lots of ice 

And last but not least...have a seat in your favorite chair and sip away!

A summertime Classic

Cheers!

Kelley

My Vegetable Garden: Open for business

 Today we are officially open for business

 hopefully you brought your market basket...if not you can borrow mine!

 first stop the apple trees

 we have a choice of Anna's or Fuji 

 the squirrels are just gorging themselves on my fruit trees...so pick quick

we have grapes this year too

 they are not quite ready to eat

 but I'm hopeful they will be wonderful and sweet

 when they are ripe

 we have around 40 or so vines of edible varieties

this is year three for these vines 

and I was told by a friend that you will start to get fruit by the third year....

and she was right!

 we work really hard keeping the potager really tidy 

because of all of the animals...

 I swear, it seems like the squirrels eat everything 

but nuts

 new this year is corn...waist high by July

 love these big fat cucumbers

 I planted these yellow banana peppers last year too 

and they produce all summer long 

and into the fall

 interspersed with the Basil 

are these bright marigolds

 I think I might experiment with more flowers in the vegetable garden 

because it really makes the beds pop

 we have yellow squash and zucchini

 beets...which are huge!

 the tomato's are just now starting to ripen...I have six big plants this year

 Early Girl, Sweet 1000's and a few heirloom varities

 parsley...both flat and curly

 I self sow all of the lettuce and mesclun and it really does well

soon these little guys...

 will look just like this...

it takes only about 4 weeks and I like to harvest the leaves when they are 

small and young 

for a more tender and less bitter flavor

 we have Japanese eggplant, watermelon and pumpkin vines,

yellow wax beans and a few varieties of spring onions

 I hope your market basket is full and 

you can whip up something really good for dinner

PS

don't forget to invite me!