Spring & summer garden delights

I just realized I hadn't made a post since November last year. I have garden pictures to share since then! And of course the occasional dinner or dessert to share...

My goal this Spring was to clean up the old garden. I tried mowing, pruning,  wacking and hacking at weeds... but alas, it is a futile effort. It's not convenient for me to try to clean up the old yard diligently. Ultimately, the weeds won...I really don't have time to have a garden either. 

Although, I did till a small patch at my grandparents. I transplanted about 8 or so butternut squash that I started at the apartment. 

I also planted lettuce, spinach, radish and kale in a grow box. It had wheels it's convenient on the apartment porch. 

At the start of summer, I planted a flower garden and decorated for my grandma. 

The great part about summer is the harvest and food in season. I made several mushroom sandwiches, with some vegan mayo, fried onion and tomato. 

Foods like corn, beans, tomatoes, and squash are in season. They're excellent cooked separately but eaten altogether. 

I also harvested berries from the old garden, and made some kind of weird blackberry pie with biscuit dough and vegan creme on top. 

I also foraged a handful of chanterelle mushrooms on a hike. Theres no need to make them fancifully- I just fry them with light oil and salt. Served with garden beans and wild rice.

Towards the end of summer, I have been making an effort to hike in the woods at least once a week. Hiking has helped exceptionally in making my 'end-of-summer' blues subside a bit. It's making me crave a bit of hiking this fall. I find it safer and much easier to hike in the late fall. The best part of hiking is seeing all the different shroomies along the path. 

Chicken of the woods mushroom growing 
On a timbered log at the nearby state park.

I watched the chicken of the woods mushroom grow and was ready to cut it on the third day, but someone snagged it! 

In the next week, I'm going to assess the old garden for any Pears, peaches, and mulberries. I should be able to harvest pears and mulberries in a few weeks.

This was the size of the pears in June

The pears have likely dropped from rot,
been eaten, or filled the worms, so
 I'm not expecting any peaches!

The garden I started at the apartment didn't do much. I had a few peppers picked, and I may be able to keep a few plants going to keep harvesting peppers but I have too many plants to bring back inside for the fall and winter as it is! 

Mid-July container vegetable garden & tilled garden

 Have you seen squash plants get so entangled? For whatever reason, all of the yellow squash plants have tied themselves into a knot. I've never seen anything like it before. 

Despite the entangled squash plants, the zucchini, yellow squash and pumpkins are all blooming. The cucumbers are also blooming; but that's about the extent to the growing progress in the garden. It's all a good sign that the plants seem healthy and blooming, but nothing is fruiting yet besides a few beans. 

It had been weeks since visiting the garden. I staked some tomato and cucumber plants, then  hoed around each row of veg. 

Tomatoes

There's still plenty of vegetable plants at the apartment that needs transplanting. Although, I've noticed that many of the transplanted veggies have stopped growing. I'm skeptical that the potted veg will do much this year. Even the eggplant that looks healthy, is probably far from fruiting a substantial harvest. 

Foraged blackberries

Eggplants & basil growing together

Eggplant

Cacti houseplants, getting ready to bloom

I wish you a lush and fruitful garden this summer! I'll keep you posted on any new garden developments. It's been a wet summer, and there's a lot of mushroom activity. 🍄 in addition to that, there's been some nice opportunities to splash in the creek...