Strawberries

I picked one and a half quarts of strawberries. We have them in a raised bed that is 4x8.  We planted almost 45 plants last spring and they have probably doubled. The result is some of the berries are not ripening good and down in the bottom some have  molded. Also snails have invaded because of the dew and  rain. I thought about snipping the leaves off the top so sun can filter down but I'm afraid it will ruin the plants.  We will have to transplant them this fall into a bigger bed.

Mini Vacation

My husbands parents watched the kids and garden while we were at my husbands work conference in Orlando, Florida for a week.  We visited Epcot and they were having a Garden Festival presented by HGTV.  I was overwhelmed and inspired by all the different flowers and the way they were displayed  throughout Disney. I could not imagine having flowers year round.

When we got back we only stayed home for a few hours then we drove to Kentucky to go fishing. While we were gone to Orlando our seeds sprouted and other plants are blooming.

My mother-in-law has raised beds and also a variety of  herbs. She dug me up some Yarrow and also a vine (I can't remember the name). I have no idea where to plant it! Both plants will spread if not kept in check.  We also marked several different colored Irises for me to dig this fall. Her Peonies were gorgeous as is her garden!
Glad to be home.
P.S. Parsley is still alive!

Guacamole Recipe

This is my favorite recipe for guacamole! I used to use a packet with all the dried ingredients and you just mix with two avocados.  This recipe takes a little longer but is super easy.   My husband collects recipe books and this is the book that I found the recipe

1977

2 medium avocados, seeded, peeled and cut up or mashed

1/2 small onion, cut up

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 glove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

This recipe can be done in a blender or mashed with a fork. I prefer to mash my avocados with a fork then add all the remaining ingredients stir and your done!! Makes about 1 1/4 cups.

Let the Planting Begin...

Finally we had two days of decent weather and the garden dried up enough for my husband to till.  I hit the local hardware store yesterday for the veggies and a few flowers.

This is a  list of what I bought:

1. Green Bean Seed - Blue Lake

2. Bib Lettuce (seed)

3. Tomato Plants - Starlight

4. Tomato Plants - Celebrity

5. Green Sweet Bell Peppers (3 plants)

6. Red Sweet Bell Peppers (1 plant)

7. Jalapeno Peppers (2 plants)

8. Straight-neck Squash Seed

9. Japanese Eggplant (2 plants)

10. Vincas (16 plants)

11. Lavender (1 plant)

12. Rosemary (1 plant)

This is what we already had:

1. Crook Neck Cucumber (seed)

2. Green Beans - Early contenders (seed)

3. Okra (seed)

Now we wait and hope everything comes up! 

P.S.  Parsley is alive!!