These are my favorite posts of yours! I go gaga for the pictures. Your plants are really healthy. I'm sure it's that good soil that has sat untilled for awhile, not to mention the cow patties or whatever aged manure you mixed in. I notice the lack of disease on your plants even well into the season. (Of course we're all prone to taking the most flattering pics, but still.)
The Upper Midwest seems like a marvelous place to garden. About 25 years ago when I had massive vegetable gardens with a girlfriend in upstate NY, on an old horse farm, we'd get harvests like this.
Fantastic that on only 1/3 acre, you were able to get all this stored food for yourself, and you mentioned before that you gave lots away as well. It goes to show that you don't need much land for food production at all unless you intend to have larger animals. You could do this on a large enough city or suburban backyard with proper attention to the soil and plant nutrition.
Do you keep any chickens?
Can I quit my job and come be your gardening student next summer? Will work for vegetables and flowers. (Only half kidding!)
On a more serious note, I am hoping to buy a house in the next year and conversion of most of the "grounds" into raised beds to make gardens like this is a primary goal.
Dragonflies are great for eating mosquitos and some insects that would go after the garden plants. Of course you would be able to visit, or we could just talk on the phone about your gardening plans this winter. And yes, the homewoner's son keeps about 30 sheep here in the summer, and there is about 20 years of piled up sheep litter. The garden was also part of a cattle pasture for 30 years 20-50 years ago.
Wow, wow, wow! Your intention, focus, and hard working are paying off in both food and flowers (well, I know the pollinators help with all of it, too)! I am duly impressed, Hunter. Those are the most beautiful Hollyhocks I have ever seen. We had light pink ones at the ranch in Wisconsin and I never cared for them; yours are stunning! Also, the root cellar is such a great idea. Isn't it reassuring that you know how to both grow food AND build shit?!🔨🪚🔩🪜😄
I have been looking forward to photos of your fall garden - thank you. The Blue Morning Glory is glorious! I imagine your harvesting was a tad sad, knowing that you have one more. Before winter. I wonder if you will see polinators in the fall and winter.
Maybe another month of pollinators. Yes, it will be a bit sad when all the plants die in about 45 days and all the food is harvested. But at least I have the garden center indoor plants to take care of all winter.
In about a week though there will be hundreds of the glories flowering :)
Thank you! Where you are a bird might drop the seeds. Here the seeds rarely mature, the flowers opening so late in the season. They are one of my favorite things this time of the year.
These are my favorite posts of yours! I go gaga for the pictures. Your plants are really healthy. I'm sure it's that good soil that has sat untilled for awhile, not to mention the cow patties or whatever aged manure you mixed in. I notice the lack of disease on your plants even well into the season. (Of course we're all prone to taking the most flattering pics, but still.)
The Upper Midwest seems like a marvelous place to garden. About 25 years ago when I had massive vegetable gardens with a girlfriend in upstate NY, on an old horse farm, we'd get harvests like this.
Fantastic that on only 1/3 acre, you were able to get all this stored food for yourself, and you mentioned before that you gave lots away as well. It goes to show that you don't need much land for food production at all unless you intend to have larger animals. You could do this on a large enough city or suburban backyard with proper attention to the soil and plant nutrition.
Do you keep any chickens?
Can I quit my job and come be your gardening student next summer? Will work for vegetables and flowers. (Only half kidding!)
On a more serious note, I am hoping to buy a house in the next year and conversion of most of the "grounds" into raised beds to make gardens like this is a primary goal.
As I'm sure you know, the dragonflies are predators. Your garden seems full of healthy arthropod life. Another key to a good garden.
Dragonflies are great for eating mosquitos and some insects that would go after the garden plants. Of course you would be able to visit, or we could just talk on the phone about your gardening plans this winter. And yes, the homewoner's son keeps about 30 sheep here in the summer, and there is about 20 years of piled up sheep litter. The garden was also part of a cattle pasture for 30 years 20-50 years ago.
Your photos sure make me smile!
Thank you.
Wow, wow, wow! Your intention, focus, and hard working are paying off in both food and flowers (well, I know the pollinators help with all of it, too)! I am duly impressed, Hunter. Those are the most beautiful Hollyhocks I have ever seen. We had light pink ones at the ranch in Wisconsin and I never cared for them; yours are stunning! Also, the root cellar is such a great idea. Isn't it reassuring that you know how to both grow food AND build shit?!🔨🪚🔩🪜😄
Thanks! I could build a house from foundation to finish. There are also nearly black hollyhocks by the barn.
I have been looking forward to photos of your fall garden - thank you. The Blue Morning Glory is glorious! I imagine your harvesting was a tad sad, knowing that you have one more. Before winter. I wonder if you will see polinators in the fall and winter.
Maybe another month of pollinators. Yes, it will be a bit sad when all the plants die in about 45 days and all the food is harvested. But at least I have the garden center indoor plants to take care of all winter.
In about a week though there will be hundreds of the glories flowering :)
Beautiful and congratulations, William! So much hard work. I'm honored to have witnessed it.
Those heavenly blue morning glories have shown up outside my window, climbing a purple flowering vine. I don't remember planting them. An omen?
Thank you! Where you are a bird might drop the seeds. Here the seeds rarely mature, the flowers opening so late in the season. They are one of my favorite things this time of the year.
Yes, they were quite a nice surprise, since the purple flowers (I'm forgetting what they are) are long gone until next spring.
Great pictures. Have a great fall. Winter unfortunately will soon follow🌨
You too. Hopefully though not a freeze for another month!