It’s HOT, HOT, HOT
We’re having a bit of a heat wave here in NE Ohio. In addition to being hot, it’s pretty humid, which isn’t a good combination. We have some weather like this each year, but this year seems to be particularly bad. Normally our hot temps come in late July or Aug, hopefully it isn’t this hot until then.
On top of the heat, it’s been pretty dry here as well, so the gardens are getting a little wilted. That means lots of watering. It’s a good thing I have those rain barrels to keep me from using so much city water. Not to mention the plants like it better, no chlorine.
I always enjoy using a watering can to water, but when it gets this hot everything needs a lot of water and I just don’t have the time. Last summer Mr Chiots installed a water pump on my rain barrels so I could use a sprinkle or hose. It’s quite nice and it sure saves me a lot of time when it comes to watering, although not as good for building biceps.
I enjoy watering in the evening, I always feel like the water has a chance to soak in and the plants can drink before the sun starts beating down on them. Some people say you should water in the morning. In my mind I think evenings are more natural. Often on hot humid days thunderstorms pop up in late afternoons, so nature often waters in the evenings. I’ve never had issues with mildew or any of the issues that are mentioned for avoiding evening watering.
When do you like to water your garden?
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Quote of the Day: William Carlos Williams
“In summer, the song sings itself.”
~ William Carlos Williams
The other evening I was out trying to capture the beauty of a summer evening. I planted a ton of chamomile this year, so I would have a great harvest for teas. I’m disappointed that the plants are tall and leggy, and not looking too nice in the location I have them. However the other night the light was just right and they were definitely singing the song of summer. I think this captured the mood that evening beautifully.
What’s singing to you in your garden right now?
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Happy 4th of July and a Winner
Happy 4th of July from Chiot’s Run. Hope you enjoy a beautiful holiday weekend filled with cookouts, fireworks, gardening, family parties and other fun things.
For the 4th of July I decided to pick the winner of Stay by Allie Larkin. The radom number generator picked Sta. Congrats.
Hope you all have a wonderful day whether you live here in the US or abroad.
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Loving Fresh Herbs
One of the things I love about spring/summer/fall, is that I can use tons of fresh herbs when I cook. There’s nothing better than a roasted chicken with fresh lemon thyme, or fresh chives added to a final dish. I do keep a few herbs as potted houseplants for winter use, but the herbs just taste so much fresher and better when they’re outside getting some real sunlight and rain.
I think my most favorite herb would have to be lemon thyme. It’s so fresh and delicious, tasty on anything I add it to. I use this herb all the time in so many things, it’s especially good added fresh to rice and vegetable dishes.
Each and every year I add a new herb or two to my gardens. This past week I found a fuzzy leaf oregano ‘Dittany of Crete’, not sure what this will be like for eating texture wise, but I do love the way fuzzy leaved plants look.
What’s your favorite garden fresh herb?
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Little Yellow Wonder Strawberries
Last year, on a whim, I purchased a packet of ‘Yellow Wonder’ strawberry seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. I started the seeds mid-summer and planted them in my garden in the fall.
The plants are compact, about 8-10 inches tall and very lush. I’m using them as a ground cover and edging in the front foundation garden. ‘Yellow Wonder’ is an alpine strawberry, so it doesn’t put off runners. This is why they’re in the front garden, I don’t have to worry about them taking over like some strawberry plants might.
The best part of these strawberries is that they’re everbearing, meaning they’ll bear fruit all summer long and into fall. They started producing a few berries in the spring, when the regular strawberry plants fruited. I wasn’t sure I would like them at that time, the fruit seemed a little mushy and they weren’t producing very many berries. About mid-June things changed. They started producing nicely and the fruit tastes much better, I’m actually quite fond of them now. They have an exotic flavor much like passion fruit, they’re really wonderful topping a salad.
Being able to grow interesting varieties of thing is one of the reasons I garden and grow edible things. I’m quite certain I never would have tasted a yellow strawberry had I not planted them in my own garden. Now I’ll be enjoying these little yellow beauties on my salads all summer long!
Do you have any interesting varieties of fruits or vegetables you’d discovered?
