We've had a couple of cloudy days, and that means slightly cooler temps -- of course, saying that it's been "cooler" is being generous. It was 90-95 instead of 100-105. But still, cooler just the same. That's all about to change, so I thought I'd better document the garden before it shrivels up from the blazing HOT sunshine we're about to endure in August.
Here's a rough sketch to give you an idea of what's where. If you click on this image, it will display much larger for you, and hopefully you can read my chicken scratch handwriting.
I had to put up a last minute make-shift trellis for the cucumbers that have overtaken the place. I planted them along the fence thinking they would trellis up the fence. But nooooooo, 90% of them decided to grow out into the grass, making it difficult to find the cucumbers. So, before they got too out of control, I put up a string trellis and started them growing UP! I purposely left the string of the trellis rather loose, so I could still reach through and get to the plants closer to the fence. Believe it or not, there are pole beans growing up the fence (as well as up a handful of mammoth sunflowers), and I'll need to be able to reach through to pick the beans.
These two cucumbers thought they were hiding from me.... not likely! They're about to be made into pickles!
Here you can see how far the trellis is from the fence. So far I haven't had trouble getting to the farthest back branches -- we'll see if I continue to have good luck with it. If it starts to get challenging, I can always reach my hands through the fence from inside the chicken yard. See those sunflowers in the background? They're nearly taller than the coop! The tallest is about 10' tall!
Here's another cucumber that decided to grow inside the chicken yard. Brave little cucumber, brave.
On the other side of the coop, things are just as out of control.
The squash has completely out grown the boundaries of the raised bed it's planted in. You can see where the corners of the raised bed are -- they're marked with the stakes. So much for having 3' walkways between the beds! Behind the squash pit is a raised bed of beans and more sunflowers, and then of course the corn bed.
The other side of the squash pit is just as crazy. And the plants are putting on blooms like you wouldn't believe! I think we're going to be in squash heaven soon... I can't wait for all the sunflowers to open up as well! I planted them in the center of the squash pit, knowing they'd be able to grow up from the center without disturbing the squash plants.
There are also a few cucumber plants in the squash pit, too. Cucumbers everywhere, I tell you! Even in the corn!
The corn bloomed and covered everything in the area with corn pollen. If you look closely, you can see that we even have some ears of corn on the stalks! Very exciting! They've got pretty red tassels. We had a big gust of wind come through yesterday , and it really put a lean on the corn. I strung a wire between two corner posts on the raised bed, and that helped keep the corn from being blown over completely. Today it's standing up nice, straight and tall again.
Directly behind the bean and corn beds is a watermelon plant, followed by a row of pepper plants. The peppers looked really sorry for a long while, and are just now starting to look like they might actually produce some peppers. A few of the plants have little peppers on them, and others are just starting to put on blooms. Like everything, they got a little late start, but that's ok... better late than never!
Behind the row of peppers is a row of tomato plants that have yet to be found by the hornworms. Cross your fingers that they stay hidden from those buggers! Oh, and see that squash plant that LOOKS like it's in the same row as the tomatoes? Well, it's not. But it is taking over... it has grown so far away from it's own row that it is now at the end of the tomatoes, and moving it's way towards the end of the pepper row! I wonder, will it ever stop!? There is a pumpkin vine, and watermelon vine, working their way past those rows, too. They're on the move.
Behind the tomatoes are two rows of yellow squash, and then the pumpkins and watermelon plants! They are really growing! They have sent long runners up about half the length of the garden. I had to mow an area next to the garden so I could direct the pumpkin runners to the open area, instead of letting them take over the tomato, squash, and pepper rows. Every day looks different in the garden. Things are growing so fast, considering these plants weren't even started until June!
I've got big melons! *Hahahaa* Ok -- seriously, the cantaloupes are growing!
I am very excited about the sunflowers, too. I've never really had good luck growing sunflowers, and this year it seems like they're doing great! I love the cheery spots of color they add.
I love that they stand tall along the chicken yard fence, and provide a natural shade for the ducks and chickens to enjoy. And the Wheelie bugs like them, too!
Oh, and this pretty flower is blooming in the garden too... anyone know what it is? I only planted Four o'Clocks and nasturtiums in the garden, and this is neither. I wonder if it was a misplaced seed in one of the packets. Everything about this plant is somewhat sticky. The flowers are pretty large ... not quite 2" wide. UPDATE: Thanks to a WONDERFUL blog reader, Carol Dee, for identifying this flower as a WEED! Hahaa! Just my luck! Seems it's a Martynia, often called Devil's Claw or Unicorn Plant, from the Pedaliaceae family. Thanks so much Carol! How interesting!
Finally, here's a photo especially for my friend Jennifer..... *giggle* Here's lookin' at you!
So Sneak Peek away! 
