More Flowers. 7.17.22.

 More flowers.  I couldn't help myself LOL.

Crocosmia

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Sweetpeas

 More Rudbeckias

A double, volunteer Shirley Poppy.

Planting Bush Green Beans. 7.17.22.

 With the garlic harvested, I cleaned up the raised bed.  I added coffee grounds (for nitrogen and organic natter) and biochar (for magical goodness).  I watered it, let it soak for a few hours, dug it over, then hand-cultivated.  Depending on who you read, Contender beans start bearing in about 50 to 55 days (Seeds'n'Such says 40 days but I don't believe it) one of the fastest.  They are also considered excellent, stringless green beans.

I also replaced the useless soaker hoses, which I kept tripping over, with 1/4" tubes that have emitters every 6".  The emitters are 1/2 gallon per hour, and the work much better than the soaker hoses which quickly clog up until they don't work at all.  This time I didn't make loops with the tubing, which was part of the problem with the soaker hoses.  Of course, I covered it all with anti-bird netting to give the beans a chance to grow.

Those seeds are pricey, but a packet that size can produce at least fifteen pounds of fresh green beans.  Maybe more.  I might see if I can leave a few plants to mature and make seeds for next year.

Garlic Harvest. 7.17.22

 Today I harvested the main garlic raised bed.  I had let it dry out to cure the bulbs a bit, which made the soil hard and difficult to dig.  The variety is "Music", thought to originate in Italy.

Before.

After.  These garlic bulbs are huge.

Now they will need to cure for a week or two in dry conditions but not in sun.  I'll cut off the tops tomorrow.

Rufus Doing Break Dancing. 7.17.22

 

What's Blooming? 7.17.22

 Salpiglossis.  I've never grown this before.

Statice.  I've never grown these before.

Rudbeckias.  I grew these from seeds, starting mid-winter.  They are just beginning to bloom.

Lilies.  

Tigridia.  This has survived multiple transformations of the kitchen garden over the years, and continues to bloom each year.

Crocosmia. These are perfectly adapted to the climate here.  The survive, thrive, and are brilliant with absolutely no care.

Part of meditation garden so far.  It's Sunday so no construction activity, which is nice.  Blooming has just begun, but there are lots of butterflies, pollinating insects, even dragonflies visiting.  These little videos are kind of low quality.  It's much nicer in person.