Category Archives: Life

Our first year growing pumpkins was moderately successful. We harvested around 7 or 8 pumpkins.

Our second year, almost every vine was ravaged by squash bugs. I’m pretty sure we only harvested 2 small, sickly and slightly orange pumpkins.

We are now in our third year and the pumpkins are promising a huge yield. We have three small patches with pumpkins at various stages of growth.

We’ve already harvested three small ones. The boys were so eager to pick them. Joe in particular.

“Let’s get them and cut the seeds out, Mommy. Pleeeeeease?”

I, of course, gave in and we picked a few of the orangest, roundest pumpkins. The boys took them in and set them on the kitchen table.

Then, Joe got out a pair of practice scissors–the plastic kind used to cut paper shapes out–and tried to cut the stem off.

I just smiled and shook my head.

We’ll let the rest keep growing so that we’ll have a couple of loaded pumpkin patches come October.

If I can keep squashing squash bug eggs and feeding them to the chickens.

Pumpkins are growing
Orange peeks out under green leaf
Our Autumn oranges

While we were gone over the weekend, two tragedies occurred.

Our dill forrest drowned and turned brown. It was leaning over on all the broccoli and tomatoes so I cut most of it out.

The boys were playing outside while I chopped their forest/hideout/cave/house down. They were, understandably, sad but kept up a brave face while they searched for another black swallowtail caterpillar amidst the wreckage.

And, as if that weren’t enough, my cactus flowers bloomed and died. I didn’t get to see the pretty pink petals as they only last for 1 day.

This is a picture of last year’s beauty.

One bud remains and I’m hoping I’ll be around to see it bloom.

After pulling out all the dead dill and some of the dead borage, I destroyed some squash bug eggs to vent my frustration.

There was quite a build up over the weekend so the chickens were thrilled with all the dill, borage and egg laden squash leaves.

Overnight (so it seems), our garden has grown into a jungle. All of the rain we’ve had lately has supercharged roots and shoots providing an abundance of green growth.

Kitchen Garden

The mystery squash still grows in the kitchen garden. It’s started to take over the carrots and tomatoes so I’ve trimmed it back a bit but I am reluctant to tear it out completely. I don’t know what it is. I have my suspicions that it’s pumpkin, but no confirmation yet.

Random squash in garden

Squash taking over the carrots

The amaranth and borage are both flowering providing a beautiful contrast of purple and scarlet.

Raspberries we transplanted have survived and thrived with the wet conditions in the swales.

The comfrey we planted last year started to flower and was looking great…but the water got a bit too close and now the leaves are turning brown and wilty. Too much water? I think so.

The sunflowers and jerusalem artichokes are both climbing higher and higher and have outstripped the boys in height.

Around front, the rose bushes have started to spread. I found a new rooted bush growing a foot in front of the original bushes.

And the chicken wars are fully and finally over. Hostilities are at an end and, as long as there is a steady supply of watermelon, the hens have even stopped the dirty looks and squawking.

Our new girls have started laying eggs and we are getting around 10 a day.

Roots and shoots growing
The bird wars at an end
Flowers and buds are sprouting
To the garden now we tend