My walk in the yard this morning

Morning Glory

Crept Myrtle

Turkey made from a propane tank

Brass Bed - Strawberry plants are behind flowers

Zinnia - they look so vintage as they are dying

Zinnia

Zinnia

Black Eyed Susan

Gerber Daisy

This is a sweet potato vine growing in one of my

compost beds.  I had 2 sweet potatoes that we did not eat and

they started sprouting...so I buried them in the compost

early in Spring. Did you know if you put a sweet potato

in a jar with water a plant will grow. 

Great project for kids.

Cotton is growing in the field in back of sweet potatoes.

Marigolds

I call this a trumphet vine

Bell Pepper plants - lots of small peppers are still

on the plants

Eggplant is still hanging in there.

Hope everyone has a really great week!

Maxie

Toadstools in the back yard

I opened the back door

this morning and was greeted by toadstools..

the round one above was not there yesterday...they seem to

grow overnight...and so perfect and such detail..this one (above)

 looks like a fried egg

There's an abundance of skinks this summer..they are

quite friendley and will pose for the camera

We were eating last night and noticed that the cat was

looking at something through

the window...at first we thought it was

a snake in the shrubry but it was a skink. 

We have blue and black flourescent color ones too.

Looks like they are

finding plenty to eat..they appear to be quite healthy.

Harvesting the fruits of our labor

I made some pickled okra yesterday..my sister requested it to give to her grandson.  Why does the okra float to the top after processing...I packed it so tight before pouring the brine in. This has a clove of garlic, few mustard seeds and celery seed in each jar and the brine is water, vinegar and salt.









                                                                                  

Butternut squash growing in compost

Potatoes growing in compost...in the very back of the potatoes near the concrete block are two butternut squash plants. The potatoes will be gone long before the squash need the space to spread. The compost pile is about 15 inches deep. No shovel was needed to dig the potatoes and the compost required very little water to produce a healthy plant.  If you have a compost heap that is not turning to black compost as quickly as you think it should, cover it with black plastic. The heat from the sun speed up the process. Do not add any raw veggies to it during this time. I almost spent a couple hundred dollars on a compost drum before I tried the black plastic...the latter was much cheaper. They are really easy to start...you will be surprised at what you have when you start saving all the raw excess of vegetables.

This is our harvest of butternut squash...plus we have already eaten 6. This basket full weighs 34 pounds.  We had 4 plants...the most productive vines were planted in the compost pile. We have three compost bins going, each at different stages of decomposition.

The garden has been a really big success, but I could not have done it alone...my hubsand tills the soil and helps plant and lay out the plastic between the rows and once in a while I can get him to help me pull weeds and cut okra.  Love you!! and thanks for all your help.

The garden is at the end of producing, there's still a little okra, jalapeno peppers, banana peppers and bell peppers, but only involves a little of my time...I am glad to return to crafting...time is just flying by.  When I start seeing fall crafts other bloggers have made, I know it is time for me to get busy.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!