I got a bit behind, so this post is two answers for the price of one!

salamandras asked: What are your favorite plants to grow?

I consider myself still very much a novice gardener! So this is not a particularly exciting answer. I really enjoy beans, tomatoes, and carrots, because they all grow well in my region, are relatively hardy and easy to grow, and taste so much better than the storebought versions. I'm not one to ever shame people for doing what they need to in terms of getting food on the table, so this isn't a "farmers market only" post--but homegrown tomatoes straight from the garden are one of the best things in the whole world.

Actually, according to my mom, when I was about 2 and she was working in the garden with me in a baby carrier on her back [this was the 80s, my parents were hippies], I would reach over her shoulder and pick tomatoes and then snack away on them. So I guess I started young!

forestofglory asked: your favorite fried foods

Ooh, I have two answers for this, an at-home version and an eating-out version.

At home: I don't deep fry food at home that often, but when I do, it's almost always a cutlet. Put a little seasoning and dredge it in some breadcrumbs, eat with mustard (for dipping) and salad. Amazing.

Eating out: crispy potatoes. Fries and hashbrowns are my favorite, but they must be crispy and well seasoned and hot.

The user pic is from my harvest this morning! Cornflowers, nasturtium, mint & basil, tomatoes & a lone green bean. 

- first round of peas are done--I stir-fried the stems and they were delicious but a little too tough
- beans are about done, but my mom recommended letting the plants stay to see if they'll produce a second harvest
- I think the nasturtiums are about done too

- tomatoes are about to overwhelm me...in a good way! The cherry tomatoes are ripening & the larger tomatoes are getting big & beautiful
- cauliflowers are growing very slowly
- cornflowers are lovely & I'm so glad I planted them <3
- carrots are getting closer to harvest-ready
- a few ripening strawberries!!
- mint, basil, & rosemary are doing well

My big disappointment are the peppers & eggplants, which aren't doing particularly well. I found out after we planted them that they're not good companion plants and I think that might be part of it. Also, there was one little baby eggplant and something ate it. I was really looking forward to making baba ganoush, so I'm sad. But I think gardening is all about trying things and making mistakes and trying again. 

 katharhino asked about the native plant garden we have planned for the front yard and I'll try to find my notes and share it soon! The milkweed seedlings I got this spring are doing really well & I hope to plant them in August.

For right now, the garden is definitely a balm in the middle of troubled times. I know it's a bit cheesy, but it's also true--spending a little bit of time every day that I can is really giving me some strength to move forward. 

Sprouting:
- bachelors buttons
- beets
- carrots
- nasturtiums
- beans
- peas

rhubarb is growing another stalk! blueberry bush is growing some more leaves! tomatoes show signs of blooming!

R & I transplanted some more of the lily/iris mystery plants over the weekend. they'r'e looking a bit peaky, tbh--I hope some of them perk up!

nothing is quite ready for thinning or harvesting yet, but we're getting there!! it's been abnormally rainy this year and I'm hoping we get some warmer weather/sun soon. 

updated garden album