Saturday, July 23, 2011

Out Early in the Garden


On these hot days, it's good to get outside by seven or earlier to get the watering done before the sun burns off the morning mist.

It's a good time to pick tomatoes and cucumbers and beans -- and that early light is good for taking pictures.
The bees are at work too.
The tomatoes are afflicted by blight -- I've been removing the affected leaves which is whay the plants look so minimalist.
I'm somewhat schizophrenic in the garden -- pulling weeds, picking tomatoes . . . and then light illumines the graceful curve of a blade of corn and I have to go get my camera.

Sunflowers for the house -- I'm tempted to pick some crepe myrtle but I know how bad it sheds...I'll enjoy it on the tree.
A load of weeds and worm-infested broccoli for the biddies.
And the sunlight transforms a simple Rose of Sharon.
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18 comments:

JJ Roa Rodriguez said...

Lovely pics...

JJRod'z

Victoria said...

Wow, the photo of the leaf and rose of sharon are gorgeous! I like the one of the basket of flowers, too. It's too bad about the blight on your tomatoes. Do you know what causes it?

(I tried putting the antibiotic in Mrs. Rachael Littleface's food, but she wouldn't eat it. However, when I saw her last night and tonight it seems to me the swelling is going down, so I hope the abscess is draining on its own).

Ms. A said...

The mountain morning view is awesome!

Martin said...

Lovely photographs, Vicki. I hear it's a job to stay cool where you are, at the moment. Hope it's not too oppressive.

Marilyn & Jeff said...

It's lovely to come back to your part of the world for a visit and to see your great photos. Thanks for the pesto recipe, I will be trying it out in summer! I am forever amazed at the extremes of heat/cold your summer and winter brings. Here In NZ (my area anyway) our winters aren't very cold and summers aren't very hot.

Thank you for the welcome back on my blog, I am still unsure if I will keep it going or not, I will have to decide!

Friko said...

Lovely photos. The early morning is so full of cool peace, before the day gets it claws into it.

Are you sure the purple flower is a Rose of Sharon? I thought they were exclusively yellow? But then, of course, you may have different varieties over the pond.

Pat in east TN said...

Great pictures Vicki.

Early morning is my favorite time to be in the garden regardless, but with this heat I'm out there earlier then usual. I picked my first tomatoes yesterday and what a wonderful treat! My plants are doing ok and my fingers are crossed that it will stay that way.

Louise said...

Good idea to get the outdoors work done so early. I'm off, in a few minutes to get mine done. You have such a beautiful place to live in, with so much wonderful nature around you.

Vicki Lane said...

It's been dreadfully hot here -- Ethan was up for his belated birthday dinner and I baked a cake yesterday afternoon, thereby making the whole kitchen feel like an oven. It's lovely and cool right now around 7:30 and I'm have beans to blanch and get in the freezer.

Victoria -- that's good to hear!

Friko -- what the folks around here call Rose of Sharon is technically an althea -- I've seen them in white and various shades of pink and purple but never yellow -- the UK version may be something totally different.

Pat -- my Romas and San Marzanos are ripe but all the heirloom tomatoes are still green. Can't wait for a nice Cherokee Purple!

Brian Miller said...

love those sunflowers...been 104 two days in a row here...the garden is not feeling well...

Ellis Vidler said...

The rose of Sharon is lovely. They're a little old-fashioned for many gardens, but I love them. And they're so tough! My hydrangeas are the opposite--they need water all the time. Their leaves are vertical most days now.
Light fascinates me. The glow through the corn leaf is beautiful.

Suz said...

I just love those biddies
We had a few at our old church ;)

Thérèse said...

So many treats, it's wonderful and enjoying them first thing in the morning is even better for later chores to accomplish.

Stella Jones said...

Love love love your pics of the hens and their cockerel. They look so busy with new things to scratch at. What you called Rose of Sharon, we call Lavatera over here? Beautiful views of the morning. Thank you.

Folkways Note Book said...

Vicki -- always refreshing to see photos of nature and all her glories. Wonderful!

BB said...

Vicki, your pictures always make me smile and feel good. Thanks for that!

Tammy said...

Ah...pretty pretty! Esp. love the sunflower. The light, the shadows, even rain can transform what we often see as mundane into something magical and wondrous. Thanks for sharing! It's hot here too. Not much getting done except early morn and almost dark. Really dry too.
Tammy

tipper said...

Mornings are lovely at your house : )