In the early spring the daffodils and tulips start to poke out of the ground...the 2 lilac bushes begin their blooms soon after. During mid-May, I begin to add veggie, herb, and annual plantings. Also, my parents bring in boxes of dahlia tubers that have been stored in the suburbs over the winter. By July the garden is coming up in full force and the tomatoes are ripening by early August. No matter what time of the gardening season, the patio is open and shaded by a large cafe umbrella - a great setting for an open air lunch with friends or family.
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| The poor parsley...just won't grow this year Jul 10, 2012 | ||
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I can't figure out what is going on with the Italian Flat Leaf Parsley this year. It is barely growing and keeps turning yellow with red veins. Does anyone know what's happening? Is it the extreme heat that we are experiencing? I have been keeping up with the watering. |
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Why not "Ask Ian" -- maybe it will help others as well? |
| Basil-palooza! Jul 09, 2012 | ||
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Last evening involved a gluttony of basil and pasta...not exactly a bad thing, right? I was in the garden late in the afternoon and realized that it was time to harvest a lot of basil. So, when life gives you a ton of basil, you make pesto! And maybe you make some simple tomato sauce with basil as well....it had to be done. ... ...see more |
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Gosh ... I'm hungry now. But hey I do have basil & tomatoes in the garden ... thanks for the inspiration. |
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Basil, I have some... I have never made pesto... but will have to give it a try! |
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Some creepy pests are eating our basil; we never see them but the leaves end up like skeletons. I tried an organic spray and it may be helping, but the plants still look pathetic... I'm jealous of your basil bounty! |
| 1st Cucumber & Tomato of the Season! Jul 07, 2012 | ||
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There's nothing liking watching for the first of each veggie harvest. I've been tracking my first fully-grown pickling cuke for days and days. It was perfect looking and packed a fresh and sweet taste...looking forward to many more. Coincidentally, my first cherry tomato was ready at the same time - a perfectly delightful... ...see more |
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They both look fantastic! I'm still waiting on my first cucumber - they've been a little slow going this year, but I think they aren't too far off now. |
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Oh yum!! Nothing beats veggies from your garden! |
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Congratulations on your sweet success!
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| Everything is early this year! Jul 02, 2012 | ||
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Although we have been having lots of hot temps, the garden is growing in full force - and way ahead of schedule! I have been harvesting lots of herbs - the basil and rosemary are doing especially well. Also, I have tons of pickling cukes coming in. The radishes are in need of a 2nd planting...and the carrots are coming... ...see more |
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I agree, everything is so early this year...and boy do we need rain! |
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So, potatoes in a burlap sack... good thing? I have so many new ideas now, from YGS sites, for planting potatoes... need more feedback to make a good decision for next year. We are having alot ... more » |
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I am so happy for all of you. We were hammered with rain. First warm weather, rain/cold, heat. It is a struggle to try to get a cucumber to come up and survive, I've replanted for the 3rd... more » |
| Corpse Flower at the Franklin Park Zoo (Boston, MA) Jun 20, 2012 | ||
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Some of you may have heard that there have been some Corpse Flowers blooming at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston. Lots of folks lined up to see the huge bloom and to see if it really stinks like they say. I went on the morning of June 20th (Morticia actually bloomed the night before) and it didn't smell too badly...maybe I... ...see more |
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Oh MY, MY that is one HUGE. How wonderful to have seen it and captured it on film. Thank you for sharing!!! |
| Fenway Garden Society Open Gardens (Boylston Section) Jun 20, 2012 | ||
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We held the 1st of 4 Open Garden Nights at the Fenway Victory Gardens. This is a new program that we are trying out, and we had some nice success - impressive given that we were in the middle of a Boston heat wave. There were many familiar faces touring around the gardens...and some new ones too, which is always welcomed.... ...see more |
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| Mass Historical Society celebrates the Fenway Victory Gardens (photos) Jun 05, 2012 | ||
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On June 5th, the Massachusetts Historical Society graciously opened its doors to members of the Fenway Garden Society and the general public to discuss and celebrate the rich history of victory gardens. As many of the documents were under plastic protection, some of the photos were tough to capture so please keep that in mind... ...see more |
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Excellent presentation. Thanks so much for sharing it with us :) |
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Will have to visit...this is 1 hour north of us! |
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I love your post it make me think I am there! |
| A trip to Comstock Ferre (Wethersfield, CT) - 201st anniversary! Jun 03, 2012 | ||
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What better way to spend an overcast Sunday in Boston than to head to a sunny day at Comstock Ferre in Wethersfield, CT? My sister, father, and I took a 2-hour drive down to see our Baker Creek Friends (Jere, Paul, and Kathy), who are usually either in Missouri or California. The Baker Creek and Comstock Ferre teams put together... ...see more |
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Sounds like a great day; love Baker Creek seeds and their mission to preserve heirloom varieties. Thanks for reporting and for all the great pix. |
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What a wonderful excursion. I have seen pictures in the Baker Creek Seed Catalog, and it looks like such a wonderful place. How neat to go there and see the history first hand, let alone to be there ... more » |
| Kristen's Buzz May 23, 2012 | |
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I am growing potatoes this year and have been on the lookout for new recipes...this one is tasty (just made it at lunch today)! http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/crispy-smashed-potatoes.html?cm_ven=outbrain&cm_cat=Crispy-Smashed-Potatoes&cm_pla=defau
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Sounds yummy! |
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Glad to hear that you all found the posting helpful...I'll keep my eyes peeled for other recipes...please share ones that you find - thanks! |
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I just made these last week w/herb crusted grilled NY strip & grilled veggies...they are good & fun! |
| Evidence of grapes - psyched! May 21, 2012 | ||
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Over the past week or so I have been noticing some small growth of fruit on my two grape vines. I was originally told that they would fruit during the third year. As it is only the second year that the vines have been in my garden, I was excited to start seeing the tiny fruit emerge between the leaves. As the vines slowly... ...see more |
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| Mayor Menino's organic TOMato plant giveaway May 14, 2012 | ||
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On Saturday, the Mayor of Boston (Tom Menino) was out in the gardens giving away 2012 free organic tomato plants (courtesy of Mahoney's Garden Centers). Plenty of Fenway Garden Society and Parks Department representatives were on hand, as well as local politicians. There was a fantastic band (hopefully we'll get them to play... ...see more |
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| Season of Giving has commenced May 14, 2012 | ||
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Part of gardening (and especially community gardening) is about sharing. I was reminded of this the other week when my garden neighbor Arthur gave me some onions that he had planted last year - just now ready to be plucked from the ground. As he is more of a veggie gardener, I gave him some jonquils and tulips - he pointed... ...see more |
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I make crisp out of most kinds of fruit; I bet a rhubarb crisp would be tasty... or strawberry-rhubarb; maybe with chopped almonds added to the topping? It is fun to be part of a gardening community. And h... more » |
| Dahlias come back to the city May 13, 2012 | ||
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Each year my parents are the winter caretakers of my dahlias (3 full bushel baskets) - they store them in their cool and dry suburban basement from October until May. When it is time to put them in the ground again, my father also supplies me with some annuals (snapdragons, impatiens, state fair zinnias, dusty miller), veggies... ...see more |
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it looks great! what a wonderful family gardening tradition... looking forward to seeing things flourish. |
| Planted the Potatoes! May 08, 2012 | ||
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I planted my potatoes in a burlap coffee sack (purchased for 50 cents at Polcari's in the North End - if you live in Boston and don't know it, you should make a plan to drop in). Two days prior I cut a couple of the seed potatoes in half so that the skin would have time to harden off before I placed them in the soil. The... ...see more |
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This looks like a cool technique for growing spuds. This is our second year for potatoes and we missed some when we dug them last year so have a few volunteers that I hated to yank so I put them in a big p... more » |
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Looks like you will have some nice potatoes soon! |
| Outsmarting the Bunnies....I hope! May 02, 2012 | ||
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After being proud of my pea seedlings last year and then seeing them munched on by bunnies soon after, I am going to be a bit smarter in 2012. My father gave me two wooden frames last year, so I'll put those to good use by adding some wire fencing to them. Hopefully that'll do the job...unless the bunnies are even more clever... ...see more |
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