Home of Stella's Gardens

We are now living full time in Northeast Iowa, and working on the new gardens. It will keep us busy for quite a while...

As an avid gardener since I was about 7 years old, that gives me over 45 years of experience gardening in this part of the world. And every year teaches me a bit more.


Sunday, July 10, 2011

It Is Summer No Doubt

It is Summer, you bet.
But it is Summer of Temps in the mid-upper 80s and DP in the 70s, smurky but the garden is loving it all.

It could be mid-upper 90s and DP in the 80s where even the garden in miserable so I am happy.  Out early to weed and feed and pamper them, then an evening of culinary delights. 

Actually the weekend was awesome - smoked three racks of baby backs in the brand new smoker, and next night spatchcocked chicken grill, with pasta and the last of last year's frozen Annie's tomato sauce (this year's herbs for freshness.)   And for the dessert (and a breakfast!!) strawberry shortcake yumm! There are some leftover biscuits so with leftover chicken, there will be awesome chicken ala king.

As usual the house is marginal but the gardens are in pretty awesome form!   Summer goodness.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Midsummer...Ok well after that

So it's well after midsummer, what can I say?
It was a late onset with the cool temps and damp conditions and as usual we've transitioned step-wise to warmer and drier.  The veggies are loving it.  The wildflowers transplanted one day before the hot hot hot three days were not happy.  Some have survived the ordeal but this just might be an awesome year for the mates and peppas (no jinx!!)
Home garden has awesome progress - cuke flowers, several salsa hybrid peppers well grown and one fine sweet pepper started.  Baby mates and herbs looking good.  Tomatoes are setting and the plants will outgrow their supports before its all done...
I love gardening, I just don't get to do it all the time.