Tomato Update 2013

Cherokee Purple Tomato

Long overdue update on my tomatoes for 2013.  I only planted 8 this year as I have had so many projects going on that I didn't want to put in as many as I have the previous years, plus I just don't need as many as I have had in the past. I still have quite a few jars and bags still in the freezer.  This year we will just eat what we grow and probably not do a lot of canning, that will be determined as to how much of a crop I get this year.

I did plant two types of cherry tomatoes this year. A Black Cherry and a Super Sweet 100 cherry. I generally don't plant cherry tomatoes as I like the flavor of all the heirloom, large fruits, but I got lazy and decided if I didn't have time to work in the garden the cherries would be easier to handle.

 I picked our first batch of summer squash last Friday so we are on our way!  The cherry tomatoes should be getting ripe any day now, the rest will be coming in sometime in July, probably early July with the looks of the plants. We have lots of fruit on the vines and so far not a worm in site.  The Orioles are doing a great job of keeping an eye on the plants. They and the Mockingbirds love to sit atop the wood cages and dive into the plants looking for worms.

San Marzano, still small but sprawling on the back side. Lots of tomatoes on the vines.

San Marzano

Gold Medal

Super Sweet 100 cherry tomato

Goliath

Dr. Wyche, planted in mid-May

Stupice Tomato, planted in mid-May

Crook-neck summer squash

Patty Pan or Scallop summer squash

Yellow striped Mexican zucchini

Black Heirloom cherry tomato

Oriole Nesting in Liquidambar Tree

The nest has been in the Liquid Amber tree (liquidambar styraciflua) for several weeks now.

Look at how beautiful the nest is made.

Finely woven with grasses.  This is one reason I don't like to do a lot of weeding around the property.  The birds use so many native grasses for their nests. 

The nest is at the very bottom of the branch on the left.  It looks closer to the patio cover here, but it is actually a few feet above it.  This is right outside my patio door off the kitchen. I can here the female chatter each time she returns to the nest. 

Here is a photo of the male just after a dip in the birdbath.  So far I have not had the camera ready when the female comes by. 

Kitchen Remodel Update, Painted Chairs, Thrift Store Cabinet

 Here is the dresser I bought at a thrift store for $40.00.  I removed the four long drawers in the front and also the doors. I first painted the drawers and doors along with the cabinet itself in the sage green color, but since have decided to leave the drawers out and keep the doors off.  I removed the upper and lower braces from the drawers and will put in 2 pine shelves.  I also cut two pine boards for the cabinet sides to use as shelves.  The top will have a nice pine plank top. 

It originally had four drawers. I was going to keep two for linens, but they were not very secure so out they came. I removed all but one of the braces. The photo below shows one on the bottom half which I have since removed.  The shelf will sit on the center one.

the photo below shoes the cabinet with two drawers still in, but these have since been removed and the shelves added.

I painted the old green chairs this color. I used Behr's Chipotle Pepper then antiqued them with the custom Poblano Pepper color I had them mix up for me.  That is the color I painted the island. The white table in the picture is one that I painted last fall and now I am going to paint it again! I will use the same chipotle and poblano colors I used on the chairs, but may make it a bit more of the poblano color just to mix it up a bit. 

I also found this fabric that I will use for the glass door drapery and may also use it on the kitchen (sink) window. I want to get a nice textured blind for that window so I may just make a valance out of this fabric or may use it with the stripe fabric that is on the chairs. 

Mother Nature is showing her colors in my gardens.

I have named a few of my flowers for you, but as Walt says....

"You must not know too much, or be too precise or scientific about birds and trees and flowers... a certain free margin, and even vagueness...perhaps ignorance, credulity helps your enjoyment of these things."  -Walt Whitman

French Lavender in the herb garden

About Face

About Face

Marmalade Skies

This is Mr. Lincoln

Madarense Geranium bloomed early this year

Pomegranate tree is just beginning to blossom

More Birdwatching

I finally was able to get a couple of photos of the Oriole in the birdbath yesterday afternoon.

Our little House Wren nests each year. I love to hear their sweet songs.

Here are three birdhouses that the House Wren can choose from.

Normally the house above is the one they use, very small and often times they have 5 chicks! 

 I think this is the one they chose this year.