There are hundreds of ripe cherry tomatoes in the gardens. The boys don’t like to harvest them in one big batch, although I do as they split if they’re too ripe. The boys like to leave them on the vines, at the ready for an afternoon snack, or an after-dinner-snack, or a whenever-they-wander-that-way snack. 

My garden is flourishing, too. After we came home from a weekend get-away to Omaha, I picked 22 early girl and Roma tomatoes! I introduced the boys to the delicacy that is a garden tomato, sprinkling salt and pepper on them or eating them with cottage cheese. Plans for my favorite salsa are in the making, too…

Red! Red is popping up…and hiding everywhere in our gardens! There are dozens of cherry tomatoes free to pick every day now. Some of my larger, Early Girl, tomatoes have been added to the boys’ favorite BLTs. And Morris found one of his chili red peppers ready to pick tonight. Everyone took a tiny bite and then ran for the milk jug to calm their tongues. 

(P.S. Green beans are ready, too!!!)

It’s time to pull out these giants, these givers of large zucchini. And thank you for your fruit.

Morris muscled his out of the garden, and mine came next. 

Our favorite zucchini dish this season was zucchini fries. Panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, and a little salt and pepper. Slice up the zucchini, dip in egg, coat in the crumb concoction. Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes. Basil mayo is a delicious dipping sauce.

It’s that time of year for Art in the Garden, thanks to Iowa State Master Gardeners. We look forward to it every year! We brought along Rex’s long-time friend Brianna and invited Aunt Anne, Cousins Jojo and Cassie, Aunt Lindsay, Cousins Harper and Calvin. It was a beautiful, cool night.

This year, the artist who makes the woodland creatures had some new additions: snakes! Jude picked out the very largest one, and Rex selected a small, knottier one. Morris picked out a cat with a very long tail, and spent his time painting it black and purple. Very cool, Mo!

Rex didn’t feel like painting this year, but he did make me a lovely flower arrangement with wild flowers.

Jude didn’t feel like painting either, but he make a wild flower arrangement and a very cool leaf critter. Check it out!

The boys were really excited about decorating cookies, but there wasn’t a station for that this year… so, Rex found a comfy bench and read, and Jude goofed with Brianna and Rex.

Morris finished his night with an arrangement with very cool tiger lilies! Thanks, again, Master Gardeners!

July 22 – We picked 9!!! cucumbers from Rex’s three plants tonight! I see pickling in our future.

26 + 9 = 35!