the big day

Tomorrow is a big day.

It's my last official day of The Unusual Urban Garden as I know it today. SAD!! I'm still going to come back and harvest some things via my wonderful neighbors. The new tenants are excited about gardening, so that makes me really happy! 

Mica's peeking around the soy beans up top, then my massive mess of cherry tomat's and my wonderfully lopsided growing cucumber! My FIRST cucumber!!

the take over

The vines are taking over! The morning glories have completely consumed my planter bed... that's the first picture -- you can't even tell what that is!! Look closely,  you'll see some collard greens!

Then you have the vines pulling the tomato plant away, all my tomatoes!!

boys and girls get your raffle tickets ready

 

"One of the most satisfying aspects of growing plants, including cacti and other succulents, is propagation of your plants to share with others, as raffle prizes and for the sales table. "

- www.succulent-plant.com

And there you have it, what more could you really want? Propogate something today for your raffle prize!! Duh!!

I actually haven't officially tried to propogate anything, I just saw off-shoots from the aloe and the spiny thing and put in in this pot from Viv. She thought the middle guy was dead, but really he revived and planted himself sideways... roots just grew right out of his side. I have no idea why he is a he... 

The succulents that I have the most trouble with are the donkey tail. So cool, but they always shed the little bubble leaves. If you look closely, you can see the bubble leaf is bubbling up with tiny little buds. We'll see if they take. Succulents are so easy when you can leave them outside, it's the time indoors that freaks me out because my thumb isn't so green when it comes to winter plant-care. 

Check out tips at  www.succulent-plant.com

pickled piper peppered pickler

The urban garden is really kickin' right now. Check out the curled cucumber! It's really spiky and the spikes are sharp!
The cherry tomatoes are going crazy! I've had 1-3 at a time and it looks like we'll be able to harvest 10 at a time!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

cool as a cucumber

Growing food is so cool! Look at these little cukes!! I love how the flowers become a little trumpet announcing the arrival of prickly baby cukers. I am fascinated everyday by the things growing in my urban garden. I love that bees, butterflies and birds find refuge in the mini eco-system that grows back here.

Doesn't the last photo look like it could be a Tim Burton drawing? Maybe he was inspired by gardening!

complimentary colors

Try this refreshing drink on a hot day - it's delightful. Crushed basil (from the garden), muddled mint and one steeped teabag (I used Mighty Tea, citrus chamomile) in a pitcher of ice. Fill glasses with ice add pomegranate seeds for color. Serve and be cooled.

I have to share complete complimentary colored meal - spinach, baby beets, pom seeds and pine nuts drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

one little tomater

My friends Lauren and Viv were the first to try a cherry tomato from the garden. It was wonderfully sweet and juicy. 


As pictured above, the garden is doing well. The morning glories are taking over from the rope trellis I put around the raised garden bed. I blogged about how to diy here. Can you believe the difference?! The white container hanging off the side is filled with bee-friendly plants (more about that here) and I am happy to relay the success of the bee mix - the bees and butterflies love it! The pak choy is exploding, a few cherry tomatoes are ready to be plucked from the vine, cucumber flowers promise some yummy cukes and then a pic of me (courtesy of Viv) cutting the first cherry tomato to share the first taste. Yum!