Kicking off summer

Everything around the homestead is growing well now that we're rolling past spring and into early summer.  The insect problems of March and April are now pretty much gone thanks to some liberal and regular applications of diatomaceous earth, and the plants which were damaged have rallied and are flowering.

This is when gardening becomes a pleasure and a profit; when you can design your evening meals around what's ripe for the picking outside.  Soon I will be able to have fried squash blossoms and farmer's market sandwiches (eggplant, squash, tomato, onions, basil, and feta cheese on homemade bread which is then basted/doused in olive oil and grilled like a panini, in a cast iron pan), two of my favorite summer meals.  

It will also be time soon to begin canning tomatoes.  If my kitchen is inoperable at this time due to the remodel, this may prove challenging, luckily for us tomato season lasts until about November, so eventually my excuse will no longer be valid and I'll have to get to work!

Herb garden is ready for picking

Tomatoes are getting bigger

Eggplant blossoms are so pretty

Soon-to-be monster squash