how does your garden grow?

[Lady Cop]

knot garden

In Tudor times, clothes would be draped over the weaving box hedge to be fragranced.

Box hedges are recognized for their intricate patterns - intended to be viewed from the mount, raised walks or upper-story windows.

The spaces between the hedges were often filled with flowers, shrubs, or herbs.

[Ma Huang Sor]

That's amazing.

[Duchess]

Oooo kickass door, mullion windows, stone

[Lady Cop]

Oooo kickass door, mullion windows, stone

this is the house Duchess

Washington Old Hall, a 17^th-century manor house still has remnants of the 12^th century dwelling that was home to George Washington's direct ancestors for five generations.

[Duchess]

Gorgeous. It's loaded with charm.

[Lady Cop]

wow! my rhodies are gone, and i have beach roses now, very pretty and frilly.

but my whole street is masses of blue hydrangea!! i just love them, so New Englandy!

and my son grew hollyhocks, they are over 7' tall and just starting to bloom, a deep purple with lots of frills. plus they're attracting hummingbirds~~lovely~~

[Cracker]

but my whole street is masses of blue hydrangea!! i just love them, so New Englandy!

They would be pink here because of the pH of the soil.

[Riotgear]

[LeVamp]

That has proven medicinal properties as a natural relaxant for those who suffer with chronic pain, wtf is wrong with that??

[Riotgear]

That has proven medicinal properties as a natural relaxant for those who suffer with chronic pain, wtf is wrong with that??

Nothing I can think of.

[Lady Cop]

July 4 looking down from my upstairs window, asparagus, broccoli, string beans, tomatoes, young pumpkin vines starting.

[Duchess]

Ooooo brick! What's the brick for? Do you have a project in mind?

[Lady Cop]

Ooooo brick! What's the brick for? Do you have a project in mind?

that's the grill sons built. not fancy, but does the job! i think that's apple wood drying on top.

[Duchess]

I thought you had a pallet of brick & I was itchin' to get my hands on it.

I bet your simple bar-b-cue pit cooks better than my piece of shit stainless grill.

[Lady Cop]

gads the garden is like a jungle!
3 pumpkin patches have taken over the place, and i'm a little worried that these pumpkins may not hang on until october. they are getting big so fast.
broccoli, & the apples are small and green. and the hollyhocks about 10' tall now.

[Lady Cop]

well now the hollyhocks and sunflowers are at least 14' tall!!

and the pumpkins have covered about a half-acre, they are very large. one even grew up a tree and there is a pumpkin hanging from the vine on the tree! hahaha i am waiting for it to fall off.
this is GORGEOUS--->

The "Nigra" variant of Alcea rosea is as nearly black as any flower gets. It is an heirloom variety which Thomas Jefferson grew. The species is native to the Mediterranean region, & has been gardened throughout Europe since at least 1500. The black form was described in 1629 by John Parkinson as, "Of darke red like black blood."
i just love it! and have many blooms.

[Ilyanna]

oooh, the Alcea is beautiful! I've tried to cultivate her for years because of that unique color, but unfortunately, the climate over here seems to be too harsh for her to thrive.

[Lady Cop]

finally! i'm getting some garden tomatoes...mmmmmm they are so good! i can have a dinner of fresh tomatoes and sweet corn and be quite happy~~YUM
i also have green peppers that are HUGE. so i will get some good Italian sausage and cook them up together.

[Barbara]

The garden looks Lovely Lady Cop. The deer ate most of my garden in June. Next year a fence will be in order. I did get two beautiful pumpkins and a few other veggies. If we had to survive from my garden this year, it would not have been good Thanks for sharing the photos.

[Lady Cop]

from a Boston Herald blog. Hot Pickled ‘Maters sound good~



Kerry J. Byrne
Thomas Jefferson’s hot peppers

FISH PEPPERS - These are a Colonial-era heirloom hot pepper. I bought the seeds last year at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s mountain-top home in Virginia. Apparently, our third president ran quite a gift shop. They struggled early in the year to sprout, but are now happy as a hot sauce on a wing. The variegated leaves are beautiful. Peppers aren’t quite ready yet, but can’t wait to try them.





HOT PICKLED ‘MATERS - I preserve green tomatoes and hot peppers together each year to make something called hot pickled ‘maters, and eat them as a tailgate party snack. I read about them years ago in the book about Alabama football called “Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer.” I hunted down the author, who put me in touch with the guy who makes them. Damn hot!

The Hot Food Man’s Hot Pickled ‘Maters
Mason jars with caps and lids
A big pile of green cherry tomatoes
A smaller pile of jalapeno peppers (or other, spicier pepper)
Fresh dill
White vinegar

Clean jars, caps and lids according to directions that come with mason jars. Slice peppers in half, making sure to keep seeds with the peppers (the seeds have all the heat). Fill the jars with about 1 part hot peppers and 5 parts tomatoes – a few pepper halves at the bottom, a bunch of tomatoes, a few more pepper halves in the middle, and more tomatoes. Stick a couple sprigs of fresh dill in the jar.