Harvesting the Garden, plus Newborn Puppies!

I’m really liking these Gelber Englischer Custard summer squash.  The plant is producing prolifically, and one of these little guys is just right to cook for either a snack, or as a side dish for one person.

They have a better flavor, I think, than the standard pattypans I grew last year.

The winter squash are also coming along well.  I have a few good-sized hubbards, which I’m very happy about.  Last year, my blue hubbards won my winter squash taste test.

And the Sweet Dumpling is turning into a jungle.  It is one of the varieties I planted in the cold frames, and most of what you see below is it.

There are a TON of little squash on it, and at least one (that I’ve found) is quite large.

I’ve never tasted a sweet dumpling before, so I hope I like it.  I’m not even sure how I ended up planting one.  I know I didn’t buy seeds; it must have been one my friend gave me.

The fig tree is up to nine little figs now.  The two largest ones are actually ripe.  We picked one earlier and ate it.

I have to say I’m still not really a fan.  Mom loves them, though, so pretty much this tree is for her.

The millet is looking so wonderful.  It won’t be long now, until it’s time to harvest.  I’m definitely planting a bunch of this next year.  It’s super easy to grow, and looks quite attractive in the garden.  Plus, the leaves make a wonderful rustling sound in the wind.

One thing I’ve discovered is that orange flowers look really pretty in the vegetable garden.  I have several bunches of marigolds in mine, and they make me happy every time I walk by.  Plus, they draw beneficial insects!

What else?

The cabbages have formed lovely heads.

Oh, and my teeny little by-the-back-door patch of glass corn is taller than me now.

Not only are they tasseling, but they have tiny little corn ears.

Last year, the dastardly squirrels got to them, and ripped apart all the ears JUST when they were almost ready to pick.  I didn’t get a single one.  This year, they are by the back door in the hopes that I’ll be able to protect them better.

Today I bought some canning jars.  I have never canned anything in my life before, but I thought I’d give it a go.  Since I don’t want to invest in a pressure cooker until I know this is a method of preservation is one I care to do, I’ll stick to high acid fruits this year…things I can safely can using the water bath method.  I remember my grandmother used to can peaches this way, and they were SO INCREDIBLY GOOD.  Seriously, store-bought ones cannot even be mentioned in the same breath.

So I thought I’ll do some peaches, and maybe a few cherries.  And also, some jam.

I picked the black currants from the little bush I planted this Spring, and found I had a pound of fruit.  I found a recipe online for black currant/strawberry jam, so I think I’ll try that.

And the most exciting news?  My new puppy Dexter the Corgi has been born!

The breeder says there are 2 girls and 3 boys in the litter, and we will get first pick among the boys!  When they are a week old, she will take individual pictures of them.  By then, their coloring might have started to change as well.  What you see now is definitely not what what the adult coloring will be.  Corgis are interesting that way; it’s really hard to know what you’re going to get by the time they are a year old.  I just want one with great white markings, because that at least tends to remain pretty much the same throughout its life.