Garden journal: abundance

Late July and August and the monsoons have finally begun.

July 24th. It rained for about an hour. We’ve been having smaller, if steadier, rain ever since. Up until then we were in drought status.

July 24th. It rained for about an hour. We’ve been having smaller, if steadier, rain ever since. Up until then we were in drought status.

Despite the rain, the river runs low and slow.

Despite the rain, the river runs low and slow.

Drought or no, The 4’ sunflowers are 8’ tall.

Drought or no, The 4’ sunflowers are 8’ tall.

We grabbed our share of elderberries from the birds and have jelly to share.

We grabbed our share of elderberries from the birds and have jelly to share.

We had a couple of weeks of smoky days from western wildfires. This, however, is morning fog: a sure sign of fall.

We had a couple of weeks of smoky days from western wildfires. This, however, is morning fog: a sure sign of fall.

The Anaheim chiles loved the hot, dry weather. We parch and freeze them for winter. This batch we ate immediately as Chile Rellenos.

The Anaheim chiles loved the hot, dry weather. We parch and freeze them for winter. This batch we ate immediately as Chile Rellenos.

The beet greens make wonderful pizza toppings. The beets make into chips, or salads, or just beets. I love beets. They don’t always grow well here, but this is a beet year.

The beet greens make wonderful pizza toppings. The beets make into chips, or salads, or just beets. I love beets. They don’t always grow well here, but this is a beet year.

The squash and pumpkins, on the other hand, are few and far between, if also gigantic.

The squash and pumpkins, on the other hand, are few and far between, if also gigantic.

We were graced with a visit from Starla, a friend from forever. Being able to see friends again feeds my soul.

We were graced with a visit from Starla, a friend from forever. Being able to see friends again feeds my soul.

The popcorn has tasseled. It looks to be a bumper crop. Cucumbers and carrots add to daily salads.

The popcorn has tasseled. It looks to be a bumper crop. Cucumbers and carrots add to daily salads.

Tomatoes begin their cascade, finding a place in every meal. I love tomato season.

Tomatoes begin their cascade, finding a place in every meal. I love tomato season.

Rain is unkind to onions. We harvested half the onions prior to the rain. We just pulled the other half. We will see if they will store.

Rain is unkind to onions. We harvested half the onions prior to the rain. We just pulled the other half. We will see if they will store.

The question “What’s for dinner?” is often answered by the need to use garden goods before they go bad. We had a bundle of onions already affected by the rain, which meant onion quiche was back on the menu. Too hot for onion soup. Those are the two dishes I know of that require 2-3 pounds of onions each!

The question “What’s for dinner?” is often answered by the need to use garden goods before they go bad. We had a bundle of onions already affected by the rain, which meant onion quiche was back on the menu. Too hot for onion soup. Those are the two dishes I know of that require 2-3 pounds of onions each!

The rain brought us a harvest of agaricus. Again, produce that will not save.

The rain brought us a harvest of agaricus. Again, produce that will not save.

The perfect excuse to make omelettes.

The perfect excuse to make omelettes.

Dead wood must be harvested as well. We saw our first maple beginning to turn today. Even though it will be another beautiful day, winter is just around the corner. We are feeling particularly pressed due to my planned trip to Colorado, where I will stay for a while.

Dead wood must be harvested as well. We saw our first maple beginning to turn today. Even though it will be another beautiful day, winter is just around the corner. We are feeling particularly pressed due to my planned trip to Colorado, where I will stay for a while.

I get to hang out with the Grand Girl while my daughter works on bringing Grand Girl #2 to light. Better work there cannot be.

I get to hang out with the Grand Girl while my daughter works on bringing Grand Girl #2 to light. Better work there cannot be.