I am again on time for #WeekendExperiences by @galenkp as I so often miss the deadline because I am still enjoying the weekend. This week's post can be found at https://hive.blog/hive-168869/@galenkp/weekend-engagement-topics-week-274 I also love #SublimeSunday (inspired by @c0ff33a) and #BeautifulSunday (initiated by @ace108) with no time limits and are equally as fun to follow.
This weekend, I am taking the opportunity after a couple busy weeks to get home and do a little #hivegarden
First things first! The Prompt!
Travel problems: What's the worst taxi, bus, train, ship or plane travel you've experienced? Explain.
I must admit I have been fairly lucky with my travel logistics whether it was business or vacations. The worst experience I have had was a trip to Malta a few years ago. A flight delay caused us an extra night stayover but that was the least of it. Because of the delay and change of flights, our luggage didn't show up. So, we landed in a far away country with nothing but our carry on. So, we waited. Then we figured we might as well shop for the essentials. A few days later and we were sure enough our luggage would never arrive. Any budget we had for stuff went to clothing and we just had to hope our insurance claim would end up being paid later on. Maybe about a month after we got home, the luggage finally arrived.
Now Back to the Weekend
This weekend, it was all about getting back home for a change and getting into the garden. I haven't posted many #gardenhive posts since the beginning of the summer because I have had too many distractions and fun things to do. So, this weekend post will double as a garden blog for those curious as to how things have shaped up in the Pickleman Family Garden this year.
We are swimming in tomatoes right now. Enough to bag up the romas, snack on the cherry and grape, and share all of the beefsteak with friends who like to slice them on everything like we do.
Still plenty left still growing as I have pruned lower branches, fertilized and still water with rain water every couple days. Hoping we have another full month of tomatoes as the cool weather helps ripen them quicker.
The cucumbers were a challenge this year. They grew like gang busters this year but seemed to fizzle as the weather got hot. I watered them enough but there were probably a few days skipped in the dry spell that did the damage. Still harvested a few and they were damn good in salads and sandwiches.
My favourite hot pepper has to be the habanero for the strong heat but wonderful flavour. This year, I have quite a few ripening and am told that they are hot as hell. Perfect base for our hot sauce.
The sweet peppers are also doing well, I have harvested a couple when they are still green to see how they are. As with most garden fresh veggies, they seem to taste more than the store ones and the peppers are no exception. I think we will let the rest of them react to the colder nights and wait til they are red to compare.
I am pleased with how the Calendula grew in the pepper bed. They are also edible flowers but I thought some blooms above the peppers would attract the pollinators a little more and help with the peppers. Worked perfectly.
Bumper crop of jalapeno peppers too. Dozens harvested already and many more to go. Some of them are turning black from the sunlight exposure and extra cool nights. I am hoping they start to turn red when the frost sets in so I can add them to the red hot sauce with the habaneros and other peppers.
More sweet peppers! These ones were an impulse buy at the nursery. They are called candy cane peppers because they have stripes of white through them. A couple of the early harvest turned out a little thinner than the regular sweet peppers but even more flavourful. Saving seeds to grow next year and looking forward to seeing if they will turn red too.
The strawberry and greens beds have gone wild as the summer has gone on. I will turn the extra green under in the spring for more nutrients and another year of produce.
My hydrangeas are starting to get big and fat too! I have made sure to pour my coffee grinds at their base as they apparently like it. Next year, I think I want to try propagating them to different parts of the garden.
I actually still have a good amount of celery in the greens bed. It never quite grew as large as the ones you get in the store but man is it flavourful.
You are looking at the hottest peppers on the planet. Carolina Reaper is as hot as it gets and this plant is just rocking them out. I am almost afraid to try one knowing they are considerably hotter than the Ghost peppers that kicked my face last year. They will be the severe heat in our hot sauce this year but maybe a single pepper in each batch or it will be too hot to enjoy.
I am sitting on plenty of horseradish as well. If any of the Hive gardeners know how to harvest and process it, I am all ears. Otherwise, I will be asking AI as I would love to have it as a component of our of our hot sauces and am interested in making a wasabi style paste.
The Parsley has done well and I love adding it to the top of almost every dish. The green speckles are stylish and garden fresh parsley actually enhances the taste a little.
Looking closely, a lady bug has found a little comfy home in the parsley. I let him stay.
Last but not least, I have a big container with carrots. They are a mystery because I never know whether I am going to pull out a shrimp or a big long carrot. Letting them grow as long as possible and looking forward to see the rainbow of colours.
Dog Wars
Besides gardening and daily naps, I capped the weekend off with a couple trips to the dog park. When I am away, the little guy doesn't always get to his happy place and I do love the walk in the park.
Keeping an eye on Birdhouse Tree for signs of change. The evenings have gotten down into single digit Celsius so the leaves should be changing colour imminently. I am in no hurry but it is fun to watch the big tree for signs of fall.
Thanks for joining me on another weekend adventure!
