Garden Glories

We are finishing up harvesting the results of our second year of gardening and putting the beds to rest for the winter. As always, we learned a few things along the way and enjoyed the fruits (and vegetables) of our labors and God's provision.
First year garden (and handsome husband):

Harvesting Royal Chantenay and Thumbelina carrots:

Showing off the harvest:

This year, with the help of the Michael Delving crew, we removed most of the large brush pile that was taking up badly needed sunny space and were able to expand the growing area to be able to accomodate more peas, squash, carrots pumpkins, strawberries, sunflowers and potatoes. After considerable dissatisfaction with the variety that we grew last year, we also opted to try out a less prolific but ostensibly tastier zucchini. The blue and purple potatoes, purple carrots and sunflowers were Jonathan's contribution.

Second year garden:

Proud potato (and squash and sunflower) planter:

Side yard herb garden:

Burgeoning summer growth with peas on the fence, winter and summer squash and potatotes in the forground. The carrots, radishes, onions and strawberries are being hidden by the zucchini. Note the marigolds interspersed with the summer squash for pest control.

It was an exceptionally good year for blackberries.

Our cheerful sunflowers:

One day's harvest:


I will post more pictures of our produce when we download the fall pictures off of the camera.
In the meantime, this recipe is a very tasty way to use up all of those extra summer squash. It works on bigger zucchini too.