Edible front yard full of Melons, Squash and Pumpkins!

As the years go by I run out of growing space. This year I have converted my front yard into an Edible Garden. I have also started buying native plants and have been tucking them here and there.

My front yard has full sun all day, it starts to shade at about 6pm. That's when I decided it would be a good place for all my melons, squash and pumpkins. I am also growing a few tomato plants, eggplant and some basil. We also tossed a few sunflower seeds to add some happiness! Sunflowers just make me smile.

This pumpkin will be an Emerald green when finished. Sadly, I don't know the name of this one. I didnt write it down or save the seed packet.

This is also that same Emerald pumpkin. Its growing in a different shape then the one above. Interesting to see them take different shapes.  

This is a Blue Hubbard Squash. I received these seeds from my friend Daniel over at Your Small Kitchen Garden 

This is also a Blue Hubbard just starting out. I have about 8 of these growing. I have never tried them, I am so excited to taste this one!

This is a basic Pumpkin. There about 6 of these so far, we will use these to carve for Halloween.

Sugar Pie Pumpkins! This will be my second year growing these. 1 pumpkin makes a pumpkin pie. They are so yummy. Looks like by the nice orange color I will be cutting one of these babies up soon. I cant wait for the first pumpkin pie of the season.

Charentais is the name of this melon. I have counted 5 of these so far. This one is also new for me this year. Have you ever tried this variety? Share with me how you like it! Can't wait to try it.

This is a mystery??? It is growing in the compost bin. I am going to let it do it's thing and see what it becomes.

This is also in the compost bin. Another mystery. Surprises are nice! I did have some seedlings that never sprouted and I tossed that soil in the compost. I guess they decided to sprout at their own pace. It will be neat to see what they grow into.

What Squashes, Melons and Pumpkins are you growing in your garden? 

What are your favorites? 

What Squash, Melons or pumpkins are you looking forward to most this year? 

Happy Gardening!!!

Wordless Wednesday Sunflower Fun!

Mango Madness! My Mango Serrano Sauce!

 Mango's!!!

One of my favorite summertime fruits! Actually one of my favorite anytime fruits. 

The Farmers market has loads of Mango's right now. I have been finding great prices. Last year I made Mango salsa and loved it. I wanted to try and make a hot sauce this year and I have. This Hot Sauce can also be a brushed on chicken and shrimp. My family and I will also be using it on fish tacos for a fresh and lighter flavor!

One of the things I love about this recipe is how easy it was to make. Not too many ingredients required.

Here is what you need!

3 Carrots  (peeled and diced)

10 Serrano's (use less if you don't like heat)

6 cloves of garlic (roughly chopped)

4 cups of Mango's (about 5 depending on size)

1 tablespoon Kosher salt

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

In a saucepan, you want to start out with your chopped up Carrots, Serrano's and Garlic cloves and enough water to cover your ingredients. Bring to a rapid boil for 5 minutes. Turn your burner down and let the veggies simmer until carrots are tender. 

Caution: Make sure you are in a well ventilated area when the peppers are boiling, it can small strong!

While your veggies are getting tender cut up your mango's! If your mango's are real juicy try to save as much of the juice as possible to add with your chopped mango's.

Once your veggie blend is tender add to your food processor. Blend the veggie until smooth. 

Then add your mango's and blend until almost smooth. When mixture is still a bit chunky add the salt, apple cider vinegar and lemon. Then continue blending until completely smooth. 

Poor into jars. I processed for about 15 minutes in a water bath! I love the sound of Ping!

This recipe makes about 2 quarts of sauce!

Do you love Mango's?

How do you use Mango's?

I would love to hear your ideas!

Happy Canning!!!

Disneyland fun and Flowers!

Disneyland! 

The happiest place on earth!!! 

Even the ducks bring their family's for some fun!

Miss Kyla and I just recently spent a week in Southern California! We took this trip with 4 of her cousins and 2 aunts from Montana! It was an all girls week! It was a jam packed Disneyland vacation. We visited both parks. We spent a day in Disney California and the rest of our time in Disneyland! We had tons of fun! 

Here we are with Mickey Mouse!

I of course couldn't help checking out all of the plants, flowers and trees they had growing! I took a few pics when I remembered, of some of what Disneyland has growing on in their parks!

I love the look of this tree! From what I understand it is called "The Family Jewel's Tree"

Lots of hanging containers throughout the park! Love these Petunias! See the castle in the background!

There were so many different container gardens throughout the park, this was one of my favorites!

Even my lil one took some time to smell the flowers!

Disney California had a lot of California native plants. I love all the different plants showcased through out the park.

More native plants and blooms!

Here is one of the archways in Critter Country!

I love the pots they created in Pooh's Corner. The orange pots look like the bottoms of carrots. I didn't realize how much sun was in this picture. But they are growing carrots in these pots, so they look like huge carrots!

We also met a Storm-trooper in our Disney adventure!

Also R2D2 on the ride Star Tours! We are big Star Wars fans.

Here we are on the Little Mermaid Ride!

We were even captured by the monster Sully from Monsters Inc.

We had a great trip!

What trips have you taken this summer?