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!!!

Apple Hill Fun and Gardens...Happy Fall Y'all

Happy Fall Y'all!

 Fall for me, sets in when we make our first trip to Apple Hill. We make a couple of trips up to the hill. This time it was for all things Apple. As always I find other great things as well. We saw some great gardens and visited about 6 different farms. I always love Apple Hill and we always have such a great time!

We went to a farm we have never visited this year. I am so glad we did. The farm was called Kids Inc. It was geared towards the younger kids. They also had a great garden to look at.

The corn maze was amazing! The hubby took miss Kyla through the maze. They had a great time.

Then we were off to feed the animals. We were allowed to feed them any of the apples that had fallen off the trees. I really wanted to take the pig home! Isn't she cute!

They had goats. I was trying to get a picture of the goat alone, but the piggy was hogging the camera!

Then we met Mr.Turkey. He was very friendly and Kyla enjoyed gobble gobbling with him.

Then I saw this....... Most people who know me know that I am obsessed with ladders as trellis's. I thought this ladder trellis was gorgeous!  The Morning Glory's looked amazing! I must find more ladders to do this in my garden next year!

We also met an amazing bee keeper and purchased some local Wildflower Honey. It's so delicious. Its unfiltered, unprocessed raw honey!

As you can see we have already used some. We had to support our local bee keepers!

We also visited Boa Vista Orchards. We visit this farm stand every year!

Here is what we bought.

We bought a box of Pears, Granny Smith Apples and Red Delicious! These will be used for apple sauce. I also use pears in my apple sauce, it's so yummy! We also purchased small bags of other types. We bought Empire Apples, Fuji Apples and another green apple (I forgot the name)

We bought some Squashes, Chestnuts, and of course Apple juice. Also not pictured, were the apple doughnuts we bought! They were still warm when we purchased them. You cant resist gobbling them up right away! I always forget to get a picture of these yummy doughnuts. We devour them before I remember too.

We also visited a Berry farm. I forgot the name. We did not buy berries, they are not in season. I will visit them again when it is time for berries. Its a pick your own farm. We did visit the garden they had. Flowers are still blooming very nicely here in Cali.

Morning Glory's

Love Lies Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus)

Cosmos

Kyla loved The Love Lies Bleeding. She loved touching it! She was amazed that it was taller then her.

While we were in Apple Hill and I was shopping. My hubby snuck off and bought an ornament for our Christmas tree this year. We buy an ornament every year with the year on it. This will be our 2010 ornament. He said, it was hard to find one that could hold all 6 of our names.

I look forward to visiting Apple Hill one more time this year. Next week we are off to the Pumpkin Patch.

What are some of your fall traditions?

Happy Fall Friends!!!

  

The Beauty of a Tomato....

Yes! I admit it, I have an obsession with all things Tomato!

When I slice into one it gets me very excited!

They are Gorgeous inside. Am I not right! As I was cutting into a couple of Heirloom Tomato's,  I thought. I must show this to the world or at least to those who are nice enough to follow my blog!

So I say bring it on and share the beauty!

The Mr.Stripey! So yummy, juicy and meaty! This Tomato has  a mild, low acid flavor.Tastes great as Pico De Gallo!

The Black Krim! Meaty, juicy and a slightly salty  flavor! Originally from the Isle of Krim on the Black Sea!

Just a few Tomato's I have been picking! I have a few green ones! I broke a branch the other day! They will just have to ripen in a sunny location for now. Perhaps the green ones may become fried green tomato's!

Here is what I harvested in the past week! 

I'm very happy with my garden bounty this year! I just wish it would pump out more tomato's!

So far I have harvested 211 pounds of food! Not bad for a backyard gardener!

I am still waiting on potato's, tomittillos, black eyed peas and some peppers. I have gotten only a couple bowls of assorted peppers.

I hope your gardens are exploding!

 What are you harvesting?

Happy Gardening my friends!!!

Garden Goodies!

Finally!!!

My First Black Krim Tomato!

 It was so good, we ate it on the spot!

Hansel Eggplants, multiple Beans, Yellow Sunburst Squash, Cucumbers and some Figs from our tree.

Some of what we have picked from the garden in the past couple of days.

We are also getting Shady Lady Tomatos and Orange Cherry Tomatos. We also have Red onion and garlic we harvested. I just forgot to take pictures.

This week I have made Eggplant Parmisian, Fried Squash, Pizza sauce and then we made pizzas using veggies from the garden. Its been a fun week in the garden. The way things are growing and the how much we are harvesting, its time to pull out all the canning stuff and start canning the garden.

So far our total pounds of food from our garden is 12.6 pounds.

How is your garden growing?

Are you harvesting yummy goodness yet?

Happy Gardening my Friends!!!

~Wordless Wednsday~

~Mr. Squash meet Miss Zuchini, a marriage made in Heaven~

What do you do with all that Zuchini and Squash? Well ive been getting creative and finding ways to use it! Heres a few things I have made in the past couple weeks using Squash and Zuchini. Im sure I will have future posts featuring these 2 yummy squashes. I hope you enjoy and happy eating! Lets see where to start!

Tortellini Pasta!

I sauted in olive oil

1 Garlic Clove chopped up

10 Basil leaves roughly chopped

1 Small Zuchinni

1 Small Yellow Squash

Cherry Tomato's

Cracked Black Pepper to taste

A pinch of Kosher Salt

 As the veggies were cooking I boiled the Tortellini

Once all was done, I combined all the ingrediants together and drizzled a little olive oil.

Then sprinkle Parmesian cheese over the Tortellini

Its so yummy! The Tortellini I used is from Trader Joe's and its filled with cheese.

You can also eat this minus the Tortellini! Its very yummy by itself!

My next most Favorite thing is Fried Zuchini!

I coat the Zuchini slices in flour

Dip them in egg

Roll them in Italian Bread Crumbs

Then fry them in oil

Then sprinkle them with Parmesian cheese

We eat alot of these for lunch! Hard to be on a diet in this house!

Notice how one of the fried Zuchinis kinda looks like Italy! Looks like the boot on the map, lol.

Here are a few other pictures that ive probably posted before using the differnt squashes!

Here I pickled some Okra and Zuchini!

Veggie Lasgna

Garlic Chilli Chicken & Veggie Stir Fry

Last but not least!

Zuchini Bites!

I also add some chocolate chips to give it extra yumminess!

A little something extra! My son hauling in a load of Zuchini from the garden!

If  you have any ideas on using squashes in recipes, please share! We could I always use a new recipe!

My lil girl helpin me pick Zuchini!