Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Overflowing vines


 Yes!  I hope you like the new background as much as I do.  I had no plans at all to change anything this summer but I noticed a brand new background offered by Blogger and just loved it.  Along with returning to my favorite "Header" (taken on my deck a couple years ago as I prepared for a morning quiet time), it is very Summery.

As beautiful as it may look outside, it has been way too hot and humid for my liking.  Last year it was so cool and damp that people complained about their tomato crops not growing at all.  This year I believe the heat is making up for it and the forecast does not see any relief in sight.

Now I remember why I begin dreaming of sweaters, pumpkin everything, and the cool nights of October about the time the classes at the University start in August.


My garden, however, is absolutely giddy with the weather.  The first picture above is of the raised bed that I planted quite late as it was just built in May.  One would never believe it was planted later than the rest, especially if you view the baby watermelon vine... which you can also see in the second picture, growing all the way to the herb garden.

The same baby watermelon vine which was just a couple inches tall when I planted it.  The vine that I was doubtful would grow in partial shade.  It does...

My friend (and one of my favorite bloggers), Manuela, has a bumper crop of pumpkins growing in the Southern heat where she lives.  I had already taken the pictures of my melon vine when I read her post yesterday.  Her creativity extends from the house to the garden.

Next year I want to plant some pumpkins, too... although that will mean expanding the garden.  I think I'd better start hinting about that even now.  :)

You can see Manuela's pumpkins... here.

Picture at the top of the post... a closeup of a baby melon almost ready to pick.

10 comments:

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Aren't her pumpkins going crazy? I just was looking at them before I came by here! She a great inspiration!

I love your garden and am inspired by the fact that you keep trusting the Lord, and doing what you can. It touches me deeply.

We were trying to grow some french melons this year, but they never came up, even with heirloom seeds, so we were disappointed. But it is a learning opportunity for sure and we are learning so much.

We have the heat and humidity as well - not my favorite!

Anita said...

Your garden looks great! I'm envious...

Vee said...

Her pumpkins are amazing. Your garden looks equally amazing. Obviously, heat helps a garden grow.

Sharon Lovejoy said...

OH YES! You have to try pumpkins. They are the true personality veggies in a garden. You can measure them one day and by the next they've grown an inch. They're magical and fun and I love to scratch my grandkid's names on them when they're green, then as the pumpkin grows so do the names. They form a raised surface that endures. So when you harvest the pumpkins the names are permanently inscribed.

Wonderful!

Love,

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

Anonymous said...

Lovely garden...you have done well. Great ideas for doing one.
Elizabeth

Christina said...

Pictures of your garden make me smile, especially your baby melon picture. :)
It makes me sad that it's nigh impossible for me to keep any plant alive...

Scrappy quilter said...

Your garden is doing so well. Hugs

Anonymous said...

Brenda...if you put a few tall good pieces of wood or pipe as tall as you can at the end of one of the boxes and put some wires across it...or put netting or whatever you can between the two pipes you can grow the pumpkins or watermellon up it. We drilled a tiny hole through the pipe and threaded wire throug the holes to make our 'netting' I grow my zuccini up one. Yes the base of the plant is at the foot of it but the excess vines go up. {sometimes with a bit of your help. Of course you can do cucumbers this way too. I would not do the giant pumplin like this but have done canalope and small watermellons and such this way. Your garden looks beautiful!! Sarah

Anonymous said...

One year I thought my watermellon seeds did not come up only to discover they probably did but snails got them each night as they came up! One night I went out and there were dozens of snails in the bed. I had looked for them during the day but had not seen any in places I thought they would hide. But there they were about 10 at night!! :) Sarah

The Pleasures of Homemaking said...

Awww...thank you! Your garden looks fabulous! I can't wait for you to break open that watermelon! I planted one honeydew melon plant and so far there's nothing but blossoms but I have hope.

You know some things are loving the heat we're having and some things aren't. My zucchini have hardly grown. I think I'm giving up on them. Last year too much rain did them in and this year I think it's not enough water! I don't know why people always say they have too many - I hardly ever get any!!

Manuela