Relaxed Gardening and Gleaning From Friends

This has been the summer that I have become the relaxed gardener. I haven't done much but water and pick flowers. Have I missed the garden fussing? Honestly? Not at all...and it made me realize something that had not occurred to me before.

We have not been without summer veggies and it made some friends and my dad happy to share.

We have had an abundance!

My dad shared his tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, green beans, okra, strawberries, and eggplant.

My dad has quite the garden going this year and it is fun just to peek in and see what he has growing and of course pick a few things to bring home for our dining pleasure. I took the photos above earlier this morning as we toured his garden boxes together.

Apples, walnuts, figs, and grapes are all ready to eat or almost ready.

We do have lots of fruit ready or almost ready to eat. I decided relaxed gardeners can plant fruit trees and then wait ten or fifteen years and enjoy the yummy harvest almost labor free. We trim and water our trees but they pretty much take care of themselves for the better part of the year. The trick is to plant things that you like to eat, make sure they are planted in the right spot, and then harvest as soon as you see the fruit getting ripe....before birds and critters find them. 


Of course we have created a garden and spaces for things besides edibles for humans....we feed a variety of creatures who happen to dwell in, under, above, and around our garden.

Birds continue to be our nature study subject of choice at this time of the summer. Our list from last month of feeder birds included: Western scrub jays, House finches, Lesser goldfinches, White-breasted nuthatches, Anna's hummingbirds, Mourning doves, Oak titmouse, and Black-headed grosbeaks. 

This video from Cornell University was in my inbox this week...it made me anxious for the annual Project Feederwatch that many of us participate in starting in November. (It also reminded me of my awesome trip to Cornell's Lab of Ornithology last spring....which I didn't ever blog about!) I found this video very interesting and it tells about how researchers are using common tracking technology to answer big questions about feeder birds:
Tracking Backyard Birds.




This may be my last official Tuesday Garden Party entry for the season. The summer has gone by so very fast but each time I post something garden related it makes me happy. Maybe next year will be more of a gardening year for me or I may just glean my summer veggies from friends and family again.




Jami's Tuesday Garden Party meme is open from Tuesday to Thursday so there is still time for you to jump in and participate!