Summer Fruit Salad

This was delicious so had to post. Includes basil from garden, so it counts as garden related!

I did not grow the fruit, however, maybe next year!

3c. peeled chopped peaches

8 oz FRESH mozzarella cubed or sliced

3Tbs fresh basil snipped

3/4 cup Lemon Poppyseed Dsg

4cups watermelon seeded & cubed

2cups honeydew melon

1 cup mango(i threw this in because i had it!)

3 cups fresh strawberries sliced

2 cups seedless green grapes cut in half

Toss first 3 ingredients with 1/4 cup Lemon Poppyseed Dressing. Layer watermelon, peach mix, honeydew, berries, and grapes in a large glass dish or bowl. Serve immediately or chill for up to 8 hours. Toss with remaining 1/2 cup dressing . Garnish with fresh mint sprig!

Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

Using small processor, blend 2/3 cup veggie oil, 2 Splenda packets, sprinkle of sugar, 1/3 cup lemon juice, 1 & 1/2 Tablespoons poppy seeds, 2 heaping Tablespoons chopped onion, 1Tablespoon Dijon mustard and a shot of salt. Store in fridge for 1 week, serve at room temp, flavor's better!

Salad snatcher lurks...

Recipe adapted from August 2010 issue, Southern Living magazine!

Garden Goals in Review

On 12.31.09, I posted my Garden Goals for 2010.

Eight months later, I am planning Christmas cards and reviewing

those goals...

Here's a glimpse of my 2010 Gardening Goals:

1. Share my passion for gardening with children.
2. Grow more food for my family to experience.

3. Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)

4. Start two "lasagna" garden beds.

5. Prepare my little garden for the 2010 garden tour.

1. Well, my children aren't that interested in gardening unless

there is money involved, honestly. So I pay Sam to help me in the

flower field and the pumpkin field in October! Otherwise, I'd like to

have a few small groups of children come visit the "pumpkin patch" in

October.

Also, I'm beginning a new project with The Golden Harvest Food Bank's

"Master's Table". There is room for a generous "kitchen garden"

where fruit and veggies can be grown to help feed guests at the new

site and at home. Plan to involve youth groups in the implementation

of this bountiful garden.

2. While not perfect, I have grown English peas, tomatoes, squash(crop failure),

more tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapeños, bell peppers and green beans this summer. Just planted

more green beans, cucumbers, sweet potatoes and eggplant.

3.I will sign up for Earthwise CSA as several Facebook friends

rave about the fresh produce and timely suprises they receive

each week. Delivered, even better!

4.Instead of 2 Lasagna Gardens, I designed one Lasagna Garden(LG) and 2 Square

Foot Gardens(SFG). Lessons learned: LG holds moisture much more effectively

than SFG, don't plant tomatoes in SFG- take up WAY too much room! Will try

large pots for fall crop. Watch out for Squash Vine Borer and other nasty squash bugs,

treat with Sevin dust if necessary. Whole crop wiped out early summer.

5.The Sacred Heart Garden Tour was a big hit. Although unable to tour other

gardens, I met hundreds(really! 350+) of kind hearted gardeners in my own little garden.

Sharing garden experiences is something that inspires and motivates me

to keep forging ahead in most areas of my life.

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Farm Update

8.2.10

Amazing what rain does to the garden! First, I was worried the “gulley washers” had washed the pumpkins away, but that is not the case. The combination of rain and heat has been key to on target performance, so far.

There are blossoms galore on the “Orange Bulldog” pumpkin plants, and the zinnias, sunflowers, celosia and broom corn are in full force! All this growth requires cutting, fertilizing and careful inspection. The heat & humidity combo could bring mildew, fungus and other nasties, so it’s critical to observe at least twice a week.

The bees are CRAZY in their hive, drawing comb and making honey!

My Canon EOS 50D and lens were returned from repair last week, so I was able to capture this week’s update…

Blessings from the Garden

ML

Feed Me, Seymour!

Before I go out to check what the 4" rain in Burke County did to the pumpkin patch, I want to remind you how important it is to fertilize after what my friend, Winnie, calls a "toad choker"!

The heavy, soaking rains in the CSRA mean we gardeners need to get out and fertilize. Just like diluting tea with extra water, the rain takes vital nutrients from the soil...If you have not used a Slow Release or Controlled Release fertilizer up to now, it's (Osmocote pellets) time to go ahead and work that in. Also you may consider a "water soluble" fertilizer such as "Proven Winners" water soluble fertilizer.

Full report on Burke County Gulley Washer ASAP!
Blessings from the Garden.
ML