Spectacular sights along the Monterey peninsula

Carmel Valley















On the way to Big Sur.







































Monterey - Cannery row.

Container Harvest

'Patio Charm' has finally ripened.
120 days to mature... took longer than that.

A large cherry tomatoe with a fairly tough skin. Slices well and has a nice acid balance.
Would I grow it again... Maybe. With so many Heirlooms to try it will have to wait.

'Romanesco Natalino' broccoli didn't head,I may try planting it again.

Taste of Carmel,CA Tomatofest 2008.

My husband and I needing a vacation away from the kids, decided to drive down to attend the Tomatofest. ( Being that it may be the last time for this event, I didn't want to miss the opportunity.) Every parent needs to recharge once in a while and there really is nothing like a long drive.















While sampling from the heirloom tomatoe tent; I found a lot of the bi-coloured varieties such as 'Texas Star' or 'Burraker's Favorite' were sweet but very flavourful.




























'Paul Robeson' A bit mushy... but a good smokey taste. Most of the blacks had a nice smokiness to them.












My favourite...'Green Zebra',with a tangy-lime tomatoe essence. 'Hawaiian Pineapple'... has a melon pineapple top note and finishes with a mild tomatoe flavour.







Amazing variety!




My husband not a tomatoe fan, actually liked the smokiness of 'Black Cherry'. He's requested that we grow them next year. Now talk about a convert!


Heirloom varieties have such a range of flavour; sweet,tangy even smokey who would want anything but.

Then & Now

Crocosmia : 'Carmin Brillant' is orange, the yellow one is'Diademe'. Being that it's their first year in my back garden; their growth will be followed. (non-invasive, clumping Iridaceae.)

Chelan WA & Osoyoos BC.

Beach front in Chelan, WA. (50.5 miles of glacier-fed lake.) The water colour was amazing! This is our third time here. (littleman's second)










Little man's first sand castle... made by himself.


Photo below: Osoyoos BC.
The Vegetation is similar,the water is warmer but not as blue. (warmest fresh water lake in Canada)















Prep work.







Our little Mermaid.

Garden update just before our... Summer Vacation

Views from the back gazebo.






Over-wintered Fuchsia with additions of
Scaevola 'New Wonder' and trailing Tasmanian violets










The blue clay pot is filled with Broccoli and the tomatoe above is 'Green Zebra' .




Hydrangea in full bloom... this variety usually doesn't blooms until August.

Solar Hummingbird & Dragonfly

The hummer was starting to glow as darkness set in. Now if I could catch a real hummingbird in flight...




'Flashing lights' & 'Arctic fire' dianthus in flower.
My little 'Patio charm' tomatoe finally starting to fill out. It even has three fruit trusses ready to bloom.

At night the dragonfly glows. I like the red and the blue light best, the green is a bit eerie.

Damselfly on Butterfly Impatiens.

You can see a Damselfly perched on an Impatiens flower. It has been as high as 37C here, which is about 99F. This morning it is only 20C so far.(high 20's for today) We have had a few really hot days mixed with average temperatures.

After...

It was 32C today, summer is here!
Broccoli & Tomatoe finally starting to grow.








First 'Stella de Oro' Daylily. New fence in the background.









Butterfly Impatiens.

Blooms of June.

As the season progresses... we actually have sun today.

Above photo is
salmon Impatiens from seed.










Geranium in front garden bed.

Before...

A new fence is on the way.












The first boards come down.










Later...











Later yet...


A view to the street.

Hanging baskets mixing with the locals-
patiently waiting to grace the new fence. Now if we had more sun, the tomatoes would not look so pathetic. The broccoli is also at a slow pace. This spring has if anything, extended the season for violas and cool weather crops. And finally the fuchsia's are trying to come back from last year.


The gazebo sits in the lawn protecting the swing from any further rain. My son's sand/water table now lives on the lava rocks in the tiered garden. Along with the cold frame filled with sand, soil and hanging brackets. (and one Christmas cactus.) Only a lonely loveseat sits on the patio without cushions. We just set up the patio furniture, now it's back in the garage. (a little full I might add)












The now mud pit, where the fence tomatoe shelf shaded the grass.

Spanish lavender with its pineapple shaped flowers.






Wildflowers from Becky finally planted.
Now the wait begins...