So satisfying when they become more spectacular every year!

 All they need is lots of water and filtered sunshine

Tuberous Begonias

They will sleep in the greenhouse

They usually show new growth in March-April

Blooms appear where leaves point

Planned on picking my plums yesterday.  

Raccoons did the job for me AND they ate all of my grapes.  

I would love to join their midnight raids,

but I'm a coward, Raccoons are mean. 

Happy days to you, 

Gina 

They never dissapoint

Each year they bloom larger and stronger

My tuberous begonias  are more than 15 years old. 

They take a long nap in the dark and under a bench in my greenhouse. 

They have never been fed nor have they been repotted.  

Poppies volunteer.

I never know where they will pop up next. 

So green this year.  We had a lot of rain this Spring.

Salpiglossis have to be seeded every year. 

The pie cherries are just turning color. 

So far, the birds have not discovered them.  

Every fruit tree is laden with fruit.  Only the apples are taking a break

(they do that every other year). 

And miracles upon miracles, our 25 year old apricot tree is covered with fruit for the first time ever.

Take care dear friends. 

Gina 

My garden is growing...all by itself.

My garden

Nasturtiums for salads

Onions are almost fully grown.

Our favorite squash, Lakota, is doing well in the new patch.

Foxglove and State Fair Zinnias provide lots of color.

The Italians only grow one kale.

Lacinato Nero de Toscana.

There is a reason.  It is delicious, nutritious and easy to grow and handle.  

These peppers where planted by mistake.  They are quite large.  

Do you know what they are? And do you have a recipe?  Could one stuff them? 

My tuberous begonias never disappoint.  I can't remember how old they are.  

They go into a dark corner in my greenhouse and I don't see them until April of the following year.  

Everything is maturing all at once...there is not enough time in the day to get it all harvested. 

There will be lots of vegetables and fruits to share with friends and neighbors 

There will be lots of apples this year for the pig farmer.

This turned out to be the best mixed lettuce seed packet. 

I'm heading for Italy soon.  Will look for another.

This is one of the last hollyhocks, a reminder to gather their seeds. 

My old rose bushes surprise me with a few blooms now and then.  

Wishing you a great week ahead.

Gina 

https://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Finally

The garden is growing

and here is proof

Swiss Chard Bright Lights showing off. 

 Kale, Swiss Chard, Arugula, Basil, Collards, Tomato and Onions Quiche.

Beat eggs with cream and pour over steamed vegetables. Add tomato slices, crisp bacon pieces.  Add a little cheese on top and bake @ 325 until lightly browned on edges (about an hour) 

No recipe necessary, just add ingredients in the order in which you like them and in the amounts you like. 

Our geese have been on midnight raids.  Had to cover the Italian Parsley with chicken wire. 

Makes me wonder why they like only the Italian Parsley. 
A couple of weeks ago they went after the newly planted sage.

My neighbor, "Kissin Kate" would like to have a stomp through my garden.  
She is the one who abandoned her newborn.  
I'm still bottle feeding her calf Liesel who is doing splendidly.  

Did you know that female cows also have horns? 

These Tuberous Begonias are amazing. They are more than 10 years old.  

Just before a severe frost they go under a bench in the greenhouse where they go completely dormant. 

They have never been out of their clay pots and they have never been fertilized. 
Go figure.  

The flower pots are doing well. 

My rose bushes are a most pitiful sight. 

But I have been able to coax a few bouquets out of them...no one else can grow roses in this high desert climate.  

What we do have, are the bluest of skies. 

Have a great remainder of the week dear friends,

Gina 

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

I bet you didn't know

That you can talk to Begonias.

The Tuberous kind of Begonia.

All of the leaves are pointing in one direction.  The flowers will only come from that direction.  Handy to know if you place your pots along walls or into window boxes.

If you turn your begonia it will develop leaves toward the light.  As in this pot where leaves point in all directions. Flowers will grow from the center out and into all directions. 

My Begonias have been growing in the same pot and the same soil for many years.  They go dormant in the winter .  Before a heavy frost I take them inside and let them rest in a dark place.  About the middle of April I will notice new growth.  It is then that I start watering and feeding them. 

Have you tried growing Tuberous Begonias?

There are so many varieties and 
they all make a big show. 

Have a great remainder of the week my dear 
Blogging Friends.

Gina