harvest at the farmhouse

It's been both a great season in the garden and a meh season. From a late start planting to another drought, my grass and trees are struggling while my squirrels get the best tomatoes! But this summer's growing experience did convince me it's time to cut down a few trees in the back to allow more sunlight in the garden. And my lawn has looked great most of the summer thanks to the fancy new mower/mulcher! You win some you lose some.

Here are a few pics from this weekend's casual harvest. I got a number of tomatoes and peppers a few weeks back, and a lot of the plants haven't yielded anything (lemon cucumbers, broccoli, chard, brussels sprouts, beets).

nasturtium, oregano, rosemary, lemon verbena, sage, thyme and basil

a great showing for tomatoes and herbs by the back door

poor pathetic lemon cucumber plant (nothing like past years' monsters)

healthy tomato plants but lackluster basil, beets and brussels sprouts

wimpy basil + weeds

patchy spots in the perennial bed -- to be tackled next year

the part of the garden I habitually ignore (and notice that the window box greens didn't make it, either)

struggling hydrangea tree and patchy grass!