In Our Gardens: Summer is Sizzling

We have had a HEAT wave, oh man. I had to move all the plants outside the greenhouse because it was stifling in there. And despite the entire Midwest getting hammered with rain, ours has been meager. I've been out watering almost every day in this humidity. It finally rained today, and I'm glad for the break. Good ole nature, right?

It does mean that the garden is really starting to take flight. The marigolds and zinnias are popping open with life in so many gorgeous colors. They are bringing in all types of pollinators and that is helping things in the garden thrive where I've had issues growing them in previous years.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Another burst of color that I love is our gladiolus, whose bright red trumpets announce summer to my soul.

In our vegetable gardens, we now have tiny little white eggplant babies, I'm pulling bowls of beans off every few days, our strawberries are the brightest red and just the sweetest right from the vine, and our tomatoes are really starting to come in and ripen.

On the downside, I pulled off 3 squash bugs yesterday and found so many eggs under my zucchini plant that we'll have to see if it lasts. I've tried everything, and every year they are back with a vengance. Share your solutions with me below. It's Dawn and a 5-gallon bucket for them right now, along with the daily hunt.

-- From our gardens to yours,

Kristie