November 2008
November 7/2008: The view from the neighbours' patio. It's been raining for 5 days straight. Seriously, this is only the second time I've left my house in 5 days, and both times it was only as far as the garden to take photos (the photos from Wednesday vanished from my camera as I was trying to transfer them to the computer...) Notice how much the garden has gone down - partly from natural die back, and partly from me out there with my klingon knife ripping things out.
November 7/2008: A closer look at the side of the garden. I've cleaned up the area, ripped out the potatoes, squash, broccoli, etc. and as I was tearing out the old plants I found quite a few onions that had spent the summer hiding. Also scattered leek and chive seeds throughout. I've extended the bark mulch path, yay! Take that, weeds!
July 18/2008 and November 7/2008: before and after photos of the same area. The raised bed with the border of logs was always there - but by July the potatoes had gotten so big and leggy that they totally covered it.
Our next-door neighbour grew some kale (Brassica oleracea, Acephala Group), but had no clue what it was or how to cook it... he asked us for advice and we were so excited that he gave us some plants!
This is an alpine sage (Salvia apiana). Also known as Smudging Sage, this species is particularly good for burning as incense. When it dries the leaves turn completely white.
Rainbow chard! (Beta vulgaris) They're all grown up now. You can see we've been nibbling at them - they are so colourful in a stir fry! Notice... the four-leaf clover at the base of the yellow one - I didn't pick it because I want the luck to stay in the chard patch...