May 2012

29 May
2012
Mature artichoke flower bud, just about to bloom

Monday morning garden stroll: #4

I know. It’s Tuesday. We’re taking our Monday morning garden stroll on a Tuesday morning. The photos, at least, are from Monday morning. I snapped them early, with every intention of posting this update before noon. On Monday. But, then I saw this artichoke, and I got distracted. Isn’t it ...

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25 May
2012
sweet potato in a bushel basket

Two bushel baskets of sweet potatoes: Planted!

I still have some sweet potato slips that want to be planted, but I’m getting there. Two bushel baskets are already full, and I hope to get the rest planted this weekend. Already planning ahead for the harvest… ...

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24 May
2012
baby praying mantis

Adorable baby praying mantis is adorable

Oh. Hello there, baby praying mantis. Am I the only one who thinks bugs can be cute? Because, really, this little guy is adorable. Found this mantis on the parsley plant. He’s clearly just shed his skin. Growing fast! Won’t be long before this guy is big enough to snag ...

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23 May
2012
fresh-picked chamomile flowers in a bowl

The very first chamomile harvest. Now what?

I picked some flowers today. Chamomile flowers. For tea. Supposedly. I’m honestly not exactly sure what I’m doing. Here’s what I know: Chamomile tea can be made with either Roman chamomile or German chamomile. The two plants are totally different species, but their flowers, flavors and uses are very similar. ...

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22 May
2012
feature

Please don’t tease the parsley worm

Parsley worms (aka. black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars) grow quickly, and the one living in my parsley plant is no exception. This caterpillar is packing on the grams at an impressive pace. You saw the photo I posted a few days ago. Now, check out how this guy has grown: I’m ...

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21 May
2012
Monday morning garden stroll through the Outlaw Garden: May 21, 2012

Monday morning garden stroll: #3

One of these days, I’ll actually get these Monday “morning” updates out in the morning… It’s another rainy day in the garden. Rather than dodge raindrops with the camera, I thought I’d take you on a tour with some photos I snapped during the sunnier days last week. First though, ...

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20 May
2012
pea flower

Peas, in bloom

Today was one of those never-sit-still kind of days. I delivered some extra seedlings to a friend who’s excited to plant her first vegetable garden, helped repair the deer fence around my mom’s garden (Again! Those @#&* deer!), and planted 36 tomato seedlings. It was a busy day. A wonderful, ...

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19 May
2012
potato-feature

Surprise potato!

Guess I missed a blue potato last fall. I found this guy hiding behind some garlic plants. Pulled the plant, because it just didn’t look too happy, and I don’t want to risk disease. And — surprise! — this teeny tiny potato plant had already formed a single, perfect baby ...

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18 May
2012
black swallowtail caterpillar on a parsley plant

Black swallowtail caterpillar in the parsley plant

There are many reasons to let your parsley go to seed, but this may be my favorite: black swallowtail caterpillars. Adult black swallowtails are large black butterflies with brilliant patches of blue and yellow and red near the ends of their wings. The adults lay their eggs on parsley, as ...

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17 May
2012
brick path through front yard vegetable garden

Growing the Outlaw Garden blog…

Like the garden itself, I’m planning a soon-to-come expansion for the Outlaw Garden blog. Because, really, springtime is generally a slow season for gardeners… What I really need now is a new project. Something to keep me busy, since the garden isn’t really demanding much time these days. </sarcasm> I’ve ...

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