I’d promised my dog some carrots. It was time to finally follow through. I could have planted these a lot earlier. But they are even now going into an unfinished bed.
Note: The video version of this post gets released on Monday, July 15, 2024.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15141750/01-1-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15141754/02-1-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15153724/03-1-1024x576.jpg)
I struggled with the pens again to label some rocks. I’m almost through the worst colors to use.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15153744/04-1-1024x576.jpg)
Some brassica plants had survived the weird spring, the hiking trip, and all the rain since. They got a space in the same bed. Now, there are carrots, corn, beans, and brassica here.
I’d planned to continue the bed to the path that day, but I ran out of time and energy before I could.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15153747/05-1-1024x576.jpg)
Mornings in the garden are beautiful. If the day is nice, I drive here instead of walking Pepper.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15153754/06-1-1024x576.jpg)
I open up the greenhouse, walk a quick round of the gardens, and head home for coffee. Very early mornings have also been the sunniest time of the day, so I soak up what I can.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154026/07-1-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154029/08-1-1024x576.jpg)
The fruit trees I’d rescued from the throw-out bin at the store were looking healthy.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154033/09-1-1024x576.jpg)
The banana needs some more nutrients but I might be able to rescue them all.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154037/10-1-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154043/11-1-1024x576.jpg)
These are Icelandic poppies. Sadly, they are invasive ornamentals planted by the previous owner.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154058/12-1-1024x576.jpg)
Once established, they spread rapidly and come back every year. I am making sure none go to seed. I know they’ll still survive but I can try to give the native poppies a chance while I am here. Steward of the land, I try to be.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154101/13-1-1024x576.jpg)
After coffee, I listened to the pleas of this beautiful boldo plant.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154121/14-1-1024x576.jpg)
I also started some new soil blocks for the winter greens.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154124/15-1-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154134/16-1-1024x576.jpg)
Sadly, they would not make it through the weather on the balcony. I should have started them indoors. I am getting better at seedling care but apparently a lot of plants had to die for me to learn the lesson.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154159/17-1-1024x576.jpg)
We did return to the garden later the same day to harvest currants.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154204/18-1-1024x576.jpg)
We harvested most of the black currants from the two small bushes on the forest plot.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154209/19-1-1024x576.jpg)
A few minutes later, I lost sight of Pepper, and he did not come when I called.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154214/20-1-1024x576.jpg)
So, I went into the part of the garden where thorns and nettles predominate.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154217/21-1-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154229/22-1-1024x576.jpg)
I took full advantage of the water a garden neighbor had gifted me. These three days were the only days I watered the garden so far. Otherwise, I’d only watered things in after planting.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154232/23-1-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154251/24-1-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154259/25-1-1024x576.jpg)
These are why I was rushing: sourdough Knoedel, a German kind of dumpling. Now that I have figured these out, I’ll show you soon.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154305/26-1-1024x576.jpg)
After a few dry, scorching hot days, the next storms were coming. I had to harvest the white currant.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154309/27-1-1024x576.jpg)
They were ripe, and I did not want to lose any to the coming rain and hail.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154313/28-1024x576.jpg)
The bush was full of the delicious white berries. I grabbed handful after handful. The ground was covered in berries that had fallen–or I’d dropped.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154316/29-1024x576.jpg)
It started to rain minutes after I started my harvest. I kept going to save as many berries as I could. This drizzle would tun into heavy rainfall later after we’d get home.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154319/30-1024x576.jpg)
I did not have to water that day. Or any day since.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154324/31-1024x576.jpg)
Pepper hid underneath the bush from increasing rainfall while I got soaked, and the bin filled up. Warm rain, a light breeze–I was content. Mosquitoes were hiding in the bush from the rain just like Pepper.
Again, I was enjoying the garden despite rain and mosquitoes.
When the rain slowed, I did another round to get the nicest of what I had missed. When my bowl was full, I packed up Pepper and headed home.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154327/32-1024x576.jpg)
Morning fog covered the forest. It had rained heavily all night and the air was heavy with moisture.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154335/33-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154338/34-1024x576.jpg)
I soaked it up thoroughly while it lasted.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154346/35-1024x576.jpg)
Which was not very long. Once I’d finished cleaning the kitchen, the next clouds had rolled in.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154350/36-1024x576.jpg)
The blueberry was turning red again–a cold response. This really does feel like fall.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154353/37-1024x576.jpg)
The worst part about the weather is the ping-pong of scorching heat and chilly storms.Later that day, I’d return to the garden in full sunshine.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154356/38-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154359/39-1024x576.jpg)
It would even get hot enough to dry the top layer of the grass I’d tried to dry for a week. I finally mulched the earliest potatoes. They’d be ready a few weeks later.
![](https://cdn.katehildenbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/15154404/40-1024x576.jpg)
I’ll tell you all about how we finished the carrot bed in the next episodes.
So long, and thanks for being here.