By this time in August, I am getting a few nice size tomatoes each day. This year, I planted 7 different varieties including cherry and cluster tomatoes.

When we starting getting more tomatoes each day than we can use, we begin to make salsa, Spaghetti sauce and a variety of tomato-oriented recipes. I also make and enjoy fried green tomatoes. But there is nothing better than a nice tomato sandwich on fresh bread with mayo.

But, inevitably, there are still more tomatoes that I can use, so I usually end up giving the extras to my neighbors and my daughters.

In addition to my tomatoes. I planted 3 yellow pepper plants, and currently have 4 peppers soon to be picked; it seems like that is all I usually get, 1 or 2 peppers per plant. Also part of my salsa recipe, but also great for stuffed peppers, and sausage and peppers. To add to what I grow, I usually go to the farmers market for a few more and to try some different varieties. and since peppers freeze well, I can stock up for use in my winter chili.

I am still picking scallions that I started planting in April, although I am down to my last 30 or so. My brussel sprout plants are doing well, but they will not be ready until late September or early October, as the cooler weather and a light frost are needed to finish their growth. I doubled my planting from only 3 plants last year to 6 so that I will have enough for my friends and daughters to enjoy.

Unfortunately, it seems like fewer and fewer people are bothering with vegetable gardens. I remember not that long ago I would go out on my front porch in the morning and find bags of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, even corn. Sadly, those bags of produce are less and less as the years go by…

I enjoy my garden, love going out in the early morning to water it and see what has ripened overnight.

I was thinking that maybe some day soon, I will walk my yard with pen and paper and write down everything I have planted and forgot that I planted. (Well, maybe not the weeds).

I have quite a few flowers and nameless plants that I have no idea how they got into my garden. One of my theories is that the flood waters that surrounded my house and filled my basement 3 times brought in new seeds from other locations

If I do a rough estimate of all my flowers, (annual and perennial), it would probably add up to about 70 varieties. And that is not even counting the different varieties of tulips, daffodils and crocus that bloom in the early spring.

And finally, I must tell you about the Lord Baltimore Hibiscus I bought about a week ago. This striking plant is about 4 feet tall, very sturdy stalks, and the very bright red dinner plate sized flowers. I have had about 15 flowers so far with about 2 more to bloom; Unfortunately. the flower only last from morning till night–1 day. The flowering time for hibiscus is from July to Mid-August. I am very pleased with it for its 1st year, and it will only get larger and large as the years go by…

I love my garden!!