Garden update, September 25

I know you've been wondering for weeks now, "What's up with the garden? Where are our lengthy updates with dozens of photos of various plants? We want information on every variety of tomato under the sun!" But in your patience, you decided not to pester me. Because that's just the kind of forbearing folks you are.

But at long last, your patience will be rewarded! Mostly with the information that this has been a pretty lousy year for the garden due to a Certain Puppy Who Shall Remain Nameless. There's a reason when we let her out of her crate in the morning we say, "Release the Kraken!"

Exhibit A:

Maybe it was locusts...

Here's what didn't survive the summer:

• basil
• carrots
• peas
• peppers
• green beans
• corn
• sunflowers
• strawberries
• various bedding plants

It's not all the nameless puppy's fault, however. I managed to kill the plants in the window boxes all by myself, due to neglect. I feel like a murderer.

I'm glad to report that the tomatoes did survive and are producing abundantly. Lots of BLTs and Caprese Salads are the fruit of my labors.

But here's what I want to show you. Do you remember the pumpkins I planted? Here's a reminder of what they looked like in July:

And here is that same spot today:

Peeking underneath the leaves, there are a few pumpkins plumping up nicely.  I just hope they turn orange soon!

The beds along the house are also looking...ok, though it's been uneven, to say the least. The white flowers in the foreground are cosmos that went absolutely crazy...and the small fluffy frond of a plant at the end of the bed is the VERY SAME COSMOS that never even bloomed.

As the predator puppy lurks...

All in all, an OK year, but lots to do as the fall approaches. Kind of like the baseball season: a rebuilding year with lots of hopes for the winter trade deadlines and spring to come. But I'm proud of those pumpkins. (Famous last words.)