I've been neglecting you, blogsot. I've been neglecting you too, garden.
Wasps and hornets and yellow jackets have taken up residence in my garden... not so much residence as daily visits to the huge tomato bush jungle we have towering over everything else. I dare not go out there unless it's early in the morning (yeah right) or after the suns gone down. It makes watering a pain, and I can't truly admire the beauty.

Little tomato plant, with it's only two fruit that have survived protect with netting

Next summer, I'm going to do EVERYTHING differently. It breaks my heart to see my tomato plant put out all of those flowers, only to have them wilt and die. And the few that are pollinated on hot days can't reach full size, and never ripen because of the cold weather... or they are eaten by caterpillars because their on the vine too long.

Cucumbers in front, butterfly shrubs, tomato jungle in back

It's funny; a garden is the ultimate euphemism for life, isn't it? You plant certain seeds; see which take, and which just aren't meant to be. You tend to your seedlings, some get cut down by the weather, taken out by pesky insects, but the few strong grow and thrive. You build them up, water them tenderly, and give them every thought and consideration. You pluck their fruits with the utmost care and then at the end of the season, you cut them all down, only to fertilize next season with the last season’s cherished vines.

A friend of mine, someone I wish I knew better, recently went home to her family in Texas... I must say, it tears my heart out to think of all my family back home in the big great state. I would give anything to visit and have them see Levi, and for him to see everything I see in them. To witness the awesome power the Lord has worked in all of their lives, and what our family feels like.

My chest aches when I see all her happy photos, the precious moments.

I just won’t think about it then, because it drives me crazy.

Swiss chard seedlings are tricky! All but two died here, I had to re-sow

I've torn out the eggplant, and sown kale, brocoli rab, Swiss chard, spinach and pear tomatoes for the fall. I think I'll scrub the tomatoes, because if it didn't get warm enough here in the summer, I think we are in for a more than chilly fall/winter.

I hope I have better luck with the greens, you don’t need bees for that.

Cat mint in front

Swiss chard is suprisingly hard to keep, you can see the aten away bitsof others that have died off here. Also, what is irritaitingly prolific in my garden? Cat mint! I'll have to dig it out and give it it's own corner. It trippled in size within the first week of being in the ground!

But the bean bushes are doing nicely! They are so resiliant! Both were snapped in two by the cat, and I mended them with a bit of nylon hose and two sticks to support them. I've got tons of flowers on one and a bean on another.

And just for fun? My zombie baby! He loves his finger foods, and will not STAND a spoon. On the occasion, he will alow you to give him food off your finger.

eating blackberries here!