Moon Flower

Spectaclar blooms in the evening. Flowers the size of a small plate.

Dried Rattlesnake Pole Beans

Tomatoes & Peas

I have the most tomato success with cherry tomatoes.
The "Black Cherry" variety is delicious, big enough to use in preparing sauces ... and prolific!

Fresh southern peas are hard to beat, and hard to find in the markets. That's why I grow them.

Pepper Picture Gallery

Italian Frying Peppers

Banana Peppers

Horn of the Bull

Mexi Bells - a bit hotter than regular bells

Eastern Black Swallowtail Caterpillar on Parsley

A very hungry caterpillar. It will devour a parsley plant in a matter of days, but will then morph into a beautiful butterfly. I have a few extra plants to support this creature ...

Lotus

Not actually in the "garden" ... but we do have quite a nice collection of water plants in our little pond. A glorified mud puddle, there's no fresh-water spring. The level of the pond is dependent on run-off from a very limited watershed.

Today happens to be our wedding anniversary. Rouse the Spouse waded in the water to pick me one of the most beautiful flowers found in the natural world ... a lotus blossom. The time of year is such he was able to cut a blooming flower, a green seed pod, and a dried seed pod. Such a weird and wonderful plant!

Stuffed Peppers

Horn of the Bull and hot Banana Peppers
Before:

After:
Stuffed with lean ground beef and the sharpest cheddar cheese.

In the freezer for future use.

Aptly Named ... Asian LONG Beans

I strung up string in four different directions (see July 28 post) for the Asian Long Bean vines. The result: plenty of room for beans to grow unimpeded AND easy picking. Look how long these things are!

Sautéd Okra and Long Beans

When the day's okra harvest is a bit scant, the long beans make a good compliment. These veggies,  sautéed in olive oil, never make it to the dinner table. They are delicious - hot and salted - straight out  of the skillet. They make the perfect appetizer as we wait for the entree to come off the grill.