Here we are already ending the first week of July. The garden is going gangbusters and we’re loving every minute and every morsel. We’ve been enjoying greens since March, peas over the last month and the broccoli has actually gone to seed now. But for me when the root veggies start showing their true selves, I feel summer harvest knocking at the door. These baby carrots and beets are only moments shy of fully maturing. We are devouring the first zucchinis, blissfully ignorant to the idea of the late August green giant overload. We have Green zucchini, Costata Romanescos with the racing stripes, and Scalloped green/yellow pattypans soon to arrive. Unfortunately, I mismarked the yellow crookneck and they seemed to have gotten lost in the shuffle.
I also dug around the bottoms of our potatoes for some “new potatoes”. The clue here is when you see the plants flowering. I’m hoping they didn’t notice and their knobby little roots will continue developing.
The baby cucs are a couple varieties of pickling cucumbers. One, the Parisian Pickler is an overly spiny thing that is more suitable as a cornichon picked small. I’m liking the Fin de Meaux pickler with just a little less spine. Only having a couple plants of each, I won’t be doing mass pickles so I cut them up into pint jars and pour boiling water and vinegar in… about half and half which can be varied to your personal liking. Then we just throw them in salads and just about everything else as soon as the next day. I’m hot this year for making kimchi. I’ll have another go at sauerkraut too and hopefully will not have to look up ‘maggot’ in the back of Sandor Katz’s The Art of Fermentation 
We are eating loads of salads with Lacinato (or dinasaur) kale strips thrown in. It’s dark, rich green, cellulite looking leaf is on the top left .
A little garlic here fresh from the ground. It too, is a few weeks short of maturity but perfect for sneaking a couple bulbs out early.
Washed veggies on the front porch drenched with light. This photo was only cropped. The color is real.
And on the back patio in the cool light of shade…
Everything was wrapped separately in foil and cooked on the grill. Carrots got a little olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. We have Atomic Red, Lunar White, Amarillo and Nantes. The beets requested only a drizzle of olive oil and sweet balsamic. We’ve got Chiogga (pink and white striped center), Early Wonder, Bulls Blood and a smattering of Golden beets that didn’t germinate so well and aren’t present here. The zucchini went straight on the grill.
The new potatoes received their olive oil plus a couple sprigs of rosemary and the fresh garlic…
We’ve got All Blues, Red Pontiac, German Butterball and several varieties of fingerlings I’ve so far left undisturbed.
And here’s the finished product. Beet greens sauteed with olive and sesame oil and garlic, potatoes, carrots and the beets. All incredibly tender and sweet.
These veggies were served alongside grilled burgers with bacon, cheddar and jalepeño jack and a side of onion jam I recently made. (No Buns in the house as we are on a modified Paleo venture:)
Since I didn’t get any pics of the burgers, I will suggest this roasted chicken in its stead. Both the chicken and beef are from our local Coffelt Farm. I’ve been on a Sumac kick. And threw in some sliced onions, lemons and kalamata olives.
According to Pensey’s spices ” The flavor is on the order of lemon juice or vinegar but milder and less acidic.”
Ending with pics from several angles of the garden. I like a tidy garden but am not a true perfectionist or I would have mowed five minutes prior to photos. I’d say we have about 98% heirloom seed.
We’ve got new blueberries on the right. Garlic, peas, brassicas on the left with lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets down the line.
Walking around the left…O’s little patch of corn, a few varieties of beans, basil under the plastic.
On over to the other corner…Gladiolas, sunflowers, squash and artichokes in the mass of green fluff.
Chickens in their favorite spot… the potato tropics with laced carrot umbrellas- they love scratching up all the grass clippings. I only mind a little. I told them not to read this post.
And my first Dahlia’s in years. I’m loving flowers in the garden for cutting and plan on growing more next year.
Three cheers for summer!
And Tschüß till next time… xx
Wendy's Place 
Breathtakingly delightful
LikeLike
Thanks Mary- can’t wait to get you here again when the weather is warm and sunny and we are picking veggies from the garden 🙂
LikeLike
The colors of the vegetables are amazing. And what a lovely garden!
LikeLike
Thank you… It’s bringing a lot of joy and nutrition!
LikeLike
All of this is so gorgeous – my eyes are just drinking in all those vibrant, beautiful colours! I would love to grow my own vegetables. There’s nothing like the taste of fresh, local produce!
LikeLike
I feel so fortunate to be here. We’ve spent time in wonderful places but to have land that I can scratch up and plant seeds is very special to me. We are fortunate to have so many great farmers markets too around the country- so if you can’t grow your own, you can get pretty darn close.
LikeLike
Food is so much more fun to eat when they’re so full of color like yours! It makes me happy just looking at the pictures, and the chicken looks delicious too! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Yvonne- I’m liking your pics too. You have a great blog- self hosted? I like the theme- really accentuates your great photos.
LikeLike
What a great bounty. Pity I can’t have all that growing on my balcony 🙂 Great pictures, Wendy, and the colours are gorgeous!
LikeLike
Hi Kiki! I grew peas, basil and chives on our Hamburg balcon! Not a whole lot but needed a little dirt around me. We had actually a whole back yard but it was only for grass:) x
LikeLike
What beautiful produce
LikeLike
I tell you, I never tire of it. When I think about the process of those tiny seeds going into the soil and turning into edibles. It’s a freakin miracle every time! cheers wt
LikeLike
Looks idyllic! and the veggies look so perfect. Wendy, have you ever made chocolate beet cake? Your beets may be too lovely to hide them in a cake, but if you have a bumper crop or something…I have been meaning to try this… with ‘naked’ sides, you know me… 🙂
LikeLike
I’m pretty sure I did but this is a good reminder to do it again because I think I liked it. We’ll be juicing them too.
I’m ready for a little Biscuits and Bobbin action… I imagine your photo skills are heading off the charts.
Are you staying cool in the summer heat? xx wendy
LikeLike
Beautiful colorful pics – we still need to plant a garden but I think it will be a big undertaking since we have so many deer – I will need deer proof fencing LOL
LikeLike
You’ll get there. We have loads of deer and I think for this year at least, we have a pretty tight fence. They can be a nightmare though. You see your sweet little strawberries and peas get mowed in one late night party. Really, I’m not opposed to venison ( just dropped a few readers right?)
I’m now reading about bee keeping.
One step at a time grasshopper 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful harvest!
LikeLike
Thanks so much- just ventured your way. I’m out now for scapes!
LikeLike
Your photos are gorgeous, I feel like I just want to run out and garden, but alas, I now live in a condo so have pots of things! Still, your property looks wonderful an gardening is so calming and feeds the soul.
LikeLike
Maybe you can run a little further outside of town and find a CSA or you pick farm and scratch the itch to garden. I’ve had some years of herbs and peas on the patio. Every little bit counts 🙂
LikeLike
Luckily for me, one of my sons has a large organic garden! We have a family brunch there most Sundays…so calming and peaceful and I do sometimes get back into the dirt! Your photos remind me very much of his place!
LikeLike
Oh, Wendy, this is wonderful! We only have a few veggies in little pots outside, but the Mr. and I love to watch them grow and more – to eat them in the end 🙂
Looks like you like your new life back at home 😉
Have a very HAPPY week 🙂
LikeLike
Yes the potted porch. That should be a blog to book proposal. We all need to have a little dirt under our fingernails!
Hamburg is a beautiful city and I’m so glad we had some time there for me to see what Germany is like, to be near my husband’s family, and walk along the Elbe. And yes, it is good to be here with the garden and animals and space to roam.
All in a life.
xx wendy
LikeLike
OMG Wendy, I never knew vegetables could be so beautiful.. astounding.. such an abundance. And your photography…and arranging… are outstanding. Love you. Mom
LikeLike
🙂 Next year you need to visit a little later for the summer bounty. Thanks for weeding the beans! xo
LikeLike
BEAUTIFUL! Stunning produce, and you made my mouth water!
I just picked a handful of beans, pea pods and our first beets of the season!
LikeLike
Thanks!
Our little beans are just coming on too. So cute, tender and delicious. Every year it’s just as exciting!
LikeLike
Wendy, what a beautiful place you have … the idyll, but I realize that it requires its woman and man too. Long ago I saw purple potato flowers, my grandmother had it. So almost 40 years ago.
And your chicken looks prosperous – but there’s a lot of candy for them when they can stroll around freely.
Thank you for sharing this with me and I wish you and everyone around you a real nice summer.
LikeLike
It really is a team effort. The garden is going a bit bonkers at the moment! x
LikeLike
Your chickens looks so healthy – I hope it because the little shop is so busy. I hope you have the same great summer of there as we have here in Europe this year.
LikeLike
It’s been incredible. And now we actually could use just a few good days of solid rain. But we’ll get that soon enough!
LikeLike
Same here, the farmers are not pleased with all this sunshine, but it’s very windy most days.
LikeLike
From the brights of the root veggies to the greens of your garden photos I can see summer has arrived for you! abundance doesn’t do it all justice!
LikeLike
We’ve been gone a few days and in literally 5 days- everything has gone off the charts crazy and big. It’s the moment I’m thinking wow that was a lot of ______(insert veg) to plant! But it’s so fun!!
LikeLike
What a bounty! This is indeed such a fun time of year for cooking with everything coming out of the gardens. We’ve taken to grilling everything…kale, cabbage, zucchini…everything tastes better off the grill if you ask me! Happy to have found your blog!
LikeLike
I’m big on grilling too. I really want to try a pizza 🙂
LikeLike
Wow Wendy, you have been a very busy girl and the vibrant colors of your bountiful harvest is perfect to go with you roasted chicken. I feel healthier already just looking at your garden delights. Have a super weekend. BAM
LikeLike
We are so spoiled it’s ridiculous. thx Bam… x w
LikeLike
A beautiful array of incredible summertime treats! I’m amazed by the glorious bounty on offer and that incredible rainbow of produce! It makes me long for sunny days indeed 🙂
LikeLike
Your long sunny days will come soon… I see ours shortening a little now. I have to remind myself of our opposite seasonal experiences. It’s a bounty every year that never ceases to amaze me.
LikeLike
WOW and yummy! Way to go! Myself, I’m busy harvesting at local green grocers and summer-time Farmers Markets.
Hope everything is great at your boutique and give the puppy a hug for me! _Resa xo
(Sorry I took so long getting here, but I’m designing a 6 part mini-series, and time is evaporating)
LikeLike
Easy to do that. He’s rarely more than 6 inches away!
Farmers Markets these days are so prolific – it’s like you really just picked it out of your own yard.
A 6 part mini series sounds intense but so interesting. I love the diversity of our blogging friends and so many I’d love to drop in for coffee and a view into their worlds. Carry on Resa… cheers x wt
LikeLike
Hey Wendy!
Yes, it is intense, the real insanity starts in a week. There’s no way I’ll be able to do an “Art Gown” during this time. Atlantis Mermaid Love-in will have a hard time lasting 3 months so I’m trying to figure out a smaller type post. Yes, I will carry on! You carry on, too!
How’s the shop doing? _Resa xo
LikeLike
Awesome looking veges, and a great looking garden. Love it!
LikeLike
Thank you! Love seeing your story and your ability to share your view of the world. It will be a joy to look back on when/if the day comes when you plant yourself in one place and see what grows around you.
LikeLike
I can’t believe how extensive your garden is, Wendy! It must be so lovely to have such variety roasting and plated for dinner. I’m with you on having cutting flowers, I’m hoping to plant a bed just for those next year. My yard is so tiny and our climate less conducive, so I’ll just have to be “green” with envy;) I love your little chickens too! xx
LikeLike
We have been in Seattle this week- really only 5 days and I cannot believe what has happened in the garden. Mass produce explosion. I’m trying to make notes on how much to add or cut back on next year… mostly cut back on. One can only make and enjoy so much pesto in the freezer. And the zucchini? When will I ever learn! But the Dahlia’s, despite the heavy burden of their own flowers… I could have fields of.
Now I’m home for a day to do some work then back to the city for 6 more days. We will be swimming in green beans on our return!! xo
LikeLike
Gorgeous post Wendy! Every picture was such a delight, though I found myself inspecting your beautiful veggies with envy!! I’ve managed to fit a couple of herb planter boxes onto our balcony but unfortunately that’s where the ‘home gardening’ stops! Must be so wonderful to be able to eat fresh produce from your own garden 🙂 Thanks for this gorgeous post. I’ve loved seeing your chicks grow! xx
LikeLike
Thank you Laura- from what I gather, you would have a lot of food adventures with your own garden. Maybe someday you’ll have one. I had many years with backyard planter boxes and balcony pots- it still keeps your fingers in a little dirt:)
x wt
LikeLike
Yes, I’m lovingly caring for my little planter boxes. I’m drinking some tea made from home-grown mint right now actually! Longing for my own garden and some chickens. One day 🙂 x
LikeLike
You told me your garden was doing well. I would say it is amazing. I know they can be a lot of work but it is really paying off.
LikeLike
Thanks Karen. It has been a lot and it is really paying off and then some. We are out of town for about 12 days with me back here in the middle of it for a little work. As I told Smidge, I had forgotten really what a bounty looks like. The garden has taken on a life of it’s own! And never truly believe how much it will produce when I’m starting out with those tiny little seeds!
cheers…. x wt
LikeLike
Hi Wendy,
Your veggies look so lively! My garden seems to be catching up with yours:) I’m really enjoying your chicks’ pictures here. They are so cute! happy harvesting. Emi
LikeLike
Your harvest looks incredible Wendy. The potatoes, carrots and beetroots piled together in the sunshine look like a heap of jewels. Amazing
LikeLike