Oh boy! The cukes are beginning to flow. With these, we will make one of our favorite summer dishes – cold cucumber soup.

Writer: Tom Myrick

Grown for hundreds of years in the Mediterranean, Asia, and tropical regions of Africa, this pomegranate is one of many growing on this tree. Planted by my father almost 50 years ago, the tree has continually yielded fruit. Packed with antioxidants and nutrients, pomegranates are one of our favorite fruits.

Writer: Tom Myrick

We found this little guy snuggled among the sweet potato vines. This is our first attempt to grow sweet potatoes and thought it was a morning glory flower. After a little online research, we learn that it is a sweet potato blossom and sweet potatoes are in the morning glory family.

Writer: Tom Myrick

Morning pickin’s, tonight’s supper. The leafy greens keep yielding.

“Leafy greens tend to be shallow-rooted plants that do not demand extremely rich soil, but they do need plenty of sun and a constant supply of water.” (Mother Earth Living)

*Over ten years in the making, our sustainable garden is a no-till, raised-row, organic garden in which the vegetables are rotated seasonally. We are located in the suburbs of the Tidewater Region of Virginia.

Writer: Tom Myrick

One of our mottos is: Don’t plant more than you can take care of.

We planted our fruit vegetables in this 10-foot by 10-foot section of our garden (two tomatoes, three okras, three squashes, and three cucumbers).

Fruit vegetables produce a flower that develops a fruit that has seeds.

By maximizing the space among the plants, air and sunlight can reach all of the plants, which is essential for the plant’s health.

“Crowded plants not only discourage growth, they encourage pests and disease.”(Planet Natural Research Center)

The extra space among the rows allows easy access to maintain the plants.

*Over ten years in the making, our garden is a 450-square-foot no-till, raised-row, organic garden in which the vegetables are rotated seasonally. We are located in the suburbs of Tidewater Region of Virginia.

Writer: Tom Myrick

With all the chaos throughout the world, gardening provides me a haven from all the noise. Digging and planting, holding the earth’s soil in my hands, brings me to a place of tranquility.

The fragrance and colors of the plants overwhelm my feelings of turmoil and create a sensation of peace that carries with me throughout the day.

The online medically reviewed article by Dan Brennan, MD – “How Gardening Affects Mental Health,” published by WebMD, states, “Gardening can make you feel more peaceful and content. Focusing your attention on the immediate tasks and details of gardening can reduce negative thoughts and feelings and can make you feel better in the moment. Just spending time around plants eases stress for many people. The sights, smells, and sounds of the garden are said to promote relaxation and reduce stress.”

Of course, all gardeners know this.

Writer: Tom Myrick

This year we decided to turn Lucy Lou’s kennel into a Zen Garden for her. We constructed a gateway entering her area using old wood fencing rescued from going to the landfill and various perennials that we had collected over the years.

We landscaped the entrance with subtropical plants (banana plants, canna lilies, Chinese Fan Palms, daylilies, zebra grasses, elephant ears, Texas Star hibiscuses, gladioli).

By the end of summer, her garden will be in full growth; however, most of the perennials are cut back to ground level and covered with pine needles by winter.

Writer: Tom Myrick