Cal Wonder

It took more than a month from the time this pepper was fully grown for it to turn from green to orange. Every day I thought I'd end the wait and harvest it early. Somehow I held off.
Bryn, Nusia and I had a celebratory predinner tasting moments after cutting it off the plant this evening. It was worth the wait.
The Purple Beauty variety we planted also grows quite an attractive fruit but it doesn't taste anywhere near as good as this one.

Even the Losers

Squash is my friend. Gardening can be—often is—a beat-down. That's one reason we're drawn to it. It's hard and it's bigger than we are. When the pests and blights and diseases and overwaterings and underfertilizings get to you, plant squash. Hard to mess this one up.

Baby Cilantro

She goes by "Baby Cilantro" now. It was her idea.

Curlers?

People ask us if we curl her hair, which is silly for a number of reasons, but mainly because she barely even lets us brush it. She's too busy doing things.

Painter

She painted a picture of my intestines (she's learning about organs in school) and my hair. It wasn't very representational, but it was pretty rad.

Of Course

This fancy bag that once contained fancy coffee from Whole Foods, by way of Ethiopia, says it's 100% compostible. It is. So are all brown paper bags whether they tell you they are or don't.

How Ya Gonna Kick It?

Over the past couple of months I posted some pictures and words about the Russian Mammoth sunflowers we've been growing here, and now their life cycles have reached a new stage. Over. At least until their seeds give rise to another generation next spring.
In the meantime I was curious about their root structure, since the plants grow so big and tall. Here's what I found.

No Explanation

Unless you ask.

Thai Dragon Peppers

Bugs tend to stay away from hot peppers with "dragon" in their name, which make these lovely red killers easy to grow.

Elegant Lodgings