Chinese Lantern Plant

I took a walk tonight, inspecting the garden and letting out the chickens for a run in the cool of the evening.   Here are a few pictures to tease you.

It looks like a jumbled mess.  And I AM beginning to wonder how I will harvest the corn, beans and melons when it is fully in.  But we will take THAT step when/if it gets here.  I am trying the Three Sisters way of gardening.  I'll let you know how it worked out later.  Here is something hiding under all that mess.

I can't begin to tell you how much we like melons around here.  And good thing too.  I think I have around 15 melon plants growing.  Again that's PLANTS, not the melons themselves.  I walked out Wednesday morning to the beautiful sound of many bees buzzing and flitting from flower to flower.  Music to my ears. 

Here is something else growing in that jungle.  I did not know what it was, but with   a little research  came up with....

Japanese/Chinese Lantern plant.  I can't wait to see it through the fall.  I THINK it will change into a deep orange color.   More as time goes by.

Here is another wild flower I found outside.  You can't see it very well, but the fuzzy cone facing the camera is a deep blue.  I think it is a Creeping Eryngium.   I LOVE identifying new wild flowers.  How fun to walk along and be able to name them.  I feel like we are friends, well, in my case since I can't remember their names sometimes it is more like acquaintances, but at least I try!!

Here is my basil which is growing crazily.  I have already made two batches of pesto,  put some on pizza, and plan on eating some for lunch tomorrow.  I have three other plants besides this one.  I think my friend Kelly could use some of this,  can't you ??!!!!

This last picture I thought was so pretty.  I have these planted around my tomatoes.  They seem to keep everything but those nasty tomato horn worms off. 

And that was my walk tonight.  Our days have been so dreadfully hot and humid.  Enough to make you sleep all afternoon.  But the evenings have been pleasant and breezy.  Probably just the STARK difference makes it feel that way.  But I have enjoyed getting out and walking the yard,  puttering.  Puttering...since I used that word and like it,  does that make me old? 


thanks for reading,

Reb