Be sure to double click on any photo to enlarge the pictures and see the captions.

Arizona summer 2010 was not a complete bust. Have added a few slideshow pictures to show what we have been enjoying. The ichiban eggplant and swiss chard are on their second year and still producing. I have started harvesting my sweet potatoes (yams? whichever) and have really been pleased with the quality and quantity. View the slide show to see the 15 inch 3 pound 13 ounce sweet potato. Been pleased with the Asian cucumbers, they are still producing about one a week.

Lost all my strawberry plants again this summer so I may not try to plant them again.

I'm planning to start planting seeds by the end of September. We've missed the fresh lettuce.

Be sure to double click on any picture to see larger view, then select full screen for a slide show..

Had a beautiful May in Phoenix. Perfect for gardening. Here are 11 pictures out of 50 or more that I took this month. My fruit orchard is doing well. Spring was the time to cut the fruit tree back by half. That was hard to do, but the results are rewarding as the trees are now putting out new growth. That new growth will be cut back by half again in the fall. We've enjoyed 6 apricots and some of the peaches. The fig tree has grown 4 figs so far (don't expect more this year). The watermelon patch that we grew on a small hill is doing great. Will pick our first melon this week (6 large ones and several more small ones are developing).

Been using my Sun Oven more this year. Today I baked a loaf of bread and have a pot of vegetable soup in the oven for dinner. So far I've baked cookies, potatoes, a whole chicken , stew and boiled some eggs. I wrapped beets in foil and put them in a covered pan and they cooked in their own steam. Lots of great recipes on the internet.

I do water everyday for 10 to 15 minutes so the soil stays moist. Also have a lot of flowers, squash and other veggies in pots that I have to watch closely. Been harvesting russet (new small ones) and red potatoes so far. The sweet potatoes aren't ready yet. I'm about ready to bag the grapes so the birds don't eat them all. Didn't try corn this year as our yard is small.

Otherwise, let's hear it for gardening in Phoenix!!!

Just wanted to share the beautiful roses that grow in and around my garden. Everythingis growing well so far, especially the potatoes. Have been enjoying sugar peas, beets, carrots, lettuce, chard, spinach and green onions. Lots of little squash are forming. No ripe tomatoes yet. Moved the March slideshow to the side bar. To view the current slideshow, double click on any picture and it will take you to Picasa.

The weather has been beautiful. Planted lettuce, carrots, spinich, bush beans , beets, sugar peas and kohlrabi by seed last month and they are all coming up. It's now too late to grow from seed so I have been planting transplants of several kinds of squash, cukes, pole beans, regular eggplant, watermelon, and some small tomato plants. Also purchased potato and rhubarb starts from Summer Winds nursery. Love color in the garden so I have planted flowers wherever I could find room. Had to plant new strawberries as I lost last years plants due to the heat. They didn't get enough water from the soaker hoses so Tom changed their watering to sprinklers. Same problem with the asparagus and potato patches so now they have sprinklers also. (The sprinkler spacing is one for every four squares)
NOTE: Double click on any photo in the slideshow and it will take you to Picasa. Then click on "slideshow" in the upper left of the screen and it will bring the photos up in full screen with captions. To get out of Picasa just select the back arrow two times.