Gardening In The Suburbs of Southern California

The Multi-Sunflower dominates the southwest quadrant.

Hello, Steemit! I have been dumbfounded, slackjawed in pure bliss over the fecund midsummer farming life.

Feel free to compare where my garden was at a month ago:

Tiny seedlings etc!

To two weeks ago:

Amazing early summer growth spurt!

To just a few days before now:

Hello, plants, I remember when you were knee hi to a grasshopper!

I went away to visit friends over the weekend, and returned to massive bushiness and a solid 2 pounds of pole beans. So rewarding!!!

I haven't been very good about weighing and documenting all my haul. I have been going with the flow, whipping up various squash boats, sauteed beans, and chard quiches.

I did manage to capture a few dishes, however, like this beet soup:

I followed my recipe for broccoli cheese soup, only using beets, turnip, and chard.

Plus the hearts of the last three artichokes!

I learned a new recipe for chard stems. Drizzled in olive oil, lemon juice, and sprinkled with cherry tomatoes, sweet pepper, and thyme, then mozzarella and panko crumbs...these stems roasted up tender with a crispy, cheesy topping.

The trees are also revving up for summer harvest. We are expecting our very first avocado. A harvest of one, but that's one more than ever before!

Peaches are coming on:

The rabbits are not breeding successfully, but they do generate some primo manure. I hope to buy a new Blue American buck ASAP! Devon will make a wonderful pet, but he just can't seem to sire any babies. Here he is frolicking in the mini pasture in the evening:

Since the summer heat has begun to roast us with triple digit days, the rabbits have had to come inside to chill out. It's been a great bonding opportunity. The guys, though, have built an evaporative cooling system which they will hook up to solar power this weekend!

Here are the does relaxing in their hutch, waiting for hopping time each evening:

I really want these girls bred YESTERDAY!

Thanks so much for joining me on this summer time homestead update.

May all beings dwell in love kindness peace and joy!

Love,cat
@creationofcare

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