Picking the Beans

This year we have been having such a good crop of beans that after our week away there were so many to pick we had to get out all our colanders and enlist the help of the family's smallest gardener too.

We had more than enough beans for ourselves, so we gave some away.

And in return we got these.

And these.

And all these.

So, we did well growing the beans - better not ask about our cauliflowers or corn - but we have high hopes of the tomatoes that are sloooowly ripening right now.... How is your garden growing?

In the Vegetable Patch

I've always loved the sight of a kitchen garden with rows of vegetables slowly growing into their recognisable selves. I love the sight of beans winding their way upwards around bamboo sticks. The plant supports, trellis, canes and so on in a vegetable patch are part of the decorative effect I like so much. And the pots - the old fashioned worn looking terracotta pots. I was so inspired with vegetable patches that I included them stitched into my Garden Notebook.

This summer Mr P has planted lots of peas and beans and a few other things, in our vegetable patch AND remembered to water them during the extremely dry spell. They are growing strongly and taste delicious as well as looking pleasingly decorative to me.

The beehive is one of our compost bins. I got it from Wiggly Wigglers and it has worked a treat, making enough rich compost over the last year or two to improve our soil for this year's veggies.

Perhaps it's time to go out and collect a few more tasty pickings.