Flowers, vegetables galore…and deer

 

From my garden perch in DeKalb, and from looking through all of the photos you’ve been sending in, it appears that we’re having a banner growing year. Good mix of rain and sunshine.

Of course, there are bugs and deer to challenge us. And, I’ve heard from many gardeners about the abundance of other hungry critters: woodchucks, rabbits, raccoon (look out corn). I think of my garden as the food pantry for the neighborhood–not just the human neighborhood. And, as long as no one gets too greedy, I’m happy to share.

We’ve been eating green beans, onions, garlic, snap peas, lettuces of all kinds, Swiss chard (until the bunny mowed it down), tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, and of course summer squash. I think we’ll be eating our first sweet corn this week. This is a surprise: I planted the corn about two weeks later than usual and it seems to be the earliest I’ve ever harvested. Go figure. After 40+ years of gardening, it’s all still a mystery to me.

 

 

 

 

Brad Pendergraft, long time NCPR friend and serious gardener in Parishville, has used high mesh fencing to keep out the deer. This has become an increasingly common solution as the deer population across the region exploded over the last 10-15 years.

Just up the road from me, Phil Harnden (founder of GardenShare and a really talented gardener) sent in a photo of his summer herb and vegetable patch, situated in an old barn foundation. It’s beautiful and interesting. Phil grows storage and high quantity crops (winter onions, tomatoes, etc.) in an adjacent large garden. Like Brad, Phil surrounds the entire growing area with high mesh deer fencing.

How about a garden with a lake view? Here’s one on Black Lake.

It seems to me that people who garden in the North Country overcome all kinds of adversity–most notably, unpredictable late and early frosts. The higher the altitude, the more likely those frosts will challenge gardeners. Here are a couple of garden photos from Michael Relyea who faces down the odds in Paul Smiths.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathleen Haedrich in Chestertown sent some photos with this note:

“The backyard garden of perennial and annual flowers is in its fourth season. Originally, a stoned area of lawn and overgrown yews. Creating the garden and watching it evolve – pure, simple pleasure.”

To my eye, Kathleen has succeeded in creating a magical space. Sometimes, that’s the most fun: take even a small, unused or messy area and turn it into a microcosm of beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another flower photo from Judy Simon in Canton, plus a nice deck garden from Lois Kelly in Indian Lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep the photos coming. I’m hoping for a collection of photos from Old Forge documenting a recent tour of gardens. You can send your photos to [email protected] and remember to include your name and location.

This is a great time to put in the late crop of lettuce, spinach, beets and beans. Yes, there is still time!

 

 

Tags: agriculture, flowers, gardens, vegetables