Raspberries

Before we left Maryland, a friend gave us a small raspberry plant. It wasn't more than a twig with a couple of leaves on it sticking out of a pot. I transplanted it into one of my old terracotta pots, packed it into the back of the Rav4, and moved to Chesapeake. I didn't think much of it, and certainly didn't expect it grow at all this year. Well, it has grown quite a bit. It even started flowering several weeks ago, but I didn't think much would come of the blossoms.

The pot flipped over during one of the many, many storms we've had this summer. The only damage it received was on the one branch that had flowers on it (swell...). I thought the branch would die, and that would be it for the summer.

Then, yesterday, I saw delicate little berries hanging on the end of the drooping branch. Two of the berries were ripe! Gently I picked them. One for Steve and one for me. Perfect berries.

This photo is from this morning. More perfect berries.

I guess the moral is: if you don't expect too much from your garden, it will bring you nothing but joy.

Caprese Salad

1 1/2 lbs various tomatoes
8 oz fresh mozzarella, drained and sliced
fresh basil leaves

slice the larger tomatoes in 1/4 inch slices. Cut small tomatoes in half. Layer the large tomato slices with the mozzarella on a small platter. Sprinkle small tomato halves liberally. Place basil leaves evenly throughout salad. Drizzle dressing over whole platter.

Dressing:
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

whisk until smooth.

I added a little extra salt and pepper over the salad before serving.

Garden Spider

I have noticed this spider "hanging" around my tomatoes lately. I hadn't seen one like this before and didn't know if it was poisonous or not. Today I finally got around to researching the spider and found that she is a Black and Yellow Garden Spider, also known as Argiope aurantia. She's not dangerous to humans (a bite sounds about as bad as a wasp sting), and she's very beneficial to gardens.

Hopefully, I can can get a photo of the dragonfly that has made a home in my garden as well.

Where I've Been

Okay, okay...I know. I've been AWOL for these last couple of months. That's because I bought a house. I've spent most of the summer unpacking and organizing. Oh yeah, and gardening!We built a 4 by 8 raised bed before the furniture even arrived and planted tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, eggplant, basil, and cilantro. The tomatoes and basil have gone positively viral! Everything else has been so-so. Above is a photo of the yellow pear tomatoes and some onions from my garden. The other tomatoes are coming soon!

This weekend we are building more raised beds to begin the Fall garden. Now that the boxes are all unpacked and everything is mostly put away, I should have more time for my blog. Stay tuned!