Hello GPODers!
Barbara Owen of Wellesley, Massachusetts has shared flowers many times on her blog (check out some of her posts here: The Beginning of Spring in Massachusetts, Barbara’s Massachusetts Garden Through the Seasons, Surprises and Lessons from Barbara’s Garden, and Color Themes in Barbara’s Garden), but today she’s switching up her blog to answer my call for a gorgeous home garden! Her ornamental beds are always exciting, but she’s showing another side of her growth that we haven’t seen yet. And it’s no surprise that her vegetable selection is as appealing as all the other beds.
A while back I requested photos of our garden that included food. I posted a photo of the flower garden before. This time I will introduce some from the vegetable garden. I’ve had a vegetable garden since I moved here in 1968. It’s been in this spot, in the front yard next to the sidewalk, for 23 years.
‘Detroit Dark Red’ beets are an heirloom crop and remain one of the most popular varieties due to their tender flesh and sweet taste. The bright green color also makes it useful as a vegetable garden ornament.
Beautiful compared to the bright red beets above, chard comes in a variety of colors, but the bright green color is just as appealing.
These “early girl” tomatoes are still green, but they ripen earlier than most other tomatoes in the garden. This extra-large variety is perfect for layering on sandwiches or simply slicing onto a plate.
Of course, there is much more to admire in a home garden than just fruit. The flowers that bloom before the crop are equally exciting, but they don’t get enough attention because of their modest beauty. This is one of Barbara’s small but mighty cucumber flowers.
Cucumber vines always have a mind of their own, wrapping and coiling around anything nearby, creating wonderful swirls and spirals in the process.
Another large flower with the potential for a delicious crop. This is a much larger yellow zucchini squash flower with another squash starting to mature next to it.
Autumn has arrived. That means it’s squash season. ‘Waltham’ butternut squash is one of the most popular winter squashes. It’s easy to see why. Its bright orange flesh makes it delicious in a variety of recipes.
That’s one hardy harvest! Filled with butternut and white acorn squash, and one large cucumber.
Of course, Barbara treated us to a splendid flower. A few bumblebees also come to enjoy these beautiful bright red dahlias.
Thank you so much Barbara for sharing your wonderful garden with us! It’s clear that your green thumb extends far beyond the blooming flowers in your garden.
While the gardens most often featured in Garden Photo of the Day are ornamental landscapes, we would like to remind everyone that all types of plants are welcome on the blog. From raised beds full of vegetables to exotic houseplant collections and everything in between, we’d love the opportunity to feature your favorite plants. Follow the steps below to send a photo via email or DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
I want to see your garden!
Do you have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a collection of particular plants you love, or any amazing gardens you’ve had the chance to visit.
To submit, please send 5-10 photos to: (email protected) It also includes information about the plants in the photo and the location where the photo was taken. We’d love to hear about where you live, your gardening history, any successes you’re proud of, what you’ve learned from failures, your hopes for the future, your favorite plants, and any funny stories that happen in your garden.
Have a cell phone? Tag your photos with #FineGardening on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
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