Edible Flowers - Allegedly

When I was a kiddo, I remember my grandmother growing nasturtium and telling me the flowers were edible. I swear I ate one and thought it was good. I ate one yesterday and it wasn't good. What went wrong?

Little Sunflowers

About three feet tall. They might have been taller, but they planted themselves in a pot, which probably limited their growth.

Tomato Variety

Some of the tomatoes picked this morning. There are some orange ones in the stack - not many because I snacked on them. They might be something like a sungold. I didn't plant them. They volunteered in a garden bed of tomatoes from last year that's resting this year. The sweet 100s are still extra large, for some reason. And finally, a big one ripened: better boy.

This Explains It

I wondered why my giant sunflower tipped over.

Mystery Corn

Isn't it interesting to let some "weeds" grow just to see what they turn out to be? I think this is corn, although I don't see any fruit yet.

Speckled Zinnia

A small flower with interesting paint splatters. I plant oodles of zinnia seeds each year. These plants make me feel like a gardening superstar.

Garden Dreadlocks

I planted these for garden interest about five years ago, and they keep coming back. AND, they're still interesting. The plant is often called 'love lies bleeding,' otherwise known as amaranthus.

Hello Sunflower

An unexpected giant in a garden bed. Thank you bird/squirrel/wind for planting this for me.

Young Goldfinch

Isn't he pretty? Several goldfinch families are visiting the garden each evening.

Finally!

First tomato harvest date 2012: August 15th. That's the latest tomato harvest since I've been gardening at this location (10 years). These are also the largest 'sweet 100' cherry tomatoes I've ever seen in my garden. And there are a lot more just this big waiting to turn red.

Fuchsia Purple

Love the puffy purple folds of fuchsia. However, this poor plant is having a rough time in our unrelenting heat this year.

Hummingbird Lunch

I love seeing these little birds in my yard. I hang feeders, but I've also planted a lot of flowers to invite them to visit. This agastache is one of their favorites.

House Sparrow Mommy and Baby

Feeding time.

Magenta Cosmos

Seven years ago, I planted a packet of cosmos. They're annuals, but they re-seed themselves generously, so one packet is all you need.

Zinnias. Yay!

They never disappoint and seem to do just in our extreme heat this summer.

Teenager in the Yard

A juvenile robin gathering its own food. I saw it eat several worms. A parent was nearby, but not feeding the teen - despite its begging. Tough parenting job.

Echinacea - Coconut Lime

"Coconut Lime" echinacea. This perennial is part of a flowering foundation border. It's put on a show for three years in a row, and I hope it lasts for many more years to come.

I Said I Was on a Petunia Strike

For three years, I've refused to plant petunias, and geraniums, because of bud worm infestations. So...what is this showing up in a potted container? How DID it get there? Sneaky petunia.

Hello Black-eyed Susans

One of the latest bloomers in the landscaping. These are perennials that spread by root and by seed. Very hardy and pest-resistance, and a favorite in the winter for goldfinches and pine siskins.

Peacock Tail

Zinnias adding color to a metal peacock.

Flowers to Eat

Nasturtium flowers have a mild, sweet flavor - so toss them in a salad. Bonus: they like poor soil and dry conditions, so plant the seeds in any bare spots. My grandmother showed me how to pull out the sweet stem in the flowers for a dew drop taste of honey.

One Green Bean

My bean plants are struggling this year. The heat isn't the problem, the birds are. House sparrows are chewing on the plants and buds.

Orange-y Coneflower Mystery

I wish I knew exactly what these flowers were, because I adore them. I planted something similar not far from this site last year - a plant billed as a "purple black-eyed Susan." The eyes look the same, but the petals weren't orange.