Abundant Color From Vegetables to Insects
Pictured on the left is our Merlot Napa cabbage, displaying a beautiful bright purple color. If you are afraid of store-bought lettuce, Napa cabbage sliced thin is a great alternative for salads—plus, it is more nutritious!
In the picture below is a great golden digger wasp. They are abundant in our garden and have bright golden hairs and orange legs. Between May and August, female great golden digger wasps construct underground nests in loose, sandy earth. After digging a primary entryway, the wasp carves out several individual side rooms to house her future offspring. Next comes the hunt: true to their reputation as skilled trackers, these wasps actively stalk their targets—typically grasshoppers and crickets.
Upon catching her prey, the female injects venom that paralyzes the insect without killing it. She then carries or hauls her immobilized catch back home. Before bringing it inside, she leaves the prey at the entrance while stepping into the tunnel to inspect her nursery chambers. Satisfied that everything is secure, she pulls the prey into a chamber, deposits a single egg on it, and seals the entryway. When the larva hatches, it feeds on the preserved victim over the winter months before emerging as an adult the following spring to restart the process.
Unfortunately, our neighbor does not like them in their lawn, as the wasp burrows resemble anthills, and has been killing them with spray.
On a more positive note, the flower beds are all coming into bloom, with the gladiolas showing their first colors.
I dare not list a lot of green beans or blueberries, but if you order and they are sold out, just put a note saying that you would like some. The blueberries are still ripening, but some of the early-producing bushes have been picked clean, so each harvest diminishes.
We picked the first three Salt and Pepper cucumbers Saturday, and there are small Marketmore cucumbers forming.
That's the garden news for this week. Let's hope for rain...
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A quick note on availability:
Please keep in mind that we’ve cut back on our vegetable production this year, so many of our items are limited! The quantities listed are our best estimates of what we expect to harvest. Mother Nature loves surprises, so sometimes we end up with a little more, and sometimes a little less than expected. We appreciate your understanding and support!.
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