Around the garden

Things are looking healthy in the garden. This week I'm intending to include masses of veges in our evening meals. The rainbow chard is big enough to plunder, and the beetroot tops can be used in the same ways.

 This has been a good year for basil. I have a big bag from The Crafty Neighbour, plus some of my own. I am planning to make pesto this week, although mine won't have expensive pine nuts. I might use hazelnuts as I have lots of those and they need to be used.

 Look at the glorious red tomato I found among the rampant foliage on the bush tomatoes.

 I'm afraid even scallopini, aka pattypan squashes, turn into marrows. I discovered that thinly sliced into big wheels, they make a fantastic layer in lasagna, and could even replace the pasta altogether.

 Mouse is lurking wherever I go when I'm gardening.

 This is cavolo nero, or Tuscan black kale. It is fantastic in minestrone soup.

 I've grown the best celery ever this year. It is better than supermarket stuff, but with no nasty chemicals.

 Can you spot the four leafed clover?

 These sweet, starry dahlias seem to appear one at a time. I'm looking forward to the tubers multiplying so that they come out as a mass.

 This pretty clump of colour appears each autumn.

 The vege plot is beautiful at this time of the year. I love it.

 Mr Mouse loves the garden too. He was a bit surprised when I pulled out the old woody lavenders from the  raised feijoa beds. Now I've got the pleasure of considering what to plant to replace them.

 Here is my harvest of shallots. They don't look like the supermarket shallots, which is a bit odd. I'm sad because the red onions are starting to go to seed, and I still have lots of them to eat. They don't store like brown onions.

 I love these bright petunias in a pot.

 Sadly I didn't go out the the farm this weekend, but this fellow was grazing on the back lawn. He is my new Friesian stallion.

                            
I'm very fond of Friesians, with their long wavy manes and elegant carriage. I'm sure I will never have one of my own (although Zanny's mane is getting pretty long), so this gentleman will have to do.

By the way, Aria is currently "gunmetal" in colour, which means she is going to be black! I am thrilled.