the "truth in advertising" garden tour...

Often I and my gardening buddies will post stunning photos of our garden goodness... perfectly kept beds of always blooming flowers, mega-productive vegetables, and herbs worthy of a spread in bon appetit.   And we do, in fact, often have gardens (or at least spots in them) that look just like that.

My sweet homesteading friend, Lanette, recently moved to Guam.  GUAM!  And just a couple of weeks into her residency, she has a home, kids ready to begin school, farmers markets and growers identified (and visited!), and yes, a new version of gardening in place.  She gives us a "walk around the homestead" in a recent post on her blog,  Homesteading on the Homefront.  (Go ahead, click and enjoy the beauty.)

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit that it's been a hard season for me and I have not been able to tend my gardens the way I should.  I'm no help to my "on his second career" husband, who comes home from a long day of work and commuting to be greeted by a honey-do list longer than the monstrous morning glory vines slowly devouring the sunflowers out back.

Below I share with you some of the good, the bad, and the ugly around Flannel Jammies Farm as summer draws to a close.  Try not to judge.  Laugh with me as we greet the fresh start of Autumn.  And say a prayer for Tom as he braves stink bugs, poison ivy, and cucumbers the size of cantaloupes...

rosemary, chive, boxwood basil, peony... and weeds

echinacea:  wanted, dead or alive

sedum:  blooming where it's planted

still life:  rosebush with tomato and pumpkin

my treasured pink dogwood among wandering lambs (ears)

crappy birdbath

oh, the abundant tomatoes (that I can't eat this season)

spooky marigold and black tomato

chives, tomatoes, windows, and pollinators... oh, my!

hibiscus camouflaging a top-bar hive

a Tim Gunn "make it work" moment (ran out of striped boxes)

another top-bar beauty

wish these washboarding bees knew how to rake...

Scarlett's thinking, "that ain't right..."

composter, windows, solar wax melter, and overgrowth, a la Fred Sanford

erectus mysterio