If Only Scarlett Had Planted Squash Instead of Radishes...

...I'm pretty certain she would never have been hungry in the first place.  No, nor any of her folk.  As God is my witness.

As you can see from the picture (left) of my gathering basket, this morning's haul from the garden was pretty healthy.  Squash...both yellow crookneck and straightneck and zucchini...outnumber the tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers...for the moment.  The hot, dry days we have been experiencing have put a halt to most "production"...or at least slowed it.  But, rain and lower temps are predicted for tomorrow, so look out!  The basket may soon be full.

I've been working on the Rondel (the elliptical planting area we've designed for the center...more or less...of the Way Back, based on inspiration from P. Allen Smith's Garden Home) today.  We had the front portion done; that's where Hyacynth sits in her Grape chair, watching over the zinnias and marigolds.  But, we had stopped there when we ran out of mulch.  Mr. T scraped the weeds away on Saturday, and we lined it with black weed-block fabric.  Then, following a trip to HD, we used 15 bags of mulch to finish it off.  Looks nice so far.  I want to outline it with flowers to give it even more definition from a distance (that being inside our Morning Room); eventually there will be a mass planting of perennials (daffodils, iris, and daylilies, to accent the roses that will be inside the Rondel), but for now we'll use some annuals like marigolds.  Sounds like another trip to Home Depot to me!

Before I go, I wanted to share a shot (right) of the latest garden celebrity:  a Jubilee watermelon.  Actually, there are now 3 on that vine, along with about 8 more tiny Sugar Baby melons on their own vines.  I am following Master Gardener Jerry Baker's advice to place the developing melons (both watermelons and cantalopes/muskmelons) in plastic containers (like milk cartons sliced in half, or as in this pic, the bottom half of a strawberry container) to provide a measure of protection from both bugs and the gardener's feet.  Isn't it just the cutest thing you've seen...in a garden, that is?  Grow, baby melon, grow!

Ah yes, gardening teaches one patience.  I know we'll have to be patient for these to ripen, but my mouth is watering just thinking about 'em!  Can't wait!!