A mini orchard is starting to take place in the backyard. I bought 4 bareroot trees: Bartlette and Anjou pears and Granny Smit and Fuji apples. More to come.

Broccolli, Cauliflower and Bok Choy are some of the other crops that have made it through some freezing nights.

A healthy bunch of Parsley continues to grow into the winter.

The small orange tree is blooming again.

I just added a new raised bed for the perennial vegetable. I think I will start with asparagus and rhubarb.

The brocolli and cauliflower are starting to appear.

Moved the pumpkins to the front yard. The trick or treaters always love them during Haloween.

Planted a winter garden with broccoli and cauliflower.

The Esterlina Vineyard in Alexander Valley. Pinot grapes.

We took a week off and went to Mendocino to enjoy the cool weather at the coast.

There are enough eggplants for dinner every night.

The bush pole beans are now ripe, but there is not many of them.

The heirloom tomatoes are slow in ripening, but it will be worth the wait.

This was intended to be zucchini, but it has now been named mystery squash.

Alex and the pooches relax next to the giant pumpkin.

Heirloom tomatoes from the garden are becoming a regular event at the dinner table.

The tomatoes plants are producing, but are slow to ripen because of the cool weather.

This is a good year for watermellons.

The largest pumpkin is about the size of a basketball

Here is the Ichiban Egg Plant and a tomato that is just starting to ripen.

These are the Ketucky Wonder Beans

A real mix of flowers in the raised beds.

Lots of tomatoes. Here is the heirloom Brandywind and a young pumpkin plant.

The pumpkin is doing very well. The vine is over 6 feet long and here is one of the first little pumpkins.

I have added some flowers and some herbs like Basil, Parsley and Chives.

No garden would be complete without a zuccinni. Although one plant is sure to provide enough food for a family of 5.

Lots of tomatoes this year. I am using start from the local nursery because I want a lot of variety.

I started the pumpkins again. I am using the classic Atlantic pumpkin seeds. I use gallon plastic planters so start the pumpkins

Building A Garden

The raised beds

The new garden is still in the dream stage. It is just too darn cold to start the work. Although there is plenty of time to go through seed catalogues. I am planning 3 raised beds, a compost area, and a handful of fruit trees. The raised beds are primarily for annual vegetables, but I am also thinking of a perennial section for asparagus and rhubarb

Midweek

Just had a garage built in the backyard last summer. Notice there is no drive way. Everything is always done in phases and when you have the money available. It is a big garage and will be getting a lot of use this summer. I added a second door so I could use the back of the garage as a workshop, potting, or anything else. I put in 2 sky lights for additional light and may even try some in door growing. Lots of possibilities.

We are moving. A new back yard and and an addition to an older house.