7/13/10.
A few weeks back, we went berry picking down at Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown RI. We started in the raspberry patch, and ended among the blueberry bushes. Something like Narnia, but very hot. A hot Narnia. Sweet Berry has a gorgeous view, and great ice cream, but errs on the pricey side, so we probably wouldn't repeat the trip. Last year, E & I went to the much less commercial, cheaper, and still charming Harmony Farms (blog post here). With sweet berries stacked in the freezer, I'm set. Time to re-do my favorite fruity chocolate treats (here).
Raspberries at Sweet Berry Farm, 7/11/10.
C. hunting for raspberries.
Blueberry bushes.
Jess & Eliz
Taylor
E.
Haven't been able to figure out what these flowers are...
7/12/10.
7/18/10.
7/21/10.
Triumphs include an abundance of basil, chives and mint, and brand new experiments, like lettuce (SO EASY...I'll do again and again), lemon cukes (below), and flowers, which happen to be useful pest deterrents and they're pretty.
Holy Shit. It's an EGGPLANT!!! 7/21/10.
Beet Hummus, fit for a unicorn, 7/18/10.
Classic Hummus with Jalapeno-Cilantro Pesto, taken 6/30/10.
7/18/10.
7/3/10.
Northampton, 7/3/2010.
On Smith College's campus, 7/3/10.
Botanical Gardens at Smith College, 7/4/10.
Crazy succulents.
never ending greenhouses.
an outdoor garden.
campus
Kathy's Diner.
sushi.
Off to fireworks in Springfield MA, 7/4/10.
Harvested our 3rd lemon cuke (above). And since one of our beet plants looked huge, we harvested our first beet (below) this weekend. Both for another lemon cuke pizza. 
The books say our beets have been planted long enough & are ready to harvest. We chose this one because it had the biggest leaves (a guess), but it turns out this clump is three beet plants, meaning I didn't thin them out like I should have. The one I pulled up has a beet the size of a 1/2 dollar. Too bad. Note: If you still hate beets, I've been through that too! Try roasting beets from a farmer's market and pair them with goat cheese on a salad. You'll love them.
First Beet Harvested, 7/16/10.
Lemon Cuke & Beet Greens Pizza, 7/16/10.
Return to the same.
Lemon cukes from the garden, 7/5/10.Roasted the squash first in a preheated oven (425F). Brushed with oil & sprinkled with salt & pepper, I roasted them for about 20 min., turning 1/2 way through. Don't over oil.
For this pizza, the store was out of dough balls & we used a premade crust. But if you do use a dough ball, crank up the heat and cook your dough 1/2 way through before loading it up. Then layer on the shredded cheeses, then garlic, hot pepper flakes, roasted squash slices, torn basil leaves, and crumbled goat cheese on top. Bake until golden brown about 7-10 min. Let it rest. Even if for 3 minutes. Let it rest.
(Left, above) Red aphids made thousands of babies...all over one of my lettuce plants. (Right, above) The Brussels sprout plant was eaten up by white aphids or some kind of white bug. I never should have brought home from Lowe's (I'm embarrassed to say), since it means I had no idea where it was from or what it was carrying). 
Then there have been the squirrels, who repeatedly snapped the prettiest flowers right off their stems (above) at snacktime...
...and ripped the almost-ready-to-be-gorgeous-rainbow-flowered Mina Lobata vine right out at the roots. (You can see the vine hanging below the planter dying of thirst, after being snapped off at the roots).
...and their new fascination with the roots of Chris' pansies, which they continue to dig up.
Finally, and this one is my fault, because I started the spinach too late: after growing about 1", the spinach decided it was time to bolt (go to seed). E said it must have happened because it got too hot, too early. I say I'll never plant spinach from seeds again--how could they compare to starters from a farmer's greenhouse? Remember spinach from last year (here)? Soon to come...good things in the garden.
taken 7/21/10.