Garden is getting somewhere

I didn't know if I should keep watering my garden or not, but I kept doing it. And it is paying off.

The gypsy bell pepper has a couple new fruits growing on it.

This one seems to have a hole in it, so guess I won't be harvesting that one.

The jalepeño plant has three more peppers on it.

My roma tomatoes are finally starting to ripen.

I'm not sure if I'll get anything from my cucumber plants. They're still pretty small and some of them seem to be shriveling up.

I also have this rogue sunflower out front. It's almost as tall as my porch roof!

Hot & dry

It has been extremely hot and dry here for more than a week — temperatures 100+ and last night was the first rain we've had in a long time. Lawns are turning brown, and even the creek I live along is just a series of puddles, really.

So last week, I set up a watering station for the birds and other critters. It's pretty simple. Just a dish from a clay pot. I put a few rocks on one side so smaller birds can get in and out easier. Then I cleaned out a milk carton, filled it with water and poked a small hole near the bottom and hung it over the dish on a garden hook. It drips into the dish, helping keep it filled while I'm gone. The sound of the dripping water is also supposed to attract birds, plus some of them seem to enjoy standing under the drips for a bath.

This little family seemed to enjoy it. I think they're young starlings.

This grackle took a long drink and then a little bath under the drips.

And I got some neat splash and ripple pictures.

More produce!

I have more growing in my garden! I ended up picking the two bell peppers and the two jalepeños. I've put one of the bell peppers in a salad for lunch. Haven't had the jalepeños. I'll have to figure out the best thing for them.

Here's a look at the roma tomatoes. I took these yesterday after watering.

And then this morning, I noticed a third tomato getting started!

 And I also seem to have some cucumbers getting started, too! I counted seven tiny ones.