Walk with Me

I wish everyone could enjoy my garden.

I offer these photos as the next-closest-thing, a way to share some of the delights. I also captured these moments to preserve some of the fleeting beauty of the garden. Part of what makes gardening enriching is the unraveling of new growth day by day. But I also miss the sweet peas when they’re gone. And so they’re preserved in images.

I took these photos on two days, one in May and one in June. In San Diego, we’ve been experiencing a lot of “May Grey” and “June Gloom” in 2023. While our Bonsall home lies a dozen miles inland, the stream and oaks that run through our backyard invite the fog to hug closely to the property, giving us more grey than many in our zone. I hope you enjoy the view.

Let’s start in the garden closest to my office, which I call Chrissie’s Garden. Red Kuri hokkaido squash climb the arch against a backdrop of nasturtium.
We harvested the final cauliflower of the season in May.
Sweet peas (of many varieties) lasted through June.
The oaks and vines beyond the garden.
The dahlias begin to flower in front of sprawling tomato vines.
A cascade of nasturtium.
Slick Pik yellow squash. As I do every year, I planted far more summer squash than we need. Because I love them.
Some garlic drying over the fence.
We move along to the Cottage Garden. The archway helps us feel like we’re moving from one garden room to another.
Here’s the egg chair where the dogs rest while I toil. Wisteria covers the arbor and roses (Compassion, Eglantyne, Roald Dahl and Scepter’d Isle) and Mexican sage flank the stone pathway.
Climbing the archway, I have tomatoes and Red Kuri hokkaido squash, just like in Chrissie’s Garden. This one opted to relax on the earth.
Hmmm. More summer squash. This one’s called One Ball.
Rose “Compassion” in the Cottage Garden.
Leaving the Cottage Garden. You can see the tomato vines are loving the archway support. On tables are seedlings that I am hardening off–mostly dwarf tomatoes that will be planted in containers, peppers and zinnias.
Moving down toward the horses we have a large bed of…summer squash. In the foreground lies a gorgeous Jaune et Verte (patty pan) squash. Beyond are a couple of tomato plants I’m allowing to roam around.

Speaking of tomato plants, let’s check out the Hugelkultur Garden, where tomato vines are climbing. In the foreground stands an antique ice cream cart.

The Hugelkultur Garden. Not pictured are a row of basil and a row of zinnias (mostly the Benary Giant and Queeny series).
Last year’s strawflower plant continues to grow in a bed right across from our horse hitching post.
And here’s Rosie, trying to get her face into Cammy’s feed bucket (bottom right). Rosie just turned three, our baby horse!