Holy Toledo, it is hot in northwest Arkansas! Everything is crying out just to stay alive in this heat. Our garden produce has taken off this month, so I am carefully watering it to keep the vegetables coming. We had a great blackberry crop this year and I am attempting to get the canes cut back so we can ensure another one next season.
The main pests we have battled this year are squash bugs, worms and the illusive vine borer. This year I planted marigolds near all my tomato plants. I really think that has helped ward off a lot of pests. I am always looking for new ways to battle bugs.
With the amount of rain we have had, it’s been difficult to ward off powdery mildew in my cucumber plants. Despite that, we have had an abundance of them. I have made a few batches of canned Kosher dill pickles, a family favorite.
One of the charms of having a family garden is having enough to share with friends and neighbors. Our neighbor had major back surgery last year and is still doing physical therapy to get herself back into shape. I enjoy sharing a box of goodies here and there with her.
Yesterday I had to go into town to pay a bill for some new flooring that was put into one of our rental properties. I was able to deliver a check with a box of cucumbers and tomatoes too. We pick a large bowl of cherry and grape tomatoes daily just to keep up.
When our oldest son went in for his final orthodontic appointment, we gifted some veggies to the wonderful team in that office. It has been fun to take eggs and vegetables to our college-age daughter at her home. She has discovered she likes to cook and enjoys the fresh produce – especially for breakfast and BLT sandwiches.
The highlight of my summer has been watching a new flower bed take off between our pasture’s hillside and our house. It has been a favorite hang out for the pollinators – hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. In the back row of the bed, I planted lots and lots of sunflower varieties. The sunflowers were stunning until the doves discovered the seeds. They have scattered seeds throughout the bed, so I am sure I’ll be transplanting sunflowers next spring.
We planted garlic and Dahlias for the first time this year and am proud of how all of it has come up. I am already researching possibilities for new things to plant and grow in 2027.
I have always held the philosophy of “what good is having something if you can’t share it.” I have been able to share pictures with my mother, who is also an avid gardener. I love gifting flowers and veggies as I make my way through the heat of summer. I hope you have someone who shares their labor with you too, neighbor.
Jody Harris is a freelance communications specialist, gardener, ranch wife and mother of four. She and her family raise Angus beef cattle and other critters on their northwest Arkansas ranch. She is a graduate of Missouri State University. To contact Jody, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’
