Howdy SW Friends,

Just wanted to share one of the harvests I shared with others this month. With over 300 grow days in my zone, I do my best to keep our garden producing year round. I've been giving away seeds and will be helping my neighbor get their newly constructed bed ready for a September plant. Oh, the luffa has begun to flower! Beautiful hibiscus-like yellow blooms.

Stay cool and hydrated!!

Carrots, kale, Swiss chard, leeks, yellow squash and beets

Your produce looks so nice, and I know it's all yummy! It's amazing to me what you can do with all of your very hot weather.

Looks great Gina.

I had a real success this year with cherry tomatoes and a patio tomato and lots of peaches on my semi-dwarf tree. ( birds are having a feast)

Maybe next year you can net the peach tree so you can have more of them.

I was late getting my tomatoes planted, so now I'm just starting to get cherry tomatoes and beefsteak tomatoes.

I have mosquito netting on some of the limbs so I am getting some peaches for me, but need to get more netting for sure, next year. The tomatoes I have pretty well covered with that netting.

I am impressed you are getting beefsteak tomatoes!!

They set the fruit before all of our heat hit. Now we're near 100 every day so things have slowed down, but I'm hoping for more when it gets cooler if I can keep them going.

Thank you, ladies. It makes me feel happy and accomplished to share the bounty. Although, I doubt I will be able to say that about the fresh corn! We do have some tomatoes setting fruit in the hoop house. However, I've yet to have an abundant crop of tomato yet, Linda, but I'm happy to get whatever I can. Oh, to grow beef steaks!! A girl gotta have a dream!

We got our first triple digit temperatures this past weekend (104). The winds are kicking up to bring it back down to the high 90's. I water daily, Karen, and the back trellis has made a difference in proving shade.

Here's some photos of the blooming luffa on the hoop trellis. It's working so well, that I'm going to add more panels before next Spring to create a full length tunnel for peas, squash, beans and any other vining crop. Hoping to do dipper and birdhouse gourds next summer. We will have to build planter boxes for the opposite sides, but I'm okay with that. They will be hand watered, so at least no watering system will be needed.

Love the trellis, Gina. Corn looks great and love sunflowers always. Do not have any this year.

We hit 110 yesterday. Today it is overcast and humid with a high dew point. Just miserable.

Oh, Linda, those temps get brutal!! We visit family in LV and they can get that hot, too. Impossible to go outside for any length of time. Stay cool and hydrated! Wowza.

Got the corn harvested this morning. 30 beautiful ears plus some scragglers. Ants got three ears, so the hens have some treats. Getting ready to process for the freezer. Ever hear of freezing raw? I posted the question in the veggie forum. I always blanch and freezer. Let me know if you have a better way to keep corn. I sure would love to hear alternate suggestions.

Have a beautiful day, SW friends! We will make it through this summer like we have in the past! Hang in there!

Oh! Check this out..... Heard a ruckus on the front porch early this morning to find a baby owl perched on our deck railing! Phil will be building an owl box today in the hopes of enticing a resident. Maybe THAT will keep those rabbits at bay! Fingers crossed!

The corn looks wonderful, mouth watering here!! Sorry I know nothing about freezing it raw.

We have a couple of teenage Owls here now. They watch me in the garden late in the day. I love them!! Hope yours stay around.

I am very happy with the results, Linda. Heading out to help my Son move in LV! Still can't believe they are moving in July! It's going to be hot, hot, hot... 107.

Anyways, taking them some fresh corn and a basket of garden produce. Excited to see their new home.

Wish me luck!

Your delicious home grown food will give them strength for this hot job!