Time for harvesting edible treasures. After planting, protecting, checking, fighting for (rabbits, gophers, ants & worms), building a protective barrier for, hoping, wishing, watching, waiting and watering, why, it's time for eating.
Corn harvesting, here we come…
I bring Mister Lovee to see what's going on. All of the planting and caring for is pretty much my doing. I beg Lovee to pull off an ear of corn, and he hesitates, like, they are my babies and I should do it.
But, he finally agrees.
I tell him that the one he chooses is all his, and lucky him, he chooses a beauty….
It's a bitter sweet thing (but mostly sweet), picking corn, knowing that towering stalks won't be here for much longer…
It was a joy, watching them inch up, until they practically broke through the garden ceiling…
Tip-toeing in, peeking around, waiting, excitement…
Picking okra has begun also…
But for now, it is mostly baskets of corn.
3 big baskets to be exact.
Plus, the occasional trip out for a couple tasty ears for din…
I planted white sweet corn, and golden sweet corn…
It did so very well.
I am ever so glad I get to share these here with you, because otherwise, the only ones who would get to see the goodness, of which we are ever so grateful, would be me, lovee, two pups and our happy bellies.
Real butter on hot corn, mmmm, mmmm…..
Such an overwhelming joy to pick goodies out of your own garden.
Who knew?
Well, of course, we all know that, but still.
It's really something else, that such awesomeness can grow from mere seeds.
Seeds of nature.
Amazing.
Just amazing.
Watching tassels and bees fly around. Little tassel bits falling on the silks, to create corn kernels…
Knowing that hidden under the layers of husks, corn grew. I am perpetually fascinated, and in turn planning my fall garden.
Yummmmmmms.
Only, I am kicking myself.
I should have been more careful with the husks in husking my corn.
I really really really could kick myself, because I could have used the husks to make tamales.
Darn darn darn.
Or to make dolls.
Next time, I suppose you live and learn.
I am bundling many of the tassels for autumn decor, and saving the long beautiful leaves. They are drying in the cottage.
But for now, we eat.
4 ears a person.
Dig in!
I chose the most bestest ear of corn for my neighbor, and red faced and filthy, I ran it down to her house. Then ran back to keep working.
She wrote me later that night to say that, it was one of the best pieces of corn she had ever tasted. She grew up on a farm.
This made me very happy, because, I was secretly sort of wishing I had a family member who was a farmer. So that he or she could be amazed and proud of me.
Is that silly?
Oh oh, I L O V E the multi-color corn kernels, aren't they cute?
I refrigerated some corn.
I froze some corn.
We ate oodles of corn.
And I still am not tired of corn.
We are now enjoying our Cajun bell peppers. They are tiny, sweet and spicy. I actually have been eating them right in the garden, along with all of the oodles of different sized tomatoes…
Since I have lots of tomatoes, and some of the okra was ready, I decided to…
Try my hand at fried okra and fried green tomatoes.
(I had fried tomatoes before, but not okra)
We very rarely eat batter dipped fried foods.
In fact, so seldom, that I can't recall the last time?
I followed this recipe for my okra.
The fried okra was insanely good.
And, probably not that good for us, but I used light olive oil.
Does that count?
So, our summer is coming to fruition.
Very golden skin, without even noticing it happen.
Very full bellies.
Very happy puppies.
Time to plan for a fall garden.
Oh and, I have been tickled orange lately, what with a few Halloween orders in the shop, and a book about a haunted plantation, why, I might have to take out my autumn decor asap.
The seasons pass so quickly, you almost have to start celebrating them early to savor every little bit.
I simply can not get over how fast time flies by.
I am gobsmacked.
Time time time!
Oh, remember this?????
I should probably credit Paul Simon for writing it, and Simon and Garfunkel for orignally performing it.
😉
Okay so, off I go for now…
See you soooon!
I am simply in the hazy glow of your world right now. I can’t find anything to say…all I can do is dream and *sigh* and dream some more.
Thanks for being so corny…your garden is delicious.
Love:
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
hahehehehee Lovely Kim, I was going to title my post CORNY! ;)))
hahahaaa!
Awww…you’re corny in a good way!
You knew someone was going to say it, so I figured since I was the first to post, I could get away with it! 😉
Kim 🖤🖤
Missy V, next spring you should try a bi-color corn. Yellow and white kernels on the same cob. OUT A’ SIGHT flavor! Burpees carrys two such hybrids and they are incredible. If you have enough okra you should pickle some. They make delicious dilled pickles…..hugs from the ole’ farmer, the poop lady.
When I was growning up, my mother’s fried okra was one of my favorite things!!! I love corn on the cob, too. That little Cajun bell pepper is the cutest! You so deserve all of these treats because you have worked so hard. I am so happy for you that your plantings were so successful! I am drinking/eating a snow cone with ice cream in the bottom as I read this post. A wickedly good occasional indulgence of summer!
Girl, I grew up in Iowa – you may have met your match with me in the eating corn department. It is the best part of summer.
Hugs,
Lisa
The woman who raised me made the best black iron skillet corn you EVER ate. I remember us picking & shucking. Playing in the silks. She would scrape it off of the cobb. (which in turn I would feed to the horses) And it was just as delicious cold as it was hot-What womderful memories. Thinking of her love & her corn. She made some mean fried okra & sliced tomatoes too. What a beautiful garden. Thank you for sharing it and bringing Ollie back to me for a few minutes 🙂 Lover of All Corn- (candy corn included)
Julia
OMGosh, Vanessa you R truly an amazing Farmer girl! I want to just reach out and grab that corn and devour it! They are such a nice shape and the color. To die for! You have been a verry busy girl! You amaze me and you make the planet proud! I mean you even wanted to use the husks, and I know “you will!†I think your peppers and your okra looked scrumptious too!
I am excited about your Halloween drawings and that you are ready to fly into autumn!
Now lets dance to the bangles, they have always been a favorite of mine. 😉
We had some of the best sweet Ga corn. We ate lots and froze lots. I found an easy way to cut the corn off the ears for freezing-boil the ears a few minutes, put them in cold water, then put the large end in the hole of a bundt pan. It helps it stay in place.
The only foods I ever fry are squash and okra. The okra I use very small tender pods, cut off just the ends, mix milk and an egg with salt and pepper, drop the pods in. Then dredge them with cornmeal mixed with salt and pepper.
We have loads of tomatoes now, some cukes and lots of butternut squash (it’s not ready yet).
Isn’t if great eating veggies from your own seeds?
I should have said it helps it stay in place as you cut the corn off the cob.
And after you dredge the corn meal you fry it in oil, turning frequently.
Vanessa you are proof positive that we can create our own reality. You are very spiritual and magical.
~elaine~
I have always wanted to like okra, but don’t. However, I’m pretty sure my auntie’s recipe would delight you, so here it is http://aninspiredcook.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/okra-gumbo/ (Everything else is fabulous, too)
Thanks for always having pretty things to share, hope this returns the favor, just a bit.
🖤
Love your world of gardening! Wish I could see it in real but your story tells it very well. hugzz..peebee
Miss Vanessa, You have an amazing crop of deliciousness this year. You should be very proud, and you have that special touch that we all would like to have. Beautiful crops!
Enjoy !
Your corn looks absolutely amazing. Wow. I have never tried to grow it, because it intimidates me a little, but yours looks so good. I may just have to give it a try. 🙂
I should have been more careful with the husks in husking my corn.I follow all instruction of your regarding Agriculture,i like you blog.
although the thought of eating okra gives me great pause the thought of that corn makes me salivate! There is nothing like eating a delicious ear of corn with real butter melting all around and just doing at it typewriter style. chomp chomp to the right…turn and chomp chomp to the right. DING!
What an abundance of goodness you’ve cultivated for yourselves!
XOXOXOXO
my little chihuahua loves corn on the cob! Its hilarious…..I hold the corn while he nibbles it with his tiny teeth…..
My Mom & her family were from Georgia and fried okra is big there (along with pickled)….Your fried okra (& green tomatoes) are blue ribbon worthy. Love your idea of frying outside on the grill burner – I have never even used that burner – what good ideas you have Miss V
Well…having been to India this year and ridden on one…albeit for a very short time…I would say that…” the corn is as high as an elephant’s eye!”….and so is mine…great growing year!
Nothing like fresh picked vegies from your own garden!!! Yummy!
Thanks for the video, I LOVE that song by the Bangles!
Take care and Happy Harvesting,
Tracy M.
Oooooo… I LOVE fresh corn!!! There is almost nothing better. ^-^
I am wondering, how do you get rid of/prevent ants from eating your goodies? I have a raised bed at our community garden, and discovered ants in abundance… then I discovered they ate my turnips… @_@
I’m looking for ways to get rid of them without killing the good bugs. Any ideas would be much appreciated! =D
Now I’ve got corn on the brain & am craving some sweet tastiness of my own… Perhaps I’ll nip down to the market & get a few ears…
XOXO
Miss V,
It was a delightful trip through your garden today. I had a fabulous time.
I lovvvvvve fresh corn. One of my favorite things to do is walk out to the garden and pick corn just so I can shuck it right then and there.
…The little hatters think all the little hairs are funny to pull off.
And I know you are always eating such fresh and healthy vegies, but I agree(being from the deep South Texas and all) that
FRIED GREEN TOMATOES are Scrumdiliumptious….and quite Wonderfully unhealthy and fattening…. but when life delivers you a green tomato….sometimes ….well ….sometimes you just have to FRY it…..hehehehe.
…..I am sooooo very Excited about Halloween and I cannot wait to get a few of your Spooky goodies for ME.
*********
Whimsy and Wishes
Wendy from Wonderland
Oh, thank you very much for sharing your fantabulous garden photos with us…and causing mouth-wateringness with the thought of hot buttered corn on the cob!
I was surprised to see that you grew Okra, a deep south tradition…yet my MIL, born and raised here in Mississippi, does NOT like it, except fried and baked in a casserole with lots of onions. Now THAT is yummmmmmmm!
Word of advice, My dear, do not ever boil okra. It becomes a gelatanous mass which could be used to paste up wallpaper so that it never, ever comes off the wall. Sorry, just yucky to me that way! Fry it as you did, light oil helps the calorie count!
May your harvest continue to fill your baskets and tummies…
Elizabeth in Mississippi (formerly for many years a Tucson Desert Rat)
Hi Vanessa! I am fashionably late, as always. All that corn looks so beautiful – I’m happy it tasted as good as it looks. We are just now beginning to harvest tomatoes—I see sauce and other tomato delights in the near future! I have always wanted to try my hand at fried green tomatoes – especially after watching the film…LOL Fancy that! 🙂 Your garden is such a sanctuary – I can’t wait to see what you are planning for your fall garden. Enjoy the weekend! xoxo
How clever of you to grow your corn inside the chicken wire like that.
I shall have to try that next year. It was all we could do to keep the deer, birds, and squirrels out.
Wishing you a beautiful weekend
Looks delicious! Growing corn is not familiar with at all living in the UK, but I love it slathered with salted butter 🙂
I grew up on luscious sweet home-grown corn from Nebraska family corn fields! I used to have fun running through corn fields when I would visit. I always remember finding kittens out in those fields, too! You always make everything look so yummy!
So glad to have stumbled across this. Beautiful story with equally stunning photographs. Really enjoyed reading this.