Just A Shellin'

If our garden was a party scene with the plants as the partiers, our peas would be SHUTTING DOWN THE SPRING PARTY SCENE (meaning they did their thing well and now it's time to say goodbye).  They stayed later than usual but provided us with plenty to do a 'cabbage patch dance' about. <insert mental image>

I planted sugar snap peas and also transplanted some mystery variety that the kids brought home from a story time craft project at the library (yes, a library craft project provided us with food).  We also have 3 nice sunflowers going strong that was brought home from the same event.

I had help picking but my partners were surprised to find out their duties didn't end there.  Time to shell and it's SOOOO FUN!

My smallest partner observed....

Bracelet is a thumb weaning contraption (Dr. Thumb)

And observed....

But only offered us a few sounds of encouragement, at least we think they were of encouragement.

To be honest, little man enjoys work like this just as long as socializing is involved (sounds like me), the other doesn't like to be hot.... but I foresee her being a good cook of these home grown meals one day (little lady likes to watch and help me cook).
Cute grubby hands staying busy-

The shelling was completed, pea plants have left the party (aka our garden), and now more 'floor' is available for our sweet potato vines to shimmy on into.

Time to do the sprinkler.

Flower to Food, In The Garden

Though I hear squash flowers (breaded and fried) are quite delicious this isn't what this post is about. Its just a quick post about the lovely flowers I saw in the garden this morning and the role they play other than making my eyes happy.

Boring old potatoes, their flowers are not....

These flowers also mean the potatoes (or tubers) are forming under ground.  Around this time is when some farmers dig them to get 'new potatoes' or 'baby potatoes', the small ones you see in the store.

Little tomato flowers are always a nice site, means a tomato is coming.  Tomatoes are self pollinating, meaning the flower has both the male and female within.  As long as the wind or bee helps pollen fall into the flower then a baby fruit is coming.

Pea flowers can be ornamental alone even if you don't want to eat the fruit of the plant.  Our snap pea flowers are white but I have seen some beautiful other colors.  Just like tomatoes, once pollinated, this flower turns into a sugary pea pod.  Did you know you can also eat the leaves, very good in a salad.

Check out these pretty peas-

http://squarefoot.creatingforum.com/t8411-pretty-sights-found-while-walking-thru-the-garden

Last bloom, Ms. Sunflower.  Once those little 'pods' in the center of the flower get pollinated they will turn into a yummy, meaty seeds.  This is our first year growing sunflowers so we will see if the birds get the seeds first.

The young pullets also joined me in the garden this morning enjoying their cool dirt bath.  My kids enjoy the same ritual.