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.

Picture Share - Beautiful North East TN

I don't have any house updates to share this week (sorry).  The kids and I traveled to Tennessee this past week for two special weddings and spending time with family.  Forgive me if you are tired of seeing pictures of their farm.... I never get tired of seeing it.

I forget how pretty the sky and clouds can be there.
Sunrise-

Sunset-

Blue skies all around (she took her first steps while at my parents :)-

Enough clouds.... around the farm-
Neighboring farm cutting tobacco.  If you want to experience physical labor, try it.

 My parent's white potato and onion harvest, way better than mine-

 Sow and piglets in a farrowing crate.  Some people say these are inhumane (she can stand up if she wants) but they help protect the piglets from the mommy laying on them and crushing them.

 Todd's fainting goats-

 Zues

 Considered ok where I come from (I don't go on the road)-

 Transferring weened piglets to a new pen.  I think they had about 30 some piglets when I was there.  They are hard to catch.

 He loves big equipment (hay rake)-

He loved these kittens too until one "spit on him from its mouth".... not sure what happened down at the barn that day but it changed his perspective on cats-

Dad finishing a small plot of hay baling before the rain comes (even after the baler broke and had to be welded)-

 Mini sunflowers in mom's garden.

Huge oak tree at church-

He thought they made good back rests.?

Hope to have more house updates to share soon.  Goal is to fully finish the dining room.... curtains and all!