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Our Garden

One place which I love to spend time is our garden. We created this space a few years ago and it’s brought so many happy moments.

Gardening - What We're Growing This Year - Finding Silver Pennies

Growing up I never had a garden. My parents had many plants but we had no raised beds. Luke was the opposite. He grew up on a small holding with his family in Cornwall, England. They had livestock, chickens, and many, many garden beds. My in-laws don’t have the small holding any more but they do have a beautiful garden and a green house. I always knew when we had a yard of our own that I wanted our boys to grow up like Luke and learn to help grow the food we eat.

We built the raised beds a few years ago, you can see the build plans here.

Each year we try new plants and vegetables and it’s fun to see what works and try new foods.

Growing Wild Raspberries - Finding Silver Pennies

These wild raspberries used to be down by the pool area but we moved them during construction so the plant didn’t die. We decided to keep them here and they’re thriving.

Juicy Wild Raspberries - Finding Silver Pennies

Our boys enjoy eating them right off the plant.

Our boys pick raspberries straight from the bush - Finding Silver Pennies

Our rhubarb is doing the best it ever has. We have lots and lots and given away some to friends too.

Rhubarb is a great plant with minimal care required - Finding Silver Pennies

Do you have a lot of rhubarb this year? If so I have a few recipes you might just love:

Rhubarb Custard Cake

Rhubarb Mojito

Delicious Rhubarb and Strawberry Crumble is great to make with fresh rhubarb from the garden - Finding Silver Pennies

Rhubarb Crumble with Ice Cream

 

Rhubarb Sparkle Cocktails - Finding Silver Pennies

Rhubarb Sparkler Cocktail

Rhubarb tastes like summer to me. The minute I smell it stewing on the stove, warm summer memories fill my head. If your following the Keto diet you can make the simply syrup with Splenda instead of sugar. I made some over the weekend to go in cocktails.

Spending time in the garden with our rescue dogs and kids - Finding Silver Pennies

Max is never far from my side. He’s my little shadow.

This year we added a rain barrel to our garden area. It’s wonderful and means we can be eco-friendly while watering our plants. Our town had a wonderful program for them, but I think they’re all sold out.

Installing a rain barrel is great for the environment and your garden - Finding Silver Pennies

I snapped this the day Luke and John installed it.

This post contains a few affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure policy here. If you purchase via this link I may receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting my blog in this way.

You can buy your own rain barrels here on Amazon. We also used this converter kit for the rain barrel.

Max actually tries to drink the water when I’m filling up the watering can.

Easy tips for installing a rain barrel - Finding Silver Pennies

Aw, isn’t he cute?!?

I just can’t resist him.

Lazy summer days in the garden - Finding Silver Pennies

Oh, and this top is by far my current favorite. It’s by J.Jill and I love it for gardening, sipping cocktails and strolling on the beach. I shared a few more summer favorites here.

What are we growing this year?

Lots of tomatoes which aren’t quite ready yet

Chili Peppers

We love to grow chilis to make homemade salsa and bean dip - Finding Silver Pennies

Rhubarb

Scallions

Eldberberry

Gooseberry

Potatoes

Lots of lettuces

Assorted lettuce and greens in our garden - Finding Silver Pennies

romaine and other varieties of lettuce are great to pick from the garden for easy summer suppers - Finding Silver Pennies

Cucumbers (two varieties)

Our cucumbers are growing like crazy! We had a nice surprise that we had four cucumbers ready to eat! This is our first time we’re growing them and I didn’t know that they kind of hid underneath. We were so surprised.

Cucumbers! - Finding Silver Pennies

Fresh cucumbers from the garden are great for easy salads and snacking at the beach - Finding Silver Pennies

I have a feeling we’re going to have hundreds of cucumbers so if you guys have any good recipes please send them my way, either in comments or via email – [email protected] Thank you in advance!

Two varieties of cucumbers are growing like crazy in our garden - Finding Silver Pennies

Thank you for spending some time with us in our garden!

What are you growing this year?

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Sandi Magle
6 years ago

After such a late cold spring, Chicagoland is in the midst of summer. Our garden is going nuts, although our lettuce bolted with the heat.
Great post on having a home garden, thanks for sharing.

Laura Harrie
Laura Harrie
6 years ago

Gardens are edible love! Enjoy your Cucumbers, they are always surprising. I like then sliced thin with Ranch Dressing, yummy!

Janet
Janet
6 years ago

Beautiful garden! Oh how I wish we could have one. We have lots of deer & rabbits that come into our yard and eat what appeals to them. I put spin wheels in my large pots to bother the deer, they are smart, after awhile they realize they are not a threat & start eating their lunch & I keep replanting:)
Thanks for sharing your garden oasis, lovely!

Pat
Pat
6 years ago

The garden looks like it is doing well, we have hit a dry spell and used almost all of the rainwater collected in our barrels trying to keep things green and growing. Hoping for a good rainfall soon! I enjoyed the post with summer favorites, and added several items to my wish list, thanks for sharing.
Pat

Marta Thompson
Marta Thompson
6 years ago

Beautiful garden! We slice up cucumbers, put them in a pitcher of water, and refrigerate for several hours to make “spa” water. Very refreshing on a hot summer day.

Ellen Shook
Ellen Shook
6 years ago

Just herbs and a couple of kinds of hot peppers for us this year. The bugs have had a field day with the peaches. (We only got 4 this year) Your gardens look so healthy! We save rain water in buckets and then have to strain it, so maybe we should look at the barrels. One year we grew white cucumbers — very good — and I was surprised, too, that they are under the plants. (not a farm girl) Never ate rhubarb. I think it must not grow here in Alabama. Your raspberries look like our blackberry bushes. Fun… Read more »