A view of the potager

This is a view of the "potager". We haven't been able to tarp and mulch the walkways yet, but that's coming. Things are growing well and the raised beds have really paid off since we've had so much rain. Most of the plants, especially in the far right, rear corner would have been flooded out. If you look along the back of the potager, the farmer that is behind us recently mowed the "swamp" as I call it. We have a natural spring that runs underneath this section of the property and are unable to mow it with our riding mower because it's just too wet. He came with his huge John Deere tractor and mowed down all the grass that was at least 3 feet high. If you look, all of the dark areas behind the potager is "the swamp" and you can make out where the spring runs underground.

This is a closeup of the red cabbage. They're growing well and filling out beautifully.

A shot of the pole beans. They're starting to crawl up the twine.

A shot of the sunflowers. They're about 3 feet high so far and the package says they will reach 9-12 feet high. I planted them close together so they will support eachother as they grow. I figured the sunflowers in the fields aren't staked, so I'd give it a whirl planting them close enough to touch as they grow. We'll see...it's yet another experiment in gardening, and if it works I'll do it again. If not, chalk it up to a learning experience.

Who are you and what are you doing on my sunflowers? This little guy was immediately defensive when my daughter was taking his picture and kept backing up and bobbing his antennaes around. I've tried to find out what he is in my "bug" book, but haven't located him. He's red and black, with white spots on his back. Initially I thought he was a boxelder bug, but he doesn't look like any of the photos, or even the "baby" boxelder bugs. If anyone knows what he is, let me know. I hope he's not a bad bug, but if he is, we'll capture him and put him over by the newly hatching praying mantises. "Lunch"!