Plants That Just Appear!

    This Spiraea came to me from my neighbors yard.  I now have four large plants and am constantly weeding them out of my flower beds!  I also have one out front called 'Goldflame' that has yellow leaves that are bronze-red when young.  I cut these back to about 2 feet after they bloom and usually get more flowers on them.

    I'm thinking this is Evening Primrose.  I had this years ago and lost it, but I noticed a small amount last year and moved it to a better spot.  Maybe some seeds were left in the soil and took a while to sprout?

    The shrub on the right was probably given to me by the birds.  They eat the red berries and spread the seeds everywhere they go!  I can never remember the name of this shrub, but we always called them 'Pricker Bush' when I was a kid.  They can tear your arms up when you're trying to clean around them.  I'm sure I've forgotten other plants that had wandered in, but these are some of the ones I've enjoyed for free.

Cucumbers and Tomatoes

    Started a bucket of cucumbers this year.  I never seem to have any luck when I plant them in the ground.  I have quite a few cucumbers on the vine, with a lot more flowers coming.  This may be the way to go, no critters climbing the 2 foot pot to get at them.  I haven't seen any cucumber beetles either.

    Tomatoes are about six feet high already.  No large tomatoes yet, but it was August last year before I got my first one.

    I do have cherry tomatoes though.  I grew them from seed, Burpee Sweet 100's, and they are tough and small.  Nothing like the Sweet 100's I used to grow.  I'm hoping they'll get better as the season goes on, maybe a new variety next year?

    Dill is taking over.  I just love picking fresh herbs right out my back door!  We've been eating alot of basil too.  Yesterday I picked my first green beans and we ate them for supper.  Great tasting!