Sunday 28 August 2011

August Around the Vegetable Garden

A stroll around the vegetable garden during the month of August revealed the following sights; the flowers in our garden will follow in the next post.

The artichoke that did not get eaten!!
Young chard
Celery
 Aubergine (Egg fruit/plant)
 Green beans
Baby beetroot
 Young cabbage
 Red hot (I know from experience) chillies
 Yellow courgettes (zucchini)
 Peppers
Pumpkins 
Tomatoes
Figs - always plentiful here
 Granny Smith apples - my favourite
Quinces by the dozen; I have a VERY healthy crop this year!! Removal of an old  plum tree close by a year ago has certainly encouraged growth. Now up to my ears in quince jam and jelly; we have passed some round to our neighbours and will look forward to eating our way through the rest during 2012!
The large ones above are, I think, even hotter than the little ones - Chilli sauce and jelly coming up....

Methinks I am going to be busy in the kitchen - quinces, figs, chillies etc, but so glad the late rains ( and a lot of work) have provided such a bountiful harvest.

98 comments:

  1. Wow, look at that artichoke - wonderful. You have a very productive garden. I would love to have fruit and veg in my garden it's just not big enough. I do have a blueberry plant and have had quite a good crop off that this year. Enough to make some muffins anyway. Yum.

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  2. Wonderful bounty. You have lots of work before you head back north for the winter. Would like to try quince...new to me. Love figs.

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  3. Ellie I am really please with my garden this year after total drought from the end of March until almost the end of July. It has done very well. Diane

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  4. Hello Diane:
    What a wonderful harvest you show here. Such an interesting and healthy looking bounty! In our gardening days, we were never successful with vegetables but we used to grow swathes of ornamental artichokes underplanted with purple leaved Heucheras. They are such dramatically beautiful plants.

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  5. Tending a garden is a lot of work but I love doing it (not that I have a garden right now).
    Good job Diane!

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  6. Susan I have plenty of potatoes bagged for winter and a few still to dig. I would love to send you some quince jam or jelly, but it cost me €10 to send a bottle to Paris last year so I dare not ask what it would cost to you!!!!! Take care Diane

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  7. Jane and Lance I have both globe artichoke and Jerusalem artichoke in the garden, the latter being a great winter crop. Heucheras come in such beautiful colours, I am not sure why I have never grown them!! Take care Diane

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  8. Beautiful garden. The pumpkins caught my eye. They look like sugar pumpkins for pie. I know what you mean about postage. I sent sugar cookies to someone only 2 hours away and it cost me $15Cdn.

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  9. Nadege I agree it is hard work but if the crops do well it is so worth while. I had friends ex S.Africa here last night and even their two girls aged 10 and 12 commented how much nicer the vegetables were, they went back for 3 helpings, the proof is in the eating LOL. Take care Diane

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  10. Hi Diane .. WOW .. an amazing crop of veg, you are doing soooooo well. xx

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  11. Wow, that's a lot of food and it looks delicious. I would love to come over for a dinner sometimes :) And Granny Smith apples are my favourite too.

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  12. I love looking through your garden. Can I grow figs here in Florida? Could you save me some? and some quince please...oh and some squash blossoms...so much to see. I would let the artichoke blossom like that it's stunning! Just like my ginger...it's fun to let it blossom once in awhile!

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  13. Your garden looks healthy and thriving despite the lack of rain you had. My little garden never did recover from all of our rain this season even though we've had glorious weather the last few weeks.

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  14. Wow, your garden looks great. Making me very hungry for fresh fruit and vegies. I know from experience it's a lot of work to freeze and can, but oh the eating rewards come winter are SO worth it.

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  15. Impressive crop!
    We planted an apple[Melrose] cherry, greengage and pear last November but it will take a little while before we see any fruit. Love quince jelly.

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  16. I am very envious of all the produce in your garden, it looks fabulous. I am still waiting for an allotment place. No word yet, but maybe one day. Lovely photos as well and I hope all is well with you. x

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  17. You have a perfect garden. I can't believe all the variety. How lucky you are to have such a perfect climate. I was particularly eyeing those figs and quinces... love them!!

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  18. Makes me think of cooking some of that. Mmmmh.

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  19. ...and not a weed in sight....how do you do it Diane! Our veggies have to be hunted down as they snuggle up with the weeds!

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  20. Sarah I answered this last night but my connection would not hold long enough to post it so I gave up in despair!!
    The pumpkins I have grown are 'baby bear', being smaller they are more suitable for the two of us and I also have butternuts.
    Yes, postage that has any weight to it is a ridiculous price!! Take care do not work too hard in the kitchen :-) Diane

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  21. Thanks Anne, they are looking pretty good I think though I say it myself, despite the lack of water earlier on. Keep well Diane xx

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  22. Starlight I manage to live in summer almost entirely off my garden. I switch to vegetarian during the summer months :-) Diane

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  23. Lyndsey I grew figs in South Africa and here so I guess that they would grow almost anywhere. I have never had a quince tree elsewhere so I don't know what they really like. I had ginger growing in S.A. but I have only tried once here, it died, must give it another try. Take care Diane

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  24. Joyful I think too much rain is almost worse than drought. I only wish we had a well as mains water is so expensive! Keep well Diane

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  25. Gaelyn I need a larger freezer as a lot of vegetables keep better than tinned/bottled. The fruit is easy but takes so long when the trees are laden despite giving fruit away. Diane

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  26. Niall and Antoinette our apple trees are only four and three years old and they have quite a bit of fruit on them. The quince, fig and plums have been around a long time. Quince jelly is magical with meat, love it. Diane

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  27. Froggy do they not give you any idea when you may get an allotment, or does it just rely on other people packing it in. Do they even tell you how long the waiting list is? Hope you get it soon as fresh veg tastes so much better. Keep well Diane xx

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  28. lostpastremembered the drought this year did not make things easy and my hazel nut tree which is normally laden has not got a nut on it!! I also love figs and quinces, yum yum. Diane

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  29. The Field of Gold, Think I could live happily on mixed vegetables they are yummy. Hope your lavender is doing well. Diane

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  30. Vera, oh there are weeds there, but I do try to spend a short while each day hoeing away at them. They sometimes get the better of me but I try hard to control what I can, they drink too much water!! Keep well Diane

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  31. Those are very impressive crops Diane! I can see how much work you've put into the plot, especially with the challenging conditions you had earlier in the summer. We had a very deep well when we lived in France and it was a life saver! Have you thought about having an expert in to see if you could have a well drilled in your garden? Not cheap but maybe in the long term it would work out.

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  32. wonderful choice you have now! and the figs look very delicious:)

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  33. Hi Diane your crops have done very well despite the drought. Our Aubergines did not get past the seedling stage!! I think it could have been our old friends earwigs.. We only planted a twig of a fig tree this year so we will have to wait. Enjoy the produce..

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  34. Wonderfully mouth-watering!
    What a great job you've accomplished!
    And it all looks some clean and tidy!
    What does your back tell you??!!
    Love, Diane, have a great day!

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  35. Hi Craig we cannot even entertain the idea of the cost of a well. Our neighbour has filled his in as it was dry so it does not sound promising anyway. There is a spring, that I gather belongs to the hamlet, on the farm next door, but it seems the owners of the farm are the only ones who use it!! I really do not know the whole story but as we are the only English here, we do not want to cause friction, we are friendly with everyone at the present time!! I hope we do not get another year like this one too often! Diane

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  36. Ola I have just spent the morning making fig jam :-) Take care Diane

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  37. Colin and Elizabeth you will have figs very soon. I planted a small bit I took off our big tree three years ago and I had a few figs last year, this year, small as it still is, it is laden!! Diane

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  38. Noushka I have a back problem anyway, I broke it when I was 16 so I have to say, I am very careful how much I do, and I usually wear a back brace when I am doing heavy work. Never the less sometimes I still end up taking pain killers ;-) The garden though is still worthwhile. Lots of back exercises every day.... Take care Diane xx

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  39. You are a Farmer's Market. Beautiful photos.

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  40. Thanks Abraham, LOL not quiet a Farmers Market but I try. Diane

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  41. Your fruit and vegetable harvest have certainly been very impressive this year. Your vegetables have performed so much better than ours, very disappointing results this season.

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  42. I forgot to say earlier, hope you enjoyed your special day yesterday, as much as possible anyway and that you will celebrate properly next time you are together :)

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  43. Wow ... it looks like you have a productive veggie garden Diane ... is gardening difficult there compared to much of Africa?

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  44. Yes, Happy Anniversary to you both!

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  45. Graham I had quite a large vegetable garden in Jhb, and no it really is much the same, just summer is in a different part of the year :-) I grow pretty much the same things except I have fruit trees here which I did not have over there. It certainly keeps me busy and in food when I am here alone. I may have to supplement when there is two of us! Diane

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  46. Thanks Craig, 30 years sounds a long time but it feels like yesterday! We had two bottles to celebrate with over Skype hic. Diane

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  47. What an incredible harvest! Everything looks really picturesque and tasty.

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  48. Olga I am really happy with the results, after almost 4 months without a drop of rain I am delighted that my energy was not wasted!! Diane

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  49. Oh, It looks lovely. Looks good.:-) Hugs Stina

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  50. Lilla thanks for the comment, they taste good as well! Take care Diane

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  51. What a great garden ! It is still cold here in New Zealand, and I can't wait to plant my seedling!

    Ciao
    Alessandra

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  52. I don't know that I have ever tasted a "quince".....but you make all of it sound might appealing. What a wonderful garden you are able to grow in your part of the world. In AZ pickin's for gardening are a little slimmer.

    xo

    Jo

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  53. Love your garden. I don't have a green thumb. Great job.

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  54. I am pleased you have so much success in your garden.I can see you enjoy it.And I know the feeling:)

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  55. Alessandra am not looking forward to winter but I should have a greenhouse by the end of this year so I may be able to have things early for spring next year :-) Diane

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  56. Thanks Christine, most things grow well for me, luck I think! Diane

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  57. Dzoli I do love my garden, and oh how much nicer the vegetables taste to the supermarket ones!! Diane

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  58. My Grama's Soul, quince is just delicious and quince jelly is fantastic on meat, you yum. Diane

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  59. What a lovely garden..Ours is going along very slowly..We didn't get it in till late and in Maine..You only get a couple of good months of growing season and very lucky the hurricane didn't ruin it.
    I don't do well with flowers. Actually I don't do well in the garden either..that is my husbands job..Our girls have the most beautiful flowers..of course they didn't get the "green thumb" from me..haha..
    Thanks for checking in on us..Have a good week..xoRosebud/Carolyn

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  60. Hi Diane .. I'm assuming all will be well - just seen your note re quince jelly .. sounds delicious. My uncle had a quince tree which didn't do much, and my brother's died .. all in all no quinces!

    I am sure this will work - and that is excellent - thanks for changing to the pop-up comment box ..

    Cheers Hilary

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  61. You produced such a beautiful harvest - definitely jealous of your green thumb!

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  62. Rosebud Collection it must have been very worrying waiting to see what Irene was going to do. Glad your garden survived. Not sure that I really have a green thumb, things just grow!!! Keep well Diane

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  63. Hi Hilary and thanks for persevering with your comment, glad it now works for you. Mmmmmm quince is just the best. I am so glad I have a very healthy tree although last year I thought I was going to lose it. Take care and thanks for following Diane

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  64. Peggy the garden does look good at the moment, I have to admit to being more than surprised with the weather we have had!! Diane

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  65. What a green thumb you have - lucky lady!

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  66. Pam things just grow here (to date) sure that there is no green thumb attached to it. Take care Diane

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  67. Beautiful! August in France is obvious perfect garden weather. In Florida, the summer crop has been pulled up, and it is being prepared for Fall (which always arrives late in Florida).

    Happy summer gardening to you.

    Velva

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  68. Lovely pics Diane, but I'm sure the garden produce represnts hours of hard toil in the garden for you, especially in the dry weather.

    I suppose the hard work continues through to preserving and cooking. keep up the good work ...

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  69. Diane, what a lovely garden. I'm amazed at how many different things are growing the same time. We don't see, as an example, tomatoes at the same time as apples and pumpkin in the US. Your zucchini blossoms are amazing.
    Sam

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  70. Diane, you have green hands, all your plants and vegetables grow health and fresh. Wish i can be stay nearby your house and i can also enjoy your fruits and vegetables.^^

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  71. Velva I am trying to slide from summer into autumn in the garden with just changing crops as the die off. Lots of manure to help the change over!! Diane

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  72. How wonderful, Diane! The artichoke is awesome.

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  73. Gaynor you are right it all goes around in a circle, I seems to spend just as long preserving food in the kitchen as I do growing it!! It will be easier when there are two of us here :-) Wish you were a little closer so I could share. Diane x

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  74. WOW!! Diane, you are a fantastic gardener!! All your vegetables look so healthy and lovely! I don't have green fingers like you. Everything I touch will not grow. I am not kidding. Luckily I have my mum to do the gardening for me.

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  75. Sam my tomatoes seem to have been going for ever this year and unless we have a very cold spell they will be there for a bit yet. The pumpkins are not quite ready yet. Keep well Diane

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  76. Sonia I am very surprised that I have had a good season as the weather has been anything but ideal!! Take care Diane

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  77. JM I love artichokes so I seldom let them go to flower, just once in a while I like to see them :-) Diane

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  78. Quay Po Cooks I am really not sure why things grow for me but I do from time time have the odd disaster :-( Take care Diane x

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  79. You have been a busy girl Diane. What good looking veggies you have. You can keep those hot peppers - thank you. I bet that really does help a lot with the grocery expenses. I've never heard of Quince. That's interesting. What's it similar to?

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  80. Quelle chance d'avoir tout ça dans le jardin.
    De quoi se régaler niveau légumes.
    A très bientôt

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  81. Haha Becca we love the hot chilies, have made sauce, and jelly and there is a whole lot drying in the barn.
    Quince cannot be eaten raw. They have to be cooked, they look much like large pears with a fluffy skin, but when cooked up they are closer to apple but taste sooooo much better. Quince jelly with meat is just out of this world. Keep well Diane

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  82. Merci Nadji. Je suis chanceux avec mon jardin et je l'aime. A très bientôt Diane

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  83. Bonsoir , en voilà un très beau jardin ..
    bonne soirée

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  84. Holy, you have so many Diane. I don't think I have seen figs yet. Do you cook them too?

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  85. such a nice variety and great harvest!! that's amazing!! i'm a loser when it comes to gardening!!

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  86. Bonsoir meretnature . Merci pour votre visite et vos aimables et encourageants commentaires. A Bientôt Diane

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  87. chubskulit, I eat as many fresh figs as possible, but I also bottle them whole and make jam from them. Thanks for your comment Diane

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  88. Lena I am sure you are not really a loser. I don't really have a clue what I am doing, I just plant and they grow!! Take care Diane

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  89. I WANT your vege garden, it is amazing - i'll come and cook you dinner :)

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  90. Hi Muppy let me know when you are arriving LOL. Diane

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  91. wow, you had a wonderful garden, loves all your fruits and vege. You had green fingers, everything grow so well.

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  92. Bravo pour la jardinière! Votre travail a porté ses fruits!!
    Bonne confitures et autres conserves!

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  93. Amelia's De-ssert Thank you so much for your visit and comment, great to 'meet' you. Hope to see you back, take care Diane

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  94. Merci lejardindelucie, Beaucoup confitures et autres conserves!!! Bonne journée Diane

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  95. Oh yummy yummy all those fresh vegetables look amazing. As a vegetarian I would be in paradise in your garden. The aubergine caught my eye the most. In Tesco yesterday ONE aubergine was €4.00. Needless to say, I won't be eating aubergine this week!

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  96. Hi Dolly, £4 is ridiculous!! I always turn vegetarian in summer as I live completely off the garden. No point in spending money and letting the fresh produce go to waste :-) Diane

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  97. I am jealous of you! We only have a few peppers, tomatoes and eggplants! All shots are beautiful!
    CrazyTourist1

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  98. Crazy Tourist I so missed my vegetables in the UK as there was no space. Now I have the room I am trying to make up for lost time!! Diane

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