Zucchini Season has begun in Great Falls

Yes, that's right.  You've probably already heard all the jokes, about things like people locking their doors during Zucchini season to ensure that no "well-meaning" neighbors leave the abundant fruits inside.  Anyone who has grown too much zucchini knows how well this crop tends to do, and how productive it can be.  My small (late planted) plant has not started to produce yet, but there are "public" beds at Pea Pods, and I've picked four good-sized fruits so far, which I plan to turn into Crispy Zucchini Fries.  The picture above is from a private bed belonging to someone who hasn't really been around much in the garden, so it has gotten a bit over-sized.  I'm waiting to see just how large it'll get in the end.

I'm really enjoying having a garden this year.  When I go for long periods without having a garden, I really forget the thrill of watching things grow, seeing the flowers, the fruits, the progression from seed or transplant to productive plant.  I need to be reminded from time to time just why I am so passionate about Horticulture.  I *adore* growing things.  Maybe I'm not the most devoted and zealous gardener -I tend more toward the lazy side of gardening- but there is nothing that compares to the feeling I get when I am just watching the progression of a garden plot.  It excites me.  Plants are just so incredibly amazing!

Above is the most recent picture of my bed- you can see some empty spots.  Some of them have been replanted already, some are blank, and some are waiting to be pulled out.  The peas are probably going to come out fairly soon- they never really got going.  Around August 15th or so I will replant the peas, hopefully to get a fall harvest.  My "Watermelon" radishes are probably going to be pulled out completely soon, that block replanted to lettuce (because it's fairly shaded from the "Big Beef" tomato that is growing like CRAZY beside it), and the radishes replanted where I pulled up my bolting spinach in hopes that I can get a fall crop if I space them more.

In the "rear" of the bed you can see my corn, which is interplanted with pole beans and squash.  I am still not sure how this is going to turn out, but I'm hoping the '3 sisters' experiment will work out in the end.  If not.. I will try something different next year.  I am a perfectionist, and I am trying very hard to learn not to be.  I think vegetable gardening is helpful in that respect because really- you can't go in expecting an exact, perfect result.  The plants will surprise you.