While out dousing my container grown plants one morning I spotted some garden visitors that had originally showed themselves last year.

Some readers may remember my puzzlement as to why so many Pacific tree frogs had taken up residence in my backyard garden. I never really figured that one out and pretty much chalked it up to the very wet spring we had that year.

Last week was the first time I have seen these little guys this year. I was actually pretty excited to spot them and gathered all my kids to show them off. We huddled on the deck staring at them before I ran and got the camera. They didn’t seem to like being photographed and hopped into the massive comfrey to hide.

They obviously like my choice of using old coffee cans as pots for some of the mints I grow because that is where I would find them hiding out every morning last week. I would water a coffee can of mint and up would hop a little tree frog and perch on the edge of the can. They would sit there and stare at me for a little while as though saying, “Excuse me, but do you mind not flooding us?!”

Seeing those cute little frogs every morning made going out to water over, and over, and over not quite so bad.

Sorry if I have disappeared from the blog world this past week. I did not count on the heat zapping my energy and desire to do anything. As Karen from Greenwalks put it, it was far too hot to blog last week. I hope to get back up with everyone’s blog (as well as my own!) sometime this week. Now, come on cooler weather! We’re waiting on you!

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

I recently have found a new favorite way of using herbs fresh from the garden. Last year I wrote about making Herbal Sun Teas and how easy they are to make not to mention good to drink on a hot summer day. Several weeks ago I took that general idea a little step further and made it even simpler. I have been taking a sprig of mint (or lemon verbena), washing it off and then slightly bruising it by giving it a twist. I then place the bruised sprig in a class of fresh cold water. After sitting just a few minutes the water takes on a slight hint of the mint or herb being used. It is really very refreshing and oh so easy!

Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla)

Herbs like mint and lemon verbena need consistent pinching back to prevent them from getting scraggly and overgrown. This is a great way to do just that. The other day I filled up my son’s water bottle and before giving it to him I placed two sprigs of peppermint in it. He later commented on how nice the peppermint was when he got hot from playing outside.

Orange Mint (Mentha x piperita x citrata)

So if you have mint (or any other herb for that matter) growing in your garden don’t forget to drop a sprig or two into your glass of water when you come inside to cool down from working in the garden. I’m sure you will agree that it is a simple yet refreshing way to enjoy some of your herbs never ending bounty.

This year I am trying out raised beds for my corn and I think the photo below shows just how much this year’s corn likes this raised bed!

The zucchini is getting huge and is starting to produce some nice sized zucchinis this week.

The other day I was able to harvest our first one and we ate it raw right then and there. YUM!

Growing next to the zucchini is a pattypan squash and I have found it is always slower to flower than the zucchini. It looks like it should be flowering within the next week though.

I decided to grow some tomatoes, peppers, and basil on my deck in some old nursery pots I happen to have on hand. The deck always gets so hot so I figured they might really like residing there.

Finally, here is a shot of my bush beans that are flowering. Aren’t they pretty? I did not know this variety would have such pretty flowers. Now I can’t wait for the beans to develop.

That was a small glimpse into how my veggies are growing this week. How are your vegetables growing right now? Harvesting anything this week?