Cantaloupe

Out of the entire garden I'm most looking forward to the cantaloupe again.  We've only one vine but it has a good size melon on it right now, larger than a softball. The last one I grew didn't get any bigger than a softball but it was big enough to eat for one person.

The tomato plants haven't put a tomato out since we bought them.  I don't know what it is about me an tomatoes, I don't think they like me much.  maybe they know I want to eat them...

We have had good success with the fig tree out back. Nearly five pounds of figs which we've eaten and mostly preserved into fig spread.  I'll probably go back out today to get some more. The birds are putting up a fight though. Last time there were over a dozen birds squawking as I picked.

Tyler Roses and Camping Trip

We had a nice trip out to Tyler, Texas a week ago where we stayed at the state park.  It was interesting to see the historical side of the park which was almost just a roadside attraction to begin with.  The lake is spring fed which makes it nice and cool even in the summer.

While visiting the city we had to stop by the rose gardens, it is Tyler after all. They had roses of all sorts as well as other flower gardens. I was especially fond of the day lilies of course. Still waiting for mine to bloom again but it's looking good.

Black Swallowtail Butterflies Are Back

We went through one round of the pesky caterpillars eating the dill but it doesn't seem like the dill and cucumbers will be ready at the same time anyway so we're letting the dill go mostly to the caterpillars only keeping them off of the front two.  It's a simple matter to just pick the piece they're currently eating and putting it on one of the back plants.
Maybe this time we will be able to get them before they get too big and put them in a tank to change into butterflies. The netting is still available from last time we thought about it.  I still don't remember seeing the butterflies in the first place but I'm pretty sure that's what they are.

Cucumbers

I found the first cucumber start this morning. The vine isn't very long yet but it's a good sign that I might be getting a few this year.  The neighbor is growing a different kind of cucumber that's more heat tolerant and makes a less flavorful fruit but there are already five off of that plant this season.

My tomato plants have only put forth two tomatoes so far but there's quite a few flowers.  I'm thinking of building up the dirt around the base of the plants some more and see if I can't get even more growing.  If nothing else it will help the plants health.