The Garden is Flourishing

One day's harvest from a 4 ft by 3 ft bed

The dog yard gardens here at Maryland Sled Dog Adventures don't seem to have suffered much in our absence.

As you can see in the photos they are productive...almost too productive. We're now keeping busy canning and putting up lots of tomato sauce. We're having a great harvest of Early Girl tomatoes but our Brandywine tomatoes are a bit disappointing. Many have rotted on the vine and also the productivity has been low. Next year, we may look at a different heirloom variety despite the rave reviews that Brandywines seem to get in this area. We're hoping they will kick it up a notch now that it's late August and into early September.

The peppers are making up for any Brandywine tomato disappointment and are literally the largest and most prolific peppers that Eric and I have ever grown. We planted one bell pepper, one cayenne pepper, one jalapeno pepper, one mexi bell pepper, and one Giant Marconi. All are producing in abundance and the Giant Marconi (a sweet pepper) is HUGE. We've also harvested several Ichiban eggplants from our one eggplant plant and tons of herbs. Earlier in the season we had a great shallot harvest. Our gardens may be small but they are productive.

Some of the harvest

Giant Marconi Peppers, Cayennes, Mexi Bell, and Ichiban eggplant

Fruits of our Labor

Garden Harvest

Things are well under way in the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures' garden. So far this season, we've harvested Yellow Pearl shallots, Husky Cherry Red tomatoes, cucumbers, and Early Girl tomatoes, and a Giant Marconi (sweet) pepper. We've also been harvesting lots of herbs.

This year was the first year for shallots and I've been impressed. They were so easy to grow and grew very well in my part sun/part shade raised bed. The cucumbers, on the other hand, have been a bit disappointing. Last year, the cucumber variety we grew produced 15-20 cucumbers on the one plant. This year, we've only gotten two. Some of the reduction in production might be the variety (a compact growing variety) and some might be the extremely hot weather we had early in April and May. I was hoping to make pickles like last year but I'm not sure that is going to happen given our reduced cucumber harvest.

Earlier this week, I canned home made spaghetti sauce to use up some of the tomatoes. Along with the tomatoes, we also included home grown basil and oregano in the sauce. It was easier to make than I expected and I'm hoping to do a few additional batches (or maybe even double batches) with our home grown tomatoes as the season progresses. Last weekend, we picked 8 lbs of blueberries at a nearby blueberry farm and on Monday I put up six jars of blueberry jam. Earlier in the season, I canned my first batch of blueberry jam and a batch of peach jam. Both are delish!

Early Girl Tomatoes

Yellow Pearl shallots, cucumber, and Early Girl tomatoes

From Dog Sledding to Gardening

A tulip that Eric and I planted last fall

The time has arrived to put away the dog sleds and wheeled dog sleds and get out the gardening tools. The sled dogs officially ran their last on trail dog sledding program, for a lucky group of girl scouts, last weekend and can now turn their attention to sunning, sleeping, and relaxing.

The lilacs are blooming

Meanwhile, with the warm temperatures, the dog yard gardens have been kicked into high gear. While not all fruits, veggies and flowers have been planted, Eric and I have made headway in planting several of our spring and summer vegetable crops, window boxes, flowers, fruit bushes, and herbs. Spring has sprung here at Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC.

Three varieties of lettuce, two pepper plants and two strawberry plants

Romaine lettuce

To date, we've planted several herbs including rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley, and cilantro. Our mega mint along with our oregano has returned from last year with new vigor. We've also planted shallots from sets (which are just beginning to sprout), three varieties of lettuce, two pepper plants, and two tomato plants including an "Early Girl" and a cherry variety that grows well in containers. The newest addition to the gardens that I am most excited about are the rasberry bushes. Eric and I planted four rasberry bushes including two Boynes and two Lathams. Last summer up at the cabin in Maine, Eric discovered the joys of picking blueberries and blackberries so we've decided to add some berries to the dog yard gardens here in Maryland.

Early Girl tomato

Parsley

The bushes and trees in the dog yard are also in full flower and fill the yard with the most amazing scents from nature. Among the trees are the crab apple, flowering dogwood, and the magnolia. The lilacs and azaleas are also flowering.

The magnolia tree Eric and I got at University of Delaware's Ag Day and planted 3-4 years ago

Some of the dog yard Azaleas are not blooming just yet but....

some are in full bloom

Even though our winter was quite tough with heavy snow fall, we only lost two boxwood bushes at the front of the house and two cedar trees at the rear of the house. All of our other bushes and plants seemed to have survived the long cold winter and even thrived. Eric and I are still discussing what we'll plant to replace the boxwoods.

Okemo enjoys grilling and dining outdoors

Spring is Sprung! Check back for frequent updates on the garden along with updates on all of the sled dogs spring and summer adventures.

Retired sled dog, T-Bone, enjoys the garden

Summer Vegetable Harvest

Bowl full of heirloom yellow pear tomatoes

While Eric and I and the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures' sled dogs were away at our cabin in Maine for over a month, the veggies in the vegetable garden back home received lots of rain and have been producing one of the most bountiful harvests we've had since we began growing vegetables several years ago. The vines on the tomato and tomatillo plants were so lush and overgrown that Eric and I spent yesterday pruning back the plants to let more light into the peppers growing below. And it's not just the vegetables that have benefited from all of the rain. The flowers in the garden have flourished as well with all of the recent moisture resulting in lush and thick window boxes, gigantic hydrangeas, and pretty pots full of flowers.

A sampling of tomatillos, Italian frying peppers, Early Girl tomatoes, and a Purple Beauty bell pepper

A window box full of impatiens and petunias

The vegetable garden after pruning

Super chili peppers after picking all of the ripe peppers

Bowl full of ripe Super Chilis

While we did lose a few of the veggies that were a bit too ripe when we returned, we did manage to harvest tons of tomatoes (yellow pear and early girl), several giant cucumbers, a bowl full of tomatillos, one perfect large purple beauty pepper, several Italian frying peppers (sometimes called banana peppers), and another bowl full of chili peppers. We also have Trinidad peppers that are ready for harvesting. Just keeping up with the picking has been a chore.

Purple Beauty pepper ripening in the garden

Early Girl tomato ripening on the vine

To use up some of the abundance of cucumbers, we decided to try our hand at making pickles: one batch of curry ginger pickles and one batch of spicy dill pickles. In addition to the cucumbers in the spicy dill pickles, we also grew the chili peppers and Trinidad peppers used in that recipe.

Curry Ginger Peppers and Spicy Dill Peppers

Looks like Eric and I will be eating the fruits of our harvest for quite some time this season and enjoying our canned goods (crab apple jelly, crab apple butter, pickles and Maine blackberry jam) throughout cold winter months. We also picked and froze many containers of Maine blueberries and Maine blackberries while "up ta camp" that we've brought home with us to use in making blueberry pancakes, muffins, waffles, and blackberry syrup, sauces, cheesecake, and a variety of other goodies.

While we gone, our cat, Chloe, flourished at the "D.G. Cat Spa" (our friend Dorothy's house). As you can see, it was clearly an exhausting trip to the Spa.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

During the late spring and early summer months here at Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC, we like to fill our days, evenings and weekends with gardening and relaxing since it's far too warm to dog sled. This year's cool and wet spring and summer has resulted in a lush and happy garden.

T-Bone relaxes on his dog bed

At present, Eric and I (thankfully with very little help from the sled dogs) have two 3 ft x 6 ft raised beds and several pots planted with annuals and vegetables and herbs. This year at Maryland Sled Dog Adventures, we are growing two types of tomatoes: early girl and a heirloom variety, yellow pear. We are also growing four different types of peppers: super chili, purple bell, and Italian frying peppers along with a Trinidad hot pepper which is being grown in a pot. Along with the tomatoes and peppers, we are growing burpless cucumbers, tomatillos, strawberries, and red leaf and romaine lettuce. Since lettuce is a cool weather crop here in Maryland and by early June has all been harvested, we've also interspersed our lettuce plants with garlic. In the past, we have not had great luck with root crops (by my definition anything that grows under the soil) so we're hoping our little garlic experiment ends well.

Trinidad hot pepper growing in a pot

Early Girl tomatoes in mid June

Super chili

Since both Eric and I enjoy cooking with fresh herbs we are also growing: basil, tri-colored sage, lemon thyme, English thyme, lavender, oregano, mint, and curly parsley. Most of our vegetables and herbs were either purchased at the University of Delaware's Ag Day or Valley View Farms in northern Baltimore County.

Everything is better with fresh herbs. Yum!

In addition to the vegetable and herb gardens, we've planted lots of annuals including, among others, impatiens, petunias, salvia, and begonias in window boxes and pots around the patio.

Impatiens and Petunias in Window Boxes

Bright annuals on the front porch

Sunflowers we planted with some free seeds we received

Blue Salvia

Also growing in the garden and providing color and texture are three specimens of my favorite flower: the hydrangea. Among our hydrangeas, our wonderful oak leaf hydrangea which has gorgeous fall foliage in addition to big white conical flowers throughout the summer. In addition to the oak leaf, we have two lace cap hydrangeas. Augmenting the hydrangeas, are lavender, hostas and lilies.

Hostas flank the back wall of our house

T-Bone keeps a close eye on the garden

What do sled dogs and mushers do during the summer?

A four month old Sobo stretches out across the AC vent in our floor.

We are frequently asked by our clients: What do the dogs do during the summer? Why, they try to stay cool of course. The dogs, especially Sobo, love to lie on the air conditioning vents. We also garden, swim, take in outdoor concerts, visit dog parks, travel with the dogs, and hike during the warmer months. On cool days, we can sometimes squeeze in a very early morning bikejor.

Okemo says: Why don't the rocks float, Mom?

Sobo takes in an outdoor summer concert at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis.

T-Bone and Sobo romp on the beach at Cape Henlopen State Park during a camping trip.

Sobo and Okemo go for a walk with Eric in Gaysville, Vermont.

So as you can see the dogs stay quite busy during the summer months even if they aren't dog sledding!

As for the mushers, we like to garden, travel, work on our photography skills, and catch up on lost sleep. We are also constantly planning for the upcoming dog sledding season, fixing and maintaining equipment, running pull training clinics, and guiding canicross hikes. Below are some recent photos from our dog yard (aka the garden).

An oak leaf hydrangea in our garden

Evening sunlight illuminates our flagstone wall and a line of hostas.

Lemon thyme growing in the garden

Lettuce growing in the vegetable beds

An ancho pepper plant growing in the vegetable garden

Sobo relaxes under a lilac bush in the garden.

As you can see, both mushers and dogs stay busy during the summer months even if the summer is our "slow" time.