Good news and bad news...

Should we start with some good news?

Aww, such a cutie!

However, there is some fairly significant bad news.

Not sure if I mentioned this.

Allow me to reiterate.

They don't all look this way.  But a good portion of them do.  I hope we get a few peas before they croak.  Some of them still look good, so I'm hoping they will produce a good harvest.  But I'd say about 50% of them appear to have some defects.  Poor babies!  I think it might be a fungal wilt disease, based on pictures I saw on the internet.  Which we all know to be completely reliable.

And, here are the green beans.

Boy, my legumes are struggling this year, I tell ya!  The one below looks pretty good, but as you can see, something has started nibbling on it.

A friend of mine told me about a safe insecticide called Neem Oil.  I'm going to try that.  I'm also going to look for an anti fungal spray, or start doing milk sprays or something, for the sake of the squash.  It prolonged the growing season last year, but I didn't start using it until after the powdery mildew showed up.  I'm told you can actually use it as a preventative solution as well, so I'm going to give that a whirl.  Learn by doing and all that.

Speaking of the little squishies... true leaves!  This makes me happy.

The cucumbers never did come up.  The seeds were from last year.  I'm wondering if they went bad.  There were a few squash seeds from last year that did not come up either, although most of them did.

My herbs are really doing great!  Herbs are supposed to be pretty easy, I guess.  Well, the must be, since I haven't killed any yet.  Haha... ha...

A few more teeny tiny flowers have opened up, and new buds are growing on the other parts of the plant.

Cilantro, oh yummiest of summer garnishes!

Something has damaged the ridiculously miniscule basil, but I can't find any pests.

The oregano in the middle looks the best, but I think the ones on the ends will be okay too.

Pretty little thyme.

Rosemary and mint.

Sage amongst the strawberries.

Speaking of strawberries, more of them are beginning to perk up, much to my very definite surprise.  There are still a couple that I am confident are beyond repair, but it looks like I will have four plants at least.  If they get hardy enough, I'm likely to transplant them into pots.  The soil in the flower beds is just not very good.

Here's a good look at the broccoli and kale.  That little guy who was in the yogurt cup?  I transplanted him to the red tub, where lettuces once were, but have since been eaten.  Mostly on sandwiches.  The kale is growing really well.  I'm going to need to rearrange them.  I have a longer flower box that I think I will put soil in, and then move the kale into there.  Then they will have the elbow room they have been needing for a while now.

I have to say, the broccoli and kale have been a real pleasure to grow thus far.  They have been pretty low fuss, and they are nice to look at, too.  The only issue I've had with them has been the persistent reappearance of this stupid cabbage moth.  I'm out there every day checking for eggs, because it will just not go away.  I have found several eggs on various occasions, and I have squished a few larvae as well.

The Swiss Chard is hanging in there, and actually has been looking better the last couple of days.  My lovely little girl decided to help herself to some of it, so it still looks pretty thin.  But it is getting new leaves and looking healthier.

The garlic shoots are starting to turn a little brown.  It is my understanding that they are supposed to do this.  Also, the green onions look like they are going to bloom or something.

Lastly, I have messy children.

The end.