Baked Summer Squash

With an abundance of summer squash and zucchini in my garden this year, I wanted to to use them differently other than a cassorole or frying. This recipe worked perfectly and was very tastey.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds summer squash (zucchini and yellow squash)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon flaked salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the stem ends and slice the squash cross-wise in 1/4-inch thick rounds. 
2. Toss with the olive oil.
3. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. 
4. Arrange the squash rounds in a 9x12-inch rectangular baking dish, or 10-inch pie plate. 
5. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over.
6. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. 
7. Remove foil and bake another five minutes until the top is bubbling and crispy.

Pineapple Popsicle - Red Hot Pokers

The Pineapple Popsicle is a yellow and beige red hot poker that produces flowers all summer long and often again in September. It's pretty obvious where the plant got its common name, red hot poker. This tough-as-nails, sun-loving perennial produces tall colorful spikes. Red hot poker's flowers are also nectar-rich so they will draw butterflies and hummingbirds from miles around. Plus, even when not in bloom, the lance-shaped foliage of red hot poker adds interest and texture in the garden. I love seeing the yellow and beige color in my perennial garden and have enjoyed their return in the Spring.

Chocolate Mint

 I planted this Chocolate Mint around my bee hives to deter mice from my honeybee hives. But after black bears destroyed my hives this spring, I dug it up and potted it. The Chocolate Mint grew so fast during this summer that I have now planted in my herb garden. This mint is another great peppermint variety with a delightful minty chocolate flavor that reminds me of  the classic Girl Scout mint cookie. It smells heavenly!

The Hum of Bees in My Vegetable Garden

I love seeing the bees in my vegetable garden and the results from their pollination. Pictured top left are squash, peppers, and tomatoes gathered from the garden; bottom left are sugar pie pumpkins and the photo on the right are honeybees gathering pollen from the sugar pie pumpkin blooms.

 The hum of bees is the voice of the garden. ~Elizabeth Lawrence

New Honeybee Hive Thriving

Starting over after black bears attacked and destroyed my three honeybee hives this spring.  I changed my hive location and installed an electric fence to help keep the bears away. Happy to report that my new hive is thriving and increasing in size so that I have added a shallow to allow more room for the honeybees.