I already had a rosemary (the one that has survived six winters now, even though it's not supposed to) and an oregano in the right place. I moved my thyme, mint and tarragon (half of which I gave away), transplanted my chives and garlic chives, and popped in some sweet basil, lime basil and parsley once the weather was warm enough.
I also moved some asters and cone flowers, and planted some marigolds, glads, and some kind of grass that I don't know the name of. The whole bed runs up against the hop vine trellis. We planted the hop vine this year, too. Wasn't expecting it to do much, but it actually blossomed and set hops:
I had read that it could take a few seasons to produce anything, but I guess it wasn't listening. With a bit of luck, Daniel will be able to make a fresh hop beer next year.
But anyway, that's not the point of this particular story...
I had the herb bed all sorted out and looking lovely, when I noticed what looked like a pumpkin sprouting. I thought I'd leave it and see what happened, not really expecting it to do much at all.
Apparently the garden gods had different ideas, because before I had even noticed (and why I didn't notice I can't really explain), it had taken the place:
And in the meantime, another one had sprouted up in the pea trellis out the back in the vegie patch....
I couldn't really pull it up because it was fruiting, and that would be a waste. So I waited and waited until everything was ripe.
After the harvest, it wasn't pretty:
But fortunately none of the herbs it had run over died, and I did indeed get a harvest:
Fifteen acorn squash! And another thirteen from the one out the back!
Normally these things grow about the right size to feed two people, but I had ones big enough for six people.
I found homes for a lot of them, and the rest are in storage to be munched on over the winter.
The crazy (not to mention frustrating) thing is that I have been trying to grow these off and on for YEARS, and I've been lucky if I get one or two fruits. But let them show up where they want to, and I get a bumper crop. Sheesh!
Needless to say, I'll be saving some seeds.
