Tomato Tasting

I picked out several varieties of tomatoes at the farmers' market  with the idea of a little taste testing.

My daughter came over for dinner, and dinner was a mini tomato tasting.

It was over 100 degrees again today,  and  neither of us were very hungry. So this was dinner. Warm bread sticks, a little wine, and tomatoes.

We tasted  these heirloom tomatoes: Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Green Zebra, and  Old German.
I also threw in a beefsteak tomato, not heirloom.

The above Cherokee Purple was our favorite. It was sweet and had the clear tomato flavor one expects. 

Brandywine was our second favorite. It had a stronger, more acid flavor, yet still sweet. 

The first taste of Green Zebra was a surprise. It was kind of sharp and sour. My daughter said it would be good in Mexican food, salsa etc. Then she salted it and tried it again. We had not salted any of the tomatoes. Wow! It really changed the flavor of Green Zebra. Now we described it as tangy and crisp in flavor. We really liked it. 

Neither of us liked the Old German  at all, It had no flavor, but to be fair, it was less ripe than all the others. But I think it still might be too mild for our taste. 

I didn't even take a photo of the beefsteak tomato. By itself it was not that flavorful, but it works great for sandwiches, and with mayo and good old white bread, it is perfect.

The above tomatoes all came in one box, and I don't know what they are. Except, since we liked the plum shaped ones the best (see location at 12 and 6 above). I did some research. They are also an  heirloom Russian black plum tomato. Blackish purple on the inside, they taste a lot like the Cherokee Purple. 

What tomatoes do you like? Do you grow heirloom tomatoes? I would really like to know what ones you think are good.
Joining:

The Sunflower Farm

About 30 minutes away from me, near the wonderful town of Lawrence, Kansas ( Home of the Jawhawks), is a beautiful sunflower farm. Early Sunday morning we went there to take photos and cut some sunflowers.

You just can't capture the beauty of fields of sunflowers, with all their little faces turned toward the sun. I don't think God was in church either, He was here!

There were several cars pulled over with people taking photos. I saw a cute family taking some portraits in the fields. I came prepared with a step ladder, because these are soooo tall I needed the ladder to look over the field. 

This is my view standing in front of them on the ground. I am 5'3 and these were at least two feet taller than me.

Sunflowers really do follow the sun. Here is the backs of all of them. 

The butterfly on the top center sunflower really blends in. 

These sunflowers are grown for bird seed, not florist stock. 

SO, after taking about 80 photos and chasing butterflies and dragonflies to photograph, we finally settled down to cutting some flowers. 

There is a can to put money in for the sunflowers you cut. One dollar a flower, what a bargain. We had so much fun even in the heat. A big breakfast in town, and we headed home. 

Hope you enjoyed seeing the sunflower farm, and I will be back with photos of sunflower arrangements!

I am joining

and

Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness, has never danced in the rain.

.... and I am ready to dance in the rain.

So do we have rain? No, I am still watering. 

  As is most of the country, Kansas is having a bad drought.*** My mom is beginning to talk about the drought of the 1930's in comparison. Eek! We have no water restrictions......yet.

I have given up trying to keep the lawn going, letting it go dormant, however I am keeping the plants alive as best I can. The garden hose has become my nemesis. 

Don't forget to keep the bird baths filled. I put pans of water on the ground to keep the squirrels and opossums from climbing the bird bath and toppling it! 

Except for this bird bath, which leaks, so I planted it. 

View from the screened porch. See how dried up the lawn has become? Boo Hoo. 

I notice the birds are visiting the feeders much more too. I guess many plants dried up before they were able to produce seeds.

*** An added note: Today Kansas is the hottest place in the country. Nice.....

I am joining

A Southern Daydreamer for

and

Little Pot Garden

I love to have little nooks in the yard to discover as you walk around. This is my little pot garden in the shade. It has been my favorite area lately with 100 + temps. I have been working outside in the mornings or evenings only, and coming in every half hour or so, or I get wet in the sprinkler! 

It gets about 2-3 hours of sun a day. 

There is heuchera, lirope, green and gold sedum

...purple heuchera, creeping jenny,  fuzzy lambs ears and red petunias. 

Do you wet plant areas down before you take photos? I like the way it deepens all the colors and textures. The fence was wet when I started taking photos, and by the time I finished, it was dry already.

I am joining

and

 Fishtail Cottage for 

Pretty In Pink

Just the blooming pink daylilies today.

CUPID'S COWBOY

Can you see the almost heart?

NEW TESTAMENT

Looks good wet too!

AWASH WITH COLOR

I love those ruffles!

BEST KEPT SECRET

is a dark pink hard worker. 

JANICE BROWN

is a cute little ruffly girl.

I am joining the

at Fishtail Cottage.