high summer

it's high summer ( even if the coach may strongly disagree ) and the garden is middle aged...while she was in the garden yesterday fern said the beans "looked happy" and surely she is correct...they continue to produce well ( they need to be routinely harvested people...if you pick them more will come...if you don't...no beans...and when they get too big they get "woody"...stingy and tough...the ones in the second photo and a couple on th evine on the maize are borderline ) and the cooler summer won't hinder that...the vines on the maize plants continue to produce as well and a short stroll down the beds would easily net a pot of green beans for dinner side dish...or as part of a casserole if you are so inclined...there is still produce out there and it will keep coming until the frost ends the season ( except for the jerusalem artichokes...we will save some of those until after is gets cold and they get a bit sweeter )...corn may be the high profile and desirable ( for some ) crop but there are actually more productive ones out there that are just as nourishing and satisfying...someone should be using them...i will not weary of saying this...forewarned is forearmed.