First blooms: scarlet runner bean

A nice surprise to see these poking out. I did plant these a bit late so normally these would be further along at this time of the year. I'm not super fond of the beans for food, meaning I may need to look up some recipes, but the blooms are spectacular. Because I have read the hummers love the flowers, they are a definite go for me regardless of the food aspect. I do know for sure bumblebees come around for the flowers as well. I am happy to provide support the locals with the scarlet runner beans. Interesting to me that I read the scarlet runner beans are perennials because I find they die out during our fairly mild winters.

First chile pepper bloom: Pasilla bajio or chile negro

Presenting Pasilla Bajio or 'chilaca' or 'chile negro'. This is the first year I have had success with germination. I only had one seedling at that. We'll see how it turns out. Family: Solanaceae Capsicum annuum

The first of the season: Purple Cherokee and Black Krim

Here we go: the first tomatoes of 2014 and um sorry but I forgot which is which. I think Purple Cherokee is on the left and Black Krim is on the right. I harvested the one on the right early because the squirrel problem continues. Squirrels run rampant in our community gardens.