Can you find the kids in the garden?

The wet rainy spring was hard on much of the garden. My tomatoes are just starting to bounce back from a near drowning experience. Though we did pick some yesterday, the first planting of corn looks pretty anemic. Instead of dwelling on the difficult areas of the garden, let me show off one area that is doing very well.

The newest garden spot is on a hillside next to my parent's house. There are watermelon, grapes and cabbage that can not be seen in the picture. The strawberries are at the top of the hill. You can just see the corner of the patch in the lower left hand corner. In the foreground are the cucumbers. My seven year old is standing behind the zucchini. The three year old is between the zucchini and the winter squash. If your eyes are good, you may be able to see the five year old behind the squash. He is standing in front of the asparagus. Then at the bottom of the hill (right side of the picture) are the pumpkins.

I am so thrilled with our hillside garden. We've been getting lots of cucumbers and zucchini. The rest of the plants are flourishing too. The past couple of years we have had so many problems with squash bugs and vine borers. I am not sure if it is the new location, the companion planting of radishes and marigolds, or my increased diligence in hunting and destroying the bugs' eggs (probably a combination of all of the above,) but the pests have really not been a problem this year, so far. I've found a few squash bug egg clusters to squish. I thought I saw a vine borer moth about a week ago, but so far have not seen eggs or damage from the little beasts. I am thoroughly enjoying this part of the garden.