Arterial Mapping of the Veiny underside of a Zucchini Leaf

I have determined that fruits and vegetable gathering aside, the next best thing about growing a garden are the numerous photographic opportunities that would otherwise never have been available. Over the past three summers, numerous posts of insects, spiders, caterpillars, and various plants have surfaced on this blog, mostly as a result of my enjoyment of tomatoes and peppers and squash. Seen here is the veinous underside of a zucchini leaf, backlit by a bright afternoon sun.

Honey Bee Pollinating a Squash Blossom

Found here is one of the many honey bees who stop by each morning to pollinate the 

Squash and Zucchini blossoms in my humble garden in Fultondale, Alabama.

This and other photos of the local bee population can be found here.

If You Haven't Had Butternut Squash...

If you haven't had Butternut Squash, then you owe yourself an apology for depriving yourself of a treat. Inspired by some fellows I know that cook quite a bit, and with our recent success with spaghetti squash, I decided to branch out and get a butternut squash to prepare for Valentine's Day dinner. Having decided that, I found a recipe (here) that seemed within my grasp, though the proposed 10-minute prep time must be for somebody who knows how to handle one of these monster gourds; I went well beyond that in my prep. After cubing the squash, and applying the following ingredients (minced garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil, and parsley), I popped it in the oven at 400 degrees for 55 minutes, and thereafter had a wonderful dish that will certainly find its way onto our plates again.