FULL Garden Tour | August 2023 

Everyone! I grew a 30lb watermelon that was ruby red inside! I am just beside myself!

Jess: “I don’t think I’ve ever done anything tidy in my life.” Me: Same, friend! Same! My Mom would say amen and testify to this being one of her biggest challenges with me as her neurodivergent daughter 😂

Daniel is the best!!! He would be such a fun garden friend to have.

I am in north west Washington state. Our tomatoes are just starting to turn red. Corn is about 1 to 2 weeks away. Things are finally starting to come on and harvest. I love this time of year!!

morning glories are my eternal garden nemisis

Dog fennel, huh! I always called it "Donkey Food" because growing up, a neighbor had a cute little wooden donkey pulling a cart with lots of this growing around, and we would "feed" it to our donkey friend. ♥ It'll still be donkey food to me~

HI R&R, The tiny crunchy yellow teardrop pepper you ate at 33:10 in the vlog is called a BIQUINHO pepper. they’re fabulous pickled! Thank you for the garden tour. Your inground garden looks angelic this year.

"I dont think ive ever done anything tidy in my life" I laughed out loud. Yes! The more I try to make it neat and organized, nature has its own way.

Hi Jess I just wanted to thank you for the encouragement of making video tours of my garden and share a snippet of how that encouragement has grown into something positive in my life. Two years ago I moved to a different state and now my mom and I are states away from one another. I learned an appreciation for gardening from my mom, and I thought I had a brown thumb for a long time. We had some opportunities to garden together as adults off and on, but I was never as invested as my mom, who has always been connected to her garden in such a deep and holistic way. I have come to accept that I do things differently but I can develop my own relationship with gardening, and I have improved at it and finally feel like I have done the research to be more successful finally this year. I have the space I want, I put in some of the infrastructure last year, but never quite got the garden off the ground. My poor seedlings lived in little pots and produced a little but never reached their potential. I started early this year, grew from seeds moved them out and got them in the ground. Mistakes were made, but they are lessons learned. I am learning to grow in a completely different zone and fairly different climate, and it has been a weird year, but I have had a lot of successes this year. And I have learned a lot. In the process, I have been watching you for the last couple of years, and gaining tips, encouragement, and a sense of kinship and inclusion in a larger community. And I wanted to share this with my mom, who has moved and has been unable to have her garden this year due to a variety of factors. And so, I started recording garden tours on my phone for my mom and putting them in a shared folder. I don't watch them, or edit them, at least not yet, so she gets all the raw, camera shut downs from heat, the stuttering to find the words I want, and random pauses on odd things at times, but I narrate the whole time, and far a little while it feels like my mom is walking around my garden with me, and it is very special. So thank you for the encouragement to step outside my comfort zone, and to make a record to share and reconnect.

The Seminole pumpkin is the replacement for butternut squash in our area because the squash bugs pretty much leave them alone, but will devour the butternut squash plants along with the vine bore bugs... ❤❤❤ zone 9B just FYI 😊

We brought a Black Swallowtail caterpillar into the house from our dill this spring. We didn't get to see it emerge from it's chrysalis, but we did watch it stretch it's wings and fly away. It was amazing!❤❤❤ Now our plan is to plant dill basically everywhere and do it every year.

Jess, you have made my day better. I woke up in a mood and I have tried to change my mood but nothing worked until you posted this video. You are literally the only person who hasn't gotten under my skin and I have watched this tour 3 times now. Thank you.

In regard to squash plants and pests: I can dig the find local plants deal. But, if you can't find locally grown seeds that are acclimated to the area, what I have done to at least deter the squash vine borer, is to use athletic tape at the base of my plants. Sometimes, as the leaves die back as the plant grows, I will re-wrap the base a little further. As for squash bugs: Jag Singh, (I think that's how his name is spelled), Places DE in a portable vacuum cleaner and goes around sucking the bugs off the plants, leaves them in there for a while, (I think a day or so), and then feeds them to his chickens. Sounds feasible.

I love ❤️ the “Land Before Time” reference!!!! That was one of my nephews’ favorite movies when they were little. We must have watched it 150 times or better 😊

That is so true... I take pictures of the beginning of me planting every year and then when the babies get about 4 to 5 inches tall then when they fill in the garden... Every year it looks different and great to see what it looked like from the year before...

If only the wondrous Golden Hour would last long enough to film a garden tour...❤

Jessica, I love you. I appreciate your authenticity. I teach a little gardening class every spring and turn my students on to your videos every year. Love you. Thank you 💖💖💖

Just want to say I love your mountain mug beautiful 😍

ooohh lettuce leaf basil looks great!!

Agree! When I have a hard time growing something I go to one of the many farmers markets around southwestern Ohio and I will buy locally-grown fruit and I will enjoy it and save those seeds!! 😉

Jess, last year you mentioned shade cloth for tomatoes in hot climates. I'm in So. CA, inland where it got to over 108°to 113° for a couple of weeks this summer. I took your advice and I've never had such success with my slicing tomatoes. Some of my celebrities were almost the size of softballs, and lots of them. Usually, I lose many of them to sun scald by mid summer, but the shade cloth saved them and my bell peppers. Thanks so much!❤ 😊 btw, I love seeing your amazing garden!

I LOVED the garden walk this video! You shine so bright when talking about plants and it really gave me a feeling I was walking with you as you told me all about the garden. I've watched for several years and enjoy all the tours but this was my favorite walk.

Perfect timing .... Being stuck in bed is infinitely more enjoyable with a good Roots & Refuge video ❤

Awesomeness ❤

After watching your pottery vlog, I love seeing what mug you are drinking out of 😊. Great tour as usual!

For anyone looking for the specific holy basil they grow you can get it at MIgardener or botanical interest stocks it now as well. Specifically it's a tulsi known as Kapoor and is distinguished by its bubble gum scent ❤ I know it's a question everyone always asks

Hi Jess! I’ve been with you for quite awhile and I always feel like family! Tell Ben I am harvesting banana peppers, which I planted because of his influence! He is an influencer!!! My husband loves the peppers and so do I. 🥰

Jess, that is a good idea about filming your garden. I can start on my fall veggies ( video taping the fall veggies ). Then I can do my spring veggies and summer veggies. I do take pictures of my garden and veggies that I picked. I am also a visual learner.

For some reason seeing your accidental kiddie pool garden really made me think about your mom and how alike you two are ❤ it’s incredibly beautiful

Lol i love the trust Will has in you. He bit into it before you said it wasn't hot.

Jess,I just love your garden tours. You introduced me to Silver Slicers and they have been amazing. I have given away so many and been able to introduce this delicious cucumber to so many. They are shocked that it's a cucumber!!!

Jesss!!! Girl!! I am jelly over those tomatoes!!!!

I grew the lettuce leafed basil this year aswell and I am blown away buy it!❤ I like using it on my burgers

❤garden tour ❤ I love me some Jess!!💕

Thank you for being honest about your garden nt quite being what you had expected. I thought it was only me who felt this way. Now I am excited about making changes, adding or totally removing plants from the garden.

The bitter melon thrives In a climate like ours It likes humid and hot And that’s what we’ve got -lovely words by J. Sowards

Many of my cucurbit seeds I bought this year did not seem to do as well. My older cucurbit seeds did ok or great....I genuinely feel that the added pressure on the garden industry is resulting in a number of mix ups, lesser quality seeds, and maybe even some of the organic seeds coming from plants that were unknowingly exposed to inorganic herbicides/pesticides. I have had a lot of mixed bag results this year (not all to blame on the suppliers) but I am very happy to see how many people are trying to garden. I think it's a great start towards healing the earth.

This has got me so excited to film our second garden tour tomorrow. Despite the crazy heatwave we're having. Thanks for the lil' boost to my motivation, Jess! 💚

Yasss I clicked on this so fast 🎉❤

Plant onions around your eggplant for the flea beetles!

Here in Iowa it has seemed to be a fairly mild summer, too. A few really hot days, but mostly pretty comfortable. AND, we have been super blessed to have consistent rain. I've only had to water 4 times.

I loveeeeeee tomatoes & tom sandwiches! Grandma & Mom grew a garden every year & those garden lunches are some of my fav childhood memories xoxo picking & eating tomatoes in the garden are the best!

I am near Memphis, tn. My garden has been toasted for about a month. Stripping it and starting to plant fall.

Im currently trying to save my Sunflower Steve seeds from the sunflowers i grew this year. It is stunningly fascinating to see all the stages.... And i love how many baby blooms are growing off of the main stalk. One of them grew three big stalks from the base and now each has a bunch of lil baby sunflowers growing off the sides. I finally posted to my IG account.... And, so far, those sunflowers are the only pics i have posted.

thnx Jess for sharing. love your channel. Your garden IS beautiful.

Thank you for the tour. My garden is going into feral abundance mode and I love it. The areas where you can barely walk are my favorite.

I've definitely got garden envy

On a completely unrelated channel, they completely got rid of bermuda grass by shallow tilling, then they manually pulling up all the visible root runners. Then they shallow tilled again, and manually pulled the roots, and again and again. Very labor intensive, but it's months later now and the grass has not come back.

Yes finally! This is the ENTIRE reason I even follow your channel. More garden tours please!!!

Unless you completely concrete the pathway in your cottage garden, you will be fighting a losing battle against Bermuda grass forever. We live near Dallas and had Bermuda for the first 25 years in our house. Bermuda grass is horrible for garden or flower beds. I would spend most of my summer trying to dig down deep enough to get the roots out, but the Bermuda always wins. Five years ago, I wanted to re-sod our yard to make it look good for our daugther's wedding weekend. Our landscaper talked me in to doing St Augustine. I really resisted, but finally said go for it. St Augustine spreads on top of the ground and is not invasive in any of my flower beds. Hallelujah!!! I still get an occasional piece of Bermuda sprouting up, but absolutely nothing like I used to deal with. Trust me, I feel your pain!

Great Mug! You got me planting Zinnias and I thought I'd lost them this year but they finally came up and I love them so much.

Excited for this next year's garden tours.... this will be a great season

Can’t even imagine having a garden that huge! Dangggg 😂 I just did my first year of gardening in pots on my porch and that was a struggle. The pests in NC are FRFR😂 I am looking forward to fall gardening😊

I love roasted seeds especially pumpkin

Will is doing such an amazing job with the gardens and harvests. He’s a real asset to the farm.

You gambling on biting peppers is one of my favorite things to watch 🤣🤣🤣

You inspired me to try. I always joked that I had the "black thumbs of death" when it came to gardening. Your approach to enjoying the environment and connecting with the food you grow to nourish you, has nourished my soul. I have a small garden (this year!) and I've used your method of enjoying my space and noticing the pollinators, the birds and the environment to soothe me after work. I love my space and the feeling of being connected to my land, sharing my harvest with my friends. Thank you for nudging me onto this path! Best to you and your family from the Ottawa Valley, Ontario, Canada!

I just love how Bear 🐻 is right there with you… here in Nova Scotia my tomatoes are just starting to ripen… almost two weeks behind last year… our June was cold and very wet

Just when I think I couldnt love you more, You throw in a Land Before Time, plant reference.

As ALWAYS JESS such great gardening info. Thanks for all of your inspiration 💚

I’m in Connecticut, 6b, and my beefsteak tomatoes are just starting to turn red

Your garden tours, and even more so where are you live now, as you develop and grow your magical garden, it’s like an adventure as you move through the garden and turn corners you discover its magical secrets. You have the stone pathways and little clusters of plants and big jungles of plants. You never know what you’re going to find Tucktaway here in there. Rather, it’s the beautiful stones or the massive plants growing or that’s a figurine here and a fountain there… you have little seats and big seats tucked here and there. In my mind and heart I’ve named your garden and of course it’s called the magic garden lol. Yes, I’m talking about the old vintage story. I remember buying that book for my five children when they were little. I think I love the book even more than them hehehe 😁. Thank you for sharing this adventure with us. You are my connection with the outside world and I never take you for granted. It is a privilege and an amazing honor to hang out with you and visit your home via RU-vid.🙏🏼♥️

Thanks so much hun for all you share. I always love watching your channel. 💕 ff

I live in South Carolina and it has been super hot!

Ive “raised” many swallowtails. Until your new enclosure shows up, just put them into a jar with cheese cloth or something else porous over the top. They will be fine! You can do that with the large larvae too just keep them fed and provide a couple of sticks that have somewhat horizontal parts for them to attach to. Bask to the enclosure, you can add sticks to the inside of that too. When the chrysalis come out, the new butterfly will need somewhere to hang upside down to drain, dry and air out its wings so that it does not scuff them while they are so delicate. Once they go upright, they are still quite docile and will step onto your finger and perch there! ENJOY!!

When the flowers stop blooming and not benefit to the pollinators, cut it down! I agree about the morning glory and same for puncture vine (Goatheads!).

I think your garden(magical land) is magnificent now, yet I’m looking forward to seeing the changes that you make along the way. I like that you’re actually letting your plans for your spaces grow and evolve. I think it’s going to be fun to watch how your dreams evolve and literally grow. Plants grow, so why can’t your plans…..🤔

Hey Jess , Glad you had a nice get away.. The garden flowers a beautiful.. The little pepper you are eating are called Biquinho or Sweety drop peppers and they have a small touch of heat, I think they are so cute , lol. It is always great to drop in for a visit.

I wholehearted agree with you about gluten free breads, I'd rather go without. I have read a few places that sourdough bread, by way of the fermentation process, can break down gluten to a point where the body doesn't see it. As with everything on the internet, do your own research. After being diagnosed as celiac in 2018, via a blood test, My primary and I finally realized the test results didn't look right. I took another test with the same results so I went to a gastroenterologist who took one look at the tests and said, no way do you have celiac, these results are often misread. So now, tomato sandwiches are back on the menu!

I think this is the earliest I've ever been to one of your videos! Can't wait to watch!

I post my daily garden hauls and monthly updates as Instagram stories that are saved n Instagram story folders. That is how I track when I plant and when I start getting produce,etc. have done this for about 3 years. I share them to Facebook, so they show up on my memories everyday and I can see how the previous years compare to the current.

We only got 3 cucumbers this year and so far 1 baby melon. Northern Maryland.

I want to build some raised beds like you have, those look awesome!👍👍

"Sometimes it's not perfect, but it still feeds you" honestly exactly what I needed to hear. I started my new garden entirely from scratch this year, and I've been struggling with the "imperfect/incomplete" garden. Because it takes time to correct the soil from grass lawn to garden, build infrastructure like some raised beds, etc. And I can recognize that, but there's still a little tinge of disappointment when I try to take photos of the whole garden. I pretty much haven't. Because I don't want to show off all the things I haven't finished.

Bless you Jess ! The bathtub shouuld be a water featuure of some kinnd .❤

This is a beautiful garden.

I have celiac and I just harvested my first tomato of the year (western NY)… I mix yeast, honey and GF flour with some warm water to a thick pancake batter consistency. Let it get all bubbly… then I mix in salt, pepper, oregano and garlic powder. throw it on some foil in the air fryer… 400 for 8 minutes. Flip it. Another 8 minutes on the other side. It comes out like focaccia and a pita had a baby. I told that in half and use it as the vessel for my tomato sammich.

Thank you for a beautiful garden tour!

The tiny peppers that you couldn't remember the name on are called Biquinho and they are one of my favorites to just snack on in the garden! They are sooooo good!

Gooood afternoon from central Florida! Hope everyone has a great afternoon!

I have to say that one of my favorite parts of your garden is to the left of the high tunnels. All of the Zinnias growing there are so beautiful. I just fell in love with big flower heads and the colors. Your Zinnias prompted me to look for some seeds so I can plant my own. Didn't buy any because I think it's too late in the season now, don't know??? Also, that one pink rose beside your greenhouse...the one you said bugs...or something damaged it. Saw it in a recent video and it was just beautiful. Can't wait to see what you do with the cottage garden by your green house. Jmo, you desperately need some shade. Especially in places that you plan on making more seating. I love all of your garden spaces, just remember that Rome wasn't built in a day and eventually it will become exactly what you envision it to be.

I'm hoping to turn my sunflower seeds into oil this year. I listen to a podcast from melissa knorris about making seed oil at home for those that dont have milking animals.

We’ve had no rain this summer and this is normally our wet season. Because if the drought my garden has seen over 110 degree temps. We’ve been in emergency mode just trying to keep our animals alive. Can’t wait for fall!!!!

❤ Love to see it! We live up in the Pacific Northwest 6b but it felt like a 5b this year, super cold nights, super hot days. Our tomatoes and everything are just now starting to ripen and things are just now taking off. I love to see your gardens taking off!! Gorgeous as always!! ❤❤

Hey Jess, just a hint. Sheep love bindweed. If you ever have an area in your farm, that is insane with bind weed, put a few sheep in there. It will be gone in a day. We have very little bind weed on our property now because we have done this.

Thank you! 😊 I am filling tea bags with dried herbs from my greenstalks and inspired to hit the garden now to pull onions so the next round of something can be planted.

I’m growing lemongrass for the first time this year Please tell us how to harvest and preserve 🌱💚

Wonderful, inspiring garden tour & advice! Thanks for sharing! I’m in Alberta, Canada & we still haven’t had a frost in my area, which is quite rare. I started digging my potato plants today. They can be left in ground for the early frosts but some plants were dying back a lot because our town deer ate their tops! Blessings to everyone 🤗💕🇨🇦

Thank you for another garden tour ❤❤❤❤❤❤👌

Thank you for sharing useful information about agriculture

This year I planted zinnias for the first time… I got a box of seeds from my local dollar general for $2 ! Money well spent!

So excited about this!!🎉❤

In California we also have invasive morning glory vines. My neighbors have invasive passion fruit vines in their unkept backyard. The fruit is only edible for the birds, which then spread the seeds. I'm constantly pulling up the vines in my raised beds!

I've been gardening here in the desert Southwest for 4 years now and I have learned that I can grow Mediterranean things here great - artichokes, fennel, San Marzano tomatoes, and Italian squashes all do great here. But Asian varieties struggle with the heat and low humidity, and without a greenhouse I cannot control the environment enough to make them happy. I am zone 7b, so I can garden all year round since frost hardy plants will survive with a little bit of protection during the coldest days. Cold weather gardening is much easier than summer gardening around here! Especially years like this one.

Yep, we've had one or two days get up to 100. Back in '95 we were in the mountains at 8000ft. I was pregnant with my daughter and she was a week late. My ankles were swelling, and I'd never had that happen before with 3 other pregnancies. We were building our house and living in a camper. It was so hot my husband strung up a hammock in the shade. He put a thermometer on the tree in the shade after I'd been there awhile. It was 104 in the shade! I'm thankful for this cool weather we've had here in CO this year. Unusual rain too! Instead of everything being dry and dead and worrying about wildfire from the beginning of July, I haven't hardly needed to water things, and this is mid August! Very thankful!

Jess, my tomatoes are still yellowish green and my cucumbers didn't even grow cucumbers. They had flowers on them then they died. My frost is October 8th in Pennsylvania.

Garden may be suffering from the heat but the herbs and pumpkins and squash and peppers and flowers are going good and it's looking wild!! Love it!! I grow the pumpkins and some squash in the compost pile and they do fantastic!!

I'm doing gluten free also, you have to try the carbonate seeded bread which is amazing!!!!!!

Oh Jess, you're so sweet and naive! Here in zone 4 New Hampshire, we are just starting to harvest. However, our first frost date is mid-September!

Absolutely you can keep peppers over winter! I had one that lasted all the way to May this year and then I failed at hardening it off again and it lost all its leaves and died right before she could have gone back outside. So sad but I’m going to try again this year! Lol. (Zone 8a, southern BC Canada)