I had a chance to tour the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, which opens today in Seattle. The timing could not be better. With all the nice weather, I'm dreaming big garden dreams.

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Brittney Baldwin Rourke of Everett grew this crazy tomato in her View Ridge garden this year.

Not only is it a double tomato of sorts, it has an off-shoot that looks a lot like a beak.

"I hate to eat it. It's such a cute little bird-tomato," said Rourke, who tends backyard chickens and grows a bounty of food on her city lot every year.

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There are more than 300 volunteer Master Gardeners in Snohomish County.

They donate about 25,000 hours of their horticultural expertise and hard work every year.

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Dan Hinkley, a well-known local plant expert and collector, will present a special after-hours talk on fall and winter plants at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 at Molbak's Garden + Home, 13625 NE 175th St., Woodinville.

Cost is $10 per person and registration is required. See www.molbaks.com/events.html to sign up or call 425-483-5000.

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Is your garden producing more than you can eat?

Then now is the time to share your harvest with local food banks, who are in need of fresh food.

(One side note: if If you're looking for a way to use of nine cups of zucchini, this tripled almond zucchini bread recipe if for you.)

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If it were up to me, every blog and Facebook post would be required to have at least one photo.

I can't get enough of photos, especially veggie garden shots and pictures of people's kids.

Here are some photos from my garden, including four things I planted this year that I will plant again because they are bringing me so much joy.

I'm also posting, at the end, before-and-after spring-summer shots of the garden, just for fun.

Garlic

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