Garden Wars!!! (Week 5)
June 23, 2010
Wow, that was close, guys. Sarvay put up quite the fight, but Pharr squeeeeeeeaked by last week, earning him his second win and putting him in the lead of this epic competition for gardening greatness. But, who will take it this week?
For those of you new to Garden Wars, here’s the deal…
John Sarvay (of Floricane and Buttermilk & Molasses), Ryan Smartt (of ConnectRichmond), and Scott Pharr (of PharrOut and RVANews) face off each week as they showcase images of their agricultural efforts, complete with clever(ish) captions. Then you, the readers, decide who wins. Whoever has won the most number of weeks out of the three-month run of this series will be treated to a meal by the losers.
Our gardeners are currently neck and neck and neck:
Sarvay: 1
Pharr: 2
Smartt: 1
Garden Wars Week 5: Begin!
Sarvay
Carrots were banned from Thea’s diet a year ago because of allergies. They’re making a test return to her life, and she couldn’t be more delighted.
It’s an abundant life we’re living this week – the last load of beets and carrots, tons of kale and chard, and about six pounds of green beans. There was even enough for the squirrels – they found two Sungold tomatoes half-ripened, and took a bite out of each.
I named my new business Floricane, which is the fruit-bearing vine of a blackberry bush. And after six years of trying, I finally managed to get a real blackberry bush in my yard to bear fruit. Now, if I can keep Thea from picking the berries before they ripen…
Pharr
Those aren’t weeds and they aren’t volunteer tomato plants. Want to guess what they are? (The answer is below.)
You’ve all heard of Space Mountain, well, I present to you…. SQUASH MOUNTAIN!?
Possibly how the bees and ants see my eggplant plants. And yes you guessed it (or didn’t) the first picture are our potatoes!
Smartt
Remember that TINY cucumber from last week? Here it is again, lookin’ like it could be a tasty pickle one day.
Lyla is a good sport. Right after this photo was taken, Daddy shot an arrow straight through our first tomato of the year, and then turned it into salsa.
One of the best traits of pugs is they can actually talk. However, no words are necessary…Deacon’s expression says it all: “I must eat this delicious hot pepper. Please?! C’mon!”
There ya have it, readers. Now you must decide the winner. Leave your votes in the comments and help decide WHOSE GREENS REIGN SUPREME!
48 Responses to “Garden Wars!!! (Week 5)”
1. AM Grohs says:
vote is for Smartt…way to mix it up with the dog this week..just give him the pepper!
on June 23rd, 2010 at 7:57 am
2. lindsey says:
sarvay! my mom and i have been trying to make blackberries work at our house for nearly five years as well and haven’t seen a berry yet! good work!
on June 23rd, 2010 at 8:01 am
3. Ryan Smartt says:
Pharr, where’s your daughter(s)?
on June 23rd, 2010 at 8:07 am
4. Jennie says:
I vote Smartt- that dog is so damn ugly it’s cute. Awww!
on June 23rd, 2010 at 8:22 am
5. Trina Willard says:
While Sarvay appears to be bringing home the bounty of veggies, I’ve gotta give it to Ryan this week, for the tomato-headed cherub combined with those “Vote For Me” puppy dog eyes. I won’t be swayed by such manipulation next week though…you’ll see.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 8:23 am
6. eddi says:
Cats > dogs > babies > kids over 4.
No cats this week, so the dog has it. Good work, Smartt.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 8:23 am
7. John says:
I have to vote for myself – quantity AND variety! If pressed, Ryan would get my second vote, although I’m shocked he didn’t somehow weave his wedding anniversary (and lovely wife) into the mix.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 8:25 am
8. wren says:
The puppy dog eyes are almost impossible to resist, but I have to give this one to Sarvay for the Floricane + blackberries combo. Well played, sir.
(I hope there are more photos of Deacon in future Garden Wars competitions, hint hint…)
on June 23rd, 2010 at 8:59 am
9. Scott Pharr says:
I’m super impressed with Smartt’s tomato. I *hear* that if you get red tomatoes by 4th of July you are considered legit. Just saying. I vote for Smartt.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 9:02 am
10. Beth says:
Sarvay, for not giving up on the berries.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 9:13 am
11. Jonah Holland says:
My vote goes to @Sarvay again. The whole Floricane story sold me.
Enough with the puppy dog eyes!
You guys are so inspiring. How do you find the time?
on June 23rd, 2010 at 9:16 am
12. Valerie Catrow says:
I vote for Smartt! I’m so proud of the cucumber! And seriously, that is one cute dog.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 9:20 am
13. Sarah says:
@Sarvay gets it for the blackberries.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 9:29 am
14. Julie says:
Sarvay for his persistence with those berries.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 9:50 am
15. Jim says:
smartt wins…by a cucumber. oh, and lyla.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 10:23 am
16. Jennifer says:
While I have to give major props to Sarvay for those berries, I must say Smartt gets my vote this week. Little Miss Tomato Head and Deacon, one of the most precious pugs I’ve seen in a while, stirred my heartstrings.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 10:28 am
17. Maggi says:
One more for Deacon. . . I mean Ryan!
on June 23rd, 2010 at 12:19 pm
18. Lisa says:
Smartt gets my vote this week!
on June 23rd, 2010 at 1:31 pm
19. Willard says:
My vote for Smartt is contingent on his posting a video of his dog eating the pepper and saying, in Spanish, ‘Que delicioso!’
Props to Sarvay for consistently lovely photos, love the close-up of the berries.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 1:32 pm
20. Lauren says:
Ahhh tough call between Sarvay and Smartt but I am going with Sarvay for that harvest pic and those berries! Yum!
on June 23rd, 2010 at 2:08 pm
21. Rebecca says:
My vote is for Sarvay- the berries look yummy!!
on June 23rd, 2010 at 3:49 pm
22. Scott.Pharr says:
I change my vote to me. Only because no one has voted for me today. It’s cool, I understand. I have no kids or pets in my pictures … cough *gardens* cough
on June 23rd, 2010 at 4:50 pm
23. Paul Stephens says:
I would have been more impressed if Smartt had used a knife to shoot the tomato off Lyla’s head, while at the same time making the salsa, but still I’ll have to vote for Smartt.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 6:01 pm
24. erin says:
Sarvay for the blackberries and Thea triumphing over her allergies!
on June 23rd, 2010 at 7:55 pm
25. Kristin says:
Smartt. Dog in the picture will always get my vote.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 7:57 pm
26. Shane says:
Smartt. For risking a visit from child protective services for his salsa. Dedication to his craft.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 8:04 pm
27. Nicole says:
I vote Pharr.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 8:48 pm
28. Shannon says:
I’m going with Smartt and the red tomato since I already have red ones myself!
on June 23rd, 2010 at 8:49 pm
29. Catherine says:
Sarvay for the variety this week.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 10:20 pm
30. Vanessa says:
smartt cuz Deacon is cute and ugly all at once. I wish he could grow more pugs.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 10:43 pm
31. Eric says:
I vote for Sarvay. That is an impressive bounty this week.
on June 23rd, 2010 at 11:54 pm
32. Cindy says:
I vote for John Sarvay! Gotta love Thea!!
on June 24th, 2010 at 7:40 am
33. Renee says:
Being a former owner of a black pug named Weasley, I have to say that if this were a contest for Best Use of Cuteness While Gardening, Smartt wins, hands down. However, since this is to “showcase agricultural efforts”, I’m going to have to go with Sarvay – those blackberries are fabulous!
on June 24th, 2010 at 10:31 am
34. Mary says:
Sarvay
on June 24th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
35. Matthew says:
Sarvay this week – for variety & quantity. Looks like you can actually eat substantial meals from your harvest!
on June 24th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
36. John says:
We’ve had three meals from our garden this week, and if Nikole ever cooks her beets we can call it three-and-a-half (since half of us won’t be eating).
on June 24th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
37. Katie M says:
Sarvay – because of the blackberries. Fruit-bearing vines are a bit trickier to grow than annual veggies.
on June 24th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
38. Edward Price says:
Sarvay; love those beets and blackberries.
on June 24th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
39. Tía says:
Tía dice: ‘Quiero el pepino. Quiero el tomate. Quiero el perro. Quiero taco bell. Smartt es el hombre. Voto para R. Smartt.’
on June 24th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
40. Molly says:
i vote smartt!! deacon and lyla are precious, and so is the cucumber!
on June 25th, 2010 at 10:57 am
41. Stanton says:
Gotta go with Smartt…aka Robin Hood
on June 25th, 2010 at 11:38 am
42. Justin Smith says:
I vote Sarvay.
Pharr, aren’t you supposed to have a picture with kids in it somewhere?
on June 25th, 2010 at 11:42 am
43. Bill 3 says:
The Demon Deacon makes this week a solid win for Ryan & Lyla Smartt. They are HOT:):):)
on June 25th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
44. Dan Smartt says:
Lyla Smartt is the cutest tomato. Deacon Smartt is a peck
of pickled peppers.
on June 26th, 2010 at 8:06 am
45. APT says:
Sarvay gets my vote for the berries alone!
on June 27th, 2010 at 9:45 am
46. Jerry Smartt says:
Pepe, el pepino, vota por esmartt.
Decano, el doguito, vota por esmartt.
Lyla, la libélula, vota por esmartt.
¿Yo?, soy la Mana y voto por esmartt.
on June 27th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
47. Valerie Catrow says:
Winner: Ryan Smartt!
Week 6 goes up tomorrow. Stay tuned!
on June 29th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
48. Elizabeth Anderson says:
My vote is Smart…a child AND a dog showcasing his efforts??? Way to play to the judge, Smart…way to play to the judge.
on June 29th, 2010 at 10:18 pm