Green beans...when to pick them?

The beans are ready to pick! I've found that my yellow beans matured more quickly than the green and purple (most likely due to the variety, not color).

The question is when do I pick my green beans? The photo above shows new beans needing some growth.

The purple beans above could be picked or I could wait. The photo below shows a better comparison. 

The green and purple are small but edible. I'll call them "baby beans," and they're tender, but then I'm getting the bulk I might need for a meal. The tiny ones don't freeze well. I like to pick beans before the seeds inside start to develop. The one on the far right has the beginnings of seeds. Many people pick the beans when they're thick and fat, with clearly developed seeds inside. That's okay, too. When I lose track of beans and they get that big, I cook them a little differently, chopping them into bite-sized pieces and cooking them longer to tenderize them. When I pick them small, I'll eat them raw or lightly cook them, under a minute in the microwave. No matter when you pick them, they're delicious!

July Front Yard

Happy Fourth of July! Daisies are not officially a native plant, but they're in my native plant garden because the bees love them.

The butterfly weed and coreopsis are blooming. Below is a close up of the butterfly weed. The photo doesn't do justice to the color's bright cheeriness.

Here's an overview of the area. There's some creeping thyme in the lawn. Please ignore the weeds. Or embrace them. 

There is a begonia in each shady front pot, transplanted from my winter windowsill. They were nibbled by rabbits and recovered, though they're small right now. The impatiens were not doing so well, so I added torenia plants. Now they look fuller.  

Early July Garden Tour

Being honest here, I can't keep up with the weeds. We've had lots of rain in June, and today it's too hot  to work outside. For me. Many people can handle this heat, but I'm more comfortable at 50 degrees than 90. The early morning sunlight feels hot. Here's a look at what's growing.

Pea pods

Garlic, lettuce, and greens

Zucchini

Bubblegum petunias, two geraniums, and a hibiscus. I had to move the geraniums because the petunias were taking over.

Watermelon

Tomatoes, peppers, parsley, and basil. And some volunteer flowers and dill.

Peapods and beans. Some struggling carrots.

Flowers and my shadow

Rosemary and thyme

Strawberry mint, lemon grass, and hidden purple basil

The rain has made everything green and lush (including the weeds). Yet it's so lovely!