Thyme In A Bottle

Before and After in the Pellie Bed

2012-01-20T14:01:00.000-08:00

I spent yesterday afternoon raking leaves and pruning the Pellie bed. I wish I would have taken a closer picture of the plants to show what I have but if you would like to see them click Here (the lower photographs on that post will show the flowers in this bed)

On the left side of this photo is cannas and then just ahead is about 6 pelargonium plants, about 10 feet or so. I pruned them severely this year because the fallen leaves had pretty much covered the lower half of the plants making it difficult to get in to clean around them, and many were just too large. They can cover that area when blooming and it makes it difficult to get past them. I took some cutting just in case I need to replace a few. I want to transplant some of them back closer to the wall of the house to give them more room to expand without reaching the pavers. When I put these in a few years ago they were only 4 inch pots.

Here is the area after I raked up the leaves and pruned the plants. You can see how I cut everything down to the ground level. We are forecast for rain for the next three days. I will fertilize and mulch after the rains. Looking at this photo I see I also need to plant in-between the pavers with more Dichondra seed.

Another view looking North

Lavender in bloom at end of paver path

Blue Flax in the Herb Garden

Rosemary Bush in Bloom

Here are all the leaves I raked up. The compost bin was half full when I started and it stands just under 5 feet. Notice the overflow on the side. After the rains come it should lower enough for me to put the rest in. Lots of good compost in the near future!

The leaves had a wonderful frolic.

They danced to the wind's loud song.

They whirled, and they floated, and scampered.

They circled and flew along.

The moon saw the little leaves dancing.

Each looked like a small brown bird.

The man in the moon smiled and listened.

And this is the song he heard.

The North Wind is calling, is calling,

And we must whirl round and round,

And then, when our dancing is ended,

We'll make a warm quilt for the ground.

-Anonymous

Birth Announcement! We Have Seedlings!

2012-01-18T19:21:00.000-08:00

These little guys actually sprouted a few days ago but I just got around to taking a picture today. So far we have Rainbow Blend Cherry Tomato, Yellow Crookneck squash, Patty Pan squash, Zucchini (Cocozelle), German Queen tomato, San Marzano tomato, Green Zebra tomato, Cherokee Purple tomato and Dr. Wyche's tomato. These are all seeds I had from last year and some for more than 2 years. Also a few are from seeds that I saved from my tomato plants that I grew last year. Every thing looks promising so far. We are off to a good start. Tomorrow I will begin planting up the seeds from my recent orders.

If the day and night are such

that you greet them with joy

and life emits a fragrance like flowers

and sweet scented herbs,

that is your success.

all nature is your congratulations.

-Henry David Thoreau-

The Seeds Are Here!

2012-01-16T15:49:00.000-08:00

Botanical Interests

I received my two seed orders on Friday. I had just placed the order on Monday and I was surprised to see both orders in my mailbox. If you click on my photos it will be enlarged and you will be able to read the names on the seed packages.

I know I don't have to tell all you gardeners out there how excited I get when my orders arrive, but just in case you are not a gardener and are reading my blog think of it like a long awaited Christmas gift or maybe a shopping spree at your favorite shoe or clothing store. That is how excited I get!

I read each package and then stare at the picture (if there is one) dreaming about the plant growing in my flower or vegetable garden. I make notes on when I will plant it and where it will go. These are the first steps I take each year when planning my gardens. I envision the flower blooming in my "minds eye garden" and what plants will be planted around it.


Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (the Black Radish in the back is actually from Botanical Interests)

Tomorrow I will begin potting up the seeds. Some of these will be direct sowed in the garden when the planting time is right, but all the tomato seeds will be started indoors and I will also pot up the Mexican Sunflower seeds. We generally do not get freezing temperatures in our area and if we do it will only be a day or two so I will probably be planting many of the flower seeds and of course the radish seeds directly in the ground this week. If you check back on my past posts you will see that we are harvesting radishes, and a few other greens now. I also will be making up my annual spreadsheet of the tomatoes I will plant and post it here when I get them planted out in the garden; that should be in mid March.

A nice rain has been falling all day today. I here my plants singing out....

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn

Seed Catalog Order!!

2012-01-10T13:20:00.000-08:00

I just love this time of year when all the seed catalogs arrive. I spent last weekend visiting nurseries and browsing my seed catalogs. I placed two orders, one from Botanical Interests and one from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

I ordered Southern Night, Chocolate Stripes, Gold Medal, Big White Pink Stripes, Henderson's Pink Ponderosa and Hillbilly tomatoes from Baker Creek, also a State Fair Mix Zinnia, Parisienne round Carrot and Orangeglo Watermelon.

From Botanical Interests I ordered, Organic Dill Heirloom seed, Round Black Spanish Heirloom Radish, French Breakfast Organic Heirloom Radish. For tomatoes I ordered Black Krim Organic Heirloom, Cherokee Purple Organic Heirloom, and Green Zebra Organic. I also ordered a Charentais Heirloom Melon, and Love in a Mist, Verbascum, Mexican Torch Sunflower flower seeds.

I am still pondering on what to order or whether to order from Seeds from Italy. They are a bit more expensive. We'll see...

Carnival Bell Peppers, New Mexico Pepper, and Sweet Pepper Pimento and Tarragon cutting

I spent yesterday potting up some seeds that I had and also some that I saved from last year. The Tarragon is from my plants. I took a few cutting just in case I have problems in the next few months. I picked a bunch yesterday and have plans to make Tarragon Pesto today.

Back row: Jalapeno, yellow Crookneck Squash, Dr. Wyche's yellow tomato, San Marzano Tomato. Middle row: Patty Pan Squash, Cocozelle Squash, Cherokee Purple tomato, German Queen Tomato (rare). Front row: Scallop White Bush squash, Rainbow Blend Cherry Tomato, Cherokee Purple Tomato, and Green Zebra Tomato.

I planted about 5 dozen spring onion sets and have all these that I will plant to replace those I pull.

Now we wait.....patiently.....

"Little January
Tapped at my door today.
And said, "Put on your winter wraps,
And come outdoors to play."
Little January
Is always full of fun;
Until the set of sun.
Little January
Will stay a month with me
And we will have such jolly times -
Just come along and see."
- Winifred C. Marshall, January

Garden Update Lots of Pictures!

2012-01-03T18:02:00.000-08:00

Easter Egg Blend Radishes

It has been a couple of months since my last update. After our battle with the raccoons and then replanting the beds three times, it took a while for the vegetable garden to produce. We have been harvesting lettuces, green onions, kale, pea pods and swiss chard the last few weeks. I will post a lot of pictures to keep my blog up to date on the growth and varieties we planted. All the seeds I used in the garden are from Botanical Interest Seeds.

Bed One

Bed Two

Bed Three has Purple & White Vienna Blend Kohlrabi, American Purple Top Rutabaga, Sugar Snap Peas, and Spinach

Bright Lights Swiss Chard

Red Sails and Tango Leaf Lettuce, and a few Cilantro Plants

Easter Egg Blend Radishes (I picked some earlier) and Gourmet Blend Beets. Spring Onion Seeds I saved from last year. These I tossed around in all the beds.

Early Wonder Beets

Q's Special Medley Mesclun Lettuce

Oak Leaf Lettuce

Mache Corn Salad Greens

Kale Italian Lacinato (Nero Toscana)

Brussels Sprouts Long Island Improved Heirloom

these are just about ready to pick

start at the bottom and move upward when picking. The plant continues to grow taller and taller forming new sprouts at each leaf joint.

Kohlrabi Purple and White Vienna Blend

Kohlrabi Purple & White Vienna Blend

Sugar Snap Peas

I also planted Bok Choy and onion sets along with some garlic which I didn't get a picture of. They are just coming in so I will update that later.

I purchased as many organic seeds from Botanical Interests as I could this year. I think this spring I will add more seed from Baker Creek and Seeds of Change. I have used Seeds of Change a few times now for my tomato seeds and have been very happy with them. But I do love Botanical Interest and will always buy the majority of my seeds from them.

We are off to a great start in the winter garden, now that the raccoons are gone. Oh, I forgot to mention; my neighbor caught 8 raccoons and relocated them somewhere. So far I have not had any more damage to the beds.

I will continue to plant consecutively so we can harvest throughout the growing season, which will end for me around early May. I will need to use some of the beds for tomato plants as I generally get those in around March or April. Last March we had a hail storm late in the month so I may hold off on the tomatoes until April this year; that will give me a couple more months of winter vegetable planting.

I have already started to pull tomato seeds to plant in pots that I had saved from some of my plants last year. I will get those going this month. I also need to get started on replanting the herb garden. I generally do this about every two years and put in some new plants to replace those that may have become overgrown or woody. The marjoram is due this year. I may just move it as it has the most intoxicating aroma and I love to make wreaths out of the longer stems. Hang one on your garden gate; all those that enter will ask "what is that lovely smell?"

I will end with a couple photos of our Aloe plant that is in full bloom now.

These tower about 6 to 7 feet tall.

You may just get a fleeting glimpse
of golden wings or faint footprints
For gardens whether large or small
Are not quite what they seem at all.

Happy Gardening!

Loquat Tree, A New Addition To The Family

2011-11-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

Loquat Tree with gopher guard

We celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary Oct 22nd. This year we decided to buy a Loquat Tree for our gift to each other. We planted it on Saturday after much discussion as to where it should be planted. After carrying the tree from the back yard to the front yard and around the house a few times we ended up planting it on the east bank by the driveway. This is about 15 feet from the citrus trees. I was told that they grow quickly and we should be picking fruit next year. The plant to the right of the Loquat tree is my eggplant. It is still setting flowers/fruit, even though the temperatures are in the lower 50's at night.

Loquat or Eriobotrya japonica is an evergreen large shrub or small tree, with a rounded crown, short trunk and woolly new twigs. The tree can grow to 16–33 ft tall, but is often smaller, about 8–13 ft.
The leaves are alternate, simple, 10–25 cm long, dark green, tough and leathery in texture, with a serrated margin, and densely velvety-hairy below with thick yellow-brown pubescence; the young leaves are also densely pubescent above, but this soon rubs off.

Loquats are unusual among fruit trees in that the flowers appear in the autumn or early winter, and the fruits are ripe in late winter or early spring. The flowers are 2 cm diameter, white, with five petals, and produced in stiff panicles of three to ten flowers. The flowers have a sweet, heady aroma that can be smelled from a distance.

Loquat fruits, growing in clusters, are oval, rounded or pear-shaped, 3–5 cm long, with a smooth or downy, yellow or orange, sometimes red-blushed skin. The succulent, tangy flesh is white, yellow or orange and sweet to sub-acid or acid, depending on the cultivar. Each fruit contains five ovules, of which one to five mature into large brown seeds. The skin, though thin, can be peeled off manually if the fruit is ripe.
The fruits are the sweetest when soft and orange. The flavor is a mix of peach, citrus and mild mango.

Last years anniversary gift was a Brown Turkey Fig Tree. It gave us around 10 figs this year. It really is not much larger than when we planted it, but it did have a lot more leaves. I was thrilled to get that many figs after the first year. I hope our Loquat is as generous!

Think Like a Tree

by Karen I. Shragg

Soak up the sun
Affirm life's magic
Be graceful in the wind
Stand tall after a storm
Feel refreshed after it rains
Grow strong without notice
Be prepared for each season
Provide shelter to strangers
Hang tough through a cold spell
Emerge renewed at the first signs of spring
Stay deeply rooted while reaching for the sky
Be still long enough to
hear your own leaves rustling.

Raccoon Update and Veggie Seedlings

2011-10-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

Hoping this will keep the raccoons away!

Hallelujah! We finally have a solution to the raccoon raids. We put chicken wire on the tops of the short fences and I sewed them on with wire!! Of course, now I can't get in them either but this was all the resources I had at the time, and I was desperate. I have replanted most of the seeds (3 times) and we are seeing new sprouts!

Bed 1, swiss chard, kale and beet

Bed 2 asst lettuce and radishes (this is the one I planted 3 times, they really wiped this bed out completely)

I am sure that more seeds will pop up where they weren't planted from all the digging the raccoons did and probably will also have seeds sprouting around the outside. They threw so much soil out when digging that there will be seeds there too. On a positive note, we are having wonderful warm weather to help my seedlings along. I am hoping to have plenty of goodies for the Thanksgiving Day table.


Bed 3, Spinach, Rutabaga, Kohlrabi and Snow Peas (you can see where I reseeded, plants are smaller)

I have planted Brussel Sprouts along the bed next to the driveway. I purchased seedlings and these have been in about a month now and are doing very well.


Anaheim, Poblano, Pimiento and asst color Bell Peppers in this bed. I am still harvesting every few days.

poblano pepper

purple bell pepper

yellow bell pepper

Anaheim peppers

I have two Eggplant plants that have given me 4 eggplants so far. I have 7 almost ready to pick and the plants are still setting flowers. Seems late for these but they are thriving in the warmer weather we are having.


This plant has 5 just about ready for harvest

I will leave you with a few photos of my flowers blooming in the front beds.

Mexican Sunflower Torch Plant (tithonia rotundifolia)

The butterflies LOVE tithonia

Orange petite Zinnia

Cosmos (Sensation Blend)

Cosmos (Bright Lights)

These orange and yellow cosmos are called Bright Lights and are from Botanical Interests. One of my favorite fall plants. They reseed freely (very freely) and come up each year wherever the seed landed the year before; and are a delight to see when most plants have finished blooming. The finches love the seeds from these flowers and hang themselves almost up side down to get the seeds. The weight of the little birds pulls down the flower and they hang there pulling out the seeds. I just love to watch them and keep plenty of these plants just for them. They also love the lavender Cosmos for the seeds as well.

more Bright Lights next to the tithonia

Happy Autumn to all!

RACCOONS FREE TO A GOOD HOME

2011-09-30T13:43:00.000-07:00

FUN LOVING, CAREFREE, LOVES TO PLAY IN THE DIRT, WILL TRAVEL FOR FUN, LIKES VEGGIE GARDENS, COMPOST PILES AND FLOWER POTS. THEY LIKE TO PLAY HIDE AND SEEK IN THE TREES, REQUIRES NO TRAINING AND WILL FORAGE FOR THEIR OWN FOOD. MAKES NO NOISE AND WILL NOT BE SEEN OFTEN.

PLEASE CALL 1-800-getraccoons

The Attack of the Killer Raccoons on My Raised Beds

2011-09-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Bed # 2

I had planned on working on the herb garden but looks like Mother Nature had something else in store for me today.

Last night raccoons got over the fencing and dug up almost all of my seedlings in two of the raised beds. This is the first time in 7 years that I have had something get in the raised beds; I thought the fence was high enough to keep them out but obviously not this year. I think it must have been the raccoons or maybe oppossums; they are probably looking for grub worms.

I will take this as a positive intervention and hope that if they had not eaten the grub worms that the worms would have destroyed my plants at a later date, which would have been worse than now since it is still plenty early to replant the seeds. I will cover the beds with some chicken wire and hope that they don't bring the entire family and lift it off! I should have time to harvest goodies for the Thanksgiving table if I can keep them out from now on.

My cat Cookie was sitting in the window most of last night looking at something in the dark. I guess we now know what was going on. I think of times like this as little “Cat Movies”. You know how humans might watch a demolition derby; well I guess this is their version. I wonder what was going through her mind when she was watching them…probably laughing inside thinking “boy will Carla be bummed when she sees what they did to her garden!”

Bed # 3

Close-up Bed # 2

Winter Garden 2011 "We Have Sprouts"

2011-09-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

We planted the 3 raised beds last Saturday, September 17th with our winter crops. We already have lots of goodies sprouting.

Bed Number One

In this bed, I have planted 2 rows of Bright Lights Swiss Chard from (Botanical Interests) which I started a few months back so I would have a head start on this green, which I love! Also planted in this bed is 7 rows of Organic Early Wonder Beets and 3 rows of Organic Lacinato or Dino Kale. I will plant more Kale on my east bank next week as I will need a lot more than 3 short rows. We eat a lot of greens, just about everyday.

Bed Number Two

In this bed I have all my lettuces. I have planted 2 rows each of Mesclun, Asian Salad, Rocket Arugula, Farmer's Market Blend of Mesclun, Mache, Leaf Lettuce, Red Sails Lettuce, Oak Leaf Lettuce and 2 rows of Bright Lights Swiss Chard; same as in my first bed but I planted seeds here. All the seeds in this bed are from Botanical Interests.

Already lots of little sprouts are showing their faces, as if to say "Here we are ready to help you have a healthy heart"

Bed Number Three

In the third bed I have planted 4 rows of Snow Peas, 3 rows of Heirloom Kohlrabi 3 rows of Heirloom Rutabaga and 3 rows of Organic Tyee Spinach.

I still need to plant a package of Easter Egg Blend Radishes, Watercress, Sorrel and more Cilantro. We were lucky this summer to have cooler than normal temperatures and my Parsley is still growing; only a few have sent up seed heads so I may get by without having to plant more seeds. I have seen a few sprouts popping up amongst the stone pathway that leads to the herb garden so I think I will have plenty for winter.

I also purchased a pony pack of Brussels Sprouts and will plant these six on the east bank as soon as the San Marzano tomatoes are finished. I am still picking tomatoes from these plants even though our temperatures have dropped to the high 50's at night. If you only plant one tomato, make it a San Marzano . You will not be disappointed! Take a look at a few of my tomato sauce jars I canned this year. I also canned my own juice.

San Marzano Tomato Sauce

Juice ready for the jars!


Peppers picked today and ready for roasting

Pink Grapefruit

Yellow Grapefruit

Lemon Tree

We are picking lots of Pink Grapefruit, Yellow Grapefruit and Lemons now, too. Oh, I forgot I made Preserved Lemons. You can find out how to do this by visiting Emelie Tolley's Blog. She is the author of two of the herb books you see on my blog photo.

Try to remember the kind of September ...
when life was slow and oh, so mellow. ...

Enjoy your final September Days!

September 2011 Tomato Update and Review

2011-09-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

This morning I picked the last of the tomatoes in the raised beds. There were still a few on the vines but I need to get my winter beds planted so I will pull them out today. I still have San Marzano, Green Zebra and Dr. Lyles Pink Beefsteak growing along the driveway and these we are picking daily. The vines are taking over and are loaded with fruit, I planted this group in mid June.

Dr. Wyche's yellow on a six inch plate.

If you would like to see a list of what I planted this year click HERE.

This group was planted in raised beds:

Abraham Lincoln: grew very well, no signs of disease, medium size tomato with heavy harvest. I would recommend this one. Early tomato.

Cherokee Purple: Winner all around. Large fruit, slightly sweet, beautiful color. My husbands favorite! Must repeat this one next year.

German Queen: Very large fruit, great flavor, would grow again.

Isle Candy: Super Sweet yellow cherry tomato. I loved this one! Give it lots of room to grow. Must repeat next year.

Mr. Underwood's Pink Beefsteak: Huge tomato! Beautiful color and flavor. A must for next year.

Old German (yellow): slow to ripen, medium size tomato, pretty red veins, tart flavor. I liked this one and may grow again next year but will put it in a cage. I grew this one under an orange tree and the vines climbed high into the tree. It needs space.

Persimmon: Beautiful yellow/orange, medium to large tomato. Much like a beefsteak inside. Wonderful flavor, slightly sweet. Will grow next year.

San Marzano: Heavy producer. Easy to pick, almost too easy, they tend to fall into your hand when you move them. A MUST FOR NEXT YEAR! The only plum type tomato I will grow. (Also growing along driveway).

Wisconsin 55: This is a smaller salad size tomato. Heavy producer, no diseases, would grow again.

Yellow Pear Cherry: No name on this one, but a heavy producer as with most pear tomatoes. I will save seeds from this one to grow next year.

Zapotec Pink: No! Just did not give me enough tomatoes. The ones I did get were good, but with my limited space, I would not repeat this one.

Red Zebra: A real winner, I loved the flavor. This one is a smaller tomato, nice tart flavor pretty striped skin but the flesh is red and not striped like the skin. I will grow again. Early producer.

Balls Beefsteak: Another huge tomato. Winner all around. Late harvest is the only drawback. You need to wait for this one, but you will be rewarded for your patience!

This group was planted on the bank by the driveway in June.

Dr. Lyle's Beefsteak: Huge tomato, very meaty. This was one I was not sure if I planted or not, but found the tag when harvesting. A must for next year. Very vigorous growth. Give it lots of room and a tall large wood cage. The small cages will not support these vines.

Dr. Wyche's Yellow: Huge size yellow tomato, nice for slicing. Would grow again.

Green Zebra: One of my all time favorites. Tangy, green stripe skin, lemon green color when sliced. Looks pretty with red and yellow tomato slices in a Caprese salad. A must for next year.

San Marzano and Mr. Underwood Pink Beefsteak growing here too.

Review
My tomatoes this year exceeded my expectations!I have canned and froze more than we will need for the winter. I am already planning for next year.

San Diego Iris Sale This Sunday Sept 11th

2011-09-06T16:38:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post the link for the San Diego Iris Society Rhizome sale that will be held in Balboa Park this Sunday. I know I will be going!

Click here San Diego Iris Soiety Sale

Do You Kids Want To Go For A Ride?

2011-08-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

I love Sunday drives in the country. As a child growing up in rural Wisconsin we often went for rides in the country. We lived in the country so that was not difficult to do. We were not wealthy people, we lived on a small farm spending most of our time entertaining ourselves playing outside. Once in awhile my parents would take us out for a ride. I remember how excited I was when I heard the words "do you kids want to go for a ride?" All sorts of images would come to me when I heard those words. I would wonder where we were going. It was always a surprise to me. Sometimes we would end up at my cousins house or sometimes at a store where my dad would load the trunk up with wood cases filled with bottles of Orange Crush, Grape Soda and Cream Soda. Buying soda was not something my parents did very often so it was a real treat for us to have a few cases of these coming back to the farm with us. Many times we ended up at my Great Aunt Lily's house. She had the most interesting farm. Have you ever followed a cows path? But wait, I am getting off subject, I will save that story for another time...

My parents are both gone now and my husband and I live in a fairly small city in San Diego county but going on a ride is still one of my favorite ways to spend a day. Last Sunday we headed up to our local mountains and found some interesting sites and places to visit.

We passed by mailbox row; something you never see in the city.

Wine is big in this area now. We saw quite a few vineyards on our drive. Ramona used to be just Cowboys and Cowgirls with beer bars! Come to think of it, it still is!

This is a great place for Mexican food.

Tony loves old cars.

heading through Ramona

We passed by the famous racehorse, Best Pals home and final resting place.

Our first stop was to buy some local honey.

Just drop the money in the slot, open a small door and pick out a pint or a quart. We brought home one of each to share with a friend.

There is still a lot of open range in So. California!

On the way to Santa Ysabel

Beautiful old map of Santa Ysabel (click on photos to enlarge)

I thought this Historical Brands of Southern California collection was so interesting. This is on a wall at Dudley's Bakery. The house my husband and I own is part of Rancho Rincon del Diablo; of course our small 1/3 acre is the size of a grain of sand on the map of the original rancho. Notice the brand for Rincon del Diablo in this photo. I love finding out about San Diego history. (RE: Capt. Snook's father-in-law).

We stopped at Dudley's to buy some fresh bread for our honey.

Open range with cattle

Cattle roundup

old ranch

As we drove along we...

noticed a sign for Oasis Camel Dairy! Who knew!!!

We were not that close but you can see the camels from the road. Here is their website Oasis Camel Dairy, We didn't have time to stop, but next trip we will call them up to make plans for a visit.

We never made it to Julian. We decided to head home but stopped for a quick picnic at the Inaja Memorial Park first. I remember many years ago when my grandfather was still alive, we took a drive with my parents and stopped here. My grandfather loved to collect cacti (I know he shouldn't have) and as he was looking around for plants he turned over a rock and found a baby rattlesnake. That was the first time I had seen a rattlesnake and am happy to say I have only seen one or two since!

I found an Estate Sale on the way back!

Heading home from a very enjoyable day. We didn't spend much money, just a bit on the loaf of bread and the honey.

You can have a great time with very little money if you just say

"do you kids want to go for a ride?"

Misty Morning Breakfast with Spider Webs

2011-08-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

I ate breakfast on my patio this morning, the air was so cool and damp for a late August. As I walked around to the front of the house I noticed a huge spider web reaching from the citrus trees to the hollyhock stock.

Then I looked up at the Black Pine tree and noticed this...

Each branch had a patch of web, they glistened in the mist. It feels a lot like Autumn already and yet it is only the middle of August. Strange weather this year.

The Spider And The Fly

"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the spider

to the fly; but the cunning little insect only winked

the other eye and he knowingly retorted in a buzz so

low and sweet: "Well, not upon your half-tone, I

have learned to watch my feet. I have a load of

small-pox on my silken little wings, my legs are lined

with typhus germs and other deadly things. I am

taking some bacilli to a house across the way and you

must not try to stop me, for I have no time to play."

Once more the spider pleaded in accents soft

and low: "Won't you step into my parlor and rest be-

fore you go ? My web is lined with gossamer of tex-

ture fine and rare and you'll find some lovely

microbes if you will enter there. I have a nice collec-

tion I am saving just for you, and I want to seal our

friendship with a B. Coli or two."

"With all my heart," replied the fly and straight-

way walked inside and the spider got his dinner and

was fully satisfied.

by Albert Stroud 1917

Joining The Grimy Hands Girls' Club

2011-08-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

To learn more about Sharon Lovejoy and The Grimy Hands Girls' Club check out her blog at Sharon Lovejoy

Today's Harvest

2011-08-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

Just a few photos to keep my blog updated on this years harvest times. Today I picked a few more yellow beans, lots of yellow pear tomatoes, a few more Isle Candy yellow cherry tomatoes, lots of zucchini (again). My second purple bell pepper and two green bells. A few more yellow crookneck and a patty pan squash. Lots more tomatoes but I had already put most of those on the table so they are not in this picture. The beautiful yellow tomato is the Persimmon tomato, an heirloom I grew for the first time this year. I love the flavor and it is producing very large fruit.

A bowl of San Marzano tomatoes that I roasted today. These I will freeze for pasta sauce in the winter. I put garlic and olive oil on them before roasting and will add fresh basil to each bag before I freeze it.

So far only four Poblano's have come in. They are good size though so I am happy. I hope to get more!

I roasted these with the tomatoes at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. The peels slip right off after letting them set under plastic wrap. I will freeze these for stuffed poblano's in the fall and winter.

I also made some Dill Pickles today. The cucumbers are doing fantastic this year, must be from the cooler weather we had. This week is heating up so we will see how long they last.

Tomato Update, Tomato Addiction, Cucumbers, Summer Squash and Beans too

2011-08-11T15:46:00.000-07:00

I am convinced that I have a tomato addiction! With so many heirloom varieties to choose from it is easy to get an addiction to these beauties!

I am already planning next years tomato selections. I will repeat Red Zebra, Cherokee Purple and Isle Candy, though.

The last few days have been busy for me picking tomatoes! I have picked the San Marzano Tomatoes many times now. I like roasting them and making chunky or smooth sauce for the winter. I froze the sauce again this year in jars; so much easier than heating up the kitchen when canning. I also made 4 pint jars of salsa, I love to bring that out in January and taste the flavors of summer when I am missing my tomatoes and going through withdrawals!.

I am really happy with the Red Zebra tomatoes I am growing this year, last year I only had the Green Zebras, ;which I have I planted but are a little late in ripening as I planted those late in June and with the cooler summer we are having I am not sure that they will do that well. I have plenty on the vines, but it has been so cool this month they are taking a while to ripen. We are forecast for temperatures down to 59 degrees this week; that is just crazy for August it should be in the high 90's to over 100 now and with much warmer nights.

Heirloom Yellow Pear and Isle Candy, a really sweet yellow cherry tomato.

My cucumbers on the other hand are doing really well this year. I do not have mildew on any of the leaves and the plants are loaded with blossoms. The bees were busy working the flowers this morning when I was looking for some to pick. I found a few and will make a jar of pickles with these. I should be getting a bunch in the next week or two as I saw lots of small ones forming. I can't wait to have these pickles for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. So often my vines get mildew or just get too hot and shrivel up before they produce, I am grateful for the cooler weather we have for these. And I do have a lot of tomatoes so I can't complain, it has been a good growing season so far.

Organic Bush Bean Pencil Pod and Pickling Cucumbers

I planted Bean Bush Pencil Pod Organic Heirlooms from Botanical Interests this year and have only picked a few handfuls in the last week. The flavor is great and the plants are very healthy. They will do better once we get a few weeks of warmer weather though.

Add caption

A few of the summer squash I planted this year, Cocozelle, an heirloom organic zucchini (the ones with the stripes), a Black Beauty zucchini (in the middle), Scallop Patty Pan Blend, so far I have only had white and I should have light green and yellow in the Patty Pan. And yellow Crookneck squash. All doing fantastic.
Picking lots of basil, tarragon, sage and thyme. I am still picking parsley with the cooler weather too so that is nice. I will be making Basil Pesto tonight and will also be making a sage and a tarragon pesto. I use walnuts of the sage pesto and pecans for the tarragon. It is fun to play around with different herbs and nuts to create pesto's. I have also used hazelnuts for the tarragon, but pine nuts will work for all of them. Try using sage, blue cheese and walnuts, you will love this flavor together and it is fantastic on pork and beef. Think Prime Rib!

Adirondack Blue I Do Love You!

2011-07-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

This is the second year that I have grown the Adirondack Blue Potato. Believe it or not I grow these under one of our orange trees. I keep them planted on the outer edges so the trees do not get too much water. They do very well and the trees have not suffered at all.

I am not sure what variety the red is. I just remember planting a potato from a batch that had started to sprout and these are what we have.

I am thinking tonight I will make this Red Potato Salad only I will combine the two colors. And omit the bacon since I am trying to keep the fat low in my meals.

Happy Gardening!

Here They Come Again! Tomato Time and Update

2011-07-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

I like to keep my blog updated with my tomato harvesting and information on each of the ones that I chose from year to year. This year they seem to be coming in a little later than last year. We have had a much cooler spring and July has been cooler than normal too. This week we are heating up and I am happy to say I am picking tomatoes!

Here is my harvest today

Cocozelle Zucchini (organic seed), San Marzano Tomato Pole (organic seed), Broad leaf Sage (organic seed), Basil Napoletano, German Chamomile (organic seed), Dill, Summer Early Yellow Crookneck Squash, all from Botanical Interests. Green bunching onions from seeds I planted last fall. Yellow Pear Tomato which does not have a name on it so can't say which one it is. Red Zebra and Cherokee Purple Tomato from Seeds of Change (both grown from seed).

Bed One

Bed Two

Bed Three

Coriander/Cilantro Seeds

Our summers are too hot to grow Cilantro but I always let one plant from the Spring form seed heads for Coriander and to have more seed for Cilantro to grow in the fall through spring months.

The small plant at the end of this bed is a Poha Plant. Easily grown from seed or cuttings. It has delicious fruit that I just eat from the hand but you can use it to make jam. Also known as Cape Gooseberry.

Poha Plant

This year we pulled out the ground cover along the driveway and dug a long two foot wide trough and lined it with chicken wire (to keep the gophers out) then filled with rich compost and amendments. This is the result. Lush tomatoes and huge summer squash plants. Tomatoes in this bed are Cherry Rainbow Mix from Botanical Interests. Dr. Wyche's Tomato, German Queen Tomato (rare), and Green Zebra.

Same bed only a close up view.

Here we have one of two Eggplants and one of several Orange Watermelon plants. I got the seed for these from a neighbor that brought us one of these melons they grew last year. It had to be one of the best watermelons I have ever had and very pretty. I will find out the name and add it later.

Our first Artichoke Plant was planted in June!

Straight Eight Cucumber from Ferry -Morse, looking very good this year. Keeping my fingers crossed that they do not get mildew. I purposely planted them late to avoid the May and June foggy months. I also have Japanese Soyu Burpless Cucumbers planted in this bed along the driveway.

Just a few of our Pepper Plants. These are planted by some Penstemon plants and are still small. We are growing Ancho/Poblano, Pimiento sweet pepper, Carnival Mix Bells and New Mexico pepper. A few green Bells and a Jalapeno.

Borage Seed coming up again.

Zapotec Pink Ribbon Tomato

Cherokee Purple

Persimmon, a Yellow Orange determinate heirloom tomato. Plant is loaded with fruit.

San Marzano Pole Tomato

Cocozelle Organic Zucchini (from seed)

This plant is doing fantastic in the new bed along the driveway. I pick 3 to 4 squash a day now. In back, to the left a bit is the Summer Early Yellow Crookneck. This one is just beginning to produce now. Many of them are showing up straighter than I would expect; must be because I planted them so close to the zucchini.

I didn't get a chance to photograph the summer squash plants in the back and the beans. The beans are doing well. After putting down the mulch they seemed to have grown a food. I planted Bush French Filet and Bush Pencil Pod Yellow both from Botanical Interests.

This is what my husband and I did last weekend. 10 cubic yards of compost for the flower beds and around the citrus trees. Hopefully this will keep the weeds down for a few weeks.

Well that is it for now. Hoping you are all having wonderful success with your tomatoes, etc this year!

Day's End

The twilight comes to cool the. air,

The shadows lengthen on the sod,

Soft breezes blow the garden through,

The leaves and blossoms sway and nod.

On garden path, in sheltering hedge,

In treetops dark and cloudless sky,

The evening birds awake to life,

To stir; to sing and upward fly.

And flowers, warm with summer heat,

Expand to greet the softened light

And shed, to show their gratitude,

A fragrance in the summer night.

Now all is peace. From meadows near

A cooling mist blows o'er the wall

And strangely lonesome in the night

There comes the thrush's silvery call.

-EDWIN W. PROCTOR

Come to a Virtual BBQ!

2011-07-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

Ride on over to this blog and have some BBQ with my friends.

Just Thoughts on a Blog

Mystery Iris, Anyone Know What This One Is Called?

2011-06-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

I have no memory of buying this iris or where it came from. I have lots of iris so it may have come in one that I purchased, but I don't even remember planting one in this area. It grew by one of my birdbaths.

Any idea of the name? I sure would like to know.

2011 Tomato Update, Lots of Photos

2011-06-23T16:49:00.000-07:00

I finally took a few pictures of my tomatoes to post to my blog, then forgot to load them! Most of these were taken a few weeks ago, but the last one I took yesterday. The San Marzano is loaded with tomatoes; I think I will be harvesting those very soon as they are showing a little color when I checked them this morning.

Bed 1 has Mr. Underwood's Pink Beefsteak Tomato (3 plants) and Wisconsin 55 Tomato (3 plants) all have small fruits.

Bed 2 has Ball's Beefsteak, San Marzano Plum, Cherokee Purple, and Persimmon; one of each plant.

Balls Beefsteak Tomato

Cherokee Purple Tomato

San Marzano Plum Tomato. This tomato is almost 5 inches long! The plant is loaded with fruit.

Bed 3 has Red Zebra Tomato, Zapotec Pink Tomato, Abraham Lincoln Tomato, and Isis Candy Tomato (a bi-color cherry). The Abraham Lincoln Tomato is a very lush, healthy looking plant.

Here is our first Red Zebra that I picked this morning. Visit my Herbal Cooking Blog to find out what I made with this beauty.

The next group of photos are planted along the driveway. These photos were take several weeks ago and the plants are much larger now. I am not sure which is which but I planted Dr.Wyche's Yellow, German Queen, and Green Zebra. The tags faded so I will need to wait until harvest!

Here we have a small red potato and in the background is an Old German Tomato, all growing under the Valencia Orange tree.

I picked a few Adirondack Purple and small Red Potatoes on Monday.

Adirondack Purple Potato under the Valencia tree.

White and Brown onions next to tomato plant

This is a Yellow Pear (cherry) tomato planted amongst the onions.

From the top of the hill looking down on the cages June 23, 2011

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!

Plant Sale in San Diego Balboa Park

2011-06-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to the Master Gardener's Plant sale in Balboa Park. They always have a large variety of unusual and hard to find plants. Hope to see you there!
Casa Del Prado

I'm Still Here!

2011-06-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

I am still here, but have been very busy with a few projects. The garden is flourishing! I have 14 tomato plants that I planted in March/April and we planted 8 or 9 more last weekend. I will update my blog with pictures after the 12th. Things will be back to normal then and I can start playing in the dirt with the rest of you.

Thanks to all of you who have been still watching my blog.

See you all very soon,
Carla

Pictures from the Encinitas Garden Festival 2011

2011-05-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

I have finally edited all the photos I took last weekend from the Encinitas Garden Festival we went to. The gardens were wonderful. I did not take many pictures of the plants as I have so many of the same plants in my garden. What I was really interested in was the garden art, the pathways, and ideas to add to my own gardens.

Pour yourself a big glass of ice tea, there are a lot of pictures! There were 16 gardens we visited, I have tried to keep it in somewhat of an order, but with so many gardens I know I have mixed up the photos.

Here we go...

Simple use for recycled concrete.

U-shaped Pergola with iron drum fire pit.

I took several pictures of this pergola in hopes that Tony will build one for me!

This was at a house that had a water slide (below) in the backyard. This was in the shape of a fish.

This tile "rug" was at this Island Paradise Home from Farrell Design Assoc. Inc.

More of the Island House Details.

Pebble and Slate Wall

I really liked this fence made from bamboo.

Door Knocker

Beautiful details like this with a Jade plant.

Giant Bird of Paradise

This mixed tile entrance was in front of the artist studio below.

Stepping stone made from small stones and concrete sections.

Brick spiral pattern

Clever use of cinder blocks for steps

A shady spot under a Pepper Tree

Nice spot to rest under a Lemon Tree

Stunning Brugmansia Tree, this one in cream.

This one in a pale salmon color

Nice iron work detail and a Canyon View

Simple Rustic Charm

Yes, we can grow Artichokes in California!

This was a beautiful home that I named the Bali House.

More great ideas for re-purposing.

This was an incredible pool, house and garden.

Fountain of Succulents

Succulents Wall, they used a drip system, notice at the bottom of the photo.

Beautiful Planters

Love this lime green color

This vibrant blue planter with a bromiliad was stunning

Beautiful entrances to the gardens

Nice use of extra clay roof tiles

More garden whimsies

This sunflower was on a gated driveway

Person Chair

Matilija Poppy

Chain of Stones

Poppy Flower in an Agave plant

Copper Rain Chain

That's it!

and the Cardiff Kook dressed like the Royal Princess Bride

I can't wait for next year!

Encinitas Garden Festival and Tour

2011-04-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

I am going to the Encinitas Garden Festival this Saturday! There will be 16 private gardens to tour, plants for sale and gardening lectures. I just hope I have enough time to view the gardens and listen to some of the lectures. As always so much gardening and so little time.

Heirloom Tomato Planting for 2011

2011-04-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

Now that my flower doll making and virtual garden parties are over I thought that I should get down to some serious garden logging. I have created a spreadsheet for my 2011 tomato planting. I have planted all of these and still have some more to find space for. I have many duplicates as I have grown most of these from seeds; a few came from a local nursery that sells heirlooms. So far everyone looks pretty good. I have listed my planting dates on the spreadsheet. I should have waited until the 10th of this month for all of them as the two hail storms we had damaged the leaves of the ones I planted in March. I am sure they will be fine but next year I will try to keep myself from being too anxious and not plant in March.

(click on the spreadsheet to increase the size)

Hollyhock Dolls, Abutilon Dolls, Flower Dolls

2011-04-16T18:36:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl living in New York, a neighbor girl that often babysat my sister and I would make Hollyhock dolls for us. I remember these dolls as if it were yesterday.
(click on any of the pictures to make them larger)

First gather your flowers; today I used pale yellow Hollyhocks and dark salmon Abutilon flowers. You will need one flower and one unopened flower bud, a long wood skewer and a small flower or the stamen from the Abutilon for a hat for each doll. Also a glass head straight pin to adhere the flower hat.

Begin with the face, this is the unopened flower bud. Fold under two or three green petals, this will give her a face (forgive me my blurred photo below). On the Abutilon flower you will need to cut the green petals as they are too long to fold under. (see larger picture below). Also, you will need to cut the stem end off of the flower and the bud. Notice in photo below it is off and in the above photo they are still on the flowers.

I use a long wood skewer for tucking under the petals on the bud, this will look like she has bangs. You can also loosen the other petals in the back to make it look like she has hair.

Now remove the stamen from the inside of the flower using sharp scissors, cut close to the inside top of the flower. Then poke the pointed end of a long wood skewer up through the flower so that about an inch or two is showing. This is where you will add your flower bud face.

Gently push the bud onto the pointed end of the skewer pushing until it just reaches the top of her head but does not go through the end.

She should look like this, notice the face; this picture shows a clearer image of the bangs. A little of the wood skewer becomes her neck.

You can also add another flower to her head if you like. I used a Heartsease (viola) flower and a yellow glass head pin to attach it to the head.

Here is a doll I made from an Abutilon flower.

The only difference in the directions is to angle the wood skewer when poking through the Abutilon flower. These flowers are much more delicate and they tend to break if you are not very careful. I also used the stamen from this flower for the dolls hat.

Dancing in the Fairy Garden!

UNTITLED GARDEN PARTY

2011-04-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome!

The Hollyhocks are just beginning to bloom....my friends and I have been waiting for spring for so long and now that it is finally here we have decided to have a party.

Come join us won't you?
(Click on any picture to see a larger size)

Some drove for miles and miles, across many state lines and through numerous mountain ranges.

One was stuck in a late Snow Storm!

For Ferris the rains brought floods, and mudslides but she made it through....

Some walked through Vineyards....

Some danced all the way here...

Some came bare foot with perfectly manicured toes!

Greenrice came with flowers at her feet..

Many came in garden clogs....

A Red Headed Girl came in Red Garden Clogs...

Some brought garden hats...

Jerseygirlie brought along Katie a true and trusted friend.....

A female Oriole even stopped by to take a bath before coming to the Party...

Some stopped to play in the dirt....

Betty came by rail....

Tammy came by motorcycle...

Some walked along the coast highway....

Some came just to visit Pippy!

Cookie Crumble lives here and didn't travel at all....

One by one they finally all made it.

This way to the Garden!

Just a little further...

You're here, finally, I was getting worried.

May I offer you a refreshing glass of Hibiscus Tea with Borage Flower Ice Cubes....

Welcome to my Garden!

Tables were placed throughout the garden so guest could choose the perfect spot to dine.

Butterfly plates were placed with fine silver.

the rose garden table...

Our Menu and a few photos of what we served at our party.

Granny's Oven Roasted Vegetables

Ferris Warm Pasta Salad with Shrimp
Recipe Here

Carla's Roasted Baby Dutch Potato Salad with Dill
Recipe here

Kel's Egg less Lemon Snaps
Recipe Here

Susan's Arugula with Sweet Potatoes Salad Recipe Here

The Country Tart's Roast Duck with Apple-Chestnut Quinoa Stuffing
Recipe Here

Pamela's fresh picked Avocados and Oranges from her groves

Chocolate Fruit Cake (OK, who brought last Christmases fruit cake!)

The Hydrangea bush was visited by sweet little yellow Finches

Lavender was in bloom...and covered with busy Honey Bees...

A Special Spot was reserved just for Granny...after taking care of all those grandbabies she needed a rest.

Flowers for Granny

Tea and Dessert by the Roses

Big Hugs to my guests from NutriMirror, to Bah for coming up with the idea, to all of you who showed up with the food!

Thank you for your kind and caring friendship. One day I hope to have you all here in person so I can share my garden with you.

Thank You PamelaAnn, Jim, USAndyD, Silviaann, csiegfried, Bah1955, Jcsteele, JerseyGirlie, Ferris, Elaine1952, Tspindor, Granny, Billikit, Greenrice, Denaburg, KarynD, Susano, Carrieredhead, Blazinmomma, dianemitchell, A Letter To A Friend, lilifx, and lmatava for coming to the party; I have loved having you in my home and garden. I hope I didn't miss anyone.

Flowers for Granny

“Beauty is an all-pervading presence. It unfolds to the numberless

flowers of the Spring; it waves in the branches of the trees and in

the green blades of grass; it haunts the depths of the earth and

the sea, and gleams out in the hues of the shell and the precious

stone. And not only these minute objects, but the ocean, the

mountains, the clouds, the heavens, the stars, the rising and the

setting sun all overflow with beauty. The universe is its temple;

and those people who are alive to it cannot lift their eyes without

feeling themselves encompassed with it on every side.”

William Ellery Channing

Peggy, Millie and Tally

Henny Penny is that you?

Henny Penny, they tell me they want my fleece for wool is there anything you can do to stop this?

This man looks scary and I hate a straight razor.

The day ended with a Huge display of Fireworks.

It's a long way home, I better get started back..

A Midsummer's Night Eve Party can not be far away...

A Full Pink Moon Is Rising Monday April 18th

2011-04-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

Do you plant by the light of the moon? I often do, I look to my Farmer's Almanac for weather forecasts and moon phases. This Monday the 18Th a full Pink Moon will rise. I will share a video with you just in case you too would like to plant by the light of the moon.

Sunny With a Chance of Showers

2011-04-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

Our weatherman said on last nights news we should expect rain most of the day. We had a few good showers earlier today; the sun is peeking through the clouds now so I have titled my post a positive outlook for the day. Sunny, with a Chance of Showers.

I took some photographs on Wednesday and am just getting to posting them to my blog. My iris are coming in now; the blues and purples are budding but so far no blooms have opened. I will share the beauty of the peach, salmon and yellow with you for now.

Peachy Orange Iris in the background

Cistus (rockrose) has been blooming for several weeks, looks beautiful in the butterfly garden.

Of course it wouldn't be my blog if I didn't show off my Madarense Geraniums!

Lavenders on the South Wall

Nutmeg Scented Geranium came up on its own, see it hanging over the wall?

Midnight Blue Salvia in the Hummingbird Butterfly garden.

Pretty Pellies

Heartsease

There is a flower I wish to wear,

But not until first worn by you—

Heartsease—of all earth’s flowers most rare;

Bring it; and bring enough for two. 

-Walter Savage Landor

List of Websites that Sell Organic Seeds and Sustainable Gardening at Thanks for Today

2011-04-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

Click the link to find websites that sell organic seeds. Inspiration Green. Please note there are a few companies that will sell conventional seeds but it is noted if they sell Monsanto seeds. Read the article first.

Hop on over to Thanks for Today for more ideas on sustainable gardening!

Misty Morning Walk Through the Garden, and Tomato Time!

2011-03-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

"Dew on the Dill"

Very misty this morning, but the day promises to be sunny and hot, in the low 80's. I took some pictures to keep my blog up to date. I planted four of my tomato plants on the 17th of March and need to get the photos on here so I will remember.

Old German Tomato Heirloom Yellow with Orange marbling, planted March 17

(from Green Thumb Nursery)

Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomato, planted March 17

(from Green Thumb Nursery)

Persimmon Heirloom Orange Yellow Tomato, planted March 17

(from Green Thumb Nursery)

(Also planted an Heirloom Yellow Pear Cherry Tomato, no photo)

Tomato Seedlings, Dr, Wyche's, German Queen,Green Zebra, San Marzano, Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Underwood's Pink Beefsteak, Zapotec Pink, Wisconsin 55 and an Isis Candy Bi color cherry tomato. I have more than one of each of these, but have not potted up all of the seedlings yet. I will plant these in the garden around the 15th of April.

Lots of seedlings, see below for summer squash varieties. Also started lots of Zinnia and Mexican Sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia.

Lots of herb seedlings. I am planting several new Marjoram plants this year, the older ones are getting a little woody and the gophers seem to like to burrow under these older plants. Also started Cilantro, Chervil, Summer Savory, Parsley and Sage (in the middle front pot). Still a little early for Basil so will directly plant that in the Herb Garden in April.

Summer Squash, we planted several varieties, Yellow Crookneck, Early White Bush (scallop) Black Beauty Zucchini, Cocozelle an heirloom stripe Italian zucchini, Scallop Patty Pan an heirloom spicy, nuttier squash that grows in three colors of yellow, green and white. Both from Botanical Interests.

Just two of the many pots we have of Pepper Seedling, we planted New Mexico Pepper (like a Anaheim Chili), California Wonder (bell pepper), Sweep Pepper Pimiento and a Carnival Mix Bell Pepper, Poblano (Ancho) and a small Thai Chili. Most of these are from Seeds of Change, I really like their seed packages, they are a heavy plastic which makes it easy to keep them from year to year. Just make sure if you are saving your seeds that they dry out before you put them in these packages.

3 Pots of French Tarragon, these are now three years old. I grow Tarragon in pots to keep the leaves clean, these will completely cover the pot cascading down 12-24 inches, I pick it often so it stays nice and bushy. Try making Tarragon Pesto, it is delicious on fish. I also keep these in filtered sunlight under one of my Ficus benjamina trees in the summer.
French Tarragon can't be grown from seed, I have heard that it will revert back to the Russian Tarragon. I take cuttings of these plants and propagate by putting Rootone on the end of the cutting and putting in a light potting mix. After they have taken root I transfer them to a mix of one part potting mix, peat, coarse sand and just a little bone meal. This is the same mix I use for any herb I grow in pots. I also use terracotta pots, this helps to keep the soil from staying too wet, which Tarragon does not like!

Winter Savory in terracotta pot. This I also keep in a pot so I can bring it in the house in the winter months. It gets so hot here in the summer that I will move this to a filtered sun location in July.

Planted 4 of the tomatoes in this cage March 17; will build another one of these cages for the rest of the tomatoes this year, it works fantastic. If you would like to see it full of tomatoes from last year just look at my tags for "tomatoes".

Well, my coffee cup is empty and the sun is now shining so I better get outside and start weeding this area.

"To dig and delve in nice clean dirt can do a mortal little hurt." -John Kendrick Bangs (1962-1922)

FREE SEED SAVER ENVELOPE TEMPLATES

2011-03-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

I save a lot of my seeds from year to year. I thought I would share some links to sites that have wonderful templates that you can print out for making your own envelopes for seed saving.

Seed Envelopes from Blossomswap just click on this link and choose one of many listed. This site offers two sizes for envelopes. I generally use the small (group of 3) for saving seeds unless they are squash seeds, then I use the larger envelope.

Here are a few more of my favorite sites:
Alenkas
Angelfire
Seed Site

"He who sees things grow from the beginning with have the best view of them."
- Aristotle

Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head... click to hear Burt Bacharach

Brave Souls

2011-02-22T17:20:00.000-08:00

I took a walk though the garden and snapped some pictures. It will be near freezing again tonight but these brave souls are still sharing their beauty.

Calendula peeking through the iron Welcome sign.

Tree Mallow, Lavatera maritima

Perfume Delight Rose, 4 weeks after I pruned it.

I have a few Iris that have bloomed, but it is still early.

Hollyhock doing well even after the bugs attacked it. The new growth looks good so far.

I have no idea why these Cosmos came up this early!

Dill is thriving in the cold temperatures.

Rose campion lychnis coronaria, I am so happy that this has reseeded in many areas around the back patio.

Abutilon

Violets in the Fairy Garden

A few Bromiliads are in bloom

Clivia

A fairy fushia protected under the large leaves of a Maderense Geranium.

Fan Aloe just beginning to bloom.

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.

~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke

I Wield the Flail of the Lashing Hail...

2011-02-19T17:46:00.000-08:00

I wield the flail of the lashing hail, And whiten the green plains under, And then again I dissolve it in rain, And laugh as I pass in thunder. (continued at end of post)
-Percy Bysshe Shelley from 'The Cloud'.

The day started out with heavy rains and now hail is coming down. We usually have a day or two with hail in February and March, I am hoping it will just be this one shower because my plants will all be dotted with bruises that will end with damage to the leaves. Last year even the small leaves of the jades were damaged.

This is the East wall that had the mud slide late last year.

The front succulent beds are flooded. I may need to move these plants if we continue to get rains like we have been this winter. They will not be able take this much water. Too bad, because they were thriving here last summer. Can you see the hail?

Hail on the back patio, even the Monk's offering cup had hail in it.

I love this poem by Shelley and even though the hails have come, I am grateful for the clouds.

The Cloud

I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers,

From the seas and the streams;

I bear light shade for the leaves when laid

In their noonday dreams.

From my wings are shaken the dews that waken

The sweet buds every one,

When rocked to rest on their mother's breast,

As she dances about the sun.

I wield the flail of the lashing hail,

And whiten the green plains under,

And then again I dissolve it in rain,

And laugh as I pass in thunder.

I sift the snow on the mountains below,

And their great pines groan aghast;

And all the night 'tis my pillow white,

While I sleep in the arms of the blast.

Sublime on the towers of my skyey bowers,

Lightning, my pilot, sits;

In a cavern under is fettered the thunder,

It struggles and howls at fits;

Over earth and ocean, with gentle motion,

This pilot is guiding me,

Lured by the love of the genii that move

In the depths of the purple sea;

Over the rills, and the crags, and the hills,

Over the lakes and the plains,

Wherever he dream, under mountain or stream,

The Spirit he loves remains;

And I all the while bask in Heaven's blue smile,

Whilst he is dissolving in rains.

The sanguine Sunrise, with his meteor eyes,

And his burning plumes outspread,

Leaps on the back of my sailing rack,

When the morning star shines dead;

As on the jag of a mountain crag,

Which an earthquake rocks and swings,

An eagle alit one moment may sit

In the light of its golden wings.

And when Sunset may breathe, from the lit sea beneath,

Its ardors of rest and of love,

And the crimson pall of eve may fall

From the depth of Heaven above,

With wings folded I rest, on mine aery nest,

As still as a brooding dove.

That orbed maiden with white fire laden,

Whom mortals call the Moon,

Glides glimmering o'er my fleece-like floor,

By the midnight breezes strewn;

And wherever the beat of her unseen feet,

Which only the angels hear,

May have broken the woof of my tent's thin roof,

The stars peep behind her and peer;

And I laugh to see them whirl and flee,

Like a swarm of golden bees,

When I widen the rent in my wind-built tent,

Till the calm rivers, lakes, and seas,

Like strips of the sky fallen through me on high,

Are each paved with the moon and these.

I bind the Sun's throne with a burning zone,

And the Moon's with a girdle of pearl;

The volcanoes are dim, and the stars reel and swim

When the whirlwinds my banner unfurl.

From cape to cape, with a bridge-like shape,

Over a torrent sea,

Sunbeam-proof, I hang like a roof,--

The mountains its columns be.

The triumphal arch through which I march

With hurricane, fire, and snow,

When the Powers of the air are chained to my chair,

Is the million-colored bow;

The sphere-fire above its soft colors wove,

While the moist Earth was laughing below.

I am the daughter of Earth and Water,

And the nursling of the Sky;

I pass through the pores of the ocean and shores;

I change, but I cannot die.

For after the rain when with never a stain

The pavilion of Heaven is bare,

And the winds and sunbeams with their convex gleams

Build up the blue dome of air,

I silently laugh at my own cenotaph,

And out of the caverns of rain,

Like a child from the womb, like a ghost from the tomb,

I arise and unbuild it again.

- Percy Bysshe Shelley (1822)

Rainy Day and the Snow Moon is Rising

2011-02-16T09:10:00.000-08:00

Okay, maybe it isn't the Snow Moon! It is raining today and I only ventured out to see how much water was accumulating in the front flower bed where this birdbath sits. The moon will be full tomorrow so this will have to do for now. I will spend the day inside drooling over seed catalogs and sipping tea.

Juicy Navel Oranges, Radicchio, Swiss Chard, Watercress, Spicy Arugula

2011-02-07T12:08:00.000-08:00

"Leaves are turning brilliant colors

The entire landscape is new

Like Mother Nature is practicing

With her water colors just for you"

-Marilyn Lott

The veggie gardens really doing well, even with the colder nights we have had recently. I was concerned last week that we would get hit with a frost but fortunately the temperatures never went below 34. Yesterday I took a few more pictures of the beds to keep my journal up to date. Also picked bunches of goodies to eat this week.

This is the first year that I planted Radicchio Palla Rossa Ashalim and I am very happy with the results. Thank you Botanical Interests for so many wonderful organic seeds!

Also the first year I planted Watercress. I am sure that this will only grow in our winter months, but we will see how long it lasts when the heat of the summer months arrives. I love to add this to my salads, it has a nice peppery bite; very good in omelets, too.

The Kale I planted this year was a dwarf blue from Ferry Morse seeds. Not much of it came up which is a disappointment since I don't have a lot of space to allow for a failed crop. I will head to the nursery today and buy some more seeds, probably will plant Botanical Interests Italian Nero Toscana Kale which did very well for me last winter.

All the lettuce are doing very well. I pick once a week now and have re-seeded some of the bare spots in the beds. I used a Mesclun blend from Botanical Interests that includes Black Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, Green Salad Bowl, Lolla Rossa, Red Oak leaf and Rouge d'Hilver. Also from Botanical Interest a Spicy Blend that includes Grand Rapids, Red Salad Bowl, Red Sails, Mizuna, Green Endive, Royal Oak leaf, and Arugula. I plant a lot of Arugula, it is one of my favorites; I use it in omelets and it is delicious with pasta and beans.

The beets slowed down a bit when the weather turned warm a few weeks ago. I have pulled a few but they are really taking a lot longer than last years crop. Lots and lots of Swiss Chard, I could pick this daily but generally only get to it once a week. The varieties I have are Fordhook Giant, Ruby Red Rhubarb and Bright Lights. We eat a lot of Swiss Chard!

I still have until the end of March to grow my winter veggies before I will need to use the space for my summer vegetables.

Still picking lots of Spring Onions. I continue to plant the onion sets each week, adding 6-12 bulb to the bare spots in the beds. They can be tucked in between plants just about anywhere you see an empty spot.

We're picking Navel Oranges daily now, really sweet and juicy.

Grapefruit are coming along, but will need a few more months. Last year they were very small so I am hoping the heavy rains we had this year will help to give us large, juicy fruit; they look good so far.

Borage for Fortitude, Calm, and Floral Ice Cubes, too!

2011-01-26T15:54:00.000-08:00

Borage grows best for me in the winter months here in Southern California. I have had success with growing it in the summer, but it seems to look the best in winter, pest free with beautiful leaves.

This morning while walking around the herb garden I thought about a time that a friend of mine made Borage flower ice cubes for my birthday party. They were so pretty and such a special surprise in lemonade she served. Today I picked some of the blossoms and made these ice cubes.

I picked the flowers and removed the stems from the flowers. You need to pull this out very gently so as not to damage the flowers. Let them sit in cool water just to make sure there are no little bugs.

Stems removed

Clean flowers placed in the ice cube tray. Add bottled water only half -way up and freeze just until set, then fill the remainder of the way up to the top of the cubes but not over the edge of the container. Make sure to use bottled water so you cubes will turn out clear.

Frozen cubes; some of the flowers are not visible here, but as they melt in your drink the cubes will be clear.

I used them in a Hibiscus Flower ice tea, today.

The ice cubes look so pretty in my cut glass bowl with the sun shining through them.

Borage is native to the Mediterranean, where it is planted in gardens to attract honeybees. I use organic seeds from Botanical Interests and direct seed in the herb garden. It generally self-seeds each year, coming up in different areas of the garden. The plants can grow up to two feet high and spread to three feet across, so give it plenty of room to spread. The flowers can be pink and blue to purple on the same plant. In colder areas, plant in the spring after all danger of frost. Give it at least six hours of sun a day, and plant in general garden soil.

Summer in Southern California, Could it be?

2011-01-15T14:07:00.000-08:00

I will be needing this hat today. It is 85 degrees here today! I had my coffee on the patio in my flipflops in a light robe this morning. The kitties at my feet basking in the morning sunlight. It's a good day to be alive!

Grapefruits are heavy with blossoms and fruit. We had navel oranges for breakfast picked fresh from the tree.

Hardworking Christmas cactus still blooming.

Quail nesting with her first blue egg!

"Earth fills her lap with pleasures of her own." William Wordsworth

2011-01-04T13:30:00.000-08:00

This line came to mind when I walked around the garden yesterday. It was cold and wet to me, but so many of my plants looked happy. The raised bed winter veggie gardens are thriving. I did need to cover them with plastic one night last week as the forecast was for 32 degrees; so very cold for us. I am happy to report that it only went down to 34! Our area rarely has a temperature below 40 in the winter months and most nights range 42 and higher.

Mother nature on a rainy day....

Portulacaria afra (small leaf jade) bent by the wind and heavy rainfall.

Euryops chrysanthemoides

Our rose arbor blew down one day last week. This is the second rose arbor I have lost to wind in this location. I think it is time for a new location.

Huddling together to keep warm on the Mexican patio.

Hiding out under the eaves. An Aloe plicatilis (Fan Aloe) and Aloe Vera, the medicinal plant we all use when injured in the garden. Also a Cleistocactus winteri forma cristata (the funny looking cacti in the back, left) and a Senecio rowleyanus (String of Pearls).

More huddling for warmth. Some of my geraniums and a few more succulents; a Plumeria, too. I have two Christmas cacti that have been blooming since early November, that's one on the table with the pink buds.

Borage plant looking very happy. But..

the succulents are having a tough time.

Leaves have all fallen from the Liquid Amber Trees.

Mushrooms growing on an old Silver Dollar Eucalyptus stump.

One of four raised veggie beds. This one includes green onions, red onions, yellow onions, sorrel, mesclun mix.

This bed has onions again, watercress, spinach, leaf lettuce, radicchio, oak leaf lettuce and endive.

Beets, Swiss Chard red and green and also Bright Lights chard

This bed of onions really got pounded with the rain.

That's it for me, my feet are getting wet, I am going inside!

The Beets are Here! The Beets are Here!

2010-12-29T17:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I picked a bunch of beets from our raised bed vegetable gardens. I am still waiting for the heirloom multi-colored beets to grow a bit larger. But for now these will do just fine. I made a wonderful beet salad; you can find the recipe on my cooking blog.

Winter Harvest

2010-12-17T09:58:00.000-08:00

Last night I picked these goodies from my raised beds.

Arugula, Cilantro, Green Leaf Lettuce, Green Onions, Oak Leaf Lettuce, Red Leaf Lettuce, Sorrel, Spinach, and Watercress. Beets are still too small to pull. I have however been cutting a few of their leaves from the outer edges to steam for beet greens.

I had harvested many of these same crops for Thanksgiving dinner. I am surprised that more was ready so soon after picking them. We did have some nice rain around Thanksgiving and then last week we had temperatures in the high 80's and even one day reached up to 91! Gotta love Southern California. A gardener's paradise.

The Colors of Winter in Southern California

2010-12-07T17:11:00.000-08:00

Sharing a few photos I took today in the backyard. Weather is warming up again, 73 today but the nights are cool at 46 degrees. The ground is still wet from the recent rains. This weekend will be in the low 80's.

Liquidambar styraciflua or more commonly known as Sweetgum

Cookie Crumble amongst the leaves

Aloes beginning to bloom. The hummingbirds are loving the nectar now with so few blooms around the garden.

My newest food blog,

2010-12-02T15:38:00.000-08:00

If you have some time check out my newest food blog. I decided I needed a place to place my photos of my cooking adventures. I hope to add many interesting recipes using herbs and vegetables from my garden. A Table for Rue, please

A Visit From A Few Feathered Friends

2010-11-18T10:53:00.000-08:00

I happened to have the camera in the kitchen when a few of our friends stopped by for a bath. I believe the brown, black and white bird is a Spotted Towhee, not sure about the blue and brown one. I missed taking a picture of the gold finches today. Yesterday there were a dozen taking a bath at once. I rarely see the Towhee in time to get a picture but was lucky today. I took these through the kitchen window on zoom so they are not as clear as I would like but I wanted to share them. I will check again later in the afternoon and hope to get some pictures of the finches.

My Sansevieria trifasciata has flower buds!

2010-11-16T14:59:00.000-08:00

I have been growing this plant for at least 10 years. Last August a friend of mine was visiting and mentioned that her plant blooms. She must have the Midas touch because for the first time mine now has three flower stocks coming up. I believe that it is doing this just for her! I will add more photos as it opens but for now here are a few shots of "my little miracle."

My friend with the Midas touch!

Commonly called the snake plant or Mother-in-law's tongue. It is an easy plant to grow and if you are lucky to have a friend with the Midas touch, you might just get one to bloom.

Brown Turkey Fig Tree

2010-11-11T13:33:00.000-08:00

The weather was perfect on Sunday and it was time to plant my wedding anniversary gift from my husband. I have been wanting a fig tree for several years and we finally bought one on our 32nd wedding anniversary in October.

With all the rain we have had the last few weeks I was unable to plant it until the ground had some time to dry out.

I dug a big hole, yes I do this myself! Tony was standing by just in case I hit some granite. I recently removed a white Buddleia davidii from this area so most of the soil was loose enough for me to dig deeper.

I used the leftover soil to make a berm around the tree to create a basin to hold the water. This area is on a slope of ground so this will keep it from running off until the roots take hold.

We decided on an Improved Brown Turkey Fig. Our local nurseryman said this one would not grow that large and since we don't have a lot of space left for trees we thought this would be a good choice.

"Blessings upon thee, gentle bud of hope!"

The bird bath was another gift from Tony. The old one I had was Italian clay and was here when we bought the house. The raccoons loved to tip the edge of the bowl to get to the water. One October night they must have had a party; they tipped the whole thing over and broke the bowl into so many pieces it was not salvageable. It had been broken once before but I was able to repair it. This new one is far too tall for them to reach, I hope, and is so heavy I don't think they will be able to. It is actually a base for a fountain, we negotiated with the nurseryman and got it for $100.00.

The birds are really enjoying it, it is much deeper than our old one. I saw a Black Phoebe in it yesterday, he was diving in and then resting on the center area after each dive. He never really bathed like most birds do, he just kept diving in and up to the center; I have seen this bird often but this is the first time I have seen it bathe; maybe it likes a deeper bowl.

Here is a picture of the base I was able to recycle from the old birdbath. I hate to throw anything out that can be re-purposed. This worked out perfectly for one of my many Pelargoniums.

After all my hard work I sat down for a nice cup of Hibiscus tea. I recently cleared this area of ground cover to create another seating area.

Rainy Days, Mudslides and My Neighbor's New Rain Gutters

2010-10-23T13:03:00.000-07:00

Tuesday Rains and Wednesday Cleanup:

My neighbors recently installed new rain gutters and downspouts.

Closeup of erosion

Our facet on top of the bank after the mudslide

Completely buried my soaker hose

Broke one of my jades and buried the Iris rhizomes

This is the top of one of the areas where the water went. The plants to the left and right of this are covered with mud at the base; I will need to dig these up after it dries out and replant. There is still about 6 inches of mud at the top edge of the adobe wall but I can't get to it until I remove these plants.

This shows some of the mud, but most of it is under the plants on the left. Calendula seedlings were on the top of the bank!

East side of our garage where our trash bins are kept. Trash is picked up on Tuesday morning so only one was in this area. It's difficult to see the depth of the mud here, but one entire row of adobe bricks were covered. This is also after the rain from our garage roof washed mud down the drains and out into the driveway. Our jeep had several inches of mud under it also, from mud coming down from another area.

I barely was able to move this a few feet. This ground has a lot of DG mixed in. I had almost two wheelbarrow's full.

After mud removal. Before I rinsed the concrete. No stains though! Notice the jade plant hanging over the edge. It was standing before the mudslide and is about 4 feet tall.

Had I not gone out to bring the trash cans back to this location I can only imagine how much more mud we would have had. I went up to the top of this bank when it was still raining and dug a small trench about 40 feet long to route the water to the road.

This is a rental unit, but I notified the owner and he has already installed drain pipes so this shouldn't happen again. Normally this area is covered with high weeds, but he has been doing a lot of new landscaping and repairs to the property for the new tenants. I wonder who put the rain gutters in for him? Obviously not someone who thought about where the water would end up! All is good now though and I had a good workout.

Companion Planting

2010-10-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to the Farmer's Almanac for a list of friends and foes for 10 common vegetable companion plantings.

Rainy here today; plants are enjoying it. I should be picking lettuces by the weekend.

Enjoy your day!
Carla

Kitchen Prices

2010-10-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

I found this on a page in the back of an old cookbook I have. I made a copy of it and now have it hanging on my refrigerator!