Monday Walk-About

Yesterday we got about 4" of rain as measured in a 5 gallon bucket. Today it's going to be 90! I went out early to do some weeding and "smartening up" as Mark would say.  I made good progress but there is still much to be done.  There are some fine things in a garden after a good soaking (drowning?)

The west side is one of my favorite views of the garden,  a small arbor down the path, my crooked gate, another arbor and the Japanese maple. I like the way it pulls you in.

This tangle of color has variegated Iris, Shasta Daisy and bachelor buttons. The iron fence I rescued from scrap last year. I got 4 panels. They weigh a ton! Had them professionally stripped and now they are left to aged gracefully in the garden.

Through the gate and on the left, the clematis is spectacular!

Down  the path (don't look to the right, the ivy bed is a disaster!) and into the back. A different perspective of the Squarefoot garden.

The roses are late, but will come in their own time.

Finally two guardians, one in the sun, one in the shade.  The hermaphoditic sun god from the Dominican Republic faces east to greet the rising sun.

And this little fellow from Limburg Germany is up to something, but he's apparently somewhat nervous.

I'm off to the in-laws to drop off some tomato seedlings...

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Wordless Wednesday - Iris in bloom and other Beauties

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Honey!? I'm Home!

After a day in the office, an hour on the train, one more day left to the money work week, I'm almost ready for the weekend!

Honey!?  I'm home!...

No answer.....

Oh wait, the Student is out taking a test, crushing all those poor souls who dare to compete on a curve with her. Oh, I love her dearly.

But, being all alone, I decide to grab the camera and see what pops today!

Not a single Iris reticulata - but a whole clump!

The tulips have thrust through some leaf debris. I love when "delicate" nature shows her force in  discrete ways. It's not like a hurricane, or a tornado, but still - a tender sprout growing through a leaf? That's pretty cool!

Do you know what this is? It's not in my records but is a gorgeous tiny spring bulb.

The bleeding heart, previously Dicentra spectabilis, now Dicentra Laprocapnos is pushing up. These get huge - 3' high and 4' wingspan.

No the bed is not cleaned out yet, get over it. The weekend is coming as is my holiday (more on that later).

Finally, the columbine (Aquilegia) is pushing up. This is one of my favorite flowers, and is beautiful to watch. It is protected against the harsh winter because it is up against the house.

So even though no one is home, it doesn't mean there is no one to greet you!


Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!


The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Bed rebuild and a trip to the veggie plot

A portion of one of the full sun beds has gotten a wee bit out of control. Ok, completely out of control! There are some iris  and sedum that have intergrown and when the iris are blooming it is is easy to overlook but now it is unsightly. The plan is to dig it all out and rebuild this portion of the bed.

I also took a few pictures of the purple coneflower, and the headed over to the veggie plot to drop off material for the compost heap and see what is happening. It has been a week since I've been there. All in all a dirty, sweaty, and very satisying afternoon.

This is what I'm starting with.

It's a jungle!

I tore it all out. Then added two bags - 80 lbs - of composted manure.

Raked it smooth.

Trimmed the iris, and  put some of them back, and replanted the sedum. It looks a tad barren but will be good next year I am sure.

While I was out, a moth was eating from the purple coneflower.

They sure are pretty!

Finished at the house I drove over to the veggie patch. Mixed news - the greenbeans and tomatos seem really great, the cucumbers are starting to fruit, the beets may see some fruition yet, but the chickens have gotten into the the butternut squash. Pecking enough to ruin the fruit and decide they don't like them. And, oddly the zuchinni that looked so vigorous just a short time ago have faded with no discernable reason why - anyone have any ideas?

We will have an abundance of tomatos!

Beets are looking good. I think.

Anyone have any ideas what might be happening here?

Damn chickens sampling the butternut squash. Grrrr

Eggs? I'm thinking SOUP! @#$% Chickens!

 

Cucumbers beginning to bear fruit.

This tomato is taller than I am!

We will have a good harvest!

 A few sweet jewels.

Beets might yet be harvestable.

Nice eggplant.

Back at the house with todays' harvest. I'll be prepping and freezing them tomorrow! Stay tuned.

Keep digging!

My garden blog  http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
My cooking blog  http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/

Green Beans from the Garden, Vegetable Curry

We had some green beans from the garden, I did not get over there but the wife did. More than enough for dinner.

Here are some strange radish pods or moolachya shenga.

A little chopped garlic and grated ginger.

The prepped vegetables.

Start with oil or ghee and mustard seeds.

When they pop, add the garlic and ginger. Lower heat and cook. When soft, add the rest of the vegetables.

We're testing Baji's Curry Simmer Sauce. It's from Aldi's. You add it to the vegetables plus 8oz of water and simmer. You can use meat, but tonight is vegetarian.

We had some spinach we needed to eat, so in it goes.

It sure cooks down quickly!

Dinner is served!

 All in all the Sauce is pretty good, but rather middle of the road. It does nothing to offend, but not much to excite. Not a bad way to make a quick weekday dinner. I'd buy it again.

Eat well!

A double post as the green beans were from the garden.

My garden blog   http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
My cooking blog  http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/