tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41776519886167061782024-03-12T18:50:07.666-07:00NW Backyard Abundancewritings from the gardenJackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-65209457882248936802012-08-18T21:52:00.000-07:002012-08-18T21:56:44.922-07:00Jalapeno Peppers and Rick's Popper Recipe<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jalapeno Peppers</td></tr>
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We are growing a lot of hot peppers this year. Last year we didn't have enough to put up as much as we wanted. Last year we grew jalapeno, serano and habenero peppers. Rick makes pickled veggies with his hot peppers and jalapeno rings and pickled habeneros and jalapeno jelly.<br />
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Rick started his peppers from seed this year and you know you have to plant every seed that grows into a plant don't you?<br />
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We have 2 jalapeno, 1 serrano, 4 habenero, 4 long thin cayene, 2 anjo and 5 mystery peppers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Habenero Peppers</td></tr>
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The harvest is underway and it appears we will have more than plenty. The Jalapenos are the first ready. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jalapeno Peppers</td></tr>
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Check out Rick's new recipe for Poppers. They are so delicious. We have been eating these all week long. So good. We cook them on the Traeger grill with the temperature at 375 degrees so I am assuming they would work in the oven at the same temp. <br />
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<u><i><b>Jalapeno Poppers</b></i></u><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jalapeno Poppers</td></tr>
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Soften 4 oz cream cheese. Add 1 T. minced shallot, 2 T minced crisp bacon, 1/4 cup grated cheddar and 1/4 cup grated pecarino ramano cheese.<br />
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Slice lengthwise and seed 6-8 Jalapeno peppers. Fill with cheese mixture.<br />
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At this point we cook them on a Traeger grill at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. This is a very forgiving recipe so experiment and add what you think sounds good.<br />
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So Yummy!Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-20572575338857118102012-08-13T19:40:00.000-07:002012-08-13T19:49:48.261-07:00First and Second Generation Garlic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qo78X8mb3KA/UCm3qPdNDnI/AAAAAAAAAKc/mEoOF0EkPCs/s1600/garlic+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qo78X8mb3KA/UCm3qPdNDnI/AAAAAAAAAKc/mEoOF0EkPCs/s320/garlic+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I love growing my own garlic! This is year 4 or 5 for me. And each year I get better at it. And each year I seem to encounter a new challenge.<br />
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One year I planted two varieties, Oregon Blue and Susanville, and forgot to label them. I was so sure I would remember! See <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4177651988616706178#editor/target=post;postID=5910766527410206901">A Garlic Flavored Lesson</a>.<br />
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Another year I let the Susanville garlic sit in the sun thinking it would hasten the drying process. OOPS! Fried garlic. Because I use a portion of my harvest for next years crop, I no longer have Susanville. Only Oregon Blue.<br />
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The 2011 harvest ended up small. But I kept some 2010 braids (they looked too pretty to throw out). I checked them and they looked like they were ready to go. So five rows of the garlic I planted last fall were 18 months old. The other seven rows were 2011 harvest and only six months old.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two generations of garlic</td></tr>
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"This will be interesting to see what happens", I thought. Amazingly the older bulbs came up first. They were 3 inches high by December. The newer bulbs came up slower but were more consistent growers. Until March when everybody took off.<br />
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In the end, no difference in size or taste. Good to know don't you think?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great bulbs but smaller braids</td></tr>
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However I did have a bigger challenge with the garlic this year. Last year my garlic had a touch of garlic rust. I didn't think much of it and because I follow a 4-5 year rotation, I thought all would be fine.<br />
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But no, the rust was back. The wet and cool spring played a large role. The garlic bulbs are unaffected, but I had to make smaller braids and they are not as pretty as I'd like.<br />
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And now I am reading all about this rust and figuring out how an organic gardener deals with this pesky problem. Any solution or experiences regarding garlic rust are welcome.<br />
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<br />Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-28898872733463255092012-07-27T19:39:00.001-07:002012-08-18T21:57:09.079-07:00Guess Who Else Came for Sunday Dinner?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys at Sunday Dinne</td></tr>
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Sunday's at our house are family dinner days. A chance for all to catch up on happenings, visiting about what happened during the past week and talk about what is coming up. The cousins get to play, play and play some more. They have so much fun together. They always play baseball and 'bad guys'. Here they are playing both. This is always after they have had their fill of carrots.<br />
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This last Sunday we were having a visit on the deck, waiting for the BBQ grill to get going when right there walking along side the deck was a mother raccoon. Not surprising as we have raccoon visits frequently. (Just last week they ate all 7 of my fish that had survived last years slaughter. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momma with 4 babies</td></tr>
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What was surprising was that following along in a perfect line were 5 (five!) babies. She led them along to the side yard, up the fence, up the sycamore tree and there they played for 30 minutes. As if putting on a show just for us, those cute babies played 'King of the Branch' trying to push each other to their death 20 feet below. They climbed over and under each other, dragged each other the length of the branch, ran back to mom and bit, tugged and pulled. The boys could hardly believe their eyes! Raccoons wrestle just like kittens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This baby trailed behind and makes 5</td></tr>
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We watched in delight and just as they came, with some hidden signal from mom, down they went, onto the fence and followed it over to a neighboring yard. <br />
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We were left with smiles on our faces. <br />
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I hope your Sundays are as delightful.Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-37393511716232880922012-07-07T19:04:00.001-07:002012-07-07T19:30:57.494-07:00Why I love to garden!It just struck me that as a grandparent, there is a lot of knowledge to pass down. Memories are important too. So why not combine the two. I'm sure my grandsons will carry a lot of memories with them and have a great joy of gardening in their lives. Not to mention it is good for you. Just look at these photos if you are not convinced of your influence.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r4_XsIYfooA/T_jpvysPDJI/AAAAAAAAAI0/M4qqd0I8YdU/s1600/Bumpa+teaches+them+how+it%27s+done.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r4_XsIYfooA/T_jpvysPDJI/AAAAAAAAAI0/M4qqd0I8YdU/s320/Bumpa+teaches+them+how+it%27s+done.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumpa gives a lesson in gardening</td></tr>
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Bumpa's other name is Rick. The boys absolutely adore their grandpa!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mdhxG8NQJ3o/T_jpyM4R_RI/AAAAAAAAAI8/3rJv8Z4DOqo/s1600/Ian+and+Trenton+doing+their+gardening+chores.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mdhxG8NQJ3o/T_jpyM4R_RI/AAAAAAAAAI8/3rJv8Z4DOqo/s320/Ian+and+Trenton+doing+their+gardening+chores.JPG" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys do their garden chores</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ian eats his just rewards</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h_hAQIc96VA/T_jp2g85JUI/AAAAAAAAAJM/8A15MLG1mOY/s1600/smiles+all+around.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h_hAQIc96VA/T_jp2g85JUI/AAAAAAAAAJM/8A15MLG1mOY/s320/smiles+all+around.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smiles all around.</td></tr>
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<br />Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-34493684376447265512012-07-04T14:51:00.000-07:002012-07-04T14:57:12.800-07:004th of July Blueberry MuffinsThis morning I promised Mr. Rick blueberry muffins for our Independence Day breakfast. I found a great sounding muffin recipe on Pinterest. The muffin recipe can be found at <a href="http://www.kitchenlane.com/2012/01/i-know-i-know.html" target="_blank">Kitchenlane.com</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The muffins</td></tr>
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These muffins were sooooo good! The only thing I did differently was to toss a bit of flour on the blueberries before placing them in the batter.<br />
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We have three blueberry bushes that are three years old. This year they are beginning to produce enough blueberries to keep us happy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3UIDooMduJg/T_S2StL_G0I/AAAAAAAAAIU/tviRcH0tIog/s1600/blueberries.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3UIDooMduJg/T_S2StL_G0I/AAAAAAAAAIU/tviRcH0tIog/s320/blueberries.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blueberries</td></tr>
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We LOVE blueberries!<br />
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Usually we place netting over the bushes to keep the birds out, but this year we tried Scare Tape. It seems to work pretty well. I also keep the bird feeder full to distract them. Actually it's a promise I made to the birds. "I'll fill your feeder if you stay out of my garden." I'm not sure we are in total agreement, but for the most part it seems to help.<br />
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This Independence Day we are celebrating our independence by reaffirming our goal of becoming more self-reliant. I try to grow seed that is not hybrid and use organic gardening methods. I am learning to save my seed for next years crops. Mr. Rick's composting efforts turn out rich loamy soil that nourishes our plants and reduces water consumption.<br />
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Though small steps, each step taken is better for the planet and our health. Our daughters are growing their own gardens now and feeding their children fresh organic produce. That is the best reward of all!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One garden section July 2012</td></tr>
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<br />Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-91506572387082274312012-07-02T19:26:00.002-07:002012-07-02T21:23:11.971-07:00The Salad Garden<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Salad Garden</td></tr>
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Last night we had our first complete salad from the garden, with the exception of a yellow and red sweet pepper! Hurray...this means the season of healthy eating is underway. Now the hard work begins to pay off.<br />
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After harvesting yesterday morning, I realized I had a little work to do in this garden, so spent a few hours weeding and caring for these hard working vegetables.<br />
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The salad garden is having it's ups and downs this year. Usually I follow pretty closely a four-year rotation schedule in my vegetable garden. But this year I decided to make one area a simple salad garden. It contains snow peas, two kinds of lettuce, spinach, radishes, pac choi, and celery. I also put my basil, parsley, cilantro and dill in this bed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow peas</td></tr>
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The snow peas are doing so well this year. Probably due to the cooler and wetter spring. My grandsons love them dipped in ranch dressing. This year we have had several meals with sauteed snow peas with just a tiny sprinkle of sugar to help them carmelize. So very good!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pac Choi</td></tr>
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However, my radishes are woody and inedible. One of my favorite things in a salad. I planted some more today. <br />
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My big disappointment is the Pac Choi. We have never grown this vegetable before, but love it in stir fry. We planted the seeds indoors in March and were late getting them in the ground. Even though the weather has been cool and wet, they are beginning to go to seed. I know I didn't thin them as quickly as I should have. <br />
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I read on a garden forum that many people find the plant edible even though it is bolting as long as you eat it before the flowers have actually bloomed, so maybe we will have it tomorrow.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qHUmXKx3TUw/T_JdaJedQVI/AAAAAAAAAHk/l_as-o8lZYg/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qHUmXKx3TUw/T_JdaJedQVI/AAAAAAAAAHk/l_as-o8lZYg/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lettuces</td></tr>
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And lastly in the salad garden are the pretty lettuces and spinach. They are doing so well in this bed! There is nothing better than a home grown salad or fresh from the garden lettuce on your sandwich. Yum, Yum.<br />
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I think it might work out okay to grow the salad garden as a fifth rotation bed. There may be two years of the same crop, but three years before any crop gets repeated. More about my rotation at a later date.<br />
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Happy salad making!<br />
<br />Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-24335274612071023012012-06-22T19:27:00.003-07:002012-06-22T19:33:16.977-07:00ArtichokesThe artichokes are really producing this year. I had never even heard of this vegetable until I met my husband and one night he asked for artichokes for dinner. I looked up how to cook these interesting thorny globes and boiled one in water and olive oil and served with Miracle Whip (at his request).!? "What is this?", I said in amazement as he dipped each leaf into the MW. I tried it eventually, and found I actually liked it!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IailDF8onGg/T-UjPJlareI/AAAAAAAAAHI/M1JLa9CNe1Y/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IailDF8onGg/T-UjPJlareI/AAAAAAAAAHI/M1JLa9CNe1Y/s320/IMG_0033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The artichoke frame</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E8W_n3M4td8/T-UjTlw8-JI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/UBqG-8ljMoI/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E8W_n3M4td8/T-UjTlw8-JI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/UBqG-8ljMoI/s320/IMG_0031.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love these veggies now.</td></tr>
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However, growing this prickly menace was a totally different thing. I kept trying, but they grew so tall, tipped over and never produced at the same time. But this year, my best friend and husband built a frame around my six plants that helped them stand upright against the weight of all those thorny little fruits.<br />
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And once I got up the nerve, I moved straight-away to tackle the pulpy leaves and sharp thorns. It was so easy, I'm sorry I didn't try to cook these baby artichoke hearts sooner.<br />
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The one thing I did was to place them in a bowl of 50-50 water/lemon juice after peeling and cutting in half. They stayed looking beautiful while I finished the rest and, after cooking, they retained just a whisper of lemon. Yummy.<br />
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I now love these little guys and it seems serendipitous that my existing plants need to be divided. Oh what new recipes I will have by next years harvest.<br />
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2012 Artichoke Meals:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Roasted Artichoke Salad </li>
<li>Donna Giblin's Artichoke Chicken </li>
<li>Steamed Baby Artichoke Hearts served with salmon and a mustard/dill Aioli for dipping</li>
<li>2 ea. 8 ounce bags of frozen hearts for future use on chicken pizza</li>
</ol>
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Hope you try these fascinating vegetables.</div>Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-44530339650946975562012-05-21T20:58:00.000-07:002012-06-09T19:11:23.603-07:00When does the garden year begin?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was reading a quilting blog the other day that suggested that it is beneficial to go away from blogs, pinterest, facebook and other diversions from time to time to get your mojo back. So I guess after being away for awhile, you could say the mojo is moving. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent some of my time away reading and being with my family. My favorite read over the winter was a wonderful book, " </span><a href="http://www.kingsolver.com/books/animal-vegetable-miracle.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Animal, Vegetable Miracle</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" by Barbara Kingsolver. This was the most informative book that gave me new energy for my endeavor to feed my family healthier food and increase the amount of food I produce in my garden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are all aware of the effects of chemical sprays on our food and the additives placed there as a way of preserving the food. How can that be good for us or our children and grandchildren. Each Sunday I have two beautiful daughters and their five boys and husbands and my sister come for dinner. I want to feed them not only good food, but nourishing food as well. It helps to think of the meaning of that word before I plan dinner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I come from a long line of women who grew and canned their own food. Last year we preserved a significant amount of our vegetables, fruits, pickles and jams for the year. This year I want to do even more. The favorite thing for the boys is to run to the garden to pick a fresh carrot, a snow pea or an ear of corn. Even in July they are looking for a stray strawberry. They are learning to identify plants and where their food comes from. I plan to post the progress of this endeavor and try to keep the posts timely. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nniQk_WILlI/T8MKIGqazwI/AAAAAAAAAEY/N4KmHZxhdI8/s1600/Sarah%27s+raised+beds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150px" qba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nniQk_WILlI/T8MKIGqazwI/AAAAAAAAAEY/N4KmHZxhdI8/s200/Sarah%27s+raised+beds.JPG" width="200px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah's raised beds</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our youngest daughter built raised beds last year. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CuaRklw8m-c/T8MKvcBravI/AAAAAAAAAEg/a3DxRU_eQ5k/s1600/Sarah%27s+Cilantro.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150px" qba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CuaRklw8m-c/T8MKvcBravI/AAAAAAAAAEg/a3DxRU_eQ5k/s200/Sarah%27s+Cilantro.JPG" width="200px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah's Cilantro</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She is growing some fabulous cilantro and her tomatoes and cucumbers look great! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We just completed some raised garden beds for our oldest daughter to begin her vegetable venture. I can't wait to see what delicious vegetables come from the girls' gardens.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-inhcSYO-DRk/T9QA_fQk1vI/AAAAAAAAAG4/zmlGQYc0VNU/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-inhcSYO-DRk/T9QA_fQk1vI/AAAAAAAAAG4/zmlGQYc0VNU/s320/IMG_0025.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessica's raised beds</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My plan is to put down on paper (as in blogging) some of the gardening information I have accumulated from a lot of gardening/farming DNA. It should be fun to do this as a family. And maybe we will even have a little State Fair Competition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It makes sense to begin at the beginning of the garden year right? But when is that? If you think about it, something is always going on in the garden, and like the Cauliflower Spring post shows, gardening begins when you are ready to begin. It is never too late to begin. Even in the dead of winter when the only thing to eat in the garden are the wintering carrots and leeks you can plan and dream of the tasty things to come.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hope to see you here again soon.</span><br />
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</div>Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-87949360029527315852012-04-27T17:34:00.000-07:002012-04-27T17:34:41.745-07:00Cauliflower SpringThis spring in the Pacific Northwest was the wettest and coldest that I remember. Of course I say that every year. But this time I mean it. Usually we get a February two week respite that includes much sun, warming temperatures and workable soil. Of course the real rain hasn't started yet so of course the soil is workable.<br />
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And then the rain begins. We received hardly any rain during the winter months. It was a bit snowier and colder than usual. We had below freezing temperatures for at least a month of the winter. So I thought the only thing that would survive in the garden would be the carrots. The winter cabbages and winter cauliflower were growing, but producing nothing. So I just let them grow thinking I would pull them up when the warmer weather was here.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XotiGsfn6fY/T5src9fnFEI/AAAAAAAAADs/EZPMfGef8NQ/s1600/Cauliflower%2Bin%2BMarch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XotiGsfn6fY/T5src9fnFEI/AAAAAAAAADs/EZPMfGef8NQ/s200/Cauliflower%2Bin%2BMarch.JPG" width="200px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">March Cauliflower</td></tr>
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The first of March brought a couple of days of sun and I thought I would go work in the strawberries just to get outside. And to my surprise there beautiful and white was the most beautiful and bug free head of cauliflower I have ever seen. I have since harvested seven beautiful heads of bug free cauliflower. Next year I plan to grow them the same. Plant in October and harvest in spring. No cabbage moths, no aphids. What a great surprise!</div>Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com0Portland, OR, USA45.5234515 -122.676207145.345457 -122.9989306 45.701446 -122.3534836tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-18511506566083581042010-03-20T19:17:00.000-07:002010-03-21T17:17:03.830-07:00Spring is More than a Date on the Calendar.We have had an early spring here in the Pacific Northwest. And my abundant backyard is beginning to grow. We actually started things in January when temperatures were in the 50’s with lows of 42 degrees. I don’t believe we have seen any frost since before January 25.<br /><div><div><br /></div><div>In January we cut down some wild plum trees (not good for anything but pectin), trimmed the clematis on the south fence, and gave the Wisteria a haircut in hopes of a bloom here and there. If it doesn’t bloom this year then I know the 10 year old vine will never bloom. If anyone has any helpful tips, let me know.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/S6WEtRWpmMI/AAAAAAAAADQ/Msr5r129AE0/s1600-h/March+2010+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 111px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450908837289236674" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/S6WEtRWpmMI/AAAAAAAAADQ/Msr5r129AE0/s200/March+2010+001.jpg" /></a><br />February remained dry and warm and we chipped the tree branches, pruned rose bushes, pulled strawberries from the walkways, and planted peas outside. Inside broccoli, leeks, red onions, basil and parsley are beginning to show themselves.</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br />March has been exceptionally warm. The peas are beginning to show and I have managed to get spinach, radishes, lettuces, carrots and walla walla onions planted. Today I planted a rhubarb start. Can’t wait for the rhubarb crisp!<br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/S6WENALMpAI/AAAAAAAAADI/Iqgx6i_sRZ8/s1600-h/March+2010+016.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 174px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450908282921985026" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/S6WENALMpAI/AAAAAAAAADI/Iqgx6i_sRZ8/s200/March+2010+016.jpg" /></a><br />Flowers are not absent from this picture. Violets are blooming. They are one of my grandmother’s favorite flowers so I always think of her. Plus she had a sister named Violet and one named Myrtle. My grandmother was named Florest (nickname Flo). So great-grandma Whitney must have loved flowers herself.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/S6WD15OyK0I/AAAAAAAAADA/2lUqvHcLviA/s1600-h/March+2010+014.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450907885920987970" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/S6WD15OyK0I/AAAAAAAAADA/2lUqvHcLviA/s200/March+2010+014.jpg" /></a></div><br />And of course my most favorite of all……my treasured bleeding heart! My sister brought me a start of my grandmothers plant several years ago. I delight in the fact that it comes out of the ground blooming.! Isn’t that the most spectacular sign of spring?</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/S6WD15OyK0I/AAAAAAAAADA/2lUqvHcLviA/s1600-h/March+2010+014.jpg"></a></div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/S6WD15OyK0I/AAAAAAAAADA/2lUqvHcLviA/s1600-h/March+2010+014.jpg"></a></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-12448750290580033272010-02-25T17:17:00.000-08:002010-02-25T17:24:18.906-08:00Winter is Almost Over<div>Winter was busy…….no time for blogging. Time only for putting the garden to bed, finishing up the last ends of canning and beginning the season of gift making. Then on to baking and eating, baking and eating and baking and eating. In between I worked on some ongoing genealogy projects. And now as March approaches I find myself five pounds heavier and extremely lazy.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But with the proverbial February false spring, I have begun to venture outside and check the garden’s status. The garden has survived quite well. My garlic is coming along nicely. (Labeled clearly, I might add). Strawberries are coming up, and the pea bed looks nearly ready to go.</div><br /><div><br />My seeds arrived last week from the seed company and my onions arrived today. I am so excited to get going! I’m sorry to say I missed the Great American Bird Count in February. It fell on Valentine’ s Day which was a Sunday and all the family was here for dinner. So next year I promise to count and I promise to let you know ahead of time.<br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/S4ciEgz4EhI/AAAAAAAAAC4/JwJdZk5e0w4/s1600-h/January+2010+028.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442356135622873618" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/S4ciEgz4EhI/AAAAAAAAAC4/JwJdZk5e0w4/s200/January+2010+028.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Today the pond called for clean up. All the accumulated leaves and the overgrown shrub near the in-flow needed to be trimmed. My best friend and husband Rick put on his fishing waders and climbed into the pond to get the winter leaves and trim the shrubs. It was fun to watch the fish swim around his legs. I was surprised to see that we now have seven fish! Even after the great Heron scare!<br /></div><br /><div>Hope you all had a comfy warm winter. You’ll be hearing more from me as the ground thaws. </div>Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-21401920167715212982009-11-08T20:35:00.000-08:002009-11-08T20:43:25.699-08:00In Search of the GloveI went everywhere I tell ya….they want way too much for gardening gloves. After<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SvedINuQs3I/AAAAAAAAACw/0co5dInjZAs/s1600-h/soccer+genealogy+027.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401959042502407026" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SvedINuQs3I/AAAAAAAAACw/0co5dInjZAs/s200/soccer+genealogy+027.jpg" /></a> gardening my fingers off, I needed something that accommodates fingernails. But I didn’t want to spend a fortune and I wanted comfort and the ability to thin carrots with gloves on. Know what I mean?<br /><div><br /><br /><div>The first hurdle is cost. What is too expensive? $20, 25? I thought under twenty for a year of gardening would be reasonable. And boy did I have a hard time finding the glove that fit the bill. Finally here they are. </div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/Svec-At8jmI/AAAAAAAAACo/wohboz5xohM/s1600-h/soccer+genealogy+026.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401958867212734050" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/Svec-At8jmI/AAAAAAAAACo/wohboz5xohM/s200/soccer+genealogy+026.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>My new Ethel glove. Leather tips for the nails and a very comfortable nylon for the body of the glove. I thinned my winter carrots just fine. $16.95 at Home Depot. I’ll let you know if they last a year. </div></div>Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-55884522311032971042009-11-04T17:47:00.000-08:002009-11-04T18:26:05.849-08:00BIRD SEED (FINALLY PART-TWO)<div>Part-one was about birds....part-two is the seed story<br /><br />Boy is there a lesson learned here. Never publish any part of a two-part narrative before at least drafting all the pieces. My intentions were good, my excitement high and content absolutely riveting. And then the harvest came……..First there were beans and then the tomatoes; so many tomatoes. The potatoes were astounding and seemed to appear even after I was sure we had dug them all. Pumpkins, acorn squash and butternut squash were stored away. I even remembered to label the garlic after planting. And then the rain. And now that my beloved garden has been put to bed for the winter, I can write again.<br /><br />Let’s not forget the title of this little musing…..Bird Seed in two parts. You can see in part one how much I love the birds in my garden. I enjoy feeding them; making the suet, cooking the hummingbird food and keeping the seed tray full. And that leads me to other seeds in my garden. I have always felt the pull to collect my own seed and move along on the path toward subsistence farming. So far I have collected and planted the easy things; marigolds, sunflowers, geraniums and beans. I always give up as my results the following year are not as great as I expect them to be. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SvI3ccruE-I/AAAAAAAAACg/dTTdqnFJhXE/s1600-h/Lettuce+flower.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400439865046078434" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SvI3ccruE-I/AAAAAAAAACg/dTTdqnFJhXE/s200/Lettuce+flower.jpg" /></a><br /><br />But this year I had a few delightful experiences. The first was my lettuces. I had planted so much I couldn’t get it harvested before it bolted. One morning early I saw the lettuce flowers wide open. I was so amazed at how simple and beautiful they are. The color is a yummy cream yell<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SvIyDK2JJAI/AAAAAAAAACA/VEkbZJtEVvM/s1600-h/Lettuce+flower.jpg"></a>ow with a deep yellow center . They have tiny spoke-like petals and oddly enough they look just like lettuce flowers should.<br /><br />The russet potatoes surprised me as well. They bloomed right on time and I knew that under that rich earth the little spuds were forming. And while admiring this favorite flower of mine, I noticed small round pods forming. I ran to the computer to find out these were indeed p<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SvIyYx1AQzI/AAAAAAAAACI/skcahvoqK08/s1600-h/Potato+bud+containing+potato+seed.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 232px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400434304444547890" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SvIyYx1AQzI/AAAAAAAAACI/skcahvoqK08/s200/Potato+bud+containing+potato+seed.jpg" /></a>otato seeds. Did you know that if you plant them like any other seed you will get (surprise!) many different kinds and colors of potatoes. They do not breed true so no telling the size, shape or color you will get. I think that is one of the most fun facts I’ve gathered in my gardening life.<br /><br />The final surprise seed in my garden is the seed of Hope. Every gardener has it. Even after the worst drought year or an especially pest challenged year, the gardener hopes that next year the garden will have less weeds; it will be more abundant and we will all be better gardeners.<br /><br />Happy fall and get some rest. Spring will be here before we know it.<br /><br /><br /></div>Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-83150020274145243602009-07-31T19:05:00.000-07:002009-08-01T16:05:59.425-07:00BIRD SEED (A TWO-PART NARATIVE)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SnTEJjOr_qI/AAAAAAAAABw/Cc5Bju3dtpY/s1600-h/Birch+Seeds+July+2009.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365128724459814562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SnTEJjOr_qI/AAAAAAAAABw/Cc5Bju3dtpY/s200/Birch+Seeds+July+2009.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SnOldPnropI/AAAAAAAAABo/fHX1PjN71PU/s1600-h/Birch+Seeds+July+2009.jpg"></a>Part One – An Amazing Two Day Bird Count </div><div><br />I just have to talk about the birds that have frequented my yard and garden the last few days. The variety is astonishing since it’s mid-summer, usually a slow time of year for bird watching. In the hot summer I see the usual song sparrows, blue jays, doves etc. </div><div><br />But two days ago after watering, I took a break on the deck. We’ve had the air conditioner on in the house for two days so I wanted to hear outside sounds without the constant hum of that cooling beast. While listening I heard the Chickadees in the birch tree. Their two-tone bodies and two-tone call (Chick-a-dee dee dee dee dee) always make me want to mimic their call. Try it. It’s fun.! </div><div><br />A short time later we were looking through the binoculars to see if the splash of yellow in the pear tree was a ripe pear. Turns out it was a beautiful Western Tanager. Probably resting from feeding on the wild plums that are dropping over the lettuces! The Tanager is so yummy colored; like a pineapple/red-orange Popsicle. This is only the second I’ve seen in my yard.</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SnTEKOdILoI/AAAAAAAAAB4/i4mLekDGSaY/s1600-h/Pear+Tree+2009.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365128736063106690" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SnTEKOdILoI/AAAAAAAAAB4/i4mLekDGSaY/s200/Pear+Tree+2009.jpg" /></a><div><br />Earlier the same morning in the same pear tree I had seen a Nuttal’s Woodpecker. They are like a Downy Woodpecker but have a zebra like back. Truly amazing to see him perpendicularly stalk the tree trunk searching for bugs. </div><div><br />Also in the pear tree was a very shy juvenile Blackheaded Grosbeak. The defining bright yellow and black distinctions are just now starting to break through the dun-colored baby down/feathers. They are so big and clumsy as youngsters. Kind of oversized looking with beaks too big for their bodies. And they are very wary of people. </div><div><br />Next day I heard the stern cries of two Towhee. Cheeeeeeeee Cheeeeeee. I’ve seen them lately. They seem to be darker than our usual Rufous Towhee. They were calling to their single offspring in the feeder. Towhees are traditionally ground feeders; the ones that kick up the dry leaves and scratch like chickens. So you know how disturbed the parents were to find Junior in the feeder taking the easy road. </div><div><br />Two beautifully marked Pine Siskin visited the feeder and bird bath. They are one of my favorites reminding me of Idaho pine forests and visits with Mom and Dad who first pointed them out to me. </div><div><br />And last but not least the orphan. For the past two days we’ve had a strange disheveled looking bird in the feeder. Nondescript really except in what he wasn’t or didn’t have. He doesn’t have a tail. At first I thought Wren, but no, I mean he really doesn’t seem to have a tail. And then there is the lumpy mass at the nape of his neck; sort of a hunchback feature that grew too far up. He appears to have eyebrow feather/hairs that give him the disheveled look as if he just woke up from a nap. He doesn’t really appear to be injured and is becoming very territorial about the feeder.</div><div><br />So sad really not to be identifiable. Not to have a family. No really, I can’t determine the family. Is it Trogladytidae (Wrens) or Embrerizidae (Sparrows)? We’ll just keep the seeds coming and call him the orphan Wren-Sparrow. </div><div><br />Stay tuned for part two.</div>Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-42301326293389132472009-07-16T13:32:00.000-07:002009-07-16T13:43:55.089-07:00A Small Gardening PleasureSometimes I think there is nothing more exciting to a gardener than buying a new pair of gardening gloves......except buying new gloves because you wore out your old ones! I gardened my finger tips off (so to speak). <br /><br />Now the fun part..which gloves will I choose?Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-57057314173035589672009-07-15T14:37:00.000-07:002009-07-15T14:44:24.456-07:00Take Me out to the Ball Game, Songs in the Garden<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/Sl5NZ00KyQI/AAAAAAAAAAU/21IwZ00bmjc/s1600-h/carrots+002.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/Sl5NZ00KyQI/AAAAAAAAAAU/21IwZ00bmjc/s320/carrots+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358805712686991618" /></a><br />While cleaning up the carrot bed today, I found myself humming a tune not usually associated with gardening. <em>Take Me Out to the Ballgame</em>.<br /><br />Three of my five grandsons visited yesterday and discovered the carrot patch. After a few tops came off leaving the carrot still in the ground, I showed them how to coax the carrot from the ground with the top still intact. It’s always more fun I think to eat a carrot with a feathery plume. But after little hands and feet had spent some time in the carrots, I needed to clean up and water.<br /><br />Usually while working in the carrots, I hum <em>Shoo-Fly-Shoo</em>. This is because one of my favorite gardeners, John Seymour, warns insistently about carrot fly in the carrots. Consequently, I always mind-sing <em>Flies in the Buttermilk, Shoo-Fly-Shoo</em> while working in the carrots. But not today. Today it was <em>Take me out, Take me out, Take me out to the ballgame</em>. I finished weeding and cleaning up and set the water.<br /><br />Then I heard the song again, but not in my mind. I spotted the small brown bird (a new sparrow type or wren) in the tree. Sure enough, there was the tune. <em>Take me out to the ballgame</em>. A cute little trill was added as an accent at the end.<br /><br />I guess I should say thank you to this little bird and go in and check the Portland Beavers game schedule. It’s Triple A All Star Night at the stadium. First time it has been played in Portland in decades and a good night for a game.Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-59107665274102069012009-07-14T17:25:00.000-07:002009-07-14T17:44:10.907-07:00Two Garlic Flavored Lessons<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/Sl0jhqLJHeI/AAAAAAAAAAM/qk1EbWG1Cfo/s1600-h/garlic+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 232px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358478192804437474" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/Sl0jhqLJHeI/AAAAAAAAAAM/qk1EbWG1Cfo/s320/garlic+003.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br />In order to become a good subsistence gardner, one needs to build upon experience, knowledge and skill related to the many different phases of gardening. Soil, selecting and harvesting seeds, pest control, rotation and harvesting. Each year I am humbled by any and each of the tasks relating to these various phases. </div><br /><div><strong>Lesson One</strong>: Today I harvested one of the garlic types I planted last October. The lesson I learned is to <strong>LABEL YOUR PLANTINGS</strong>. Label them right away! I was sure I would remember which garlic was planted on the south side of the bed and which on the north. But no...I had no labels on hand and by the time I found some a few weeks later, the placement of the two varieties had completely left my brain.</div><br /><div>Now you might say.."No big deal; just order the same varieties for next year and take care to label them." But remember the seed phase of gardening? Well garlic bulbs are the seed. And this year I have grown some incredibly good garlic (on the south side). And a subsistence gardener needs to be able to harvest and LABEL the best seed for next years planting. So here I have some of the finest garlic ever and I don't even know the variety. If I were to plant this garlic in October for next years crop, what would the label say?</div><br /><div><strong>Lesson Two</strong>: Reaping the gardening rewards is another phase of gardening where I get marked "Needs Improvement". Harvesting any of my vegetables at the most optimal time has always been a challenge for me. I'm not sure why but I always tend to wait a tad too long. As if maybe I don't want the cycle to end. But each phase of gardening has a beginning and an end. And you do the rest of your garden justice by not only planting on time, but harvesting on time as well.</div><br /><div>According to the 'Garlic Experts', my garlic was not quite ready two weeks ago. But somehow I felt it was. The rule is there should have been some scapes appearing (not one was produced on either of my varieties). Garlic experts say to watch for the leaves turning brown and harvest when only 4 green leaves remain. Only a few leaves were browning and the tops stood tall and green. I felt it was time to harvest but still I hesitated. I would water deep instead. </div><br /><div>Until today. I knew it was time! And guess what? I should have harvested two weeks ago! While the majority of this (yet to be named) garlic had formed beautiful heads, the result of my watering and waiting had added a few small cloves at the base of some heads that will fall off when I clean up the garlic. Not a big deal, but one more bit of knowledge and one more step toward next year and becoming a better gardner.<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30204178&op=1&view=all&subj=93683920767&aid=-1&oid=93683920767&id=1109430885"><br /></a></div>Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177651988616706178.post-27769778467453148162009-06-12T15:39:00.000-07:002009-07-17T15:51:44.146-07:00For the Love of Strawberries<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SmD-k0-CoFI/AAAAAAAAABI/Jh7mp_n91zs/s1600-h/1st+picking+June+11+2009.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359563465218498642" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_loEw-BUv_H4/SmD-k0-CoFI/AAAAAAAAABI/Jh7mp_n91zs/s320/1st+picking+June+11+2009.JPG" /></a> After an incredible four day fun trip to P.A. for an incredible, fun wedding, we arrived home. Two days spent recovering and caring for our loving lab who had dental surgery. Every minute begging, begging-begging I tell ya for more food, more walks, more water, more anything!<br /><div></div><br /><div>Then the June birthdays had to be attended to. To start the first week of June we have Rick, Isaac, Mike and myself. So.....after all of that, I finally got out to the garden. Where everyone in the garden began to scream at me. The onions were actually laying on their sides screaming, "the slugs did it!" The artichokes shouted, "These weeds will be the death of us!" Lettuces in turn cried "Cut this plum branch..we need more sun!" And last but not least the potatoes pleaded to be hilled.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And then I turned to the strawberries to hear their complaint. I was stunned. My mouth began to water and I was torn. My work ethic says you must do the work to reap the rewards. But the berries kept calling, "Jackie...can't you see the birds just waiting. Please don't leave us for the birds!" So I turned to my garden and said, "Okay, I have heard you all. I just need to go in the house and set my priorites. I will be right back!"</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>When I returned with pan in hand, I hilled the potatoes, put slug bait on the onions, weeded the artichokes, watered the lettuces and explained to them that the branch would come off tomorrow. Then I turned to the strawberries.The birds had waited....the strawberries plants were upright in anticipation and.....The picking was the best ever!!</div>Jackie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04764789292846059685noreply@blogger.com0