Showing posts with label dbe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dbe. Show all posts

Monday, August 30, 2010

Carrots Love Tomatoes & I Love Carrots/Catsup

On April 29, I planted some Atomic Red Carrots as companions to my Arkansas Traveler Tomatoes.  They were planted simply to benefit the tomatoes by loosening the soil and encouraging the tomato roots to travel deeper.  Success.DSC_1409_4068 The tomatoes grew (and continue to grow) so tall that the growth of the carrots was stunted.  Yesterday, I pulled what I could because I needed some carrots for the minestrone soup I was making.  The carrots were small and a deep, dark red.  Wow.DSC_2070_5039 I didn’t even think to take a reference photo until I had almost finished chopping up the carrots.  Here’s a couple of examples.DSC_2073_5042 I need to order some carrot seeds to plant for fall.

Personal Reveal:  As a child we always had cold carrot sticks on the dinner table.  I liked to dip mine in catsup.  In fact, to this day I believe the reason to eat French Fries is to enjoy catsup.

Note:  The Lemon Squash and Malali Watermelon was ripped out yesterday to make way for some fall planting.

 

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DBE gals:  If you would like to leave a comment on any of these posts scroll down to the bottom of the post.  You will find something that looks like this:

Posted by MAYBELLINE at 9:02 PM 9 comments

  1. Click on comments.
  2. A box should open at the bottom of the post allowing you a space to type in your comments.
  3. Click on the drop down box to choose your identity.  You can type in your name or use an account you may have set up or simply remain anonymous.  If you do choose anonymous, you can reveal who you are in your comment.
  4. Once you have typed in your comment, you can then choose to preview it if you like. 
  5. Once everything looks how you wish then select “Post Comment”.
  6. Your comment will not appear immediately.  I monitor the comments and yours should be posted as soon as I can.

Let me know if you need any help.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Spurge

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My name is Maybelline and I have spurge.  Spotted spurge.  It’s in my lawn.  The gardener has spread it around.  It grows low to the turf and grows on stressed turf.  Fertilization and irrigation alterations will not help.  My choices to remove the junk are chemicals or manually pulling these boogers.

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Each evening as the sun is setting I gather my mat, a Mason jar of ice water, gloves, a weeding trowel, and my radio.  Yes, I listen to Michael Savage.  Surprised?  I also listen to the Thomas Jefferson Hour so back off if you want to pick on me.  The garden kitties join me in exploring the front yard until there is no more light to operate.  I pull out spurge and various other weeds until I fill my weed box.  I do my best to pull the entire trespasser from tip to root. 

Spurge exudes a milky, sticky sap that is supposed to be poisonous.  Carrots Love Tomatoes suggests that the sap of some spurge can be used against warts.  Terrific.  I have some of those.  I have applied a little of the sap to some flat warts on my ankle.  The warts have started to darken.  Each evening when I’m weeding I apply a bit more.  I will not post pictures here but will report if the toad like bits drop off.

In the meantime, I estimate with my current rate of progress that the front lawn should be spurge free in about three months.  This is not encouraging.  My goal is to have a healthy lawn.  It’s  not a big lawn and it’s not a healthy lawn.  Any advice for a chemical free healthy lawn will be greatly appreciated.

Maybe I should consider a weeding party where each participant receives an equal amount of produce for the amount of weeds pulled.  Napalm is sounding better and better.

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DBE gals:  Yesterday you tackled a lesson learning how to follow links within Maybelline’s garden.  Here are a few web sites you might enjoy by following these links.  They should open in a separate window.

Ben Nevis

Edinburgh Fringe

Military Tattoo

Nessie Cam

Royal Highland Show

Scotland for the Senses

The Scotsman

Monday, August 16, 2010

The Fall Seeds Are Here! The Fall Seeds Are Here!

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My order of new fall seeds arrived from Terroir Seeds out of Chino Valley, Arizona.  By now, you probably know that I support Arizona and its new law (SB1070) regarding illegal immigration.  I prefer to throw my almost worthless dollars to the state of Arizona rather than a sanctuary city or a blowhard state like my very own California.  Nonetheless, the fall seeds arrived and here’s what I’ll plant:

Nutribud Broccoli is an early-maturing variety, having a large central head with medium-sized side shoots on vigorous, attractive plants. Unusually high in free glutamine, a building block of protein and an important healing nutrient.

Harvests of mature heads extend over about a two-week period. Plant succession crops for continuous harvests. Consistently good results. Difficult to find.

Mammoth Red Rock Cabbage is an heirloom from 1889 that have solid round flattened purple-red 7-10 in. diameter large 6-8 lbs heads.

Excellent keeper with hard and tightly wrapped leaves, large-framed medium core that is great for pickling, boiling and general use. Excellent quality cabbage.

Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage was introduced about 1840. These small 2-3 pound distinctly pointed, conical shaped heads are fast growing, ready for early summer harvesting. Best cabbage for early spring planting.

Regarded by many as one of the best tasting cabbages. Compact size is ideal for raised beds; it's easy to space four or five closely across the width of a raised bed without over crowding.

Cimmarron Lettuce is an heirloom from the 18th century. Also called Little Leprechaun. Beautiful deep red romaine, 10”-12" tall with a crisp, creamy yellow-bronze center with a tender texture and great flavor. Large, sturdy plants virtually impervious to bolting. Both cold and heat hardy.

Merlot Lettuce is absolutely gorgeous, frilled leaves of the richest, dark wine-red. Smooth, full bodied flavor. Loose leaves work well for “cut and come again” culture, as well as baby salad mix. Dark-red lettuce is very high in flavonol, a compound that acts as an antioxidant. William Woys Weaver believes this is destined to become a classic. Finally getting more well known. For the longest shelf life, harvest greens late in the day.

He-Shi-Ko Bunching Onion is a perennial bunching onion, nonbulbing, 3 to 5 slim tender 12-14" silvery-white stalks grow from base with a white pungent flesh.

The Tall Telephone Pea is a Swiss heirloom dating to 1878. Vigorous vines produce a profusion of large, easy to pick, dark-green pods, with 8 - 10 delicious peas in each. Long season. Good in most areas for home gardens, fresh markets and freezing.

Orange Scented Thyme has the traditional flavor of Old English Thyme with a refreshing orange-mint fragrance and pale pink flowers that attract bees. When used in cooking, the clear orange flavor lingers without the harsh aftertaste of other thymes. Excellent with fish, roasted vegetables, stews and soups. Grows short & compact to 4” tall & 12” across.

Stevia leaves are 100-300 times sweeter than table sugar, have virtually no calories and are not broken down by heat. Studies show this non-caloric, natural sweetener lowers blood pressure, regulates heartbeat, is antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-yeast and retards dental plaque. No calories, no carbohydrates, no tooth decay!

In addition, I will plant garlic, carrots, and onions.  I just need to decide the combinations to plant and which beds to use.  All seeds will be sewn in place if the current crops poop out in time.  If not, I will need to start the seeds in peat pots and transplant whenever the beds are ready.

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Note:  DBE gals, I did a terrible tutorial job on yesterday’s post.  Let’s try one more time.  Please read these instructions to the end then give it a try.  In the paragraph above you can see the word “garlic” in a different color type.  When a word or group of words are in a different color that generally means that those words are linked to something related to the topic.  Give a single left click on that green garlic.  That action will take you to a post that shows my garlic braid.  If you want to come back to this post click on the back button.  The back button looks something like this.image   An arrow pointing to the left will take you back one page.  If you want to know what a button does just put your cursor (mouse) arrow over the button and some words should pop up to tell you what the button does.

That’s enough for now.  Go out and practice.  Remember, your breed ruled an empire.  You can do this.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Lavender Wands

DSC_1517_4173 The lavender was harvested today.  I have no idea what the variety is because I just can’t remember.  There were several lavender plants in the front yard and they all took a dive.  The backyard seems to be the best environment for thriving.  Drip irrigation and loads of sunshine are no doubt better than sprinklers under a crepe myrtle.

DSC_1516_4172Snipping the stems in the morning is supposed to give more perfume oil in the harvest.  I don’t know if that’s true; but I clipped this bunch in the morning then went to farmers’ market.  When I returned I started to make a few lavender wands.

DSC_1523_4194 These will be donated to the plant auction the Daughters of the British Empire will be holding at their May meeting.  Ladies, if you’re reading this please save your dollars.  These will, no doubt, be responsible for starting a bidding war.  Tomato plants will also be donated.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Daughters of the British Empire Enter the Garden

dbe_ctlogoThe Daughters of the British Empire – DBE  (Sir Edward Elgar Chapter) were invited to hold their Christmas gathering at my house this year.  It was my mother’s turn to host the meeting; so I offered to host the party.  Our house is usually decorated for Christmas and it would be fun to see all the ladies.  I couldn’t just have them show up for a gift exchange only.  A simple menu needed to be prepared for the ladies that were born in Scotland, Ireland, and England.

Split pea soup, salad, bread & butter, and a dessert followed by tea (of course) would be ideal for ladies that had birdlike appetites.

The hostess ( my mother) and Lyn arrived early to make sure everything was in order.  The soup was ready.  The salad was set to be tossed.  The rolls just needed to be warmed.  The caramel sauce for the chocolate cake was warm on the stove.  The tea kettle was on standby.  The hostess assembled the place cards for the 9 DBE members.  There was a 10th place card for Queen Elizabeth just in case her social calendar cleared for the event.  The Union Jack was posted in the front yard to alert the remaining daughters where to find the party.  After all, the British Empire once ruled the entire world.  Surely, these Brits could find their way across town.

In they came dressed in their holiday outfits.DSC_1160_2485Anna was full of Christmas cheer and even matched the holiday china used.  Very festive and always easy to photograph.  Thanks Anna.DSC_1161_2486Barbara migrated thousands of miles from Scotland to finally live in Bakersfield, California.  Bless her heart. DSC_1162_2487Kitty from England was more than willing to get her portrait snapped.  She’s such a “luv”.DSC_1164_2489

Norma, from England, was sporting her DBE pin with a flare of red, white, and blue ribbon.  Sweet .DSC_1165_2490Eileen was very glittery with her golden shimmering top.  She was clearly festive.  She’s also from England.  Sorry about getting the soup to you last, Eileen.  DSC_1167_2492 Joannie was sporting a sequined Christmas tree pin that reminded me of one from my childhood.  She was very kind.  Her English manners were appreciated by a fumbling wait staff (me).DSC_1168_2493 Connie was really showing her Scottish roots with her tartan vest.  Connie knows her way around a computer with her many emails.  I expect her to comment on this post.DSC_1169_2494Lyn is from England.  She had her make up done for the party.  Doesn’t she look pretty?

DSC_1170_2495Marjory enjoyed closing her eyes and listening to Vera Lynn sing about the White Cliffs of Dover.  Jimmy Shand also played to the delight of the Scottish lassies.

A gift exchange was underway while the split peas soup and rolls were laid out.  Sadly, the Queen didn’t make it so the meal got started.  Once all the bowls were in place, Marjory offered a Burns poem before the meal:

"Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit."

DSC_1174_2499All nine of the daughters were off to a great start.   If only the Queen would have made an appearance.

Now it was time for the salad.  Romaine, iceberg, red onion, cucumber, avocado, salami, provolone, vinegar, oil, and bleu cheese all tossed together.  Just as the salad course was finishing up, a knock came to the door. 

“Make way for the Queen.”  The Queen WAS at the front door.  It was a complete surprise to everyone (except Anna – cheeky wee bissom).  Seating arrangements were adjusted and the Queen settled in for a bowl of split pea soup.  There was no salad to offer.  Fortunately,  she was able to enjoy dessert and tea.

The afternoon was a roaring success with a table full of daughters gabbing and enjoying each others company.  The Queen was one of the last to leave.  With all the excitement, I almost forgot to snap her portrait.  Luckily, I scrambled out to her before she was whisked off by her driver.

DSC_1176_2501 Queenie is an Irish lass that lived for many years in Bakersfield.  She now lives in Visalia and made a special trip down to surprise everyone.  And she did.  She certainly did.

Merry Christmas

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