Look Up

Ever look up while you’re in the garden?  There really is a lot more out there to take in than the stuff growing down on the ground where your feet are stuck.

 

Sometimes the sky is really blue above the fog and haze.

 

Golden California foothills and blue sky.  That’s one of the views from my garden on a clear day looking up and to the east on an unusually clear day.  Those hills are a few miles away.

 

I’m not a fan of palm trees; but nothing says “California” like palm trees against a sunset.

 

Even junky power lines look pretty artistic in the right light.

 

The cloud formations can really be incredible.  Sitting back in a chair with my feet up, looking at the sky is a real time soaker.  It can take me away from some things that need to be done. 
So what.

The garden is under the flight pattern for planes heading out to Edwards Air Force Base or China Lake Naval Air Weapons  Station.  There’s also planes flying to and from LA and San Francisco.

 

Don’t miss the night sky either.

Take the time to look up from your garden.

Progress

January 12, 2009

Two years ago the garden was under construction.  The bareroot fruit trees had just been planted and had yet to be trained in espalier.  The gravel hadn’t arrived yet for the paths.

 

April 7, 2010

Currently, the garden is growing with much success.  The trees, fruits, and vegetables continue to provide produce, entertainment, and exercise.

This blog was started to help keep track of what was going on in the garden.  It was a source of communication for my father to enjoy the progress of the garden.  He wasn’t able to get around very well and rarely could come into the garden to experience what was going on.  The internet is a wonderful thing.  My father has since passed away and so has a beloved garden pup.  The garden continues to grow and evolve though.

2011 should be a great year in the garden.  I intend to conquer grafting and successfully grow yellow corn.  Small goals but I’m satisfied.

Now I have seed catalogs and a couple of gardening books to enjoy during these comfortable winter months.  Before I know it, it will be time to gripe about swamp pants.

Hates California. It’s Cold & It’s Damp…

  Courtesy UCSB Geology Department

It’s fog season in the great San Joaquin Valley.  This big old geological tub holds the moisture from November through about February.  It’s sweet.  Nothing, I mean nothing, needs to be irrigated.  It’s as if we’re living in a cool terrarium.  Remember those? 

When I was a kid, there was more land dedicated to agriculture.  The thick, grey Tule fog would hug the ground.  It would be so bad that school would be delayed a couple of hours.  Very sweet.  I continue to enjoy this time of year. 

Here’s some examples of cold dampness in the garden.

 

 

 

Now, that song from Rogers & Hart (1937) The Lady is a Tramp…blows me away every time I hear it.  But I was humming it while I was out enjoying the morning today.

Puzzles

One of my favorite bloggers, L from So…, came for a visit to the garden.  It’s been wonderfully cold and damp and the garden is currently on cruise control.  Occasionally (daily), the lettuce is harvested.  Occasionally (once a week), the carrots are harvested.  Occasionally (every other week), the beets are harvested.  And more than occasionally (whenever Farmer MacGregor requires), green onions are harvested.  Since there was no manual labor required, we enjoyed a couple of movies; but mostly we enjoyed a jigsaw puzzle.

 

Sure, a thousand piece puzzle can be frustrating.  Mostly it was like eating peanuts and we simply couldn’t stop.  Sometimes our thoughts would consider a simpler Amish way of life where a puzzle was more entertaining than the latest electronic gadget.  And it was.  A simpler form of entertainment won out over Xbox, computers, iphones, etc.

L was sneaky and finished putting together the remaining parts that were kept until the end.  They were only left until the end because we couldn’t figure out where the pieces fit. She tackled the “green” pieces with success this afternoon.  It was a proud moment.

This time of year is great.  I enjoy hibernating in a cozy, comfortable house and being simple.

So…now what?

Olly Olly Oxen Free!

This afternoon was a bright, sunny day.  Recent storms left the surrounding mountains dusted with snow and the air sparkly clean.  The travelers stuck on either side of those mountains because of road closures had a different opinion.  Before lunch, I fiddled with the espalier fruit trees, inspected the vegetable beds, and gave the pup his obedience lesson.  It’s not all work all the time in the garden.  Fun and games are encouraged.  Sometimes the most unexpected being will participate.  I stumbled upon a game of Hide and Seek.

 

 

This game has been re-named Hide and Go Away Biscuit Breath.

Neighborhood Watch

Our neighbor has a Bichon Frise named Emmy Lou.  Emmy Lou walks her 80 year old human everyday.  In fact, dearest Emmy Lou uses our front yard to do her “duty”.  Nasty little gal.  Her human takes her regularly to the salon.  For the holidays, she sported pink bows to match her new pink harness and lead.  Don’t let the feminine fluff fool you.  Emmy Lou believes that she is a mighty hound.  This morning her human reported that she fancied herself a coon hound.  It was all he could do to hold on to her hot pink reins as they approached our mailbox. 

Not Emmy Lou.  Only a model for reference.

 

Her human thought old Emmy Lou had finally come undone.  Then, he saw movement.  He thought it was a cat.  He thought it was a really big cat – like a rag doll cat or something.  It was an opossum!  That ferocious Bichon had an opossum treed in the Texas Ranger.  That varmint blends in so well with the surroundings that I had a tough time finding it to take a shot (the Nikon variety).

 

No one knows where this wee beasty came from or where it is now.  If it knows what’s good for it, it will stay away from my garden or the next shot I take of the varmint will not be of the Nikon variety. 

Beware, Mr(s). Opossum.  Our neighborhood has owls.

Fresh New Year!

 

In summer, the Watermelon Crepe Myrtle is in full bloom with confetti like petals.  They grow really well in zone 8-9 and are extremely tolerant of the dry heat.  Some gardeners don’t like the mess the petals make; but I don’t mind the crinkly pink confetti floating around the yard.  By the end of August, evidence of the crepe myrtle is most everywhere.

Before 2011 hit, I wanted to make sure to do some cleaning.  A couple of bedrooms and the laundry was on my list.  The recent rains had wrecked my windows and they really needed to be cleaned; so that task was added to my list.  The type of windows we have make cleaning super easy.  The outside can swing inside for cleaning then swing back out to secure in place.  Pretty convenient.

As the windows were cleaned, remnants of the summer of 2010 were revealed.  Leaf cutting bees seem to adore crepe myrtle petals.  Once they have chomped the petals, they buzz over to the neighboring windows and some how build nests shaped similar to a pencil.  This cycle happens annually.  So as I bid good bye to the old year, the bees from summer provide me with confetti to toss in celebration of a fresh, new year.

Happy 2011!

Jack Frost Nipping @ Our Toes

The temperatures are dipping down below freezing tonight; so tender plants need to be protected.  Typically, I don’t want a plant that needs to be fussed with; but since the salad bed is feeding both me and Farmer MacGregor fairly well this winter it gets fussed with.  Previously, I showed this image of the salad bed on a warm, sunny day.

Before

 

This afternoon, we draped the plastic sheeting over to help seal in some warmth.  Old man MacGregor reports that some of the lettuce had a bit of frost this morning.  No damage was noticed.  Anyway – this is a fairly simple way to help protect tender growth on an infrequent basis.  I couldn’t recommend this for areas with snow and cold, cold temperatures.  I wouldn’t have a clue how to even operate a snow shovel…and for that I am thankful. After

Most all other crops are growing vigorously with this cool/cold weather.  The cabbage patch is an example of those plants that thrive during this time of year – cabbages, onions, cauliflower, and beets are producing beautifully.

Now, when I say it’s cold here in the garden please don’t have visions of me building a snowman.  Nope.  It’s simply great weather…weather that doesn’t produce swamp pants.  It’s my most favorite kind of weather.  Sun on my back and a cool breeze coming off the snow covered Sierras.  Perfect.

 

PS…

 

As I sat out in the garden this afternoon with my feet up, eyes enjoying the blue sky, I noticed a load of yellow birds in my neighbors’ Mulberry tree.  Anyone have a clue what kind of birds they are?  I think they have a cardinal-like head.  I couldn’t get my long lens on quick enough.

 

Hummingbirds in the Garden

Most all the leaves are off the trees now.  We’ll be ready to dormant spray soon…just as soon as the wind and rain calms down a bit.  Late this afternoon, the wind picked up and a few showers followed.  Now it’s cold.  Well, 37°F is kinda cold.  It’s cold for around here.  Tomorrow afternoon, the salad bed will get covered because the temperature should dipped a bit lower.  Frozen lettuce is junk.

The hummingbird weather vane indicated that the someone up in Alaska forgot to shut the freezer door.  Come on Sarah.  Pay attention!  It got so cool around here that visiting wildlife had to reconsider their travel plans.

Crop Review 2010 – Lettuce

 

      

Photo top :  September 2010.  Photo bottom:  December 2010.

 

This fall, a salad bed was planted using 4 different varieties of lettuce, 3 different varieties of onions, 2 different varieties of radishes, and 1 variety of beets (no partridge in a pear tree here!).  The south end of the bed has strawberries growing.  Ajax loves strawberries.  He is currently being trained to not give in to his desires.  This bed is protected from freezing temperatures thanks to the genius planning of Farmer MacGregor.  The 3 raised stakes that look like parallel balance beams make up the frame for which plastic sheeting to be draped over.  That forms a miniature hot house that can be quickly erected whenever the chance of a frost or freeze is in the forecast.  The storm predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday may bring colder temperatures and the salad bed will take cover.

All the lettuce has performed beautifully.  Most all the seeds germinated easily in an average of 8 days.  Once the rainy weather came, no irrigation was needed but until then the drip lines were used to keep the soil moist – not wet.

 

Brune D’Hiver came with this description on the seed packet:  Compact, hardy, French butterhead-type lettuce that was introduced in 1855.  Crunchy green leaves are blushed in reddish-brown color.  Plants require little space when growing and are perfect for fall plantings.  Hard to find in America.  I can add that the size of the leaves make this an ideal lettuce for sandwiches.  In fact, if you are concerned about carbs, these leaves could easily replace the bread of a sandwich.

 

Here’s what the seed packet had to say about the Cimarron:  Deep red romaine, 10-12” tall with a crisp, creamy yellow-bronze center, tender texture.  Impervious to bolting.  This romaine is much more tender than the grocery store variety.  These also are great for wraps if you’re looking for something to replace bread.

The Iceberg was a bit slow; but once the basil was pruned to allow maximum sunlight, the growth rate kicked into high gear.  The Iceberg gets a lower rating because the seeds were slower to germinate and not all the seeds germinated.  Also, the Iceberg is not forming in the typical tight head of lettuce I expected.  It resembles loose, green leaf lettuce; but it’s still good.  The rating may be a bit harsh.  It’s based on the slow to no germination and the fact the lettuce isn’t a tight head lettuce.  Otherwise it’s fine.

 

Merlot has got to be the prettiest of the 4 varieties planted this year.  Terrior/Underwood Gardens describes this lettuce:  Absolutely gorgeous, frilled leaves of the richest, dark wine-red.  Smooth, bull bodied flavor.  This is really a stunning addition to a salad for its good looks and good taste.

 

I’m going to take advantage of this great asset to the garden as long as possible.  The dry heat will be here before I know it, and homegrown lettuce will give way to grocery store purchases of Salinas grown greens.  Here’s my rating of the lettuces grown this year.  Remember, 5 is best – 0 is worst.

 

Variety	Seed Co.	Rating
Brune D’Hiver	Baker Creek	5
Cimarron Romaine	Terrior Seeds	5
Iceberg	Baker Creek	3
Merlot	Terrior Seeds	5+