Archive for the ‘Garden’ Category
Sprout time
I planted some brussels sprouts awhile ago — and have been eyeing the mini-cabbage balls for awhile now.
But I was afraid to eat them.
“I remember when I grew brussels sprouts in Oregon, ” my mom said, “but when I saw the bugs, I wouldn’t eat them.”
The bugs aren’t really my problem. I just worried that they wouldn’t really be that good.
So I plucked a few, doused them in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper…and you know what?
They weren’t that good.
The death of a salad table
90+ degree weather equals dead lettuce (see below).
While my transplants are showing slight wilt, my mixed lettuce blend has definitely seen better days.
Mark your garden
I feel like I need to make my own garden markers, but I really want these:
Corn flake
I’m feeling like a bona fide farmer at the moment.
Why? Because I’m growing corn!
The line of 12 below is just a test to see if it proves to be a decent barrier between us and the neighbors (sorry neighbors).
Thank you, Easter Bunny
My parents and in-laws were coming over for Easter brunch. It seemed as good an occasion as any to unearth my carrots. After all, I planted them in October.
So after 5 1/2 months I pulled them up from their more substantial greenery, and…
real-sized carrots!
Downloadable compost list
As a newbie gardener, I recently started my very own compost.
I got a tumbler and began saving scraps with the bit of info, “Combine roughly 50% green and 50% brown” and “keep it moist.” That’s pretty much it.
There’s a bit of apprehension when it comes to tossing trash into a bin outside with the understanding it’s going to STAY there for a long, long time. What if it smells? What if it attracts cockroaches? What if I do it wrong?!
As a novice, I’m always wondering what exactly IS compostable.
So I created a fairly attractive, downloadable list of items that are generally compostable, with most notated whether they are “green” items or “brown” items.
They grow up so fast
“Maybe I shouldn’t have soaked them before planting,” I lamented. “Maybe I should get some new seeds?”
After a week and seeing growth from most of my other seeds, I was starting to worry about the row of lima beans I’d planted over a week ago.
Well, turns out, my worrying was unneeded, because they are emerging, and they are GIANT.
Here is one of my newly sprouted lima bean plants:
Here I’m taking a picture of the same lima with my finger, to show the true . Remember, this seedling just emerged yesterday!
Thriving lettuce
Look at my flourishing lettuce table!
Okay, I cheated. I bought transplants. But since I moved the table farther into the shade and actually started watering it twice a day — even the old lettuce is actually doing pretty well.
Condiments, here I come.
Gardens outshine the grub at El Chorro Lodge
I lunch with my parents on Friday at the newly remodeled El Chorro Lodge.
The food was average and over-priced — but you can’t find better ambiance on a beautiful day; the views of Camelback and Mummy Mountains, the greenery, the newly constructed gardens!
As my parents and I awaited our table, we wandered through the planters ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the zucchini, the tomatoes, the broccoli. I left with tons of ideas for my own yard — and a desire to go back…for a drink.
El Chorro Lodge
5550 E Lincoln Dr.
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
