tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81093471585898525782024-02-20T16:21:28.028-07:00Vynnie the GardenerCreating environments - edible, sustainable, naturally.Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-5563430803420010282012-07-20T12:22:00.000-07:002012-07-20T12:22:30.343-07:00Gone Fishing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-mce-href="http://vynniethegardener.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/gone_fishin03_thumbnail-aspx.jpg" href="http://vynniethegardener.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/gone_fishin03_thumbnail-aspx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-633" data-mce-src="http://vynniethegardener.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/gone_fishin03_thumbnail-aspx.jpg" height="300" src="http://vynniethegardener.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/gone_fishin03_thumbnail-aspx.jpg" title="gone_fishin03_thumbnail.aspx" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Time
for a break. (I know for most of you following me, it seems I'm always
on a break from the blog). After a fun productive spring, and an exhaustive June (the 2nd hottest on record), I will be taking a much
needed hiatus for the remainder of the summer. I'll be back on line
after Sep01 with a new look and a lot of great info.<br />
Thanks to all of you for your support.<br />
Happy gardening!<br />
- VynnieXericopia City Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02180513253351307589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-9703687053808775672012-03-07T12:02:00.044-07:002012-03-08T01:02:37.681-07:00What Do Do Wednesday - Start CompostingIt's that time of year. Well, actually, it's always that time of year. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54NCJ5f7h7E">Time to start composting</a>. <br />
<br />
I won't go into all the reasons why composting is good for you, and why composting is good for the earth, and why you're mother should have told you about composting. I'll get into all that some other time. For now, let's just dive into the nitty-gritty. You wanna compost, here's how:<br />
Just start. It's gonna be a bit messy. It's gonna be a bit hard. It's gonna take work. You will find your rhythm and create a good system and really like doing it. But first, you have to just start. <br />
<b>Step #1:</b> You need stuff. Grass clippings, leaves, hedge trimmings, yard stuff. This is the base material. If you can get yard waste, you have the goods. Don't have lawn? You can find bags of it curbside on garbage day. (Later, I'll show what else can go in the compost).<b> </b><br />
<b>Step #2:</b> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41583047@N00/1100218351/in/photostream">Make a pile</a>. It can be on concrete, on the dirt, on grass, or directly in the garden. A pile is the basic form of composting. Even if you use a composter, it's just a container with a pile of stuff in it.<b> </b><br />
<b>Step #3:</b> Stir the pile. This is not to be confused with 'turning the pile'. All you really need to do is mix it up. A little on one side, a little on the other side, a bit in the middle, and in thirty seconds, done. This should be done a couple days a week.<br />
<b>Step #4:</b> Water it. After you stir the pile, turn on the hose, use your thumb, count to twenty, done. Do this a couple days a week.<b> </b><br />
<b>Step #5:</b> Repeat Step #3 & #4. Do this as often as possible (about 3 days a week is ideal) and within 3-4 months, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41583047@N00/1100218367/in/photostream/">good compost will be ready to use</a>. The more you stir and water, the sooner your compost will be done. <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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4K0wo5xHmtgq_JtsgPLZtxJoHkcOLDGpRWs4RHUgnFAZs0vMwUzksWHD_RDL4LpB__aLY1ljlXO3iTFQhk9O2rb28elBEKV897Zp_GzA9MnlWR0sfllUJNIzgwNCVZGqWIzSgmmaUHiM/s1600/Xericopia_2010-05-17_compost_sifted_IMG_3134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4K0wo5xHmtgq_JtsgPLZtxJoHkcOLDGpRWs4RHUgnFAZs0vMwUzksWHD_RDL4LpB__aLY1ljlXO3iTFQhk9O2rb28elBEKV897Zp_GzA9MnlWR0sfllUJNIzgwNCVZGqWIzSgmmaUHiM/s640/Xericopia_2010-05-17_compost_sifted_IMG_3134.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Finished compost 3 ways - Raw, Sifted, Fine Sifted)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>What you will need to compost:<br />
<b>Space - </b>A compost pile will be about 3-4'feet wide and 2-3'feet high, and you need room for it. The pile will grow, and then shrink as you begin to use it. And stuff will spill, spread and go all over. Make sure it won't be all over the lawn mower and the bikes. <br />
<b>Composting container - </b>This can be a wood frame system, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41583047@N00/4617635703/in/photostream">a tumbler</a>, a static bin, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTXFDXokT7g">a city provided bin</a>, chicken wire frame, even an old cardboard box. This is the tidy alternative to a pile. It may cost money, or a bit of effort to build and/or acquire, but try what will work for you. I recommend having at least two container systems.<br />
<b>Tools - </b>Something sturdy and reliable to help stir your compost. A spade shovel is good . A metal rod is even better. Typically made of rebar (about 4'ft long), this can be purchased at a hardware store or home improvement center. Standard shovel will work, as well as a pitchfork, or garden hoe. Even one of those fancy-schmancy aerator corkscrew tools will do the job. As long as you have something that will move your compost material around, it's a start. Oh, don't forget the broom. You're gonna need it, a lot. <br />
<b>Water - </b>Without water, composting will likely not happen. The closer the compost is to a hose source, the better. Just one less obstacle to manage. If it's a hassle, you probably won't bother.<br />
Lastly, you need a place to use your compost, like a garden! Once you start composting, it's only a matter of months when you'll be able to start using it, so be ready. Whether planting in ground or in a raised planter, compost is the magic ingredient. <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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJ9jdkimrqMCS1qebp1ampf7tir4LphnL_01hrIYtGCGC5V8E-5UcnqIgRQ2XDLnCj6T7nHnQytyJ7Cm3tvZ9wBJ3iwn6MuXSZxJe05gTIvHv1Hxx8n8Usb8J2Tt7K-eafZfR5blfewI/s1600/IMG_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJ9jdkimrqMCS1qebp1ampf7tir4LphnL_01hrIYtGCGC5V8E-5UcnqIgRQ2XDLnCj6T7nHnQytyJ7Cm3tvZ9wBJ3iwn6MuXSZxJe05gTIvHv1Hxx8n8Usb8J2Tt7K-eafZfR5blfewI/s640/IMG_0201.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Raised beds at Xericopia full of good ol' compost soil and happy plants!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>What else can be added into the compost...(you asked for it)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfC4nKtfPclDjCaybTSQNcN6kZPmi0fQmc_NrcdXJZqoiVbqDy-aeyjyrzdpOXBihi8LkRAmIizyn8p53c9JAYuKKWqXykHfUPGaYx2WNZdK0Pk30JYL9hU8uzZFQuEBuSF5FDjPKdk5E/s1600/What_Can_Composted2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfC4nKtfPclDjCaybTSQNcN6kZPmi0fQmc_NrcdXJZqoiVbqDy-aeyjyrzdpOXBihi8LkRAmIizyn8p53c9JAYuKKWqXykHfUPGaYx2WNZdK0Pk30JYL9hU8uzZFQuEBuSF5FDjPKdk5E/s640/What_Can_Composted2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Happy Composting!Xericopia City Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02180513253351307589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-9425547002952341162012-03-02T01:22:00.065-07:002012-03-02T11:26:16.314-07:00Friday Feature - First Friday!Are you ready for the weekend? It's going to be a great time to enjoy the night out. Why not do something adventurous and check out <a href="http://artlinkphoenix.com/first-fridays/">First Friday</a>. This is the premiere artwalk in the state, and is actually one of the biggest in the country.<br />
<a href="http://www.rooseveltrow.org/">Roosevelt Row</a> is the main hub for what's happening downtown, just south of I-10 off 3rd Street. The scene is so full of energy, they sometime close off a few blocks just for foot traffic (and a bevy of street performers). The cornerstone of it all is <a href="http://www.madephx.com/friends/">MADE Art Boutique</a>, one of my favorite places to buy cool, funky books and jewelry. Here, you can find out about what's happening, where to go, and you might even see someone you know. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQDirIK03FVQ4R2wnwcx8nEK1_tjiKpkSkkmfTVdI8x3NK5JG-IzCaj3vsoOknBIRjNLCWylUQMG7cOKsJhYr8wrSa5rH1usmoivEWbQL8ilqYQ11ITqK5ZZ1Dofsi8_GRZS5jEZK1YY/s1600/IMG_1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQDirIK03FVQ4R2wnwcx8nEK1_tjiKpkSkkmfTVdI8x3NK5JG-IzCaj3vsoOknBIRjNLCWylUQMG7cOKsJhYr8wrSa5rH1usmoivEWbQL8ilqYQ11ITqK5ZZ1Dofsi8_GRZS5jEZK1YY/s640/IMG_1098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And from there, the fun just spills down the block and around the corner, with <a href="http://jobot-coffee.com/">JoBot Coffee</a>, Lost Leaf Cafe, <a href="http://modifiedarts.org/">Modified ArtSpace</a>, Tammy Coe Cakes, and more. Feeling hungry? Your nose will do the walking toward the always awesome <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/PHXstreetfood">Food Truck garden</a>. Don't feel left out, you gardener types. You have to go see <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/GROWop/120403008029354">GrowOp</a>, a great little shop with vintage/found goods and fashion. Oh, did I forget to mention the entire exterior space is <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27753387@N08/6800786920/in/photostream/">brimming with veggies</a>- along the sidewalk!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFxaeZnVr6uc0KRNX_W5p-hTwqQF8Ltveunw8baX3zW6NEVGbhGtTombjy9dtbWI1XgknE7QuImRnomcj0ZpWQL4xp9cKhivPSUyl1GdRMCzbNmLU8NT46frFRfMiOmHKRki9Kd3Tfvw/s1600/IMG_1110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFxaeZnVr6uc0KRNX_W5p-hTwqQF8Ltveunw8baX3zW6NEVGbhGtTombjy9dtbWI1XgknE7QuImRnomcj0ZpWQL4xp9cKhivPSUyl1GdRMCzbNmLU8NT46frFRfMiOmHKRki9Kd3Tfvw/s640/IMG_1110.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>If you don't want to venture to far downtown, stay uptown and peep <a href="http://practical-art.com/">Practical Art</a>, on Central Ave just north of Camelback. Loads of amazing artisan wares and works of art. The staff is nice to look at too (Love you guys!). You can take a stroll for more cool vibes at <a href="http://www.francesvintage.com/">Frances Vintage</a> where you may not find what you need, but you'll definately find something you want; <a href="http://www.stinkweeds.com/events.cfm">Stinkweeds music shop</a> where vinyl still lives; and <a href="http://www.windsoraz.com/">Windsor</a>, and <a href="http://postinowinecafe.com/">Postino</a> for some fine comfort dining. <br />
<a href="http://artlinkphoenix.com/first-fridays/">Click here for more details on First Friday</a>. Now get out and support your local community!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZtJHXA5bnldvJRzq-5iU1SgEK8uBf_SiFr5ED6dRzabYUWhldYiSbeW98ZqumPJlm4J3k_SUfGAQjJK8E707boSI7bz6efV9Sh47u87qqxwt59HvZGLkXrQgtpBF3hhH7CyOmpFwJaw/s1600/Flkr_FF_Dancers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="531" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZtJHXA5bnldvJRzq-5iU1SgEK8uBf_SiFr5ED6dRzabYUWhldYiSbeW98ZqumPJlm4J3k_SUfGAQjJK8E707boSI7bz6efV9Sh47u87qqxwt59HvZGLkXrQgtpBF3hhH7CyOmpFwJaw/s640/Flkr_FF_Dancers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Cool things you see only at Phoenix First Friday)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Xericopia City Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02180513253351307589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-7965512175121201392012-02-28T23:45:00.003-07:002012-03-02T01:02:40.771-07:00What To Do Wednesday: Make A List...<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Spring is [unofficially] upon us! I'm sure, like me, many of you are excited to get out and start gardening away. But with so many ideas in mind, where to begin?? Filled with anticipation and inspiration, I find the best way to channel all that creative energy is by making lists - fun lists!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">What veggies do I like to eat?</div>What veggies have I tried growing before?<br />
What color flowers do I like best?<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hT8Z6BYjL4_ujYZm9LjkB8YkNnIjWAO_fe6mObYilgR32u1vzRntv7iJfySAqVASZfqV_r7ZKr6mzxFgh4pM1nYP4n9Pw7io4oZOxwjo8eAMK2q7OehCCkGv777FTfpCznUVVf6hTbM/s1600/IMG_3588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hT8Z6BYjL4_ujYZm9LjkB8YkNnIjWAO_fe6mObYilgR32u1vzRntv7iJfySAqVASZfqV_r7ZKr6mzxFgh4pM1nYP4n9Pw7io4oZOxwjo8eAMK2q7OehCCkGv777FTfpCznUVVf6hTbM/s640/IMG_3588.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Check your kitchen - you may already have a list!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> This is my quick-start Step #1 to gardening. And my Step #2 is seed shopping. Seeds are not only inspiring but they are often easy to do - and cheap. With most seed packs, if you get even 50% yield (stuff to grow), in 3-6 months you could save $100 or more, compared to buying transplants.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here in Phoenix, I have two places I love shopping for seeds, <a href="http://www.southwestgardener.com/">Southwest Gardener</a> and <a href="http://www.bakernurseryaz.com/">Baker Nursery</a>. Both carry seed brands that are of good quality and are produced in the southwest region. Best of all, the folks that work at these establishments have grown many of the seeds before and I can ask them their tricks and tips. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPH2oB46FIDvWv5AnacwYvK5Hah80WBzhVtn1VNu2E1oXXfl057-jn9rR2UbjozltmQtoEfX7pJcratcqzYumX4lsZkS4VdMMMnpv226n1af1njVpZsSgplFP4U22aNHctJrOiCCO3Cw/s1600/IMG_3421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPH2oB46FIDvWv5AnacwYvK5Hah80WBzhVtn1VNu2E1oXXfl057-jn9rR2UbjozltmQtoEfX7pJcratcqzYumX4lsZkS4VdMMMnpv226n1af1njVpZsSgplFP4U22aNHctJrOiCCO3Cw/s640/IMG_3421.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Seeds galore, ready for the picking.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Want a good tip? Set yourself a budget of $20bucks and go for broke. Buy a tomato and a pepper; a zucchini and a broccoli; try some basil and chamomile; and don't forget some salvia and zinnia. The selections are endless! Don't forget to ask questions before you leave the shop, then get home and do a little homework yourself. Some seed companies have a wealth of information on their websites. My favorite, <a href="http://www.botanicalinterests.com/">Botanical Interest</a>, actually has a <a href="http://lifeonthebalcony.com/review-of-the-botanical-interests-iphone-app/">phone app</a> for that!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69i-lvkCmmWplehhJrsQ9tVIEmLv31KEnEH7W_CZRSbN-UMJyt_7CuqiEYexM3AE7tuF069rwkb6zc46mq_IIJOz0OqWcClEGX6hvm6FarXK0u_smYAuL8QCaBupiRxJUaKO-mapoHXU/s1600/VTG_Seed-packs_2011-07-13_IMG_1910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69i-lvkCmmWplehhJrsQ9tVIEmLv31KEnEH7W_CZRSbN-UMJyt_7CuqiEYexM3AE7tuF069rwkb6zc46mq_IIJOz0OqWcClEGX6hvm6FarXK0u_smYAuL8QCaBupiRxJUaKO-mapoHXU/s640/VTG_Seed-packs_2011-07-13_IMG_1910.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Seed junkie on the loose - mmmm, my precious!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Before you know it, you'll be hooked (like me) and will be spending $20 each month on seeds - yikes! Happy shopping!</div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-52014703543550669602012-02-10T21:17:00.003-07:002012-02-10T21:17:00.356-07:00Friday Feature - Your GardenIt's a new year - time to look within! Well, within your own space and explore your own garden. Many of us spend a lot of time, money, and resources trying to fix things about ourselves and our lives. Maybe this is the year we start focusing appreciation and gratitude toward things about us and right around us. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8cqMwrr7_X-nluE5Odkl8m4ZzHiO3VA5hy0D6GjnkAOSY_4U82bV4lb09-LhJBgyrT4rtIDjCl3ecgS2_CdTtcsExFtMVeAIe04CgVd7bZAswK_QIz5GtFREi_yeMxMvlNscwcQBbxs/s1600/Blog-pic_IMG_1087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8cqMwrr7_X-nluE5Odkl8m4ZzHiO3VA5hy0D6GjnkAOSY_4U82bV4lb09-LhJBgyrT4rtIDjCl3ecgS2_CdTtcsExFtMVeAIe04CgVd7bZAswK_QIz5GtFREi_yeMxMvlNscwcQBbxs/s640/Blog-pic_IMG_1087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>So without fully channeling my inner Depak, let's just start with that 'ol space outside.<br />
Take a look (and a walk) around and ask yourself these questions:<br />
<br />
What 2 things would I most like to change in my garden?<br />
What 3 things do I really like just as they are?<br />
In my garden, if I could pick a 'Bliss Spot' where would that be?<br />
Which tree is my favorite tree, and why?<br />
How many different forms of wildlife/nature did I see today?<br />
Who do I know would really love to see my garden right now?<br />
<br />
It's yours! Find the joy and beauty of it every day. Then do something - grand or subtle - to make it more special for you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5OPDl1Z8cTBohc13EwcM5pmGwGGvhs5NIlz6utKdchwXZ7hJFWw3l0y7lMdtioCaQ_BaAGGjPipa_33QIQGCSv1ucqfXTW3Lyv_oW0YbSTBw9vtDSajeB4v_mLIn1k9pmoUFFLOtLW4/s1600/Blog-pic_VTG_2010-03-16_Rustica_IMG_3603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5OPDl1Z8cTBohc13EwcM5pmGwGGvhs5NIlz6utKdchwXZ7hJFWw3l0y7lMdtioCaQ_BaAGGjPipa_33QIQGCSv1ucqfXTW3Lyv_oW0YbSTBw9vtDSajeB4v_mLIn1k9pmoUFFLOtLW4/s640/Blog-pic_VTG_2010-03-16_Rustica_IMG_3603.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-58401628718286816852011-10-31T12:21:00.000-07:002011-10-31T12:21:00.280-07:00Booo!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Canker Sore"; font-size: 48.0pt;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19cA6kaTCUGcOCu7WPCcAsQw560M5mK3q1gMVneEZsa3joshcXxLVaFQjNOACv156afZ0uUqXfrG65yKonYuN7M2O-vxvjAf2R9lZeyKVUd9yrO3Y-ihqlbb9vt80w8j_oNPR1iwy4Yo/s1600/Xericopia_Halloween_scorpio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19cA6kaTCUGcOCu7WPCcAsQw560M5mK3q1gMVneEZsa3joshcXxLVaFQjNOACv156afZ0uUqXfrG65yKonYuN7M2O-vxvjAf2R9lZeyKVUd9yrO3Y-ihqlbb9vt80w8j_oNPR1iwy4Yo/s640/Xericopia_Halloween_scorpio.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Canker Sore"; font-size: 48.0pt;"><b>Happy Halloween!!!</b></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-58457683975679890412011-07-10T20:23:00.002-07:002011-07-10T20:23:00.784-07:00ReflectingAlright, that last post even got me depressed, looking at all that dead stuff - in <i>MY</i> garden! I'm sure it probably wasn't very inspiring for you out there. So, to put a smile back on your screen, I thought I'd share some of my 'Firsts' of the season.<br />
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Our first batch of heirloom tomatoes! And this from one of our plants weathered over from last year. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipk5JjcVm8FKOOSShjy_gDRsvG1O4IqNQU6-rGpRxXw1wKwtQ3aliACIUDFXMmb3MA-9viMWCc_UKusZOaTf3xuVH5IJ7MvAX4JgWc4znDx4Rv3qlLWmaOjNVFlWzNlMTvAVfv5ngbGmM/s1600/IMG_1085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipk5JjcVm8FKOOSShjy_gDRsvG1O4IqNQU6-rGpRxXw1wKwtQ3aliACIUDFXMmb3MA-9viMWCc_UKusZOaTf3xuVH5IJ7MvAX4JgWc4znDx4Rv3qlLWmaOjNVFlWzNlMTvAVfv5ngbGmM/s640/IMG_1085.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Frank can't wait for his first lick of salsa.)</div><br />
This was the first year we grew strawberries (planted 2010Nov), and they have produced constantly since April. Even more since June - who knew they loved summer so much! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMBH6p0G0qQiu3gyz3kbei-8dVB5VLIAuNX4aOJ3GoFkKeYOI-k1UZMtwumqoRPO7eDbtfVkPOJabx8ebhviJBG1Sy-l0r6RA9LHHckDu33DQNe09rTMNiAk4L4Td6MSf-qJ_D8Q7XYY/s1600/IMG_0655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMBH6p0G0qQiu3gyz3kbei-8dVB5VLIAuNX4aOJ3GoFkKeYOI-k1UZMtwumqoRPO7eDbtfVkPOJabx8ebhviJBG1Sy-l0r6RA9LHHckDu33DQNe09rTMNiAk4L4Td6MSf-qJ_D8Q7XYY/s640/IMG_0655.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Putting this one on my vision board.)</div><br />
We had our fist wave of cosmos wildflowers since 2004! I think there is too much shade in the back garden. mmmmm...shade....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtc19AQE-sNd4iD1eZQ6Uhu2UtdUVhtJM1dDIt0m4YWgr3hiaIeDDl6AX9LUKIfThaGtg7DlmLWeRcYAhms9duHlvirBMLiQQ4Hg7SHGEC8oCXmHq6m_TXZiqMUQpLJPjjtLGJKTV5eY0/s1600/IMG_1074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtc19AQE-sNd4iD1eZQ6Uhu2UtdUVhtJM1dDIt0m4YWgr3hiaIeDDl6AX9LUKIfThaGtg7DlmLWeRcYAhms9duHlvirBMLiQQ4Hg7SHGEC8oCXmHq6m_TXZiqMUQpLJPjjtLGJKTV5eY0/s640/IMG_1074.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Calling all butterflies!)</div><br />
This year we grew zucchini from seed, and even under the shade of our huge pine trees, they're putting out nice fruit. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ynWhjz7j5O49IqHMKuausHc5Vw5bUsG_S9oFgEA7bwK_Sklr-zD_Iq2UkBqZgZom5Qzca4nx-sjeZJWjkZIwf4549Myp1ReJ9XPL48nTIiTi1hYmExb_WRygzytZAFZWhfCf4BJtQpg/s1600/P1010007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ynWhjz7j5O49IqHMKuausHc5Vw5bUsG_S9oFgEA7bwK_Sklr-zD_Iq2UkBqZgZom5Qzca4nx-sjeZJWjkZIwf4549Myp1ReJ9XPL48nTIiTi1hYmExb_WRygzytZAFZWhfCf4BJtQpg/s640/P1010007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Smiling big for zucchini!)</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTPvKv-tL9hGu3YEGKMibwYl2Jrj9vO-mSLm5JPVKbeqTwSx6_-8YTeukGHVkTiSQYzsCezeyaFKjxfhihC7Nr5xHU8BuGxKrpqRkxN4RbehGd74Vq3Wdt8kSIzXEeZrigGEkKQNYyH0/s1600/IMG_1034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTPvKv-tL9hGu3YEGKMibwYl2Jrj9vO-mSLm5JPVKbeqTwSx6_-8YTeukGHVkTiSQYzsCezeyaFKjxfhihC7Nr5xHU8BuGxKrpqRkxN4RbehGd74Vq3Wdt8kSIzXEeZrigGEkKQNYyH0/s640/IMG_1034.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(First zucchini-tomato tryst. Hey you three, get a fridge!) </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPp4y4nj2g4-geQbEDq088H3zX-uDgIZcXX17kCL7Ze_jo_Z5DVmM1101_9bGsNh96e0dFUeZLLuKaKaqbdX-fu7BbGBUZAQ9aS4UD6ERvaByv_s7OtgiX-LVVbYX2wX090t0_-ljZiI/s1600/IMG_1072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPp4y4nj2g4-geQbEDq088H3zX-uDgIZcXX17kCL7Ze_jo_Z5DVmM1101_9bGsNh96e0dFUeZLLuKaKaqbdX-fu7BbGBUZAQ9aS4UD6ERvaByv_s7OtgiX-LVVbYX2wX090t0_-ljZiI/s640/IMG_1072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(This big guy was able to barter for a whole dozen eggs.) </div><br />
Much to my surprise, our lisbon lemon tree even budded up it's first fruit. Pretty early, but I hope it's a good sign of things to come. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKIsf1RWs8sLCV-OmjkmuIaeFVjiU0b7Xk0Za4VDRyabo2f3XtH-5H-0McjaKFQCEifDvWjMIFkRyXyoVxCYEkkhRMfswMWWxcXVdSBmtXiq9SlLbfgG2LrvcMGChtk9j4aRyuBUG7cA/s1600/IMG_1102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKIsf1RWs8sLCV-OmjkmuIaeFVjiU0b7Xk0Za4VDRyabo2f3XtH-5H-0McjaKFQCEifDvWjMIFkRyXyoVxCYEkkhRMfswMWWxcXVdSBmtXiq9SlLbfgG2LrvcMGChtk9j4aRyuBUG7cA/s640/IMG_1102.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Here come the lemons!)</div><br />
Perhaps the best first of the season, was our first ever patio umbrellas. They have done so much for the garden already. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-O87X5RwCW0xHycqFQPwiDaCMkanMz1jzk4G5JpXtomdFm_9tXXERGMubaRfjehuKUQo4iyd0jdhF6PJ6bYqF14yXwHGuo5yeKiOIxeluZa_Fos5_EEKXwx1pRZw5mSSXxMZlqBc625o/s1600/Xericopia_2011-05-14_bird-garden_umbrella_sanctuary_IMG_0783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-O87X5RwCW0xHycqFQPwiDaCMkanMz1jzk4G5JpXtomdFm_9tXXERGMubaRfjehuKUQo4iyd0jdhF6PJ6bYqF14yXwHGuo5yeKiOIxeluZa_Fos5_EEKXwx1pRZw5mSSXxMZlqBc625o/s640/Xericopia_2011-05-14_bird-garden_umbrella_sanctuary_IMG_0783.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Our first love - sanctuary!)</div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-33639298452147591992011-07-10T16:14:00.000-07:002011-07-10T16:14:41.227-07:00About That Summer Gardening Thing...Okay, I kinda take it back. Just becuase you're not outside right now, doesn't mean you're not a 'real' desert gardener. I mean, it IS pretty hot. Well, let me be more specific; it's rediculously hot, and CA-RAZY humid! That's where I draw my line. 110*degrees+, combined with humidity above 20%percent would only feel pleasant if you have webbed wings, a barbed tail, and red is your favorite color. I'm just a 'dry heat' kind of guy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpebFELaj4xUD1BgPydUjaGptz5-2glQGOPZjCpc5SXkqO_hgmUuEefOuvLM_nH0v4doQRb9jiPJk7l_jrWcdrAm8HcUeIi1EHBomrisZeTYc0SkE3gWJgfHBnEOe_O-GHPstDxHk1Tpw/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpebFELaj4xUD1BgPydUjaGptz5-2glQGOPZjCpc5SXkqO_hgmUuEefOuvLM_nH0v4doQRb9jiPJk7l_jrWcdrAm8HcUeIi1EHBomrisZeTYc0SkE3gWJgfHBnEOe_O-GHPstDxHk1Tpw/s640/IMG_1888.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Hey chickie, off the nice lawn!)</div><br />
In honor of the impressive heat, today I'd root for the hot Team USA in the Soccer World Cup, while I do some indoor gardening, in the form of reflection. Here is a brief peek at what's been happening - er, not happening - here at Xericopia. Hope your garden is surviving through it all. Would love to hear about it! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeYg3zynuwpLXJlbALpO8PIHmGDxwwa-Zawr_K2SeHw1PWTyIZfELvSQ9qwEgCujU-7lhpPZ3Gst7972jkXRlHqXEH-33EeW3BgnNk824qL59Pr7dkd8g1fgLmCGzJQz5w4-8ZxcCRwY/s1600/IMG_1899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeYg3zynuwpLXJlbALpO8PIHmGDxwwa-Zawr_K2SeHw1PWTyIZfELvSQ9qwEgCujU-7lhpPZ3Gst7972jkXRlHqXEH-33EeW3BgnNk824qL59Pr7dkd8g1fgLmCGzJQz5w4-8ZxcCRwY/s640/IMG_1899.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Farewell to my seedlings.)</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YtEIGIjX7j1XjMoG_maVqIIzCCgibRw8E_ZhH-tQCZJkdhElwsb7nQxXP_9tFsZ-sr-rxCZ4T5NY_4-dT3UaX9wPMxaXMWTKEfONMjMZtM_rmIIXSylM1PdRK7sjgmUSD_esPBtEBDs/s1600/IMG_1897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YtEIGIjX7j1XjMoG_maVqIIzCCgibRw8E_ZhH-tQCZJkdhElwsb7nQxXP_9tFsZ-sr-rxCZ4T5NY_4-dT3UaX9wPMxaXMWTKEfONMjMZtM_rmIIXSylM1PdRK7sjgmUSD_esPBtEBDs/s640/IMG_1897.JPG" width="640" /></a>(Farewell to more seedlings...)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAG_SPrs7OGG30YpzlJ7bRRdRawhR0w0L4QAcQNivuV2B6yMUAKIYOhcwjEWVtbrX8EHMYdRxCwHQx_sYgq3BfuEBj9u6ahd4roRaMq0ZvMAhQJex-BY8rKyVKkB5RIN37UJm3TmPSus/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAG_SPrs7OGG30YpzlJ7bRRdRawhR0w0L4QAcQNivuV2B6yMUAKIYOhcwjEWVtbrX8EHMYdRxCwHQx_sYgq3BfuEBj9u6ahd4roRaMq0ZvMAhQJex-BY8rKyVKkB5RIN37UJm3TmPSus/s640/IMG_1893.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Tomato plant hanging on by a crispy thread.)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdfF1Ep4ylvJ6Q_543HCS_qLFwD2z4NmLFGR298iari6OQpmTa3Q9gt6LSsZAG7b-iE_e36UyJIVBGSwc-HqJl3Po6st-IwRe0ZzSEei3e-Qfyb7l2Cu16dBiYZYcuZwUTLitbD-d4xk/s1600/IMG_1891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdfF1Ep4ylvJ6Q_543HCS_qLFwD2z4NmLFGR298iari6OQpmTa3Q9gt6LSsZAG7b-iE_e36UyJIVBGSwc-HqJl3Po6st-IwRe0ZzSEei3e-Qfyb7l2Cu16dBiYZYcuZwUTLitbD-d4xk/s640/IMG_1891.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Lavender?! Seriously?!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnocEsl3I0CA_XyOY-jxE7xLY9POFCnl04GvwFh470zaW9sso3cxNTrhrpY03zypsOuaCIiB9EvuEy-yWg_Pq5tq6bsJ5DDtBsI4-IQC6NbzJj3AcbudQjM7VuH3S8mPD83Dnm7M8Li0/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnocEsl3I0CA_XyOY-jxE7xLY9POFCnl04GvwFh470zaW9sso3cxNTrhrpY03zypsOuaCIiB9EvuEy-yWg_Pq5tq6bsJ5DDtBsI4-IQC6NbzJj3AcbudQjM7VuH3S8mPD83Dnm7M8Li0/s640/IMG_1889.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Even my luecaphylum texas sage can't cope with this humidity.) </div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-33876222516569298102011-07-03T15:20:00.002-07:002011-07-05T13:19:25.793-07:00The Truth About BroccoliFinally harvested the last of the broccoli! Well, sort of. Typically, 'broccoli' is know as the coral reef looking green stuff that causes most children to skip dessert. Yes, this is all accurate, but did you know broccoli is also leaves and stems? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEqvoeST5ybTxKEZjjGpSho7Zfny7Ej8MRxGCxQ-qNhkaXFTh2oTGO4W5nYKe7_eYR9ymwpDmYvGoTUBuhIFscf5theULupvsp9j8EP47XNP17sYqOaQdXgs0rQKNyvESABX4yw1u2W8/s1600/IMG_0993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEqvoeST5ybTxKEZjjGpSho7Zfny7Ej8MRxGCxQ-qNhkaXFTh2oTGO4W5nYKe7_eYR9ymwpDmYvGoTUBuhIFscf5theULupvsp9j8EP47XNP17sYqOaQdXgs0rQKNyvESABX4yw1u2W8/s640/IMG_0993.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Unlike a lot of other veggies, broccoli is 100% edible! The floret can be steamed, grilled, sauteed, or eaten raw with a yummy dip. The leaves are great to saute' into a spicy dish, or chop fine and blanch to add to a mixed green salad. The stems are perfect in a soup stock, or for morning juicing with apple, cucumber, romaine, and beets. <br />
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As part of the cabbage family, this <a href="http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=foodsthatfightcancer_cruciferous_vegetables">cruciferous</a> vegetable is packed with vitamins C and A. Broccoli also boost the body's antioxidant defenses, while lowering LDL cholesterol. (<a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/40948-broccoli-nutrition-information/">read more here</a>)<br />
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So even long after the 'broccoli season' is passed, I'm still enjoy the yummy and nutritious benefits of broccoli. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt44KKtCVv75FwvAyBE90XrV2Y64nziivkD685k6aiQJJeLjWbEzoZHXELv5K9rKaEFynZr2r-kKYM4kSrgdI6wKho33KooEYORni5efx7IDMBgs4G61AJ765cOC8Jod6dNQeEU5mrEMA/s1600/P1010014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt44KKtCVv75FwvAyBE90XrV2Y64nziivkD685k6aiQJJeLjWbEzoZHXELv5K9rKaEFynZr2r-kKYM4kSrgdI6wKho33KooEYORni5efx7IDMBgs4G61AJ765cOC8Jod6dNQeEU5mrEMA/s640/P1010014.JPG" width="640" /></a>(Chop it, steam it, juice it! Before Frank eats it all!) </div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-86088766220690191662011-06-19T23:07:00.119-07:002011-07-05T13:16:46.456-07:00The Gardening Season Begins...Yes. it's June, and now the gardening season begins....Here, in Phoenix. If you're not willing to garden during these toasty months, keep your seat and watch the big kids play. <br />
<br />
I spent much of April and May in the whirlwind of house projects. The frontyard farm beds are built and planted. Two shade trees installed. A new roof finally happened (perhaps the most un-nerving week of my life). Immediately followed by some much needed extreme pruning. So much, I didn't even compost it all. A lot of it was bougainvillea and oleander, so no real heartbreak. All this in preparation for the house painting to come. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVHVPLuZCu5uMRGa9i2THgw9d2qq_4cGqPvYTqA9yj7k7oejXsJWuQG00ZQ68b3sODpD6b1xh-7bpSCz24jBw6Q9zAix_Xm9e0T-gMKN2MSk8mMClKUda-e0869hmCuQFDZwU2zim6K4/s1600/IMG_0754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVHVPLuZCu5uMRGa9i2THgw9d2qq_4cGqPvYTqA9yj7k7oejXsJWuQG00ZQ68b3sODpD6b1xh-7bpSCz24jBw6Q9zAix_Xm9e0T-gMKN2MSk8mMClKUda-e0869hmCuQFDZwU2zim6K4/s640/IMG_0754.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(brbrbrbr! crack-crack-crack! thud-klunk! thud-klunk! pop-pop-pop! brbrbrbrbrbrbrbr!!!!)</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx01SQhZt4ta69Nrrogiuvk73M-gfMZPFrg7viLpGoDBNLi8EhZRkifSQAN2Wd_Xl9Pec4WuYKVxrIawSsEEpZghxwrZ0fiGFCPbtYkg-FsOjur6rhtcpYnJpuUalDq2HLgO-EZYPXGCs/s1600/P1010018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx01SQhZt4ta69Nrrogiuvk73M-gfMZPFrg7viLpGoDBNLi8EhZRkifSQAN2Wd_Xl9Pec4WuYKVxrIawSsEEpZghxwrZ0fiGFCPbtYkg-FsOjur6rhtcpYnJpuUalDq2HLgO-EZYPXGCs/s640/P1010018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(With the bougainvillea fully grown, this wall is rarely seen.)</span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6KTkHjORoYhDjqfjOPPjKO-NQ1_TlPygYqSlzsfPqOtSx9MRumuTkdkrTYvjbXLy3uTPKKLvLtBIFp5nBpSukUYfZ3tu7TArn388wMV_jIjXAs9eCI00cJ7SGvksbOD2UTEOWUEJSmI/s1600/P1010019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6KTkHjORoYhDjqfjOPPjKO-NQ1_TlPygYqSlzsfPqOtSx9MRumuTkdkrTYvjbXLy3uTPKKLvLtBIFp5nBpSukUYfZ3tu7TArn388wMV_jIjXAs9eCI00cJ7SGvksbOD2UTEOWUEJSmI/s640/P1010019.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I'm all for going green, but this might be over doing it.)</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsZP98K8gCebGUX10knCbQSQWDAAk6CwwBecnkzpL5F9XMWjp684IdtyIVfUEyxQeF04bRA2t9GBFzeXhngRXPyKz9CSUkf6p_UZEL5guPAUXvAg6dirR-WYUSKxLXYXF7KlJ-2cHUo0/s1600/IMG_1070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsZP98K8gCebGUX10knCbQSQWDAAk6CwwBecnkzpL5F9XMWjp684IdtyIVfUEyxQeF04bRA2t9GBFzeXhngRXPyKz9CSUkf6p_UZEL5guPAUXvAg6dirR-WYUSKxLXYXF7KlJ-2cHUo0/s640/IMG_1070.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Since when did gardens become storage units?)</span></div><br />
With the garden converted to a garage, not much planting was in the cards. Thus, birthed the new mission of keeping hope alive - and all my little seedlings. The spring was incredibly nice, and summer has now arrived with muscles flexed in the shape of a lot of 110*days in the forecast. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnNn-Q1HwBZH5AyCz16T_9tkg8dKmIJ5iUOqCjWRNqMBpIShbdshOXb_6zHKLRi-VTwFLD1ohgnEbQEpqJ47uUCO0X81p0WtOWAyP7p6eLL1UOCwyKSlOUrQUTNP5jAhwzCCTDu_2mc4/s1600/IMG_1086.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnNn-Q1HwBZH5AyCz16T_9tkg8dKmIJ5iUOqCjWRNqMBpIShbdshOXb_6zHKLRi-VTwFLD1ohgnEbQEpqJ47uUCO0X81p0WtOWAyP7p6eLL1UOCwyKSlOUrQUTNP5jAhwzCCTDu_2mc4/s640/IMG_1086.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnNn-Q1HwBZH5AyCz16T_9tkg8dKmIJ5iUOqCjWRNqMBpIShbdshOXb_6zHKLRi-VTwFLD1ohgnEbQEpqJ47uUCO0X81p0WtOWAyP7p6eLL1UOCwyKSlOUrQUTNP5jAhwzCCTDu_2mc4/s1600/IMG_1086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Where's Hawkeye and Pierce? This is the triage tent, right?) </span></div><br />
So while the house got stripped, shaved, and a new makeover, I got into some serious gardening - COMPOSTING! Yup, this is real gardening. If your not willing to grow your own dirt, you've just got a yard hobby. That's the great thing about composting; it can be done anytime of the day, anytime of the year, and you're still making nice progress. I haven't purchased a mulch/soil/amendment product in over four years. And I have a jug of fertilizer on a shelf that I've pretty much forgotten about. For me, it's all about sifted soil and compost tea to make a happy garden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYjfJ6oK7bjq7VCdOPDH8TWvDWUVMigW2GGSIHuteuEdXfexvX1zAI4mFzSMhHyYRUMVHUBRS0wBOJX8GSlFpX6pomRpcs2E4uesf7XjphQoiXzEOq7MUvB0iQLvEnZXz8sys-F20boc/s1600/IMG_1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYjfJ6oK7bjq7VCdOPDH8TWvDWUVMigW2GGSIHuteuEdXfexvX1zAI4mFzSMhHyYRUMVHUBRS0wBOJX8GSlFpX6pomRpcs2E4uesf7XjphQoiXzEOq7MUvB0iQLvEnZXz8sys-F20boc/s640/IMG_1049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><house #1="" paint="" pic="">(mmm...compost...)</house></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
And the yard work just keeps on coming - but this I'm not complaining about. Firing up the new barbecue grill garden is a little sweat time I'll gladly sign-up for.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ysn5zCed7u0Ek6gHjjX_opweSRO9S3SpL2neIMqak2ITxoMgCAwc5kD9vpKhxsJTT_l9w73UMM6LccySynq3VaEYOv1aWJj2bmxpsOp3L1XZ42rmGU0QbuqdtMxIYUsEzHhR-iMJq5w/s1600/IMG_1856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ysn5zCed7u0Ek6gHjjX_opweSRO9S3SpL2neIMqak2ITxoMgCAwc5kD9vpKhxsJTT_l9w73UMM6LccySynq3VaEYOv1aWJj2bmxpsOp3L1XZ42rmGU0QbuqdtMxIYUsEzHhR-iMJq5w/s640/IMG_1856.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Vynnie the Gardener chillin' and grillin' at Xericopia!)</div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-73887145915087747742011-06-05T14:57:00.000-07:002011-06-05T14:57:19.673-07:00Is This Thing On...?Okay, so my attempt to blog for 30 days wasn't quite successful. I didn't think spring would require so much outdoor time. So just a quick catch-up, here are the top ten things happening here at Xericopia:<br />
(1) Got a new greenhouse built (yea!!). Now all my little seedlings can suffer in the quiet comfort of shade.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoNTEYhUhZ-vTljjMb_nVzusscqxTGm2CdTyy_siSgFAXusoGYrP8McdPLy-pCUpcnK7dig-N3aNcrWyRj9AA8wl7N7dWJsAy5fDeCOSgMNAaC9zn4rE_i4f0wK4GZ9BC7gYjnIoUd1g/s1600/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_greenhouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoNTEYhUhZ-vTljjMb_nVzusscqxTGm2CdTyy_siSgFAXusoGYrP8McdPLy-pCUpcnK7dig-N3aNcrWyRj9AA8wl7N7dWJsAy5fDeCOSgMNAaC9zn4rE_i4f0wK4GZ9BC7gYjnIoUd1g/s640/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_greenhouse.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
(2) Started two new waves of crops. First wave planted out was: eggplant, tomato, squash, cucumber, sunflower, hollyhock, collards, kale, and dill.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrb4Eg3dyswi0G1Al6J0pHa290u4ed4Tk83M5f9abGz2SH4gTWc-dU9w6_Ayzlgl9oewm6H6b8BUjltQcTdmQkiXQddF1fqA5oW1dq5e8mYFuNpd5nmCDPm-HktB0Cpaeje-tVP71iOWw/s1600/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_front-bed_eggplant-squash.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrb4Eg3dyswi0G1Al6J0pHa290u4ed4Tk83M5f9abGz2SH4gTWc-dU9w6_Ayzlgl9oewm6H6b8BUjltQcTdmQkiXQddF1fqA5oW1dq5e8mYFuNpd5nmCDPm-HktB0Cpaeje-tVP71iOWw/s640/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_front-bed_eggplant-squash.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
(3) Watched my collards, kale, and dill die a slow death from aphids and powdery mildew from all that non-stop wind. (I should've planted kites instead.) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qOQ13ow_1rhI4uwknLh_sxwlMplNqkn5zQ7ts5VAWeOd9NJxlVgfmAr5CMHcBtcRvMmNU8dboadgT7K67_8hmU6ITb1b_fskIA7JaTocwl-zGHEjaF9YjR9buY82X7_r4gSUfQL1ZS4/s1600/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_front-bed_collards.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qOQ13ow_1rhI4uwknLh_sxwlMplNqkn5zQ7ts5VAWeOd9NJxlVgfmAr5CMHcBtcRvMmNU8dboadgT7K67_8hmU6ITb1b_fskIA7JaTocwl-zGHEjaF9YjR9buY82X7_r4gSUfQL1ZS4/s640/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_front-bed_collards.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
(4) Second wave of crops getting happy and ready to graduate: Cucumber, sun gold tomato, thai eggplant, bell pepper, hibiscus, beet, purple carrot, lemon balm, rainbow chard, italian kale. (Oh yeah, that's how I roll in the heat)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0wpL8ClMHmX_huFpTdK6f3mln0AV2XMWyqyYbH1yBC0XAP73gCfE0rz3L2eFty8pDKLPKu_-r9ymfRYBm9o4O1wYtEkqSZpnHfxMIxmBN9JYcG1AQ6GCzFPjk0RaH6FjXq6KVNLw64g/s1600/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_crops-seedlings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0wpL8ClMHmX_huFpTdK6f3mln0AV2XMWyqyYbH1yBC0XAP73gCfE0rz3L2eFty8pDKLPKu_-r9ymfRYBm9o4O1wYtEkqSZpnHfxMIxmBN9JYcG1AQ6GCzFPjk0RaH6FjXq6KVNLw64g/s640/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_crops-seedlings.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
(5) The hotter it gets, the more blooms I see - cactus, zephyranthes, hibiscus Oh My!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c9UCdRuIfuIkxw9U5OQN7msLPQ1sRbKPPyPT9TLjkw_9G8uLExiDt57u3Gdl8uZZEN70kZbYxw1Ktl2CwGYKR9wek7pZ6-Y3qZxumMQ9JGe6DjL0QdN0KWuAQCyzaKK0kNK90EQu6Ao/s1600/Xericopia_cactus-bloom_IMG_0451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c9UCdRuIfuIkxw9U5OQN7msLPQ1sRbKPPyPT9TLjkw_9G8uLExiDt57u3Gdl8uZZEN70kZbYxw1Ktl2CwGYKR9wek7pZ6-Y3qZxumMQ9JGe6DjL0QdN0KWuAQCyzaKK0kNK90EQu6Ao/s640/Xericopia_cactus-bloom_IMG_0451.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOC1qm5HbflEVWnGrk8ZxJ3FN2FjqL-uvnagXtEaKSCMmiNy92tnjULlyo9bIFOmTSw2-m7d6R71JK2mKN51Rl2lvYPHXcWlkKFHb57jZwHHbfwf1ruy8IPGW71bgEObpbCHftXgrIlWM/s1600/Xericopia_zepherantes_IMG_0516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOC1qm5HbflEVWnGrk8ZxJ3FN2FjqL-uvnagXtEaKSCMmiNy92tnjULlyo9bIFOmTSw2-m7d6R71JK2mKN51Rl2lvYPHXcWlkKFHb57jZwHHbfwf1ruy8IPGW71bgEObpbCHftXgrIlWM/s640/Xericopia_zepherantes_IMG_0516.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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(6) Harvested our first tomato of the season. This heirloom plant weathered over from 2010Spring and is producing like crazy. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYBwImZnPYK0g5eyAZ3tt2VguIO09Q9zEBte7EiI1Ml0Sp4hj7_sOZQoIfcBB9YRZagIFSy8y5HKzWdLYEZVV1A1asLhKaV5B4Fco0dwjKKD6Z_6ilxD-zC9cM5NOY6DI7NNlDK9Kq9Y/s1600/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_tomato-first.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYBwImZnPYK0g5eyAZ3tt2VguIO09Q9zEBte7EiI1Ml0Sp4hj7_sOZQoIfcBB9YRZagIFSy8y5HKzWdLYEZVV1A1asLhKaV5B4Fco0dwjKKD6Z_6ilxD-zC9cM5NOY6DI7NNlDK9Kq9Y/s640/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_tomato-first.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
(7) I learned flies have at least one redeeming quality, they pollinate strawberries. We have been harvesting a handful of strawberries every week (damn flies)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3occ-FwiKJkpTgzJuwPE9oa0lsZz8NUgfoa1KNq5fme7KUEXz2P7WjX_JUfQgybpUT914-rn1B7X-_btc4tq4xwNso6Hw_UUrZjsnXC64Zx5KoRmai_di81gTAphs1mTutBvagKK84rU/s1600/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_strawberry-fly2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3occ-FwiKJkpTgzJuwPE9oa0lsZz8NUgfoa1KNq5fme7KUEXz2P7WjX_JUfQgybpUT914-rn1B7X-_btc4tq4xwNso6Hw_UUrZjsnXC64Zx5KoRmai_di81gTAphs1mTutBvagKK84rU/s640/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_strawberry-fly2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfhyWHP-sVboNBwnYRAxg3sk-d8Ey1eumihKWcM9KhVvhuMStFeFo8atBz0xyZT7LLugbR4VRs3LKyq_Lgkuy-SKWzMdt4IZKzzi5rnp08aqTUnQZxTq9hn-btrCUzw-Z7rQwNwo9WoE/s1600/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_strawberry-harvest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfhyWHP-sVboNBwnYRAxg3sk-d8Ey1eumihKWcM9KhVvhuMStFeFo8atBz0xyZT7LLugbR4VRs3LKyq_Lgkuy-SKWzMdt4IZKzzi5rnp08aqTUnQZxTq9hn-btrCUzw-Z7rQwNwo9WoE/s640/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_strawberry-harvest.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
(8) Acquired some amazing patio umbrellas from World Market. Now we have even more sanctuary in the garden. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHDJydmSDKQqzdT49sbBHbXlJYQqCTd_oltMo47Mjb8t-atfSWiqc_buD5Zd0DUByFP9RF3TTFX0eRJ-ZR23tpRMldpHJGwZlfL41n4a-gytpxOdawG2tmQHN_kh1qoa7G4EI-WUMVrQ/s1600/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_santcuary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHDJydmSDKQqzdT49sbBHbXlJYQqCTd_oltMo47Mjb8t-atfSWiqc_buD5Zd0DUByFP9RF3TTFX0eRJ-ZR23tpRMldpHJGwZlfL41n4a-gytpxOdawG2tmQHN_kh1qoa7G4EI-WUMVrQ/s640/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_santcuary.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
(9) The ipomea morning glory is on the move. I guess that means summer is really here. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMGuWut1RTvD9cH0akIohxFmm1SJ7ORCx0v6fEd-8f3NRBFRRHQ4mnlrUDtFGlusEbf5DyTf4c_sa3Kyjrkl1GgQo_jX0NYAwdccjOcGRuUyMJwyURq2dG0peL2_KVjV_NQw7m2Ab-fY/s1600/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_ipomea-bloom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMGuWut1RTvD9cH0akIohxFmm1SJ7ORCx0v6fEd-8f3NRBFRRHQ4mnlrUDtFGlusEbf5DyTf4c_sa3Kyjrkl1GgQo_jX0NYAwdccjOcGRuUyMJwyURq2dG0peL2_KVjV_NQw7m2Ab-fY/s640/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_ipomea-bloom.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
(10) Sent Vynnie the Gardener to Bartlett Lake for a little break with friends. Vitamin D is essential to garden health, ya know.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguB_Q8gNTPSZaTcETFftlB4byuFLnzWIYd9exDMRNYKEsEFfQC2EB9oezPYXbVrrZBA6_cJ-hggpUsGCzx9Ia0e6UjLS9MuQPJ-3xOIHErSaIBAlQNGVr_WyE6IUNOZ9Q6TJxDHeNrUG8/s1600/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_VTG-lake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguB_Q8gNTPSZaTcETFftlB4byuFLnzWIYd9exDMRNYKEsEFfQC2EB9oezPYXbVrrZBA6_cJ-hggpUsGCzx9Ia0e6UjLS9MuQPJ-3xOIHErSaIBAlQNGVr_WyE6IUNOZ9Q6TJxDHeNrUG8/s640/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_VTG-lake.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
So thems the happs 'round these parts here at Xericopia. Loads more to come. Keep shady!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3rDCu-FO9n_QUzmHonpVv9F_XM6pXkZYFCxaVnUCZopzauo3lLAZdNSYwgX9lDzZQcaGI8uQb5EnN4jf3H3gGGzFYhnQN_DfuBonKVgSCL2voKHy3jE27IKQxyCYyM2bfe8GB3xCSlI/s1600/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_piggy-sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3rDCu-FO9n_QUzmHonpVv9F_XM6pXkZYFCxaVnUCZopzauo3lLAZdNSYwgX9lDzZQcaGI8uQb5EnN4jf3H3gGGzFYhnQN_DfuBonKVgSCL2voKHy3jE27IKQxyCYyM2bfe8GB3xCSlI/s640/Xericopia_Blog_2011-06-07_piggy-sign.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-33013003717118688282011-04-06T23:52:00.094-07:002011-04-10T11:06:39.598-07:0030 Days In The Gardener's Garden: Day6<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here comes the rain! At least, that's what the 'meteorologists' are saying. On cool cloudy days, I make a concerted effort to do just one thing here at Xericopia - OBSERVE. This is still, in my book, the most important garden practice of all. Plus, why get all sweaty and dirty when the weather is so nice. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYYHWHM00MN9lGmP835apD9MJDSmhHVXijCKZeOV0dcgwkAvGoR8-ytBuzyQhHXK40ths_Diddg196d9OGUMs-XJtRLCz4wYLrpwIB-Lol3pA6i02U0UPN1F4pfdD6_GIGKV8_lUwJuU/s1600/IMG_1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYYHWHM00MN9lGmP835apD9MJDSmhHVXijCKZeOV0dcgwkAvGoR8-ytBuzyQhHXK40ths_Diddg196d9OGUMs-XJtRLCz4wYLrpwIB-Lol3pA6i02U0UPN1F4pfdD6_GIGKV8_lUwJuU/s640/IMG_1005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(serenity now, serenity now...)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I noticed my squash seedlings are making an entrance into the garden. Lots to plant and plenty to share (wink wink, nudge nudge, know-what-I-mean). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNvuGiVCLYF1XMLRsEfyBhS2j5WoYAhM5Jtloga9UULyOeQWw1Z8Cp-juCE9RIEi9rMBT8u4E6FeTd6RQiw0GwcODFysmefrez76zZUlTkVOF1KbIB-SBNt-gsQ4bAmALo1CbStDyWRU/s1600/IMG_1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNvuGiVCLYF1XMLRsEfyBhS2j5WoYAhM5Jtloga9UULyOeQWw1Z8Cp-juCE9RIEi9rMBT8u4E6FeTd6RQiw0GwcODFysmefrez76zZUlTkVOF1KbIB-SBNt-gsQ4bAmALo1CbStDyWRU/s640/IMG_1016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Summer squash making their appearance!)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have sunflowers galore, and the season is just getting started. These things come up like weeds everywhere (but not as bad as the hollyhocks). Sunflowers are perfect for simple bouquets around the house with lavender or penstemon or snapdragons. And, the flower petals are edible, so great for salads. The seeds I leave for the birdies in the garden (sparrows, finches, verdins, toehees, oh my).<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMVlPTLT04tUNLU4kFKgQ-JUnEijVsW1IFKqYArmeUcYMHio2C8VY3lMX6Jj1qQ6rmwVAvebgNQegTMFRxAtzI0y38P8z-KRZNPG4ADF9lueSCuyE_q5g5-HIC10sDLffE5ACDAWExos/s1600/IMG_1012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMVlPTLT04tUNLU4kFKgQ-JUnEijVsW1IFKqYArmeUcYMHio2C8VY3lMX6Jj1qQ6rmwVAvebgNQegTMFRxAtzI0y38P8z-KRZNPG4ADF9lueSCuyE_q5g5-HIC10sDLffE5ACDAWExos/s640/IMG_1012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(The sunflower garden is showing off)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Each year I have more and more of these red roses. Originally, I acquired the plant from a project in 2006 where I dug up the root stock. It only took it two years to start blooming and hasn't slowed. It only gets about 4 hours of sun, doesn't get fertilized, and not a whole lot of attention. I wonder if I talked to it more often if it would produce more roses? Something new to explore...</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLwv5-KTymgXxaL1aoDYgt0cIk5IOdpQK-E-PBhyH-JFZNGZtitpqHsmKd8LFOQua9qv-cCq2j7TcrA95elGFUPhrOP19GSAoJPqOLemgry5zb3uu_fDd9gGT1MRr0jpAKFeGCWRhxX8/s1600/IMG_1013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLwv5-KTymgXxaL1aoDYgt0cIk5IOdpQK-E-PBhyH-JFZNGZtitpqHsmKd8LFOQua9qv-cCq2j7TcrA95elGFUPhrOP19GSAoJPqOLemgry5zb3uu_fDd9gGT1MRr0jpAKFeGCWRhxX8/s640/IMG_1013.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One neat surprise I discovered was another cauliflower. This was a bit hidden in the sunflower garden until the leaves got big. I couldn't quite recall what it was (broccoli? cabbage? brussel sprouts?). But, like everything else in the garden (including weeds!), just wait long enough and it's sure to bloom. Then you can figure out what to do with it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNDUJ-KKlGEDOevkmSmSV5yKmPLeemoxiOujW8Kk7UXSu7J2camhmuF8Nmuy5xp-L3gozn4_IE9dwHclkC9Rsy97vB8xZ16391ZFi32ZYBaZuhUO3oTi2tTVYXhrv2mHcn0dwdT0Y6Gs/s1600/IMG_1009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNDUJ-KKlGEDOevkmSmSV5yKmPLeemoxiOujW8Kk7UXSu7J2camhmuF8Nmuy5xp-L3gozn4_IE9dwHclkC9Rsy97vB8xZ16391ZFi32ZYBaZuhUO3oTi2tTVYXhrv2mHcn0dwdT0Y6Gs/s640/IMG_1009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(yummy cauliflower - ready for roasting with carrots and chard!)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With more rain expected in the weather forecast, expect more eye-time and smiles around Xericopia. (now go plant some seeds!!!)</span></div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-10951456882743195582011-04-05T23:38:00.010-07:002011-04-10T11:05:34.821-07:0030 Days In The Gardener's Garden: Day5<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's hot! Well, kinda really warm. Especially if you're outdoors for more than 30 minutes - try 6 hours. The forecast called for 87* degrees, and the nice breeze out seemed promising. I had tree pruning scheduled for my HUGE pine trees. The guys at Tree Amigos were johnny on the spot and on top of things, literally.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgwYKIQyQCE1Q_hN_NDE64KIe2f7CPUW-G_jTL3yXflDv-xWyKg29HGKl2ble5mewKRrJvcNdxntbXl5tn5te34L04PASGtCG4jN2-e0mMYQaeGBfdianSStqkvauH2YGtE6NtNIq-5w/s1600/IMG_0280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgwYKIQyQCE1Q_hN_NDE64KIe2f7CPUW-G_jTL3yXflDv-xWyKg29HGKl2ble5mewKRrJvcNdxntbXl5tn5te34L04PASGtCG4jN2-e0mMYQaeGBfdianSStqkvauH2YGtE6NtNIq-5w/s640/IMG_0280.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Andy out on a limb) </span></div>I felt inspired, and off I went to do my own band of crazy pruning. First stop, bougainvillea. The frost of 2011 left me with a mess-o-dead-stuff. This was just 2 of 7 bvilla I had to tackle.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQroMQPRdqzd-f0jehlkzcp3xgpjyY10Grm316AK4ZOXhC1IOqOCJ5dmqbT8Bq4iI0fVkj6-EabdeBPia3_WIbYVLhhkq5PuXkrpaNREpAKtiBsIHD4TDPwadvUmiifONGYbiKYCXZ7zg/s1600/IMG_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQroMQPRdqzd-f0jehlkzcp3xgpjyY10Grm316AK4ZOXhC1IOqOCJ5dmqbT8Bq4iI0fVkj6-EabdeBPia3_WIbYVLhhkq5PuXkrpaNREpAKtiBsIHD4TDPwadvUmiifONGYbiKYCXZ7zg/s640/IMG_0259.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(from this...)</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif05HvTyrzwcKqOm49obvHmssHQyWX5ci0ES3DJb6grmyJ8ekZxEuUHPXXL0hOzSZqYNZj1El4lCIQCAiKhB2Ki-YpOIXy2QiH-dz-YlBdFK0Ng1e3v5hLkV699UsYRwWu0KZLZHqr3MI/s1600/IMG_0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif05HvTyrzwcKqOm49obvHmssHQyWX5ci0ES3DJb6grmyJ8ekZxEuUHPXXL0hOzSZqYNZj1El4lCIQCAiKhB2Ki-YpOIXy2QiH-dz-YlBdFK0Ng1e3v5hLkV699UsYRwWu0KZLZHqr3MI/s640/IMG_0261.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(to this!) </span></div><br />
After that (and some gauze, witch hazel, bandages, few tears...) I dove into the dubious task of removing my tevitia trees. They got pretty zapped, and that was enough to nudge me to action. I plan to replace them with white lady banks roses.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF3OUw9ANnVtAD9OWwtSqQNiG3UkkUatTfxLTf4bLgYJkmKE4SHIoIye_nFR97SgzCst9eE-W3YBcgxE3ya7Rva-6L9xenT5_hmoSyhh4uTZ0H-Q72Jcuw8Ws_7OEQd4ctQZcbMpdu4k/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF3OUw9ANnVtAD9OWwtSqQNiG3UkkUatTfxLTf4bLgYJkmKE4SHIoIye_nFR97SgzCst9eE-W3YBcgxE3ya7Rva-6L9xenT5_hmoSyhh4uTZ0H-Q72Jcuw8Ws_7OEQd4ctQZcbMpdu4k/s640/IMG_0265.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_7hMLvgdJdM3pgr2DPFlzLwBSLnK1V_AwZWwwC9WW4Z-yxxR-PlbP07kpXz2favjRiNY7XMzEzEAL5QtfHxRqyohznAeP7fqlM3uAy0k3d7p0q0RacCTX0jWLTaW5IHpGfuRt2D6dRw/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_7hMLvgdJdM3pgr2DPFlzLwBSLnK1V_AwZWwwC9WW4Z-yxxR-PlbP07kpXz2favjRiNY7XMzEzEAL5QtfHxRqyohznAeP7fqlM3uAy0k3d7p0q0RacCTX0jWLTaW5IHpGfuRt2D6dRw/s640/IMG_0269.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I'm kinda diggin' the open look...for now.)</span></div><br />
By this point I was pretty pooped, and so were those Tree Amigos. So, from the garden to the kitchen I whipped up some tasty refreshments.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGChm8Iz2Oxw2vU9inpmhHtVrPVlFHaRn82d5U27AfGiWTusS_ZOe9Vxeyp5hxR6b37_0ojbshd0lgQ_2sp1FvsVKq2l-i87ubV59GWMuQ7qhxVRmuC3CzvxCjFZENRw2MYbTALMXbQtA/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGChm8Iz2Oxw2vU9inpmhHtVrPVlFHaRn82d5U27AfGiWTusS_ZOe9Vxeyp5hxR6b37_0ojbshd0lgQ_2sp1FvsVKq2l-i87ubV59GWMuQ7qhxVRmuC3CzvxCjFZENRw2MYbTALMXbQtA/s640/IMG_0268.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Here's to a day well done)</span></div><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-52926652194906721842011-04-04T23:50:00.015-07:002011-04-10T11:08:58.109-07:0030 Days In The Gardener's Garden: Day4<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Got a late start today, and I really wasn't excited about the heat - forecast for 87* degrees - which is still way warm for early April. So I kept my garden time pretty short. I had to get my tomatoes planted! After a quick 20 minutes of watering, I started making room for tomatoes. I chopped down the spicy mustard, pak choi, and a couple of romaine lettuces.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyx_2Udpm3929BtmIL9KCyrl2slzJY7q681W9lghPdhoSwW4Lse_TjgF6XfVLcqs_BFJdQ6ghCoWNhUTWoiE5ZcLcoxEX60HxudsTin6dvzRCI3eeGv0nZrHoL6ZB1gDyVF3YorSum0Q/s1600/photo%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyx_2Udpm3929BtmIL9KCyrl2slzJY7q681W9lghPdhoSwW4Lse_TjgF6XfVLcqs_BFJdQ6ghCoWNhUTWoiE5ZcLcoxEX60HxudsTin6dvzRCI3eeGv0nZrHoL6ZB1gDyVF3YorSum0Q/s640/photo%25285%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(elbow room for my new tomatoes)</span></div><br />
Here's one tip that some gardeners miss. When your plants are done, DON'T rip them out of the ground. Cut the plant away, then cultivate the roots into the soil. Why, you may ask? The roots are pulling nutrients from the soil, and, therefore, are full of nutrients. I like to bury the old root stump so it can decompose releasing all those nutrients back into the soil. I also dump a scoop of fresh compost in the hole to expedite the process.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIbjaF-Kr0SKyDXFUyIjXweaDk_9m5I4DNMktUxWjKBw6sBiDIhLJhWmP2HNDlg1I_y8u9ofCHDKWYOe2zr5W2tBGbyH-b-coCdCloUTRw4g10GiKBBNgcCLyqawladQExeKzfp_C8aw/s1600/photo%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIbjaF-Kr0SKyDXFUyIjXweaDk_9m5I4DNMktUxWjKBw6sBiDIhLJhWmP2HNDlg1I_y8u9ofCHDKWYOe2zr5W2tBGbyH-b-coCdCloUTRw4g10GiKBBNgcCLyqawladQExeKzfp_C8aw/s640/photo%25286%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(root stumps packed with rich nutrients)</span> </div><br />
Since I'm sharing tips, here's one of my favorites. When planting tomatoes, bury 'em! Literaly. You'll notice at the base of a tomato stem some bumps or nodes. When in contact with soil, these nodes will produce roots. So, you can double or triple the roots, making a stronger more productive plant. (This can also work with peppers and eggplant.)<br />
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I remove the few lower leaves on my tomato, lay it down into the planting hole (1"-2"inches deep), and cover it up. The plant (above ground) will grow vertically with no issues.<br />
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6k_NfGLnnQBw89qvnaqU4ge1Sz7PRatJWROuXXJBSImhaF0zU2XX39Wz-qZnE0nRg_WItZww5VaQ2gKJlquyWDzgGfLxfYbTVhMj8sJ0le3UQSgAfxAag7XtMHHHbQ-Iq_5m7P-ds-9c/s1600/photo%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6k_NfGLnnQBw89qvnaqU4ge1Sz7PRatJWROuXXJBSImhaF0zU2XX39Wz-qZnE0nRg_WItZww5VaQ2gKJlquyWDzgGfLxfYbTVhMj8sJ0le3UQSgAfxAag7XtMHHHbQ-Iq_5m7P-ds-9c/s640/photo%25289%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(making a cozy bed for tomato)</span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I planted five tomatoes today, with many more to come (8-12 more) once I make more space (and planting beds). For the meantime, I took my pile of cuttings and headed across the street to see some new friends.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXA_WG4_nTU_7KhYVLqa8GduTfPhEKkiMK9FUPKCKEQxPibhA1oP3CUfc3EAskWl1hwmrm6wSru-UNapTELfsVQ2tsx5caeiD6gznauVbjoUOH6BEJGsOBx3G68Z0FySvacaZxyyrzbJM/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXA_WG4_nTU_7KhYVLqa8GduTfPhEKkiMK9FUPKCKEQxPibhA1oP3CUfc3EAskWl1hwmrm6wSru-UNapTELfsVQ2tsx5caeiD6gznauVbjoUOH6BEJGsOBx3G68Z0FySvacaZxyyrzbJM/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (bygone pak choi, chard, mustard, nasturtium, and mint)</span></div><br />
With a pile of old veggies for friends like these...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyFUGEIc2Zm-mdK4G-2Wj9D4FNqcScsT-S_tlMz7Y5Oq-_D5I9dnZGttJyNhxGs8ablmKgGfuXvkD8nfiOS58dvb-TZnDVM5_7ulQ2aDxyGWrWezfLrTnO0zv1hyphenhyphenR97nv1nSyrgD23e0/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyFUGEIc2Zm-mdK4G-2Wj9D4FNqcScsT-S_tlMz7Y5Oq-_D5I9dnZGttJyNhxGs8ablmKgGfuXvkD8nfiOS58dvb-TZnDVM5_7ulQ2aDxyGWrWezfLrTnO0zv1hyphenhyphenR97nv1nSyrgD23e0/s640/IMG_0082.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Bagby Lady Birds!)</span></div><br />
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You can score a nice batch of these!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvS9Y0pk0nbDbIAE4XUsBqHst0kpURhFGMb760CU9WRYjokKfA1jyJtmzJhu79gck49QTlKz2Dr3Q2r88Kmnus8BvjxrJ4RkG8-ss4Ynpc8rDr_t5ax0t2thLT24lNcnz7pnJgRLI6SQ/s1600/IMG_0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvS9Y0pk0nbDbIAE4XUsBqHst0kpURhFGMb760CU9WRYjokKfA1jyJtmzJhu79gck49QTlKz2Dr3Q2r88Kmnus8BvjxrJ4RkG8-ss4Ynpc8rDr_t5ax0t2thLT24lNcnz7pnJgRLI6SQ/s640/IMG_0204.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div></div></div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-24356516431600240892011-04-03T23:25:00.002-07:002011-04-05T22:36:19.929-07:0030 Days In The Gardener's Garden: Day3<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's Sunday, time to relax! In a minute. First, I had to harvest some fresh strawberries! My first [successful] attempt at growing organic strawberries, and I'd say I'm impressed ("Nice work Vynnie." "Why, thank you, Vynnie"). I got to them just in time too; a baby earwig was already at work on one of them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oUc1R8Ni0T31ds1-4HugYDVdixxh_xcCk9YQiCuFkkwAGtZUl5wLDaora4iyLEwkAnDLBiUpL8sBzVoYn-v1u_pdvPqJKpi6mE5HwOpTQNE57RdX92pk3MVZHXNlI0qVKqPxwUhbKRs/s1600/IMG_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oUc1R8Ni0T31ds1-4HugYDVdixxh_xcCk9YQiCuFkkwAGtZUl5wLDaora4iyLEwkAnDLBiUpL8sBzVoYn-v1u_pdvPqJKpi6mE5HwOpTQNE57RdX92pk3MVZHXNlI0qVKqPxwUhbKRs/s400/IMG_0217.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My wife and I made a day of it, just on the patio. Fresh strawberries, french press coffee, a nice breeze, and a whole lot of happy nature. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWVvoeyDkQSCEk4qncAZItI3a9dEIAtrM9QDFe-iEvdoiLUBkBjG9W_BDpkHA2O8HC45VWrCh08wE547j7qP-Y-PxuYRRD9S3drGlL3ABLSu6rjLc4Xf2lG8ZyvY-n6sO2w2HQIE0BLU/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWVvoeyDkQSCEk4qncAZItI3a9dEIAtrM9QDFe-iEvdoiLUBkBjG9W_BDpkHA2O8HC45VWrCh08wE547j7qP-Y-PxuYRRD9S3drGlL3ABLSu6rjLc4Xf2lG8ZyvY-n6sO2w2HQIE0BLU/s400/IMG_0219.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaimL_ZjhMLQKfd6SxiUQKS7f9bV5Mq3D1DJpAUEyvMd4GAvzOeuQiqRGCceRjIbQAbjcdGlFxLeXTZrUuBWs-mEIWs3FJ5fTg8kGorg-gB8sNDZd8TErNxw4YkuLxZ6PRWCu1EXia__M/s1600/IMG_0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaimL_ZjhMLQKfd6SxiUQKS7f9bV5Mq3D1DJpAUEyvMd4GAvzOeuQiqRGCceRjIbQAbjcdGlFxLeXTZrUuBWs-mEIWs3FJ5fTg8kGorg-gB8sNDZd8TErNxw4YkuLxZ6PRWCu1EXia__M/s400/IMG_0221.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(snapdragon, angelita daisy, lavender, penstemon making smiles)</span></span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy!</span></div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-32315676771358368942011-04-02T20:13:00.156-07:002011-04-05T22:35:45.811-07:0030 Days In The Gardener's Garden: Day2<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The good thing about today was that the garden schedule was all scheduled; I spent most of my garden time in gardens elsewhere, at the <a href="http://www.phxartmuseumleague.org/arts&flowers.php">Art&Flowers Garden Tour</a> sponsored by the Phoenix Art Museum League. (Some of my own handiwork was even on display, below)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvgu_zQ2l3Gtzmgh-viuLozDVhtU44z2mkjJA3NvQ1RSESk07HUy1Hv3nnZQWw2FVLzsvKWTh0Wzv84cVe2GowpInxeVqjvi5DV56pdE95JnBTEYXlofYbUygncmG_XOl-Uyi9F-P_6U/s1600/IMG_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvgu_zQ2l3Gtzmgh-viuLozDVhtU44z2mkjJA3NvQ1RSESk07HUy1Hv3nnZQWw2FVLzsvKWTh0Wzv84cVe2GowpInxeVqjvi5DV56pdE95JnBTEYXlofYbUygncmG_XOl-Uyi9F-P_6U/s400/IMG_0189.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(xeriscape oasis nestled under a palo verde tree)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvCmAcT7Nwm3ZjHblt4UkaNdXZpMUJxuK96hFgXmsOpbZDdBKGPUmlPA3XEoDaw-JuTb7CuIR3aE-_ex2WrNZ_iXcyhSvuxA5WNSGn56qVytC44Vld2oxKFE4J0NS46dITchmn7d4bmw/s1600/IMG_0192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvCmAcT7Nwm3ZjHblt4UkaNdXZpMUJxuK96hFgXmsOpbZDdBKGPUmlPA3XEoDaw-JuTb7CuIR3aE-_ex2WrNZ_iXcyhSvuxA5WNSGn56qVytC44Vld2oxKFE4J0NS46dITchmn7d4bmw/s400/IMG_0192.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(a spectacle of columnar cactuses on display)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of my favorite features on the tour was this eclectic garden with recycled metal works, an edible garden space, a huge rooster sculpture, and some very shy chickens. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rJlw0_6N48Swxde8AF1nW2f8_aZeOxjhMhxOjc9uwaNgV4Iq2QJR873rrvH3Mn-FlzoGNZM_MqCRbSYKOo1wZEMi2ySNT_kAcI7kexTBXLSKE3QcUOBC-nYCEv67KPwYmcHNOEc5O1M/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rJlw0_6N48Swxde8AF1nW2f8_aZeOxjhMhxOjc9uwaNgV4Iq2QJR873rrvH3Mn-FlzoGNZM_MqCRbSYKOo1wZEMi2ySNT_kAcI7kexTBXLSKE3QcUOBC-nYCEv67KPwYmcHNOEc5O1M/s400/IMG_0158.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(welcome to Cluckingham Palace!)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The tour showed off some cool houses and amazing gardens. It was nice to meet the homeowners and get some back story on the evolution of each garden. I also ran into my ol' pal Thomas Park of <a href="http://www.xerophyticdesign.com/">Xerophytic Design</a> who created an amazing space for one happy resident of the <a href="http://willohistoricdistrict.com/links.html">Willo Historic Neighborhood</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EGx3o-3CcL34syWpyoLvnY7a5pRy9coWvLdnuGDarMBWrjQeOPEFq-YwnseefSbkdwjMUNK5OdQ1dsNMTcbNFS4xGA2fuk4vqOY6q5QrhBBzmtVzJI9F3sw5zA5tEgkVXDzhMwzkiqo/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EGx3o-3CcL34syWpyoLvnY7a5pRy9coWvLdnuGDarMBWrjQeOPEFq-YwnseefSbkdwjMUNK5OdQ1dsNMTcbNFS4xGA2fuk4vqOY6q5QrhBBzmtVzJI9F3sw5zA5tEgkVXDzhMwzkiqo/s400/IMG_0178.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Thomas showing off his genius use of materials)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was an enjoyable day, even with the almost 100* degree heat. Meanwhile, back at the ranch...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCUR_tsn_kJE4Bm0P1yaJ0inOnwN-LSgcmmYPvAnS5P39P5K9DT1TkpIBt-pu0cAHLDox6u1HF3IDmrSiGZaw4WCouEIJIWoz5RHW5AZMGkRNzWzP6Vft9CZ9mbaeGiY_bU6UviEpUi8/s1600/IMG_0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCUR_tsn_kJE4Bm0P1yaJ0inOnwN-LSgcmmYPvAnS5P39P5K9DT1TkpIBt-pu0cAHLDox6u1HF3IDmrSiGZaw4WCouEIJIWoz5RHW5AZMGkRNzWzP6Vft9CZ9mbaeGiY_bU6UviEpUi8/s400/IMG_0202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(frontyard bed brimming with goodies!)</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All inspired from the garden tour, I had to get outside (after a large iced beverage) and do some stuff. Most pressing was the need to 'bump-up' my tomato seedlings to full grown plant status. In the plastic container below (a re-purposed lettuce tub) were 16 little guys waiting to exhale!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDbSQB_xjh0L4TkKKyyuXcjmxEB448-EAQB7Y5QxsQA7ZQpzJigvcamkAqOfP4sPgieSRmptXb0GmnDBXIfRdUDgt052m_XgvR2OLvg5htBnKU2jIGHbiuiOKeKZkVhJNPJ7z6Yy0ifY/s1600/IMG_0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDbSQB_xjh0L4TkKKyyuXcjmxEB448-EAQB7Y5QxsQA7ZQpzJigvcamkAqOfP4sPgieSRmptXb0GmnDBXIfRdUDgt052m_XgvR2OLvg5htBnKU2jIGHbiuiOKeKZkVhJNPJ7z6Yy0ifY/s400/IMG_0211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(time for some elbow room)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was a delicate process seperating some of them completely bare-root (don't worry, they will survive). Tomatoes are great because they are such durable plants. I also had a batch of tomatillos as well. They will live in 1gal cans for a couple of weeks as I find new homes for them all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DXgQ-TAORGGN1yxUO-vjdfUIoH6DSbKPBgqE5YmdXYepFG2yj_xgJmxkRgvCDdRwesRjM4qSmVSKHIeLZ5g73zz7S2Q_X0dMyewzRaj0C-kokp0QpotuzVthhPPXzIYe3wdcD2xZrz8/s1600/IMG_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DXgQ-TAORGGN1yxUO-vjdfUIoH6DSbKPBgqE5YmdXYepFG2yj_xgJmxkRgvCDdRwesRjM4qSmVSKHIeLZ5g73zz7S2Q_X0dMyewzRaj0C-kokp0QpotuzVthhPPXzIYe3wdcD2xZrz8/s400/IMG_0214.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(graduation day!)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My final effort of the day was harvesting seeds. Lots and lots of seeds. Pak choi, kale, spicy mustard, red romaine, arugula, broccolini, and cauliflower. Best way I've found for collecting seeds is using paper bags. Let the seed pods on the plant get as large as possible to where you see the bumpy texture of the seed inside. Cut the stems off the plant, fold them in half, and stuff them into the bag. The pods will dry and pop open releasing the seeds.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I label the bag with the plant name (pak choi), date harvested (2011APR02), and the source from where I originally acquired the plant or seeds (a Seattle gardener). These will store in a dry cool place until after summer (about 6months).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HSmG7-rhEpzIxOOGKa0HaRjS5M8kx7vzeE_y8qjBz5NOQ60LI1APreG1DQJVJFDsoPre8AuUKp8suj-wJseLCKR0fS8HgAH7jABTIR545tD3g5TBZer6YZP3UXyHH4OU3fdKZCNU4sg/s1600/IMG_0209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HSmG7-rhEpzIxOOGKa0HaRjS5M8kx7vzeE_y8qjBz5NOQ60LI1APreG1DQJVJFDsoPre8AuUKp8suj-wJseLCKR0fS8HgAH7jABTIR545tD3g5TBZer6YZP3UXyHH4OU3fdKZCNU4sg/s400/IMG_0209.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(bok choi - bag it and tag it)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lastly, I took some time to observe; 2 butterflies, 1 nosy carpenter bee, 1 male hummingbird, 3 (now dead) mosquitoes, and 1 surprising new bloom...</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSaTaev8XRbbVEQtuox7uobmxNpkW1X5dc9y84PpL-25NwB6mT_dvciz4v8-H5G2xFC1Xy0YdJryXd0OoU3QEPs3QnOjHFaEs-9av3gGNGV74LnCQnrWhEZhZzmjZyfuAUy3F5Q6qs2I/s1600/IMG_0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSaTaev8XRbbVEQtuox7uobmxNpkW1X5dc9y84PpL-25NwB6mT_dvciz4v8-H5G2xFC1Xy0YdJryXd0OoU3QEPs3QnOjHFaEs-9av3gGNGV74LnCQnrWhEZhZzmjZyfuAUy3F5Q6qs2I/s400/IMG_0213.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(here come the hollyhocks - finally!)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-80007544570586297202011-04-01T23:25:00.003-07:002011-04-05T22:34:41.204-07:0030 Days In The Gardener's Garden: Day1<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">100* degrees (officially). Was this an April Fools joke?!?!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yep, we're already there into the triple digits and I haven't even planted a single tomato yet. My morning was pretty much consumed with crisis management. My usual routine of watering my container plants and checking on my star</span>ter seeds, included moving all my flats to more protected areas (not that I have much of that). </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="goog_1739962300"></span><span id="goog_1739962301"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXQG-Gw99YFzwXN2ic67aGc8iKIKYVaj_7TLKIy78qUk4u6k56Ga4GP7UCdSFJDBUdQsqmPMspS1vnKlg3aHXivVOs9tezZSAjYS6aGqClGdSyZ_3UttD2Vw16vu9Ni6DlTNldU04A_s/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXQG-Gw99YFzwXN2ic67aGc8iKIKYVaj_7TLKIy78qUk4u6k56Ga4GP7UCdSFJDBUdQsqmPMspS1vnKlg3aHXivVOs9tezZSAjYS6aGqClGdSyZ_3UttD2Vw16vu9Ni6DlTNldU04A_s/s400/IMG_0143.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (spinach, sweet peas, tomatoes, and more!)</span></div><br />
To keep everything extra safe (hopefully), I also set up some quick shade.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7tNqjRpg4s3I6EfhCrIUfECKRlrX41YZ8ubQfaZRme04rgbwqBkv4yXWLLfjkPvlXFKArdgywa9R5sslcL2tACLNdcSmq7rY9EGkJSVZWpXSF6-7WvRSWc7ehWc3dFfNGG4icKsAu3U/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7tNqjRpg4s3I6EfhCrIUfECKRlrX41YZ8ubQfaZRme04rgbwqBkv4yXWLLfjkPvlXFKArdgywa9R5sslcL2tACLNdcSmq7rY9EGkJSVZWpXSF6-7WvRSWc7ehWc3dFfNGG4icKsAu3U/s400/IMG_0145.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I prefer using frost fabric for shade cover; lightweight and easy to handle)</span></div><br />
With things watered and covered, I could proceed with my favorite garden chores - observation and mental journaling. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9E1I7qVldLFCaXu9qlwdlqi35rwlBnbVzh37owqUkpqmZCalyma8NwX3g3nBcL7J0tEXVAIMoqeE33wnwVLh8UCqUTRO6TYwr8LBc_SrAn88JWHsmMzD7WTubTRI6urlpMojzBIzRnRQ/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9E1I7qVldLFCaXu9qlwdlqi35rwlBnbVzh37owqUkpqmZCalyma8NwX3g3nBcL7J0tEXVAIMoqeE33wnwVLh8UCqUTRO6TYwr8LBc_SrAn88JWHsmMzD7WTubTRI6urlpMojzBIzRnRQ/s400/IMG_0147.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(broccoli re-sprouting after initial harvest - now it's a broccolini)</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwW_HIoxiUkiq02UTDx43FEbVBnr5eNijdHprfcIIzmTG6BJyebtGp8_tWzc2AFX5g1oX3rkRgBYlG4cvW-vtmHDGIPh9yfj5nWZi_7u-rzOuF4k_2MXI95mLYT9Mt9U1l5vIU-3kcAA/s1600/IMG_0146.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwW_HIoxiUkiq02UTDx43FEbVBnr5eNijdHprfcIIzmTG6BJyebtGp8_tWzc2AFX5g1oX3rkRgBYlG4cvW-vtmHDGIPh9yfj5nWZi_7u-rzOuF4k_2MXI95mLYT9Mt9U1l5vIU-3kcAA/s400/IMG_0146.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(buddleia wooly butterfly bush - perhaps my favorite plant in the garden)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>By the time I returned home from a long day out in the sun, the day had topped out at 102* degrees in central phoenix. Everything was now relaxing in the setting shade with no casualties to speak of. Whew. Hello summer (yikes...). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRsK_6Uji-DQWBjVGiV08JkMNAfiofQNFfAmGRd95YrBCNsHFBMvJLi9B2ud0WHsnwgwt-dbetALZb7KBjuR2sf7E8kEIlf1DK6jVIvW5M3p42FczK9Pu9n6Am30KXkdcuboHnR5sNsg/s1600/IMG_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRsK_6Uji-DQWBjVGiV08JkMNAfiofQNFfAmGRd95YrBCNsHFBMvJLi9B2ud0WHsnwgwt-dbetALZb7KBjuR2sf7E8kEIlf1DK6jVIvW5M3p42FczK9Pu9n6Am30KXkdcuboHnR5sNsg/s400/IMG_0201.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-49106332729661127942011-04-01T11:56:00.000-07:002011-04-01T11:56:04.976-07:00Spring Is Here...It's springtime - or as I like to call it, "pre-summer" - and things are happening here at Xericopia. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Lu3YxbkGvwBgs9Z6aLLW42ZGwpr4GO3J3V7xDHqnkhi5XOsHWf5CYuKXgcVt7CaghODCDmxAy7JbZsCgzJ7y_xpObnt5lNB-RQ7LRua6XgkCzM9cWgBLML7fjCI6YFhZ1RKN8hU6Vn8/s400/P1010031.JPG" width="400" /></div>Click on the link below to see more.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41583047@N00/sets/72157626396352016/show/">Springtime at Xericopia</a>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-45430377383059242712011-02-06T20:11:00.002-07:002011-02-06T20:11:48.416-07:00GO GREENBAY!!!Super Bowl-Winning Green Juice!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4CcQ1oKBDG9tkWGThapmIIwSV-V0XSagZPVVMnuUHFTRZx0QkMN1VrkmO4wPwTVhlIfYCMV8gyr2j2ZYJfM5wDHjdMJjBuhqbtr20dO-XhYm7AKnB1YVQe_CKxzY62XPmRpKg28XOC8/s1600/Xericopia_2011-02-05_menu_juice_P1010010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4CcQ1oKBDG9tkWGThapmIIwSV-V0XSagZPVVMnuUHFTRZx0QkMN1VrkmO4wPwTVhlIfYCMV8gyr2j2ZYJfM5wDHjdMJjBuhqbtr20dO-XhYm7AKnB1YVQe_CKxzY62XPmRpKg28XOC8/s400/Xericopia_2011-02-05_menu_juice_P1010010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Pack on some nutrition like the Super Bowl Champs!Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-47141015058575683572011-02-01T17:38:00.006-07:002011-02-02T09:43:48.957-07:00I Was Wrong....Yep, I thought we were done with the freeze danger. My wife was adamant we weren't quite in the clear yet. Since I don't watch much news, I'm not always current on what the 'meteorologists' are talking about. As I scrambled around the garden in the unrelenting wind, my wife came out to capture me at my most graceful moment. So cover up, leave 'em on, and harvest your goodies! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeT4xe-MNHS0mAClkcg0dyY0W6z4g-5RgmvnJFxQIHDt0zSLINly2uZRs3_ABLPBF9RYseg8Sg5FVZyWXWlkImCM6F25HZ5Pp-eboKJxvWReP_IBuznEX1RW5w2CTkTubTDgcCloOnD8/s1600/IMG_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeT4xe-MNHS0mAClkcg0dyY0W6z4g-5RgmvnJFxQIHDt0zSLINly2uZRs3_ABLPBF9RYseg8Sg5FVZyWXWlkImCM6F25HZ5Pp-eboKJxvWReP_IBuznEX1RW5w2CTkTubTDgcCloOnD8/s400/IMG_0164.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Surrender Dorothy!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-IkP5ffIgEku5RUUsf8jLJSAaigIrGzwdA1u_Qbg-aczo0LIw0IPl2rfc8xFTmuBmRk6qiPWqg1Jq5skVh4nIy7oCSyfmRy2qSuWl28zdhZrz-c-XXfPKpzO630MZQivqFlCd2qdJJk/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-IkP5ffIgEku5RUUsf8jLJSAaigIrGzwdA1u_Qbg-aczo0LIw0IPl2rfc8xFTmuBmRk6qiPWqg1Jq5skVh4nIy7oCSyfmRy2qSuWl28zdhZrz-c-XXfPKpzO630MZQivqFlCd2qdJJk/s400/IMG_0178.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Sample of the forced early harvest)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-44807827102797973712011-01-12T23:10:00.004-07:002011-01-13T01:49:58.529-07:00What To Do Wednesday - Start Your Seedlings!!!With winter pretty much done (yes, Phoenix style - rain, chill, frost, warm...) it's now time to start thinking, plotting, and planning for spring. Before you know it, spring weekend will appear and then it's...you-know-what. So, as winter begins to warm and hover in the 60's and 70's, conditions will be ripe for sowing seeds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPv87eKdUFcY5wmjwwdRss6hp_ZOtnuvfRn_oImxjSbicFqqvLqbXoSTgROQreYdQrsgtZ-TnbHfGAKHFBEcLMnmN8A9jIac328CFO4Gulw8T7FPGjfsukzx7K7lbQA23HVnUZk3Ckjo/s1600/Xericopia_2010-12-12_seeds_start_1000000062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPv87eKdUFcY5wmjwwdRss6hp_ZOtnuvfRn_oImxjSbicFqqvLqbXoSTgROQreYdQrsgtZ-TnbHfGAKHFBEcLMnmN8A9jIac328CFO4Gulw8T7FPGjfsukzx7K7lbQA23HVnUZk3Ckjo/s320/Xericopia_2010-12-12_seeds_start_1000000062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(starter cells with broccoli, pak choi, kale, and chard)</td></tr>
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I generally start seeds on a monthly cycle, that way I've always got something going (or trying to get going). Using recycled nursery planting cells, I fill them up with fine, sifted compost soil. I set 1-2 seeds in each cell, top with soil, then pack gently. For simple record (since I've given up on maintaining a garden journal), I lay out my seed packets, make a date marker, and take a picture. I can later print this out and just tape it into my garden journal (so there).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Loads of baby veggies soaking up some sun after the rain)</td></tr>
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So far from my december tinkerings, I have a beavy of lettuce, kale, chard and choi. I'll later thin them out (and attempt to transplant) once they're about 1"-2" inches tall, at approximately 30 days growth. I use a pump sprayer and water these guys 2-3 times a day when it's sunny.<br />
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I'm even doing some daring stuff with warm season crops like cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes. Hopefully, the early start will give me some breathing room when spring season really warms up and EVERYTHING has to be done.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgu-fHFk2ZM0TsyjDsT8WPFQgosedRESLc2MCBPO-YWQS4sjBKdpqz-DiWod_kGeUkk0Dm-y3yryR63zsEnPVsU-OL_5JgpSt5xsownwWfvMdHJKaWJLiblKHGv7b1xcfkJt7-Tp8OHvA/s1600/Xericopia_2010-12-24_seeds_start_1000000106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgu-fHFk2ZM0TsyjDsT8WPFQgosedRESLc2MCBPO-YWQS4sjBKdpqz-DiWod_kGeUkk0Dm-y3yryR63zsEnPVsU-OL_5JgpSt5xsownwWfvMdHJKaWJLiblKHGv7b1xcfkJt7-Tp8OHvA/s320/Xericopia_2010-12-24_seeds_start_1000000106.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Heirloom and organic tomatoes, peppers, and tomatillos)</td></tr>
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In addition to my edible seeds, I'm also working on perennial and wildflower seeds such as cosmos, echenacea, rudebekia, delphenium, hollyhock, salvia, and penstemon. I even managed to start some camomile (whoo-hooo! Finally after years of trying!) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-cChifqauPFDi8mg8Ys3hItXA2rTYi1tcrRdSHDUGirp2rOJRibsiZULT07rt21OBrBcDyofVhh9ci-wAlHaLDbGJxFUs6ZYxzkNF7FmwlItyyorWMYvanCgCGXkI5gQndzJEDbnxq0/s1600/Xericopia_2011-01-08_seedlings_camomile_IMG_0528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-cChifqauPFDi8mg8Ys3hItXA2rTYi1tcrRdSHDUGirp2rOJRibsiZULT07rt21OBrBcDyofVhh9ci-wAlHaLDbGJxFUs6ZYxzkNF7FmwlItyyorWMYvanCgCGXkI5gQndzJEDbnxq0/s320/Xericopia_2011-01-08_seedlings_camomile_IMG_0528.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Here comes camomile!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The great thing about starting seeds is the cost payoff - if I get at least 50% yeild from a seed packet, that could easily result in $50-$100 of savings. Granted, I do have to invest time and labor, but what kind of a gardener would I be if I didn't? (Now, where am I going to plant all this stuff???)Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-63512957359324575392011-01-07T15:02:00.002-07:002011-01-07T15:02:00.179-07:00Grow it, Cook it - Sweet Potato<div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of my favorite foods to cook with is the potato. It's where french fries come from! Realistically speaking, I haven't had much luck with russet/white potatoes in the garden, but sweet potatoes are a cinch. Which is not a bad thing since sweet potatoes are much more nutritious. </span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I discovered growing sweet potatoes on a couple of different occasions by accident. The first was when I dropped a hanging basket brimming with ipomea blackie potato vine. It exploded when it hit the ground, to find very little soil in the pot, but a cluster of root-bound tubers - potatoes! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSaUonLvBds_NdxE5a7a-ikmn6OEv6c9vfhGlb2lKibfy0VSVZM-Y27qCsXZ_YdZs4Dccp5gY4CABlHj2V81QtF3G4FAme0MRj0-I-urA9DBTausW_MrSbSbviVFl0mAXrBQuKEMBnak/s1600/Xericopia_2011-01-08_ipomea_potato_IMG_0536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSaUonLvBds_NdxE5a7a-ikmn6OEv6c9vfhGlb2lKibfy0VSVZM-Y27qCsXZ_YdZs4Dccp5gY4CABlHj2V81QtF3G4FAme0MRj0-I-urA9DBTausW_MrSbSbviVFl0mAXrBQuKEMBnak/s320/Xericopia_2011-01-08_ipomea_potato_IMG_0536.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(sweet potato growing in reclaimed chimney flue) </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">The other time I was turning compost and unearthed a healthy albino potato vine struggling for sunlight, coming from a wedge of sweet potato cast out of the kitchen months ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In my case, it took a few seasons (otherwise a really nice sunny location) to produce a handful of small potatoes just using slips (chunks of potato that started growing eyes). But over time, they should produce better with each season. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is one of my easy recipes, "sweet rosemary medallions". What you'll need:</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">- 2 med/lg sweet potatoes (slice to medallions)</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">- 3-6 stems of rosemary (finely chopped)</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">- olive oil (spray)</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">- sea salt</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">- pepper </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5TVBRoG2msfY9yCeMr23kDbxnwvm9fD4cbrEVbDWcQ1tPRJUg_Qc_HX6coBDp0eXdPalCdhL_9deva84sZHk5zXghcYDZcmhmgl4Ht_M_WQopQQniD6N47AKQcv11-mFgxKgQOa3QHU/s1600/Menu_potatoes_rosemary_IMG_1565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5TVBRoG2msfY9yCeMr23kDbxnwvm9fD4cbrEVbDWcQ1tPRJUg_Qc_HX6coBDp0eXdPalCdhL_9deva84sZHk5zXghcYDZcmhmgl4Ht_M_WQopQQniD6N47AKQcv11-mFgxKgQOa3QHU/s320/Menu_potatoes_rosemary_IMG_1565.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(ready for the oven)</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I lay out the potato slices, lightly spray with oil, sprinkle the rosemary on them, and salt and pepper. Flip them over and do the same. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Stick them in the oven on 350* degrees and bake for about 15minutes or until they brown nicely. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5s9QjYjCOfsplSbRzvQU7H3WGK50uK3mBEgkUV5xHbx57Jl1KyqLcH2yBfiiK8vloiWRSOc9FiHubuOfl5xyVX6gDCeMy3vQF6DSY9fqQxal8wT3PJWwTRiEYZxrdfgcrR9RwSDddHA/s1600/Menu_chicken_beans_potatoes_rosemary_IMG_1567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5s9QjYjCOfsplSbRzvQU7H3WGK50uK3mBEgkUV5xHbx57Jl1KyqLcH2yBfiiK8vloiWRSOc9FiHubuOfl5xyVX6gDCeMy3vQF6DSY9fqQxal8wT3PJWwTRiEYZxrdfgcrR9RwSDddHA/s320/Menu_chicken_beans_potatoes_rosemary_IMG_1567.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(roasted chicken breast, baked beans, and rosemary sweet medallions)</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">I serve them with just about anything from broccoli to brussel sprouts, chicken or fish. They even work as a cold snack (especially for those late night trips to the kitchen). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Enjoy!</span></div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-59601085987911398602011-01-03T17:06:00.000-07:002011-01-07T12:10:20.462-07:00Happy New Winter!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Happy New Year to all!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here in Phoenix we didn't expect a white Christmas, but I certainly experienced a 'white' New Year's eve. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5EnAJiGDxeG6N-S4JPQG2IN6iDNGfYAiQux28vhISfAuXtMdn9SR0dENrjGnS0i8RzQFPfLuqpRGT29Xb2yEur23BF5nvjHMgBZZxB0zFqYUSBaWoHceaYO6skDfbjti1inJqJ1gGJw/s1600/Xericopia_2010-12-31_frost-cover_IMG_0518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5EnAJiGDxeG6N-S4JPQG2IN6iDNGfYAiQux28vhISfAuXtMdn9SR0dENrjGnS0i8RzQFPfLuqpRGT29Xb2yEur23BF5nvjHMgBZZxB0zFqYUSBaWoHceaYO6skDfbjti1inJqJ1gGJw/s320/Xericopia_2010-12-31_frost-cover_IMG_0518.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(snow - Xericopia style)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><instert covered="" frost="" here=""></instert></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The garden beds here at Xericopia were blanketed with...well, blankets. It got cold here! I know, it sounds wussy just being a mere low of 33* degrees. But for our heat loving gardens, that can really ruin the festive spirit. Especially the edibles! </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzHXUQhtoxJCQnLk8qOhucwFsyR44ghunUXYEySF0BBaR9S7iM9qA0QK4W9r-4U3a65qKLdRrci8SBfG7ZKh4u2oWtRH5UjPwC719UZ5mvGFjUk1F8paNbitAeRKE8OqXi1U6NGA2-DM/s1600/Xericopia_2010-12-31_frost-cover_IMG_0521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzHXUQhtoxJCQnLk8qOhucwFsyR44ghunUXYEySF0BBaR9S7iM9qA0QK4W9r-4U3a65qKLdRrci8SBfG7ZKh4u2oWtRH5UjPwC719UZ5mvGFjUk1F8paNbitAeRKE8OqXi1U6NGA2-DM/s320/Xericopia_2010-12-31_frost-cover_IMG_0521.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I covered a few garden beds but some areas I left open. Partly, because I know certain plants can withstand major cold (and some things I just wanted to test). I also had a lot of plants I just had to move onto the patio or indoors for assured safety. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5wjOGcaqbj-JJftSXm0do1zBXw8TM3en-BlujWNBV3xmBVN3RKx8Ii6Jb5vEhKQ4tllP3NIm5XJ8cPObpRbJb60yXyfOqA3KB_hlnNVQAawEZ2fsOs-kPpWa_Cn-8K_MbWoQvIwJnis/s1600/Xericopia_2010-12-31_frost-cover_IMG_0515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5wjOGcaqbj-JJftSXm0do1zBXw8TM3en-BlujWNBV3xmBVN3RKx8Ii6Jb5vEhKQ4tllP3NIm5XJ8cPObpRbJb60yXyfOqA3KB_hlnNVQAawEZ2fsOs-kPpWa_Cn-8K_MbWoQvIwJnis/s320/Xericopia_2010-12-31_frost-cover_IMG_0515.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(cucumber seedlings and hibiscus hiding from the cold!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">I'm aware of which areas of the garden trap cold air, and which areas prevent the frost from settling in. How do I know this?</span></div><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjZSTEB6dMqVEgAZqcSJ4X-h_ugs8dNXWdW_9uIyGHISgKBrRinW3O_mVcqVYAr09Kpv77kh1dXS3z3iEENXV2miir8wgaxevOIV4qm2mFcuuaNFUlXuel99hpu7vs9IUwS3Sw0WnEJ4/s1600/Xericopia_2010-12-31_frost-cover_IMG_0523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjZSTEB6dMqVEgAZqcSJ4X-h_ugs8dNXWdW_9uIyGHISgKBrRinW3O_mVcqVYAr09Kpv77kh1dXS3z3iEENXV2miir8wgaxevOIV4qm2mFcuuaNFUlXuel99hpu7vs9IUwS3Sw0WnEJ4/s320/Xericopia_2010-12-31_frost-cover_IMG_0523.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(thermometer on ground next to garden bed)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every year I place a few thermometers in spots to check just how cold it gets. I set them on the ground too, that way I know what the plants are experiencing (ground level and eye level can vary 3-5* degrees). My garden - ground level - got down to 28* degrees (five straight days below 30*) and all of the birdbaths and rain buckets froze over solid. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The frost covers trap in soil warmth from the day, which slowly releases through the night. It also prevents tiny frost particles from collecting on top of plants. You can even leave the frost covers on through the day creating a greenhouse effect for plants. Some plants may still experience minor leaf damage but the plant won't die.</span></div><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4TEnyEgWDrDKzu-TSpEKLgUxYU7Blnsv1ZVcr13bv0jxgDe29W9kLTPCOf2b8EdW-TiGD1Op1Q9SJSgwaxF9xwAuHu_GnPFMtCgALafuXJRF0HsFyBwWZqciljbVaXHs9Z4D3xfoepM/s1600-h/Frost_Cover04_P1010003(2).jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419330751592283010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4TEnyEgWDrDKzu-TSpEKLgUxYU7Blnsv1ZVcr13bv0jxgDe29W9kLTPCOf2b8EdW-TiGD1Op1Q9SJSgwaxF9xwAuHu_GnPFMtCgALafuXJRF0HsFyBwWZqciljbVaXHs9Z4D3xfoepM/s400/Frost_Cover04_P1010003(2).jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">twinkle twinkle happy plants!)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some plants may still experience minor leaf damage but the plant won't die. For super protection, I some of my extra christmas lights and dress them around my specialty plants, then cover them up. It also makes for a charming garden display at night. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-87080267523639497502010-11-11T13:37:00.003-07:002010-11-11T13:39:22.002-07:00Grow it, Cook it - Okra!<span style="color: #003333; font-size: 130%;">Like many of you, I'm sure, the <a href="http://vynniethegardener.blogspot.com/2010/10/wet-and-wow-10052010.html">crazy hail storm of 2010</a> destroyed my garden. Yes, DESTROYED. </span><br />
<span style="color: #003333; font-size: 130%;">But every storm reveals a silver lining...</span><br />
<span style="color: #003333; font-size: 130%;">A week before the storm I luckily picked all the okra from my plants (yea me!). It actually took around 10 days for a nice batch (2 fruit one day, 3 fruit the next...). Having only 3 plants, I would harvest each okra at about 4"-6"inches, before they got too firm and woody. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlE9IDwiXvzXxYmUAAo0b2gn-iicyHYgUjZXcTDgJYD7oMAw3Y2LyKVljMNDUXJ5coOAo1rulgiGrfqTafWZSbSGJ0J0Et8wzhquuxGy3hSzk6sXF457VDegDI2Cr26RzoB2XxRcuF2C4/s1600/Xericopia_2010-09-24_menu_okra_harvest_IMG_0072+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlE9IDwiXvzXxYmUAAo0b2gn-iicyHYgUjZXcTDgJYD7oMAw3Y2LyKVljMNDUXJ5coOAo1rulgiGrfqTafWZSbSGJ0J0Et8wzhquuxGy3hSzk6sXF457VDegDI2Cr26RzoB2XxRcuF2C4/s400/Xericopia_2010-09-24_menu_okra_harvest_IMG_0072+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #003333; font-size: x-small;">(4th and final okra harvest of 2010)</span><span style="color: #003333; font-size: 130%;"> </span></div><span style="color: #003333; font-size: 130%;">First thing to working with okra in the kitchen, DON'T WASH IT until you're ready to eat it. It can get slimy if you wash it and store it. I keep it in a plastic bag in the fridge until I'm ready (or have enough) to cook it up. It can keep for 7-10days. </span><br />
<span style="color: #003333; font-size: 130%;">My favorite way to cook okra is browned it the skillet (Southern Cali style). It's my modification on the traditional deep fried okra (plain ol' Southern style). </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tPtyewSY8Ya8m6XRPVps0QOM7cqtiqVzq__RTBQL5WPnz36cidfNVdVEilGuAi2UYO_Ch7onkqNyYMfe7SNY3JzclhfvjH59SnaA0yIjWYmKKd380Bmlp-6ux0_TGYuqiLm9aBVpk4I/s1600/Xericopia_Menu_2010-06-28_okra_IMG_9619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tPtyewSY8Ya8m6XRPVps0QOM7cqtiqVzq__RTBQL5WPnz36cidfNVdVEilGuAi2UYO_Ch7onkqNyYMfe7SNY3JzclhfvjH59SnaA0yIjWYmKKd380Bmlp-6ux0_TGYuqiLm9aBVpk4I/s200/Xericopia_Menu_2010-06-28_okra_IMG_9619.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #003333; font-size: 130%;"> Slice up the okra about a quarter to half an inch thick (toss the stems and tips into the compost). Throw it all in a bowl with a lid. </span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqes1DU-fsBYSpJ2B7wV-WIxiy0s25_0yVd42wuPCBx_5Dyz_7gs4JSqn7UJbm7nNi4EgASHxLF1mp5xxWvaPoZEukcpCe_xx5ChicpwACRdGTTpssgbHCna0N-SVu5pw2gW27W0K02ls/s1600/Xericopia_Menu_2010-06-28_okra_IMG_9624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqes1DU-fsBYSpJ2B7wV-WIxiy0s25_0yVd42wuPCBx_5Dyz_7gs4JSqn7UJbm7nNi4EgASHxLF1mp5xxWvaPoZEukcpCe_xx5ChicpwACRdGTTpssgbHCna0N-SVu5pw2gW27W0K02ls/s200/Xericopia_Menu_2010-06-28_okra_IMG_9624.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #003333; font-size: 130%;">Give the okra a quick splash of [olive] oil then sprinkle in your favorite seasonings and some breading. (We make out own bread crumbs using <a href="http://www.pizzeriabianco.com/pane/index.html">Bianco bread</a> and Trader Joe's multi-grain bread.) In the bowl, pop on the lid and do the ol' shake'n'bake dance til the okra is well coated.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #003333; font-size: 130%;">Heat up a skillet to with 2-3 tablespoons of oil, add in the okra then cover. Cook for about 12-15 minutes, flip/toss occasionally to keep from sticking or burning, and taste for texture (not firm but not all mushy either).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-JM8XENxvdyy17PDQlXHD5J4h5womknjxuOYHKrtdB4bbfit6-clhwA-MhQAKPPWl5qevXipKBHqfZ_bN3trTzBGTHC8yjOQKmX4hqypq3RfuxXhqTLnqL29oitj182OpFPmEzMGOGc/s1600/Xericopia_Menu_2010-06-28_okra_IMG_9626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-JM8XENxvdyy17PDQlXHD5J4h5womknjxuOYHKrtdB4bbfit6-clhwA-MhQAKPPWl5qevXipKBHqfZ_bN3trTzBGTHC8yjOQKmX4hqypq3RfuxXhqTLnqL29oitj182OpFPmEzMGOGc/s400/Xericopia_Menu_2010-06-28_okra_IMG_9626.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #003333; font-size: 130%;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Good ol' cast iron - Grandma would be proud.)</span></span></div><span style="color: #003333; font-size: 130%;"> We usually enjoy okra with chicken and sweet potatoes; or with salmon, mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy (shown below). </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwj25L3KNWJ6kTzkJWaeXlLk44hcaueuL9mRcMPxz8Q7nHGw2XlNl9vDC6rE8ehzeC2i3ufJ2BU3Ls-E6vhPXZUfT7TI2H_eiLLb84R7ZehIV7sJ-8xSlnXrXcVeqcVAgsWe8dhQszAc/s1600/Xericopia_2010-09-24_menu_okra_harvest_IMG_0070+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwj25L3KNWJ6kTzkJWaeXlLk44hcaueuL9mRcMPxz8Q7nHGw2XlNl9vDC6rE8ehzeC2i3ufJ2BU3Ls-E6vhPXZUfT7TI2H_eiLLb84R7ZehIV7sJ-8xSlnXrXcVeqcVAgsWe8dhQszAc/s400/Xericopia_2010-09-24_menu_okra_harvest_IMG_0070+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #003333; font-size: 130%;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(uh, yum!)</span></span></div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109347158589852578.post-52555981170336789862010-10-05T22:34:00.005-07:002010-11-05T16:42:56.323-07:00Wet and Wow: 10/05/2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyngF6BU57eyAB6bmI0E_mlHiftNZRipUrbOX0QPalw9U0YjUAxM5Dj_HZHwtpcBH5AZUb7ARCtXHt_1gWgnw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yikes...Boo-Hoo....Oh well.</span></div>Vynnie the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03020156144380630531noreply@blogger.com1