A lot has happened....

 ...since my last garden post.  I have not quit gardening, but I just got away from writing.  Life flung dung on me, but I’m regrouping.

I guess you could say that this Covid 19 pandemic forced a lot of us regroup, retool and re-start.  

So...that is what I am doing.  How are you regrouping, retooling and re-starting?

~~Arizona Garden~~

Yes, you CAN grow a lovely garden in Arizona!  Ask me how we can grow one for you!  (480) 319-2229

Today's spoils!

~~Heirloom~~

My first!

Spring Garden

Tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, radishes, peppers, strawberries and herbs (lavender, oregano, chives, cilantro, basil and rosemary).

~~Spring~~

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

~~Spring~~

Spring 2011 has brought a plethora of blessings. And what a ride it is...

First, take a look at spring in Scottsdale, Arizona.  It really does snow here!

And because I spent much of my time and energy caring for my Mother-in-law, her sons encouraged me to take a break with friends and head north to one of the few vortexes of the world, Sedona, Arizona.

Just a few days after I got home, Mother died.  It was time to take her home to her sunflowers in Kansas.

Look at the stately stone building (with antique gas pumps) we passed.  (Yes, it was snowing in Kansas, also.)

On our way back from Kansas, we traveled through the lovely High Country of Arizona and came across tranquil, beautiful snow made mountain lakes. The breeze was crisp and blew pine scents through the air.

When we returned, it was time to start another growing season in the garden, a real place of therapy and peace for me.

And I love guests in the garden....

~~Winder Garden 2010~~

Well, I no longer suffer from Fall Fever, because Autumn has officially arrived. I don't watch the calendar for seasons here; I watch the thermometer.  It is finally in the 60's at night.  Woot!  Woot!

Today, I finished planting the garden.


Drum roll.......here it is!

I have no clue why or how theses pictures got phucked up.  So there.

We have eggplant, four kinds of peppers, four kinds of tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, radishes.  And for herbs, we have rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil, cilantro and chives.

Let it grow.... Let it grow... Let it grow!  

~~Fall Fever~~

Okay...I have "fall fever."  Most people get spring fever, but here in Arizona, the summer is like winter everywhere else.  The heat keeps me in...and makes me cranky and fat!

We have two gardening seasons; one is about to start!  Today, it was time to get the garden box's soil prepared. I put a layer of nitrogen rich fertilizer down and then topped it with 9 cubic square feet of soil.

 The tall plants in the back are jalapenos, which have not bloomed yet...late bloomers.  The medium plants in the middle bell peppers, which are determinant.  Determinant plants have a pre-determined amount of vegetables they will bear.

The herbs in the front are basil and rosemary. Can't believe the basil made it through the scorching summer!

This evening, I will top off the soil with a layer of compost...or poop.

Then I have to wait to plant.


This year: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, artichokes, spinach and radishes. Herbs to plant will be rosemary, chives, basil, cilantro and oregano.



Hummingbirds keep my company while I garden.  They get drunk (literally) on the nectar I provide and get VERY noisy when it runs low!  Little bastards.

~~April Garden in Arizona~~

My April garden is so happy here in Arizona.  When I first started my garden, I had only hopes at the daily joy it would bring...to my dog that pees in it.

See the squash, beans, chives, jalapenos, red peppers, rosemary, tomatoes, oregano, cilantro, and thyme.

 
We even have a couple of garden guards!  (See them both?)

~~The January Garden~~

The garden thrives...in JANUARY!  

Last night I made the most healthful, satisfying meal... from the garden.

Here's how:

--Pick a peck of un-pickled peppers  (bell peppers)

--Snag a few jalapenos to chop finely (I like it hot)

--Yank a couple of tomatoes (big ones, little ones...red ones, yellow ones)

--Open and rinse a can of corn....(unless you grow your own)

--Open and rinse a can of beans...(your favorite...I like the little black ones)

If you like meat, fry up some super lean chuck; otherwise, don't.

In large pan put together everything except the bell peppers.  Slice the peppers lengthwise, seed them and put them in a baking bowl.  

Heat the other ingredients and season to taste.  I like rosemary (garden), thyme (garden) onions, Italian seasoning, coarse salt and pepper.

Pre-heat the oven at 350.  Pour all the ingredients over the peppers, throw the bowl in the oven and bake for 1 hour.

If you want to be decadent...(and who doesn't?)...put a couple of slices or shredded cheese over the top about 45 minutes into baking.

Serve this with some piping hot garlic bread.  (I didn't because I forgot.)

Enjoy!

P.s. A perfect wine pairing is Seven Deadly Zins~~now you can enjoy even more!

~~December Garden~~

Counting the fabulous reasons for living in the west is fruitless...NOT!  

One of my favorite reasons is that I can virtually garden all year long.  (Don't talk to me about this from June-August....HOWEVER, I can garden in the high country then!)

What a gift I have in the backyard garden box.

This is a six-pound grapefruit...no kidding....six pounds!

 And lemons drip off the dwarf tree like icicles in the north right about now.

Tomatoes populate the garden, along with basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary and peppers.

 

Yellow roses serve as a constant reminder of friendship all around us......

(oh...and that is a bobcat trap...)

~~Autumn~~

Autumn must be nearly everyone's favorite season. People seem to happy to have the break in the heat. We can get out, ride our bikes, take long walks and breathe the crisp morning and evening air. ~~Exhale~~


I just planted the autumn garden--tomatoes, orange peppers, lettuce, basil, oregano, thyme, chives and rosemary.

Also, please "steal" this idea from me for a festive look...inside or outside!!

~~Life Back In The Garden~~

Mourning never ends, but life does go on.

We have two "newish" babies, Smoky Bear and Tigger Too. They are sweet, lovable and taking over their new home.

Living in Arizona allows for two growing seasons, spring and fall.

I just planted lettuce, tomatoes, "orange" peppers, basil, rosemary, oregano and thyme. I've never grown lettuce, so this will be a new experience! We shall see!

We also have grapefruits, lemons and limes growing in the back yard.

Stay tuned~~

Death in the Garden

I have not written about my garden in the longest time because we had a death in the garden.

Our beloved kitten, Tigger, was playing in the garden. Truly, he loved to play in the garden. It was about dusk and time for him to come in for the evening.

As I was calling him, a bobcat leaped over the wall and killed our Tigger. It happened so fast that we could not get to our baby on time.

The one thing that the death of Tigger taught me. We are here to love and be loved. It really is that simple.

Will start writing again regularly.... Can't write more now....still crying...

~~Summer Daze~~

After about a MILLION pear tomatoes, we enjoyed a g'zillion pear tomato dishes. I finally pulled the tangled vines out. Now, all we have are the herbs, which are thriving. (And so is the lizard that lives in the garden. Tigger and Tater love to chase him out!)

Off to Home Depot to see what to plant next!

~~Garden Update~~

I haven't written much lately, but that doesn't mean that much hasn't been happening in the garden. If you can't find something every day to pick and fix for dinner, you aren't looking!! The garden is producing an abundance of herbs, tomatoes and peppers. In addition, three or four cucumbers have sprouted and its vines are taking over the rose bush!

Here is a wonderful recipe for a salad I just made. Don't concern yourself about measuring anything. Just add until it feels right, looks right and tastes fabulous!

- Pear tomatoes (from the garden), halved
- Avocado, cut in chunks
- Fontina cheese, cut in chunks
- Mild pepper (from the garden), diced
- Basil (from the garden)
- Vinaigrette dressing (Newman's Own Light)
- Coarse salt and pepper

One of the most fun parts about growing a garden is getting to be creative based on what is available on that day.

A garden in Phoenix? Never say "never," and never say "can't!"

HOLY Tomatoes!

Are you even believing how LARGE these tomato plants have grown? This was three weeks ago. Can you see the 5'8" me behind them?

Plant a garden; grow a jungle!

GRACIOUS, Gracie!

I just wanted a small garden box. I got a JUNGLE. (Must be all the poop in the box.)

Sharing the Garden

Every week, I facilitate a discussion group with about 10 residents of a dementia care unit of an assisted living center.

Today, I brought the group copies of this blog and fresh herbs from our garden. I read the blog out loud and passed around pictures of the garden, the pets, and the hummingbird.

The residents really seemed to enjoy the discussion, which included them getting to hold and smell fresh, home-grown herbs.

~~Hummingbirds~~

A hummingbird is hanging around the garden these days, as I put some super sweet red water in the feeder for it.

I was wondering if I could put a hummingbird feeder around the garden to give it safety from the big, nasty blackbird that is lurking to steal others' eggs for breakfast.

(The internet amazes me. You can sit in front of your computer and learn about everything and never learn it all!)

I learned that hummingbirds don't appreciate man-made houses, nor do they appreciate fragrant flowers. They like their own spaces and have virtually no sense of smell.

Having heightened visual senses, they do love bright colors. So, to attract hummingbirds, create a colorful space and keep some sweet water for them.

As for the nasty black bird, I'll need to get a gun. (kidding, of course)

Easter in the garden

Well, how appropriate is it that the hummingbird babies made their debut on Easter morning. You may find them difficult to see, so just look at the picture and trust me.


The garden is responding nicely to the beautiful Arizona weather. (Notice the giant gecko that made its way into the scene.)

Tigger enjoys the bougainvillea (boo gan vee ya).