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!

~~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!

~~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).

The "Gifted"

Yesterday, a neighbor who knows that I started a garden stopped me to ask how the garden was growing. I excitedly told her that I have my first tiny tomato! She responded, "Well, MiMi, aren't tomatoes supposed to be big?"

Stunned, I looked at her and said, "Gertrude, isn't everything tiny before it becomes big??" (The name has been changed to protect the "gifted.")

Speaking of tiny, look at the hummingbird's eggs. She dutifully tends to them most of the day. Her partner takes turns guarding the nest when she needs to eat.

New Adds

This weekend I moved a hummingbird feeder to the garden, as I noticed a few hanging out there.

Hummingbirds can fly right, left, up, down, backwards, even upside down.

Hummers have a fast breathing rate, a fast heartbeat, and a high body temperature. They must feed every 10 minutes or so all day, and they may consume 2/3 of their body weight in a single day.A major part of a hummingbird's diet is sugar. They get it from flower nectar and tree sap.

We found a hummingbird nest with momma doing her nesting duties. Only females tend to nests of hummers, but doves share the joy.

Other critters like to play near the garden-- Tigger, the tabby and Tater, the puggle.

I cut a bunch of cilantro, also. Cilantro is a kind of parsley. I use scissors to cut it generously into Mexican or Asian recipes. I also use it in guacamole, omelets, chicken dishes and soups and salads.

Guacamole Recipe
2 soft-ish avocados
fresh lime--from the garden
coarse salt
small tomato--from the garden
garlic
cilantro--from the garden

Simply peel and pit the avocados. Mash them up--chunky or smooth. Add garlic, salt and cilantro to taste. I also like to add freshly chopped jalapeno...from the garden, of course. Squeeze in fresh lime juice and fold in the small tomato. Serve...with EVERYTHING.

By the way, avocados are "good" fat and guilt-free.

The Latest

Because Tater (the puggle) and Tigger (the tabby) don't like the sharp rocks but do like to sit on the garden bench, I decided to expand the river rock pathways.

Since stealing isn't such a great idea, I googled "river rock in Scottsdale." I found a great materials place a few miles away. We decided that we needed to cover 36' of ground.

A & A materials is a playground for boys--piles of rocks everywhere. We loaded the Rodeo with the perfect rocks--about 8" in diameter and as flat as we could find. When we weighed the vehicle, we found out that we loaded 1/2 ton of river rock. We looked like low riders as we drove away.

On Sunday morning, we unloaded, and I arranged the rocks so they looked good in form, shape and function.

We share the garden with other critters when the "boys" are looking the other way.

Everything is growing nicely. Flowers are popping on the tomato and pepper plants, and there are even several pea-sized peppers poking through.

Watching the Garden Grow

The garden is doing amazingly well. The cucumber and cantaloupe plants sprouted overnight several days ago. Pretty cool.

I have already used the thyme, basil and rosemary in recipes.

Last night I made Lemon/Thyme Cornish game hens. The recipe is simple. Thaw your hens and bend the wings back and under the birds. Salt (use coarse salt) and pepper (fresh cracked is best) the birds inside and out. Cut fresh thyme and put a "bunch" inside the bird with a generous wedge of fresh lemon. (We stole the lemon from a neighbor's tree.) Bake your birds at 350 degrees for 1:15 minutes.

I served them with a very-well cooked yam. YUM.

You can use basil in virtually everything, but you can't beat a fresh Caprice salad. Get the freshest tomatoes and best mozzarella you can find. Cut both into slices about 1/4" thick. Alternate tomato and cheese slices on a plate. Drizzle with rich olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Snip basil generously over the entire plate. Be VERY generous!

Again, use coarse salt and pepper to taste.

Garden = stress reduction + joy + pleasure + adventure + nutrition + great meals!

Cukes, Cants...and more...

This week, over night, the cucumbers and the cantaloupe seeds sprouted.

The cilantro seems VERY happy, and the basil is bushing out. The tomatoes and the peppers have blooming yellow flowers.

Everyone seems very happy in the garden!

Oops!

I forgot one very important item. Each region of the United States has its own unique perks and challenges.

Having a keen grasp of the obvious, I looked up what works best when in Arizona. Here is the .pdf:
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1005.pdf