~~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...