The Frugal Gardener

Holiday Cheer

Winter-Time
 
Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,  
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;  
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,  
A blood-red orange, sets again.  
  
Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise;  
And shivering in my nakedness,  
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.  
  
Close by the jolly fire I sit  
To warm my frozen bones a bit;
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore  
The colder countries round the door.  
  
When to go out, my nurse doth wrap  
Me in my comforter and cap;  
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
Its frosty pepper up my nose.  
  
Black are my steps on silver sod;  
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;  
And tree and house, and hill and lake,  
Are frosted like a wedding-cake.
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Although there is frost and chilly weather,  a few brave flowers cheer the garden.

 “The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live,” said comedian George Carlin. My favorite Christmas fairy looks as though she could be mischievous!

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!" By Charles Dickens

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” By Marcus Tulles Cicero

“Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.” By Oscar Wilde

15 ~ Minute Ratatouille ~ The Taste to Temper the Official End to Summer

                       Tastes like summertime
This recipie was adapted from Chez Nous by Lydia Marshall (1995)

    This recipe was given to me by Dot Gerek, who taught me that fabulous food can be easy and still taste gourmet! After all these years, ten or more, I continue to use many of her wonderful recipes (cheesecake, Blanco pozole) and her hints for preparing food in a stylish yet easy manner.

  

Ingredients:
1/4 cup good olive oil
2 medium onions chopped
4 garlic cloves grated (the smaller the pieces of garlic the better it is for you, according to recent nutrition reports!)
1 pound ripe tomatoes (about five big ones, and it never hurts to add a few more)
1/2 pound of eggplant (about two small or one large)
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoon salt
pinch of cayenne pepper
1/4 cup packed, julienned, fresh, basil leaves

Directions:

1. In a large deep skillet (use one that has a lid, or you will be scrambling around for one later) heat the olive oil. Add the onions and garlic and cook over medium heat for five minutes.
2. Add tomatoes,sugar, salt,cayenne, and basil. I added one small diced Serrano pepper, and, of course remember to remove the ribs and seeds. Stir, then cover with the skillet lid for five minutes on medium heat.

3. Open the lid carefully and tilt to allow the condensed juices to flow from the lid into the skillet with vegetables. Add the eggplant and stir. Then, cover and cook for 5 more minutes. Voila! You are done. Make sure the eggplant is soft.Eat hot, or at room temperature. This dish can be stored for one week in the refrigerator.

Serving thoughts:

I put ratatouille over pasta, or on top of thinly sliced bread, like Ciabatta, or any artisan, local bread you prefer. You can use it to fill an omelet,or mix ratatouille with beans and couscous, or quinoa.  grilled chicken breasts are wonderful if you pour warm ratatouille over them and grate sharp Parmesan on top.
     Truthfully, I like it best the next day, after it has cooled in the refrigerator and all the tastes have become best friends. I toast thin slices of the previously mentioned bread, and rub a garlic clove over the slice. In a 350 degree oven, pop a cookie sheet filled with the bread slices kissed by the garlic. Toast until they are lightly crispy and barely tan. Scoop room temperature ratatouille over warm bread, and savor the taste of your summer. Serve with a nice, light, white wine, like Pinot Grigio. Add some fall flowers and you are set!

Savor this long, luscious week end, the last of summer. Soon the nights will be cool enough to make soup. Happy Labor Day weekend.

The Greenest Choice for a Holiday Tree

      Holidays are a joyful time, but environmental concerns can put a damper on decorating your home.  Especially difficult is the tree decision. Is it better to go artificial, or have a cut tree? This can be a perplexing decision, but hold on for cheerful news.  The best option for the environment is to buy a living tree.  And, this is good news because there are so many wonderful options of holiday trees to buy, and there are also great choices that are not even trees at all.
    Think beyond pines, and firs, and look for something else that is fragrant and showy.  Topiaries made from herbs, like rosemary or lavender, can be turned into a wonderful tabletop arrangement. 
Simply add tiny ornaments or tie large bows onto the trunks.  Then, when the holidays are over they can go into your garden.  One caution, these herbs don’t enjoy being indoors.  Accordingly limit the time spent inside to two weeks. 

   
    Even more fleeting, but quite dramatic is a floral design shaped like a tree.  Craft stores have floral foam trees in several sizes.  Use long-lasting flowers like amaryllis, or carnations to cover the form.  Place form in a shallow bowl which can hold water.  This allows the foam to take up the moisture the flowers need to stay fresh.  Expect your theatrical design to last a gorgeous week.
Do you want something longer lasting?  Then, get a live tree.  Since most of us have small gardens, or garden in containers, a dwarf pine or fir is an excellent choice. (For details on varities and care instructions go to my 2009 december blog entry). Most will remain in a large container for many years before requiring transplanting.  Nothing adds spirit and scent to holiday decorating like a real conifer.
    To keep a live tree healthy, limit the time spend indoors to a week or two at most.  Additionally, place the tree in bright light and away from heat sources.  Plan to pick up your tree as soon as possible for the best selection, because local nurseries usually only get one delivery of live trees right after Thanksgiving.
Have a green Christmas!

 


 

Praying Mantis - Master's of Disguise

Bugs are not a favorite topic for gardener's, but praying mantis are an unexpected delight. Recently, I found one of my babies all grown-up. But, I am getting ahead of myself...Last winter I bought two praying mantis eggs online. In eight weeks, about 200 babies were clamoring inside the jar.

    After they hatch, you must let them outside pretty rapidly. I kept them in the jar for 24 hour, so they could provide live entertainment at the lecture I was giving the next day. They got more applause than I did.

    When I let them out, they seemed to disappear in my yard. Unfortunately, baby praying mantis top bird's lists of tasty treats. So, I was delighted when I found the first adult. I found him on a back lit leaf of my giant philodendron. See the first photo.

    And, this incident got me looking around. My dog spotted one in my birch tree. I took a photo, and was surprised, pleased, and proud to note this mantis was gobbling a nasty plant chewing grasshopper for me! If you look closely, you can see it's wee mouth open to chomp.     Later, I was deadheading some nemesia, when a seed pod moved. There, in the middle the pale brown/tan pods and 'Diamond Frost' euphorbia, was a praying mantis. They change color to match their surroundings, and wait as still as a stick for their prey. The very same day, I saw another disguised mantis. It was a still as the cedar tree trunk it was hiding on- somehow it made it's coloring several shades to match the textured bark.
    This has given me faith that many of my little babies are still in my yard helping me get rid of the bad bugs. I love them for that, and for their adorable E.T. like heads. Next spring, I am going to buy more eggs to hatch- praying mantis make going green fun. Besides, it is like having little spies in disguise working with you to nail the plant eating bugs. 

    “We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics,” joked the American poet, Bill Vaughan. I hope my praying mantis remember me, and continue to populate my garden. I won't blow their cover.

Summertime in my garden

My coral vine (Antigonon leptopus) is blooming profusely, and intertwined in a most happy fashion with my climbing cabbage rose, named Colette. I love this vine, it comes on strong as the summer heats up, and has lovely leaves and delicate flowers.
This rose, Colette is one of my favorites. She can look pale apricot, or pink depending on the light and time of day. See the below photo for the same rose later in the evening.
My horned yellow poppy (Glaucium flavum Crantz) finally bloomed. I have been waiting two years, and I almost missed it because my Copper Canyon Daisy(Tagetes lemmonii) had grown over it. I am going to save the seeds.

It was hard to cut my Copper Canyon Daisy back because it looks so wonderful in September. But, I did it so I could see my rare poppy! See below photo for daisy in full fall bloom!

    My pincushion flowers (Scabiosa)are still in bloom, and have been since March. Deadheading them keeps them going from spring into fall. No wonder these old fashioned favorites are so popular. They are drought tolerant and practically pest free! The seedheads look like a pincushion, but you do need a good imagination. These are lovely lavender, but they come in many colors- and you can get annual ones in addition to the more common perennials I grow. I like the perennial form, less replanting and they seem to be more carefree.

In Summer, my roses steal my heart- I love to make bouquets and smell them while I am weeding. Here is a photo of Perdita, a cabbage rose from David Austin.She smells like honey, vanilla, and tea.Too bad blogs can't give off an aroma! I love the way there are so many petals, they make a wave within the rose.Enjoy your summer, it goes by so fast! A life without love is like a year without summer.-- Swedish Proverb

Make Thyme

   
    Ghandi said, “There is more to life than increasing its speed.”  Today, with all our technological advancements, we hurl ourselves so fast that we forget to take time.  The tiny herb called thyme can be a gentle reminder in our gardens to slow our pace, and enjoy.
  Thyme has historically symbolized courage and bravery.  Medieval ladies embroidered sprigs on scarves for a favored knight going into a battle.  Ancient Romans prescribed thyme tea to cure melancholy.  Thyme has antiseptic properties and is still used in salves and mouthwashes.  In Olde England, thyme tea was sipped to enable people to see fairies.

   

On a more practical vein, thyme is indispensable in cooking where its delicate flavor blends well with other herbs.  Possessing tiny leaves, there is no need to chop, because you can use thyme whole.  Thyme can be used fresh or dried, but the dried flavor is more intense.  Essential in French cuisine, thyme can also be used in soups, potatoes, roasted meats, poultry stuffing, and egg dishes.  When added to foods, thyme aids digestion.  In addition, tea made from thyme soothes sore throats and eases hangovers.     In the garden, thyme has a delicate charm.  Perfect for the front of the border, or greening areas between stones, thyme offers more than just scent.  This herb is easy to grow, only requiring abundant sun and well draining soil.  Thymes do not like sitting in wet soil or wet winters.  Be cautious of planting a robust perennial too close, because thyme will be overpowered and die out.

  Within the genus Thymus, there are hundreds of species which are classified as upright (six to ten inches) or creeping (two to six inches).  In general, the upright thymes are better for culinary use, and the creeping varieties are better suited for groundcover between rocks, or near pathways.  To keep upright varieties bushy, pinch back frequently.  No need to fertilize these Mediterranean natives, as that causes weak and scentless growth.
    Contrary to the often heard lament “there is never enough time,” there are, in fact, more than enough varieties of thyme.  Sample from these interesting types: wooly, caraway, cat, coconut, lemon, alba, elfin, minimus, silver queen, orange, or mother of thyme.  Each variety has unique qualities to discover.  Coconut thyme has delicate mauve flowers, and a very sweet aroma.  Cat thyme leaves smell musty, but felines enjoy nibbling them.  For a citrus zing, try lemon thyme, which has leaves edged in yellow.
    Add some thyme to your garden, and perhaps its presence will remind you to slow down and savor.  Give a stressed-out friend complaining about being “out of time,” a basket filled with thyme.  Use thyme in cooking, and experiment with several varieties to find your favorite flavor.  Remember there is plenty of thyme.

Lemon Thyme Pasta Sauce
1 cup heavy cream, 1 cup grated Asiago cheese (can be found in good cheese departments or you can substitute fresh grated Parmesan cheese, but your sauce will not be as creamy), zest of one lemon, 4 tablespoons fresh lemon thyme leaves, salt and pepper to taste.
To make this lemony sauce, put cream in a heavy saucepan on low, and add in thyme and zest.  Reduce and thicken, stirring often for fifteen minuets.  Turn heat to medium, and add the cheese.  When cheese is incorporated, taste for flavor, and add salt and pepper.  Stir into penne style pasta, and serve at room temperature.

Stroll In My Garden

The garden in May is a good place to be. Come take a stroll and see what I have going on! As the Old Spanish Proverb says, “More grows in the garden than the gardener sows.”  

Serendipity in life and in the garden is a thrill. My pincushion flowers weaved in the baby blanket pink rose, and my purple Peruvian lilies. 

I am growing more vegetables, like most gardeners in America, and love to mix them with my flowers.I prefer this look rather than stiff rows of veggies- also I have limited space, so this method allows me loads of flowers and vegetables. The Farewell-To-Spring (Godetia ) in hot pink looks nice by my Bright Lights Kale!  

I save more space by going vertical. Hanging baskets can need lots of water, but not if you fill them with succulents.  

This is a favorite fancy leaved geranium named for San Diego plants-man 'Geranium George" Marston. The leaves offer color all year and it blooms all spring and summer.

Who doesn't adore foxgloves? I have several every year- this particular year they are blooming late and for a long time, because we have had such a nice cool spring.

Borage is a wonderful herb, it draws bees, and nods with star-shaped true blue flowers. The flowers taste like cucumber, and they look lovely scattered over fresh fruit. I also float them in wine.

Even water drops seem to glow on poppy leaves in the spring.

 

My butterfly Iris also sparkles with water drops. It blooms on the north side of my house, and I love the way it's foliage is spiky, and the flowers seem to float.

My new climbing rose 'Collette' is covered with flowers and after two years it has topped the arbor like a flowery crown.

My pineapple mint is the best- it has a hint of citrus mixed with pineapple and mint. So good in ice tea, and in the garden it is not a thug like most mints, instead it delicately crawls.

Enjoy everything this fleeting, glorious time of year has to offer. I plan on eating in the garden tonight. Wishing you spring breezes and flowers...

An Ode to Violets & The Sweetness of A Mother’s Love

    Ever smell a sweet violet on a crisp spring morning?  Nothing can compare . . . perhaps because little else is blooming, or perhaps because the scent is sugary, never cloying, earthy yet light.  Sense associations unfold as I breathe in their familiar smell.
    I recall the first time I picked a bouquet of  violets.  My neighbor, a severe Scandinavian man, Mr. Nelson, had a whole bed planted with violets next to the street.  The flowers received the perfect mix of morning sun and afternoon shade.  In the rich soil, they grew large and fragrant.  Not only blooming in traditional dark purple, he had white and pale lavender flowers.
    I took piano lessons from him so I knew of his sternness, and dislike for frivolity.  He would angrily chew on a cigar, while I butchered the current song I was trying to learn.  So, I was cautious as I snuck to pilfer a bouquet of violets.

    One Mother’s Day, early in the morning, I loaded my fists with a glorious mixture of white, purple, and lavender flowers.  Then, I ringed the entire nosegay with the violet’s heart-shaped green leaves.  As I was choosing the most pristine leaves, I felt a presence - eyes on my neck.  I turned in a flash, and saw Mr.  Nelson.  “You know the more you pick the more they will bloom,” he said in a deep voice from across the yard.  I was confused.  Was he mad or glad?  He continued, “Come and pick them anytime, dear,” and went back inside.  

    The next time I had piano lessons, Mr.  Nelson had placed a small vase filled with violets on the table where he parked his ever present cigar.  I struggled through the songs, and he chastised me for not practicing.  “Let’s take a break,” he said.  “So you like violets?” I nodded guiltily and told him they were my Mom’s favorites.  “I too love violets.”  He sat still, not licking his lips, but looking out the window.  Being ten, I  grew restless and fiddled with my lesson sheets.

    He glanced at me and began speaking.  “My mother died when I was young, in the darkest part of the Swedish winter.  Night began at three, and lifted to a chilly grey for a few hours during the day.”  He remembered, “My father expected me to continue my chores, which included milking and feeding our cows.”  He continued, “I did not mind, the routine comforted me, and the cows seemed sympathetic when I cried.”  I nodded, but wondered how was this connected to violets?  I was happy to not be practicing the piano, so I did not ask.

“That winter was endless.  I could not eat or sleep, and I begged my father to take me to the doctor for the pain in my stomach, but he refused.”  He shifted in his chair, and sighed.  I saw a glimpse of the boy he had once been.  “One dreary day, my aunt arrived, from her far away home.  We were not expecting her.”  He said, “She looked like my mother, and better yet, she held me and allowed me to cry in her arms.”  He paused, “Then, she gave me a bouquet of violets.”
    “She told me in Roman times violets symbolized mourning, memory, and affection for the dead.”  He finished by saying, “And now whenever I smell violets I remember my mother and think how blessed I was to have her sweetness in my life.”  He barked for me to get back to my lesson, and the moment vanished.
    I still cannot play the piano, but I love violets, and when I smell them I think of my Mom, who died four years ago. I was thrilled to discover I could grow this beloved flower in my hot inland garden.  The trick is to plant them where they receive shade all afternoon.  I have a patch of clay soil which also helps them to thrive, because they love moisture.
 To learn more about sweet violets (Viola odorata) visit this lovely site www.sweetviolets.com.

The Latest on Tomatoes

    Tomatoes do not need reinventing because the homegrown version is always delicious.  But, it is fun to grow new varieties that you cannot find in a grocery store.  This year there are plenty of unusual, mouth-watering, new tomatoes to try.  Have you ever seen a white or a purple tomato?  Just imagine making white tomato salsa, or savoring an open-faced sandwich with slices of an orange tomato.
    First, a quick, nutshell version of tomato care, in case this is your first year growing them.  Then, we will delve into savory descriptions of new tomatoes to try.  All tomatoes are warm weather lovers, so wait to plant them until the soil has begun to warm, usually by late April or early May.  Truthfully, tomatoes set out too early won’t fruit any sooner than the ones set out later.  Besides, tomatoes get off to a better start when conditions warm because they are less vulnerable to pests and diseases.     While tomatoes don't have human-like innards as portrayed in this vintage drawing- they do have specific requirements for optimal health. Place tomatoes where they get as much sun as possible, no less than five hours per day.  Then, prepare the soil by digging deeply and mixing in plenty of organic compost.  Plant transplants down far enough to encourage rooting along the stem.  Pinch off any flowers as you plant, so the tomato gets established before producing fruit.  Water well, so the soil stays moist while the roots get established.  Don’t let tomato plants ever dry completely, because this causes the flowers to drop off.

    Now, it is time to discover new tomatoes.  The top on my list this year is Snowberry.  This cherry tomato is yellow outside and white inside.  Furthermore, it produces loads of little fruit for many weeks.  Snowberry is indeterminate in growth.

Photo provided by www.parkseeds.com

    So why do you need to know if your tomato is indeterminate, or determinate?  Because tomatoes come in two basic growing styles no matter what the size or color their fruit; indeterminate types tend sprawl, almost like a vine and they set fruit continually until it becomes too cold. On the other hand, determinate tomatoes grow like a bush to a genetically preset size, and they produce fruit all at one time, and then die.  So, this means you need to stake or cage sprawling, indeterminate tomatoes, and don’t be surprised when the bush-like, determinate tomatoes die after producing a large batch of fruit.

    The next novel tomato is an orange, and determinate tomato called Amana.  It was discovered in the Amana Colonies in Iowa.  Believe it or not, orange tomatoes have been around for along time.  Lately, such heirlooms are popular for outstanding flavor and unusual colors.  Expect to harvest, large, bright tomatoes that weigh as much as two pounds.  Curiously, the flesh of this tomato tastes a little like tropical fruit.  Moreover, this tomato grows into a neat clump and does not need staking.

The Cherokee Indians also grew a unique tomato, Cherokee purple, more than one hundred years ago.  With a unique, dusky, purple color, and a rich, smoky taste, it is no surprise that this old-fashioned tomato is the latest thing.  This heirloom, indeterminate tomato (remember it will need staking) has large fruit, perfect for slicing and showing off its deep color.

Black pearl is another extrodinary tomato with a purple hue, but it is a cherry tomato.  When this tiny fruit is chilled, they taste like grapes.  But, if eaten at room temperature, the taste is like a regular, cherry tomato.  This is an indeterminate tomato, and it produces fruit all summer.

    Banana legs tomatoes almost does not look like tomato plant at first glance.  The leaves are thin, and lacy.  It’s produces clusters of yellow tomatoes are sort of shaped like bananas.  This determinate tomato has few seeds, and a firm texture, making it ideal for spectacular yellow sauces.

Most of these uncommon tomatoes are only found in catalogues or through the Internet.   In addition, in many parts of the country you must buy these tomatoes as seeds, because of agricultural shipping laws.  However, there are still plenty of warm days and weeks this year, and soon you will be enjoying a rainbow of tomatoes.  Heat up your summer with a cool collection of tomatoes.

Early Spring Fever

                                     
  
  The dictionary defines spring fever as a feeling of restlessness, excitement, or laziness brought on by the coming of spring.  Gardeners also succumb to this malady, but for us there are other symptoms.  By and large we gardeners are practical, well as practical as dirt, but when spring comes something happens, and all prudence disappears. We buy plants, and forget the economy.

    At my fifth garden lecture this very spring, I noticed everyone present was entranced by the speakers’ flowery description of a particular plant.  How did I know others were also effected?  At the following plant sale, there was a mass of gardeners on a quest.  Like the famous bride dress sale in New York City, all were determined to get the praised Nicotiana mutabilis. This flower, the speaker claimed, had completely made her woodland garden.  Shoulder to shoulder, all gave up good gardening manners to achieve this prize.  I hung back too long and missed the last plant.  I felt sad, even when I reminded myself that the day before I had never heard of the plant.

    Another sign that Spring Fever has hit?  Buying a plant you swore you had enough of when you pruned them in January. I bought another rose, okay actually two. One, I needed to replace a dead vine, but the other I had a hard time finding room for.  I know I said last year my small yard did not need anymore roses (have you been talking to my husband?), but this rose was called ‘Secret’.  I confess I caught Oprah’s show about the secret of life a couple of years ago (of course I only caught snatches of the show as I was reading Einstein's theory on relativity.)  And, truly a life full of harmonic wealth, and complete happiness sounded alright. 
    So, I did what any sensible gardener would do, I bought the aforementioned rose with the beguiling name, and a lovely geranium called ‘Happy thoughts.’ I figured I had covered multiple good vibes.
     The rose, the ‘Secret’,  is suited for coastal areas because it is not prone to rust or powdery mildew, and it blooms well even through summer heat waves. I tell myself it is a practical purchase since it is so resilient.  The flowers are fragrant, and they have are a lovely cream accented with pink tinted edges, sort of like the peace rose. I excuse my purchases by thinking if I don’t win the lottery and look like Demi Moore by June at least I will have flowers.  Did I mention my strong suit is logic?
    As a gardener writer I have the chance to see many public and private gardens year round, but spring brings all the best garden tours.  In fact, I kiss my family goodbye on Saturday morning, and they don’t see much of me until Sunday.  I bring home cooked pizza from my favorite store as a peace offering. 
    But really who could blame me?  So many tours, so little time!  Each garden I see becomes my new favorite, and I mentally begin rearranging my yard. Be aware of plant- itis.
    This ailment strikes you in a springtime nursery. You can be certain you have it when what you plan to spend and what you actually spend are as off as the AIG accounting books.  Thoughts of a unified, harmonious garden with select plants repeated for harmony fly out of your head as fast as hummingbird wings beat.  You grab one of this new plant and one of that, and before you realize it your cart is a wild hodgepodge of plants. 
    I have spring fever bad. But, my garden is luscious with blooms, and promise. And, I try to restrain myself. Robin Williams, the famed comedian said, “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’”