Sunday, February 03, 2008
Last Tomatoes, First Daffodils
I missed the opportunity last fall to do much in the garden -- my attention was elsewhere -- so I'm now playing catchup in winter. The endless rain hasn't helped, but I got out to do some cleanup today and found a few Supersweet 100 tomatoes lingering on an overwintered plant, as well as the first daffodils opening up. I also pulled some carrots.
At this point Cousin Jim in Minnesota is checking the date on this post. Yes, on February 3, I found some edible tomatoes outdoors. They're not going to win any beauty or flavor contests, but it's fun to have them.
At this point Cousin Jim in Minnesota is checking the date on this post. Yes, on February 3, I found some edible tomatoes outdoors. They're not going to win any beauty or flavor contests, but it's fun to have them.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Last Apple
Last night I ate the last apple of the season from my tree.
The tree's a dwarf Granny Smith, planted in the front yard next to the alley. This year I got some twenty apples from it -- surprising for a tree that's only about four feet tall. We worried when we planted the tree by the alley that its fruit would all be used as projectiles by passing schoolkids. But the sad fact is that kids don't walk to school anymore, and the homeschool kids who take piano lessons next door are polite enough not to mess with the tree, so the fruit stays on the branches until I (or gravity) take it off.
And I like to leave Granny Smiths on the tree for a long time -- ideally until after Christmas. Left on the tree, the fruit turns golden and sweet, like a Golden Delicious only not mealy. Perfect for slicing and eating. But for now, it's back to commercial apples.
The tree's a dwarf Granny Smith, planted in the front yard next to the alley. This year I got some twenty apples from it -- surprising for a tree that's only about four feet tall. We worried when we planted the tree by the alley that its fruit would all be used as projectiles by passing schoolkids. But the sad fact is that kids don't walk to school anymore, and the homeschool kids who take piano lessons next door are polite enough not to mess with the tree, so the fruit stays on the branches until I (or gravity) take it off.
And I like to leave Granny Smiths on the tree for a long time -- ideally until after Christmas. Left on the tree, the fruit turns golden and sweet, like a Golden Delicious only not mealy. Perfect for slicing and eating. But for now, it's back to commercial apples.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Garden Successes
Because I've been staying close to home since January, I've had more time than usual to work in the garden. Today I'll share photos of three successes: a pair of giant (yet still tender) leeks that I left overwinter, some Iceland Poppies casting a lovely shadow by the front door, and a salad of mixed greens cut about five minutes before this picture was taken.
Labels: garden
