"Mock" Spring

Well this is why,

      We endure summer for so long...

Autumn Mix

     Waiting for the feeling of Fall which seems like ages.  I can't even tell you how relaxed one feels, having the morning aromas hit the nose.  One can smell the dirt, the plants, the flowers that have fresh and a revived life forces.

     Okay, Yes, your probably thinking, why would I be describing what seems like Spring? Well,  for the desert it's like spring! Maybe, It should be called more like a "Mock" spring.
Needless to say, I think this is my favorite time of year.
   
     Summer and Winter in these parts, well to start ... Summer to experience it, One will have a similar feel to cabin fever, you are locked up in your home, cringing at the moment you open up the front door, the feel of a blast furnace of which hits your face and singes your eyebrows off. Then Winter, hmmm, describing it in any other way, uhhmmm, well,  I can't, except like this... boring, cold and uneventful.
SO.....
     Spring and "Mock" spring, a.k.a Fall...
     Oh! The joy of seeing everything happy and relaxed, celebrating the goings on...

     Yes, that is the reason, that is the reason for living in the desert...


  
     No, the leaves, well, don't turn to those glorious colors here in the valley, maybe in some parts, and playing in the pile of leaves don't usually happen. That "sting of crisp cold,"  it shows up, but... just to slap you in the face when you least expect it...

     You see, that my friends really is a whole other story...
     

 

     But to be able to enjoy the cool temps without freezing our rumps off, and lounging in the warmth of the sun, not roasting, makes up the difference dont-cha think?

    Although, we haven't reached the potential of a "Mock" Spring yet, it really doesn't come until November 1st ish. The tell-tale signs are here and teasing us at every point of everyday! :)

    Now that is everything about why I live here in the desert... Just so you know, lol...
 And "Mock" Spring


UPDATES - HA HA HA!!!

     What was the joyous phrase, "happy happy joy joy happy happy joy joy"!!!  Yes!
   
     So as of now, the Fall Garden is very active and Happy, I have SPROUTS!

As of this week, The Beets and Swiss Chard have popped up,

Row A.

beets

swiss chard

The lettuce, but not the carrots or
Row B.

lettuce

 then again! What could this be?

possibly a carrot

Look at these radish (break on through), but no green onions yet!
Row C.

radish

feeling a little worried for spinach and leeks...  
Row D.

not sure!  Spinach or a leek

same as above! Ooops!

     There you have it, a glorious "Mock" Spring and the new growth for the fall garden! 

Soon to come...  The Amazing peach trees!!!


Mock Spring Color!

      Here are some fall color beauties from Shazam! ( in place of could be's)

Gorgeous!  Yes?

The Fall Garden, finally!!!

     The past couple of weeks have consisted of tilling, expanding and more tilling, and relocating, and  FINALLY, planting....  Yay!!!!


     The plan was to set seed, this weekend... and It is done, (excitedly doing the "HAPPY Dance" here...)

The seeds consists of....


1) *In Row A*  Beets - Tall Top Early Wonder and  Swiss Chard - Neon Lights...

2) *    Row B* Carrots - Scarlet Nantes with Kaleidoscope Mix- and Lettuce Mix - Curly leaf  & Oakleaf

3) *    Row C*  Radish - Sparkler and Onion - Evergreen bunching...

4) *    Row D*  Spinach - Teton Hybrid and Leek - American Flag

      The Questions are, Am I to late?, like in planting.

Will they sprout? Because of how hot it still is!

Will the pest get hold? 

     I think there are a million thoughts in my head!  This is the first time I have really put a fall garden out like this!  I just usually let it all go. I played around with this and that...  I am really in a  unsure state of mind...
 

      During last week, It was so hot, How hot was it? Just one day dried up my Orange Mint plant... It reached like 107° out...
Of course, I was at work and didn't realize it affected my garden so...

Knowledge about Grapes...
 (I thought that's from Apples...) JK   

     A most generous reader, Love mauve by the way, Katrina Blanchalle,  http://olderthanvintage.blogspot.com  has a very old Grapevine... and she gave me a couple of pointers about hers...

     I have a few ideas about where to plant my grapes now, thanks to her, oh and how to treat it... She had a most glorious harvest from it, this go around...

The pictures were beautiful... I can hope to only be so lucky...


Blood Donations

     It was trim the Countess week, Man, that bougainvillea is vicious, she got me good this go around... I didn't quit bleeding until I was done clipping.... 

     Maybe, thats her way of getting me back for not letting her go wild...  bite for a prune... I guess... Just a thought...

I just wish she was so demanding sometimes ... geeze...


 Jalapenos Heaven

     My husband has given me a recipe that he found,  to use my Jalapeños...  Are you ready for this one...


http://allrecipes.com/recipe/bacon-wrapped-peanut-butter-jalapenos/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=bacon-wrapped%20peanut%20butter%20jalapenos&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

Bacon wrapped Peanut Butter Jalapeños 

Ingredients:

8 jalapenos halved length- wise and seeded

1/2 cup peanut butter

8 slices of bacon, cut in half

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350,

Fill each jalapeno half with peanut butter, wrap with bacon and secure with a toothpick
arrange on a baking sheet

Bake for about 25 minutes..


     Doesn't it sound weird and intriguing all at the same time?

***So I  made this... and I am in heaven... These are so tasty, These are surely on my menu for like   always...


Let me know what you think!,

If you decide to venture on the wild side!

An Eden Garden??? Hmmm...

The continuing of the "Eden Garden!"  Well,....

     As I keep on the path of my project "to do's," even though I am behind, from our recent rains...

      I cleaned up my gate path area,

     and moved my garlic chives...

     From there to here...

     Tilling  happened ... which means, planting my Fig happened...

     And tilling looks amazing from my extremely hard working hubby...

      And now it looks like this .....

      Gorgeous or what!!!!

(Well, I'll tell you a secret, hubby did almost all of the back breaking stuff...)


Tree Choosing!!!


      I haven't decide on the other two tree as of yet, I still wish for a Almond tree but I really can't find the spot to put one.

      Shoot, I really don't know where to put the grapevine!..

But, I think one of those thoughts will be a orange tree for the front yard...

      So I mentioned the Peach tree scenario before,

      I want to get three varieties,  "desert gold" "Florida Prince" and "Earli Grand"....



    

     Needless to say I can't wait to plant these peach trees... But,

     I recently visited a local Nursery,  Harpers Nursery... That is where I purchased my fig tree and grapevine...

 http://harpersnurseries.com/whats-growing-on

     First I have to say, they have a real informational blog for this environment... When I visited the nursery, the people were friendly, absolutely not pushy, and they have free classes from time to time...
I enjoyed this place very much, I couldn't scout the entire site, because I was hobbling broke toe still, but, what I did experience, gave a homey and friendly feel..

BUT...

      The reason I mentioned this Nursery,  It has the idea of planting all three peach trees in the same hole... It has a diagram of how to proceed with this style on their web site...  Not only this can be done with peach, but also with fig or citrus...

      Have any ideas yet?

      If I had the space I would be doing this all over the place...

      Hopefully the beginning of Oct. will be the time for planting...

Time is ticking...
     
      I feel like the the character Alice, in the movie, "Alice in Wonderland",  chasing the white rabbit all the while it shouting " I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.... for a very important date..." And hearing the Red Queen, shouting at anything that lived, off with their head...! Whew!



     
 Anyway...
     It is already the middle of the month... I have not been able to do my planting... I'm running out of time for planting stuff, thanks to Mother Nature, not that I'm ungrateful though for the rain she beseeched upon us... it just made time very much short.. So Next week will be the planting of seeds...

      I have the idea of a few things to put to seed... I want  carrots, spinach, lettuce, and green onion... I want to try my hand in beets, and also add some radish... And come up with some other things maybe...

      Over by the blackberries I want to plant strawberries... probably under them and around them...

      I have along my patio wall to clean up and decide what to plant, I still have my jalapeños.. and they are glorious...

     So that is where I am at, and what I've been doing...

     Next week will be my seed planting party... for fall, you know... well, if you count one person having a party!

     Yep! that's me! 

      Party on... yo!

Happy Gardening...

     P.S.  I have a visiting guest hanging out...

Seems quite sure of itself just hanging on the wall like that!

Very brave with Mr. Meanies Family living around this part of the yard!

Reconfigured Almost Configured!

     Today was going to be the finish of what was started last weekend... But, (here is "the but" again), It rained like hard...

 And rained hard to boot...

     Now as much as I am thrilled that it did, tilling can't happen this weekend...

Boo!

BUT!!! "there it is again",....

          GUESS WHAT? 

     We went fruit tree shopping,  and I am sooo excited...  We purchased, (tah dah).... a Mexican lime tree (above), Black Mission Fig, and a Thompson Grape Vine...

      I have a spot for the fig tree, and I, of course planted the lime tree, well... my hubby did... what a sweetie, it is in the front yard...

Fig Treee

     Now, the question is where do I put my grape vine?

      As I was purchasing these plants and trees someone called out, "Oh! an Eden Garden."  Well, Yes! I like that term...


Soon to come PEACHES!
    

    We are working on getting peach trees... Hopefully that will be in about 3 to 4 weeks... I will hopefully be getting three of them...

    They will consist of three varieties, and I will be planting the three in the same hole! Now, before you think what in the world is she talking about?

     We found that this can be done, because the information from a nursery we visited had a web-site that showed how to do this... How fun will it be to pick peaches three different ones for the summer...

     The varieties are "Desert Gold and Florida Prince." I am not sure of the third, I think it is  "Earli Grand."

Continuation on my Secret Garden (well sitting area)
    
     It is getting closer for secret garden plans, the bushes we planted a couple months back are doing amazing...  

     The next step is the gate..." ick," that is going to be a chore, unlike no other...



     Now, I know, this will not be the one to put there, but it is a brilliant one...

     We didn't do much in the garden this weekend... the rain made sure of that... and well weather forcasters are calling for more until Tuesday, so maybe not next weekend either... which is very frustrating...

I have a lot to do...

till,
plant,
plant my Fig Tree,
lay pave stones, pull pave stones,
clean other garden beds out,

Geez, the list is quite large...

     All this needs to happen, and on top of that, I broke my toe, at work... so I am hobbling, to boot... 
the inconveniences, We have to endure...


BASIL....

      I did pull some Basil to make my basil jelly... I want to do that... too.

Where is the time?



 Compost mania!!!

      When I pulled and moved the compost barrel, OMG! the compost was brilliant, (my new word for the week, brilliant)...

      The compost bin is a good location, except when the rains happen... I really can't get to it, because of the soil is so fluffy and wet....  I sink... Yep right down to my ankles... So I need to make a path of "something" to be able to walk to it without sinking...

Un Giving Green Beans
    
     I managed to get out "there" and pull my UN-giving green beans, errr..... but that's fine they were that way, I guess, The soil is "brilliant." I would have loved to have some fresh green beans... But...


     I will dig that away and place the soil, in to the garden because the soil is "Brilliant"... and this will be the path for the gate that is planned...

So other than waiting on Mother Nature, all is well, and moving along as well as expected...


Happy Gardening...

Go Configure!

     My fall garden is at its infant stage... You know "nothing yet!" HA! I have been off my game a little... But I am antsy with desire to get it going... I want to plant all kinds of things... but not sure if this is the right moment...

     I have decided that it will be the moment like it or not...  but there is a "But." There's always a but, if you haven't noticed...

     I want to re configure the lay out of Tangent... I want Tangent to start working for me... I have been nurturing and feeding and watering and talking and whatever else that can come to mind...

    Now! Don't be dirty minded... ha ha ha!

      Looking at my Tangent and normal reaction says, "Oh my goodness you have a small backyard"... Well, you are right, for such a big house, I have a teeny tiny backyard... But! When I look at my Tangent I see endless possibilities... I really didn't see it until we decided to just stay put and not worry about moving...

     Looking at all of the urban gardens, like roof tops and patio home and apartment living... I have incredible space for my garden...

     Some of you may be saying so why are you talking about this... Well, the space is the least of worries if you want delicious veggies and fruit.  I couldn't see past The infamous phrase "I need more space for my garden."

     Now that, that is established... On to plans, right?

     Fruit, so far, I have a pomegranate, and a blackberry bush! The next idea is peach, citrus and grapes and of course a fig tree...

     Okay! I am not a great designer, (of landscaping) and I haven't a clue to know where to begin... but I know that I love the taste and want those to be apart of Tangent...  Then, there are the nuts,

     No... not me, LOL!


     But maybe an almond,
and ....well, almond, because any other nuts wouldn't really work would they(?) in such a confined space? Ho Hum...



http://informedfarmers.com

     Ambitious? Yes! What's the point of it all, if there isn't aim for the sky attitude... right? Baby steps? Of course!

So reconfiguring, what does this entail for me!  Ummmm.... Well not sure!  I think, expanding the area is the beginning, moving the compost bin into the northwest corner will be the start... then, I will till the area of where the compost was...

rearranging is so messy!

      The eggplant is still in the compost!!! and look at the size... amazing, I will be very sad to see it go!
I will have probably 3 or 4 feet more to add veggies in... What will I put there?

      I can kind of picture a tree in the corner there maybe! My (thinking) wheels are turning... Can you see the smoke coming from ears.... Well, of course you can't!... "but" there it is again,... Trust me. I'm thinking up a storm...


Off the subject of reconfiguring...




     Did anyone get to view The Blue Moon last night?  Even though we didn't get to sit outside and watch it rise, random outside glances happened...  The next "blue moon" will not happen until July 2015... I hope to be able to see it then too..

   And Yes! I had a blue moon Brew for the occasion! Boy, was it delish!




     And by the way! Spidey isn't my favorite Hero!

It would probably be Batman, You know ( psst! Bruce Wayne, the gazillionaire).... hehehe!

You know,  Bat Man and Lara Croft would be a Hot Couple! No? okay, weird comment!

Labor Day Weekend!
     This is a three day weekend for me! I plan to work in the garden and cook in my beginning of a gourmet kitchen.... hahaha!
I posted the pic on my FB cuz, the photo wacked out, my reader email..

     http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=437320782985135&set=pb.100001216502799.-2207520000.1346600601&type=1&theater

     Last weekend I received my glorious new fridge.. Doesn't really cost a lot to most households, but for us Yes! It was fairly pricey... 2400.00 ... So the question is... was or is it worth it?  YES! I love it... We will have to work twice as hard because of the expense... But, there's that "but" again!

I am in heaven and plan to upgrade my stove next!      soon, maybe,.... okay soon.. (maybe)


Happy Gardening