September 10, 2006

voicing thanks

I do have to admit it is very exciting to open Garden Voices and see one of my photos on top. I just did this and, well, everyone in the house (including Skippy) came running fast to see what was wrong. I guess I made some sort of loud noise. Well, it is exciting. Voices is a great collection. I don’t know how they keep up with all the blogs they are now listing. Thanks for the publication and thanks for looking at my blog!

September 10, 2006

tomatoes with mozarella

Ocimum basilicum This is my favorite way to eat tomatoes. Only fresh garden tomatoes. Ingredient list: tomatoes, garlic, basil, fresh mozarella cheese, olive oil and salt. Solanum lycopersicum

September 8, 2006

Supersonic tomatoes

Supersonics are ripening.

September 6, 2006

grilled summer squash

Finally a yellow summer squash!! Sunday evening I picked my first one. I sliced it in 3/4 inch slabs, brushed with herbs in olive oil(rosemary, parsley and garlic), let it sit awhile, then grilled and ate it.

September 4, 2006

flowers in the tomato family

The tomato family (Solanaceae) includes several wildflowers most of which are poisonous, potatoes, eggplants, chile peppers, tobacco, nicociana, petunias and ,of course, tomatoes. These flowers are (from upper left): Brandywine tomato, eggplant, horsenettle, jalepeno pepper and a yellow wildflower that looks like it is a solanacea, but I haven’t identified it yet. 9/6/06: I finally figured out the yellow “wildflower” at the bottom. Its a tomatillo that is growing on my parents compost pile. I found a flower just like it at http://www.yougrowgirl.com/journals/gayla/000053.php. Maybe my mom will save me some…

September 4, 2006

flower of Lactuca sativa

A flower not often seen in gardens. Lactuca sativa. Garden lettuce. A member of the sunflower family, Asteraceae!! In my parents’ garden, it is blooming by the wire edging fence with its stems winding through the trellis. I suppose some would say their lettuce has gotten away from them. But to a lovely effect. Lactuca sativa

August 31, 2006

tomato and cucumber salad

My basic tomato, cucumber and lettuce salad. I usually cut up garlic on top and sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese.

August 30, 2006

ripening tomatoes

My tomatoes are gradually ripening. Its cool outside, so I pick them when they first turn pinkish. I think they ripen quicker if I bring them in the house where its a bit warmer. Tomatoes need dark to ripen and I’ve read its best to put them in a paper bag in the cupboard to ripen. But who wants to hide their tomatoes? I’m one of those who likes to see them lined up on the window sill.

August 28, 2006

taller and taller

I’ve never had my tomatoes vines grow this tall. I suppose they are 7-8 feet and still growing. We have another month of growing season. It must have been that extra fertilizer. The vines have lots of fruits. Big clusters of fat happy tomatoes. I think I’ll pick up some mozzarella cheese. Nothing like fresh tomatoes with cheese, basil leaves and garlic. A little bread, a little wine … yummm. The September supper.

August 19, 2006

more yellow squashes

The squash flowers always look so bright and fresh. Since there seem to be fewer bees around now, I brought a Q-tip out and pollinated this female blossom myself. Just to make sure.

weeks and counting until my last spring frost

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