Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
A Good Day in the Garden
Yesterday was one of those days I wish I could save up for later. I had the whole day to myself in the country.
It was mostly sunny with just a few clouds. It was just warm enough to be pleasant, but not too warm for working in the garden. I basked in the sun. Really I was weeding, but it felt like basking.
The frogs were singing. So were the birds, but the frogs were louder and more insistent.
I saw two butterflies - first of the season. They were busy and so was I, so I didn't go chasing them to see who they were. One was orange on top like a Painted Lady and the other was white like a Cabbage White. Probably was a Cabbage White.
The garlic is up and growing despite being trodden upon by the deer. The shallots, which I had almost given up on, are sprouting. Spinach, and a few lettuce plants, survived the entire winter under a floating row cover.
I chopped fresh herbs - parsley, garlic leaves, lemon thyme, and radish sprouts - and sprinkled them with abandon on my lunchtime soup.
While digging up a bed to plant radishes and salad greens, I found two potatoes from last year. In perfect condition. Except for the one I cut in half with the spade.
The newly planted (last December) crocuses are blooming. The tulips made it through the winter without being eaten. I wonder if they'll make it through the spring.
I took a lot of pictures in the morning, but haven't uploaded yet. Maybe later today. If you're looking for me, I'll be in the garden.
Labels: bulbs, butterflies, herbs, potager, potatoes, seasons
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
More Things to Do While the Tomatoes Ripen
Eat potatoes.
They're a variety called Cranberry Red, or at least that's what they are called by Territorial Seed. There is some controversy. Oh, and I also dug up a couple of the russet ones (forgot the name), but I was more interested in the pink ones. We've been buying the pink ones or similar for several years at the Arlington Farmer's Market, and we liked them to the point of being disappointed when they weren't available. So they were one of the first things on my list when deciding what to grow in the new central Virginia vegetable garden.
I harvested just a few last weekend, and you wouldn't believe the fluorescent highlighter pink color of the skin. The picture doesn't quite capture the luminescent quality. Since these were the first ones, I cooked them very simply to see if they were any good. They were, but maybe not as good as the ones we were getting from the farmer's market. Or else I've magnified the taste of those in my memory. These seem more watery, and I wonder if it's because I grew them in straw and gave them plenty of water when it didn't rain.
But if you just can't wait to see some ripe tomatoes....come to the county fair with me.
Having been disappointed by county fairs in northern Virginia, we thought we'd see what central Virginia has to offer. Last weekend we attended the Orange County Fair. Weeeeelllll.......what to say? I sure wish I was in the Midwest at fair time. My biggest disappointment was no poultry exhibit; there was a statewide ban on poultry exhibits until July 31. We may try the Albemarle County Fair this weekend. I hope I can see chickens. Tomatoes? I should have my own by this weekend.
Labels: county fair, potager, potatoes, tomatoes
