Saturday Farmer's Market - Breaking: Major Solar Spill on the West Coast . . .

Created by Heather at Capricious Reader, and now hosted by Chris at Stuff as Dreams are Made on.

All the beautiful flowers have gone, but left in their wake are these tiny green promises of deliciousness.

California is in the midst of a nasty drought and we're hearing hints of tough water restrictions this year, which could adversely affect home 'orchardists,' such as myself.

When I prepared to plant originally, I researched ways to give my trees the most solid foundation on which to grow, and I'm hoping that research pays off now.



One idea was to cycle between deep watering and allowing the soil to dry out. This gives the tree the water it needs but encourages it to send its roots as far down as possible looking for moisture. I recently had to remove one of the trees because of disease, and trust me, those roots are anchored!

I was torn about planting a garden this year. I'm still making changes and I'm really not ready.

But I just couldn't face a year without tomatoes, at the very least, so I put in a six pack of Romas.

They will be frozen as soon as they ripen. I can then make sauce at my leisure.

I will be planting a Cherry Tomato as well.

We eat this 'garden candy' right off the vine, they are good for so many impromptu dishes right out of the garden.

I also planted one Jalapeno Pepper and one Cayenne Pepper. These two plants should produce enough to take me through to frost.

Peppers and Tomatoes are the core of my garden every year and, with a little organic fertilizer and attention from the birds, they seem to be hearty and fruitful in abundance.

Here's hoping for another good year.


















I need some help. It seems our little friend is going to be hanging around, at least for a while, and she needs a name.

My husband is leaning toward 'Lovey Dovey,' but I'm not sure.

I'd appreciate any suggestions and will let you know when a decision is made.




 

 The California Poppies and the purple Iris look so beautiful together.

These last two pictures are of the Pieris Japonica.

The second one is called 'Fire,' and you can see why.

Every Spring it puts on this bright flaming foliage.

Ode To Tomatoes 
- Pablo Neruda

The street
filled with tomatoes,
midday,
summer,
light is
halved
like
a
tomato,
its juice
runs
through the streets.
In December,
unabated,
the tomato
invades
the kitchen,
it enters at lunchtime,
takes
its ease
on countertops,
among glasses,
butter dishes,
blue saltcellars.
It sheds
its own light,
benign majesty.
Unfortunately, we must
murder it:
the knife
sinks
into living flesh,
red
viscera
a cool
sun,
profound,
inexhaustible,
populates the salads
of Chile,
happily, it is wed
to the clear onion,
and to celebrate the union
we
pour
oil,
essential
child of the olive,
onto its halved hemispheres,
pepper
adds
its fragrance,
salt, its magnetism;
it is the wedding
of the day,
parsley
hoists
its flag,
potatoes
bubble vigorously,
the aroma
of the roast
knocks
at the door,
it's time!
come on!
and, on
the table, at the midpoint
of summer,
the tomato,
star of earth, recurrent
and fertile
star,
displays
its convolutions,
its canals,
its remarkable amplitude
and abundance,
no pit,
no husk,
no leaves or thorns,
the tomato offers
its gift
of fiery color
and cool completeness.