august blooms

about purlsane

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/January08/healingwise.htm

http://landscaping.about.com/cs/weedsdiseases/a/purslane.htm

http://asonomagarden.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/eating-purslane-is-so-trendy/

With purslane aficionados the preference is in eating fresh young plants, and especially young leaves and tender stem tips. The taste is similar to watercress or spinach. Use purslane in salads or on sandwiches instead of lettuce or pickles. Next time order a ham and purslane on rye. Purslane can also be cooked as a potherb, steamed, stir-fried or pureed. It tends to get a bit slimy if overcooked. It can be substituted for spinach in many recipes. Seeds are also edible.

Before grazing in your yard be sure to wash the purslane thoroughly and make sure it is free of any pesticides. As with any new food, don't over indulge. For recipes go to http://www.prairielandcsa.org/recipes/purslane.html .

August 5 09

I installed the new solid hoses to separate the watering beds. I did not have time to lay the hose carefully, but they are more or less in place.

Also I trimmed some more flowers so more sun can get to the veggies but not the ground. Things are looking basically good.

The weeds are looking too good. especially the grass. Please drop by and check out the garden for a few minutes and pick some weeds. I propose spraying that grass with Roundup in consecutive treatments now while it is hot and growing, at least outside the fence area and any place it is not too near any plants.

There is an eggplant, some tomatoes and some more blooms hoping to turn into fruit.

Here are things that always need addressing:

water
weeds
mulch
composting
nutrients
planting/planning for the next cycle.

jul 23

did some more clearing the tops of flowers to let sun get to plants, but still shade the soil.

since it is time to plant, Andrea and I put some more seeds down since our last ones did nothing. hopefully with the new watering set-up (not yet installed) these will take.

always weeds.

oh and I wanted to mention about the purslane. it is edible so I have not been taking it out. got to start eating it! free greens!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_oleracea

dark moon 7/22: make a wish

Lunar Living lecture at the Hubbell House
Saturday July 18, Zoe Edrington-Wilcox (mothernaturegardens.com)

after dark moon, 1st Q begins (Water), energy is rising up from the earth, time for nurturing, planting, fertilization; early stage of life.

with the waxing moon, into the 2nd Q (Fire), time to transplant, energy and courage are strong now; the weight of fruit is at its heaviest, so harvest.

the full moon comes and marks the transition to 3rd Q (Air). Time to turn inward. Shed what is extra. Plant only root crops as energy is going back down into the earth with the waning moon.

In the 4th Q (Earth), no planting, time for rest and repair, energy is in the roots now.

PS I won a raffle prize of "Household Product Management Wheel" from the county Water Resources program; consult the new expert, me, for any disposal questions about automotive, paint, aerosols, cleaners, batteries, moth balls, etc.

week of july 13

monday July 20th surprise

Claire and Marie make a quick stop in the morning to do some weeding. The stuff that I suspected was parsley from seed grew into carrots! and they were perfect and delicious.
they were from throwaway seeds that I threw into the ground last fall I think.

We also decided with Lora that the hoses needed to be split up to even out the watering. Claire offered to buy the new hoses needed and I think the 4-way splitters for the hose bibs are already there.

Peace

basil lime tomatoes

the radio talk

http://www.heritageradionetwork.com/programs/2-Q-Report

from Adaptation, bees pollinating flowers

By simply doing what they're designed to do, something large and magnificent happens. In this sense, they show us how to live. How the only barometer you have is your heart. How when you spot your flower, you can't let anything get in your way.

early July