Potatoes

Potatoes like bulbs are a surprise, but they are edible. Dig a hole of eighth inches or more. Bury a dried tuber or bulb in straw, hay, and fluffy well draining soil.
Leaves will begin to appear. This small shrub then flowers. Bulbs will be a surprise with their beauty but potatoes are secretive below ground. If the deer don't eat the leaves and flowers then from ten weeks on delicately with a hand trowel small potatoes can be removed. If left until the leaves and flowers wither a half dozen or more potatoes will be discovered under ground! Some large, some small but all potatoes are delicious. Bulbs are not that quick at multiplying like potatoes. Narcissus will multiply after a few years and will need to be divided and replanted. Each year tubers and bulbs can need to be stored in a cool dry space and potatoes eaten as desired!

Here is a yummy recipe for potatoes from "Mom's Best One-Dish Suppers", Andrea Chesman: Lemony Chicken with Artichokes and Potatoes.

Potatoes: 1 1/2 pounds potatoes quartered or cut into eighth

2 TBSP olive oil

3 garlic cloves minced

2 tsp fresh thyme + salt and pepper to taste

To prepare potatoes preheat oven to 425. Lightly oil large skillet sheet pan. Combine the potatoes, oil garlic, thyme and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl. Toss well. Spread out potatoes on the sheet pan in a single layer. Roast for 25-30 minute until browned all over, shaking the pan occasionally for even cooking. Set aside:

Chicken and Artichokes:

2 TBSP olive oil

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into bite size pieces

salt and pepper

2 cans 14 Oz. artichoke hearts, quartered and drained

1/2 cu chicken broth

2 TBSP fresh lemon juice

1/4 c. chopped parsley

1/2 c. pitted olives chopped

Prepare chicken and artichokes, heat oil in a large skillet over med.-high heat. Saute the chicken in the oil until white and firm, 6 to 8 minutes. Season to taste.

Add the Artichoke hearts, chicken broth, and lemon juice to skillet. Cook until the liquid in the pan reduces and is lightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Mix in the potatoes. Garnish with parsley and olives . Serve at once! Serves 4

October Balcony Garden

Late October rain was falling while the humming bird perched on the feeder.

Balcony Hummer sits on feeder.

Here is the Anna's Hummingbird close up protecting the feeder from all other intruders.

The Gartenmeister Fuchsia attracts hummingbirds and blooms from July to when ever the frost brings dormancy. Even though the hummers have the feeder, they check the fuchsia bloosoms for nectar everyday. Gartenmeister is an upright perennial fuchsia that grows in pots but will do well in the ground growing several feet after a spring pruning.

Fascinating that nineteen floors above busy Seattle city streets the humming birds have found this feeder, arriving every morning at sunrise and leaving every evening at sunset. Are they here for the fall or will they spend the winter? I will keep you posted.