Pookie takes a trip with Bubba and Grandma Daisy

Pookie Travels.

Pookie Takes a Trip with Bubba and Grandma Daisy.

Soil

Even at my ripe old age, I learn something new about gardening every year. Sometimes old information dormant in my head comes back to my attention. The importance of good soil has been revived in my plans for my garden this year. I thought if I just used compost my soil health and ability to support intense vegetable and flower gardening would eliminate my need for fertilizers. I have learned from the reduced development of fruit and flowers that nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in the soil must be in balance at the right time with the right weather and the consistent watering. However compost will not provide this balance without help.

From an article I read which pointed out that while the compost breaks down it uses the nitrogen from the soil as well as other nutrients and may not have the phosphorus or potassium needed for roots, fruits and flowers. Therefore this year I have applied bone meal or organic root starter fertilizer to the soil as I did transplants. I will switch to fish emulsion as the leaves appear and then either a balanced fertilizer or fertilizer to stimulate blossoms as the buds appear. I will apply compost in mid summer and fall to the top of the soil to improve the soil over time, rather than think that tilling in my golden compost will create the perfect garden!

Arbor Day

Arbor Day - April 26,- Never paid too much attention to this day, the annual plant a tree day. We have lots of trees in the Pacific Northwest. Then this winter we heard Wangari Maathai speak. Wangari is the First Environmentlaist to Win the Nobel Prize for Peace. She won the prize because she has changed the lives of thousands of people by her efforts to plant trees in Africa, rural Kenya. She wrote a book called Unbowed ,which I have bought and not read yet. However hearing her speak was inspirational. So while thinking trees and planting is part of spring this year for Arbor Day I will start reading this book. Two weeks ago I planted or replanted six Ponderosa Pines that were growing in the road right-away. These grand native trees would have been chopped down because they would have grown into the power lines and hung over over the road. I couldn't wait until Arbor Day because the weather becomes too dry. Trees on the East side of the Cascade must be planted late fall or late winter to take advantage of the cool days and the rain fall. This isn't a concern where you are because you get summer rain. So bless the long cool days of spring. The bundle up days of gardening allow us to slowly wake from winter and stretch gradually to seeds and transplants.

Think Spring

A little seed lay in the ground

and soon began to sprout.

" Now which of all the fowers around,"

It mused, " shall I come Out?"

"The lily's face is fair and proud,

But just a trifle cold.

The rose, I think, is rather loud,

And then its fashion's old.

The violet is all very well

But not a flower I'd choose,

Nor yet a canterbury bell, I never cared for blues."

And so it critized each flower,

This supercilious seed,

Until it woke one summer morn

And found itself a weed.

Auther unknown

Gardening in December

As I approach the first day of winter and the shortest daylight of the year,I have garden fantasies. Sitting inside looking out at the wind blown pansy faces, chilled cyclamen and a tiny fir tree adorned with one glittery strand of beads, I imagine where will I plant my sunflowers, pumpkins and potatoes next summer, which pot will hold primroses and how soon can I safely expose them to the winds and rain of the deck. Garden work can be done with my imagination. I daydream of what could be, not what is. I do have hope for what is, because some of the bulbs show green sprouts. This week I cut away last years leaves on the Hellebore. The Hellebore revealed a new mauve bud and fresh green leaves. A tiny red Camellia bud remains squeezed shut, but just a little red color reveals that soon a blossom will be born. In the same pot a white cyclamen in its second year of growth has already announced that not all of winter is dreary and filled with fantasies and day dreams.

So garden on as the darkest day passes and we enter a time of new light.

December in Seattle 2007

December Snow in Seattle fell hard on the tender Christmas Cyclamen. Each night I lift small tender cyclamen setting them in a protected area next to the door to the balcony. The red cyclamen add great color to the winter view out our windows but I know they shiver when the temperaature dips below forty degrees. The larger cyclamen are hardier. I have some white ones that survived from last year but they are not blooming so well this year despite my efforts to fertilize, water them carefully and give them new potting mix. Today I snow has turned to heavy rain and the temperatures are in the fifties! Compared to the snow the view is grey and cheerless but the cyclamen blossoms stand tall to brighten the day.
Hummingbird update: Anna bird comes every morning at dawn to drink and sit despite wind, rain, snow or sleet. Occassionally the weather was so bad in the day that Anna took refuge on the rungs under the seat of a wicker deck chair. At dusk Anna disappears for the night.

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