Gardening Archives - Page 56 of 82

Bzzzz October 24th, 2007

Here it is October 24. The windows are open. I have to sleep with a fan because of the heat and humidity. I still have robust bunches of basil. I can’t EAT all the darned green peppers that are growing. And the tomatoes keep going and going and going.

Do you suppose this can possibly last through to November 1?

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It has been a strange, strange fall–and not just the weather. Many changes in many strange ways. I am thankful that I have had the time, finally, to slow down, take stock, reevaluate and just attend to the home fires–and my mental health–for a while.

Speaking of home fires…

If you’re in a baking frame of mind, try this Double Chocolate Bundt Cake with Ganache Glaze.

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I first read about this cake a couple of days ago on Cream Puffs in Venice. Since we had just finished our Italian Creme Cake, this was like a sign from God that I should make this fabulous chocolate cake this morning.

I also made homemade bread using the whey from my hard cheese making efforts. The Cheese Queen was right. Substituting the whey for the water makes a fabulously flavorful difference in the bread.

Of course, based on the comments to my cheese making experiments, none of you will actually HAVE any whey to be baking with since no one else seems interested in making cheese–just in eating it. I suppose I must have some sort of recessive peasant gene that makes me want to do things like make cheese, raise chickens and weave.

Oh, and did I tell you my handyman, Walter, is installing a new outdoor clothes line for me? I can hardly WAIT to do laundry tomorrow! I’ll post photos!

(Perhaps these are signs of an impending breakdown?)

Posted In: Gardening

Tags: Recipes

These sweetpeas morning glories look like nice flowers, don’t they?

Yes, yes. I know that I tend to have a laissez-faire gardening philosophy. Some other jack-booted gardeners would have whipped them into lovely submission long before now.

In fact, I had plans of an elaborate trellis system to allow them to climb up to the second floor of the house, where they clearly want to be. It’s still on the spring “to do” list, which has become the “didn’t get done” list. I did, at least, keep them from swallowing the lilac that is trying its best to share the space with them.

But still, they are lovely, yes?

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Well, here’s the thing. These sweet looking ~~sweetpeas~~ morning glories are not content to dominate this corner of my garden. Like some over-charged Hollywood movie star, they want it all!

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They decided to try and beautify this large pile of sticks and weeds that I shared a while back as one of my True Confessions series.

They seem to think the compost bin is a fine place to put down roots as well.

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Here they are trying to get into the door of my laundry room. Fortunately, we don’t really use this door. Can you tell? (And did you notice that I called this “MY” laundry room? That’s not because I’m the only one with laundry to do, by the way.)

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They are also trying to get in the house through the kitchen window.

“Hummm. This orchid looks like it could use some ~~sweetpea~~ morning glory company.”

Let this be a warning to you. If you like sweepeas, well, you better LOVE ~~sweetpeas~~ morning glories or be prepared to put on those jack boots and get out your torture equipment.

Posted In: Gardening

They Keep Going and Going and Going: October Tomatoes

Sweetpea, ahem, Morning Glory, Invasion

These sweetpeas morning glories look like nice flowers, don’t they?