Cardooning Around

Rainy day.

Seed starting cardoons in 4" pots, indoors.

 An Italian vegetable akin to the thistle-ish artichoke,

these hearty perennials turn out flavor prized by great cooks.

 The flowers aren't too shabby either.

 Their stems can be prepared in a myriad of ways.

(Google 'em, so many recipes, so little time)

Hungry for more?

Read all about how to cultivate cardoons on my mentor/neighbor Sara's blog:

via Love Apple Farm, www.growbetterveggies.com

Still Life

at Voss Gardens...

The calm before the storm...

Gusts up to 60mph predicted for tonight.

Batton the hatches mates!

Back to Eden

I'm baaaaackk!
Some plants simply carry on without me, as these mustards gone wild.

The roses, however, require more care.
Time for makeovers; grooming, feeding. planting anew. 

Flowers feed the soul.

Coming Attractions

 Purple Cauliflower

 Started Snap Peas.

Going away for a few days.

I'll be back.

Eden out.

ShroomOhRama

The mushroom gods are smiling.

Recent foraging in the woods finally yeilded a bag of chanterelles,

and we harvested our first batch of tree oysters from our mini mushroom farm.

Let the fungus fun begin!

Catch of the Day

Bugger Off!

Due to recent rains and unseasonably warm weather the aphids have been shacking up in the kale, picnicking in the cozy spots.
Spent the morning spraying with Safer Soap and removing the most infested leaves.
Seems they are subdued in plantings next to mustards.
Pests can't be eradicated, only controlled.
Its always something...

Fava Beans are up!

Kinder Garden

On days like today this gardener tends children,

subbing for a local Montessori preschool. I treasure moments with the little ones  

and my plants get a break from over mothering.