05-25-2014 Jamming time!

   A few years ago, as we were coming off the Appalachian Trail in NC, my older son and I ran into a patch of the most savorous wild strawberries. (That expression always makes me think of Ingmar Bergman!)  I took six plants, a small number that would not impact their existence in the mountains. I planted them at home where they have reproduced well.

    This year, the exceptionally cold winter must have revived their ancestral urges because they produced like crazy. Enough to share with my neighbors and enough to make ...(semi) wild strawberry jam.
Being appalled, as usual, by the amount of sugar those recipes require, I cut it in half which left me with a runnier finished product but a totally amazing, ultimate STRAWBERRY FLAVOR!

And, now, my next berries are getting ready. Those will not be brought into the kitchen
They will be appreciated, right there in the garden ...from vine to palate!

05-17-2014 After the flood.

Just as I was getting worried about ten days without rain and rising temperatures, it came! Just the day before I was making fun of the 1 inch prediction knowing that some of those storm systems coming from the West split just before Raleigh and reform, with a vengeance on the East side leaving our garden high and dry.

Well, this time we received 4.25 inches. What I call a welcome rain.

I had been working frantically the couple of previous days transplanting cucumbers, eggplants and peppers, staking tomato plants getting just tall enough to get smacked down by a storm.

Perfect timing! I finished it all in time for them to soak in the welcome flood. The day following the rain, my wild flowers looked a little beat and the roses had lost most of their petals but the veggies look great and the wild strawberries are starting to produce. Weather/gardening coordination at its best!

Happy gardener!

05-04-2014 Iris time!

Beautiful morning, still nice and cool but without the pollen and before mosquitoes. In photography, there is that notion of "Golden Hour" before sunset; these are the "Golden Days" of gardening. 

Tulips have now disappeared to make room for Irises, Dutch, swamp and bearded.

On the vegetable side, we are now back to eating fresh lettuce and spinach straight from the garden. The tomatoes I planted last week are growing well and sturdy; one of them is already blooming.

We are still a little behind last year due to the cold winter but we're catching up fast.

Dogwood-induced-Pointillisme.

Petal free!

Bamboo shoot.

As you may have noticed by now, I am extremely partial to this Delft blue iris. Just love those colors!!!!