Category Archives: Vegetables

Corn, hanging wall plantings and more Hydrangeas!

Its corn season here in the Piedmont of North Carolina! And that’s a good thing! I love corn. Cooking the ears in boiling water is the simplest but when the temps are in the 90sf as it has been for the past week I try not to cook inside and instead use the natural gas grill on the patio. The grill is tapped into the natural gas line for the furnace so there are no tanks to refill! Its easy! And with the total cost of $3.00 for 12 ears you cannot go wrong!

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The simplest way to grill is to place corn directly on the grill. You can leave the husk on which creates a steamy environment for those kernels to cook! I had removed the husk here. You also could add spices or herbs or flavor them with herb butters. I like to taste the sweetness of the corn so just a little butter is fine by me!

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In Cameron Village Shopping Center they have installed these beautiful hanging plantings. They seem to be appearing all around town.

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There are about a dozen different shapes and designs through out the shopping center.

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The Basjoo banana bloom continues to develop! I am still surprised that it decided to bloom at only 5 feet tall.

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And several lilies are blooming. In the past, voles would have eaten the lilies before they bloomed but thanks to a black snake I have seen often my vole issue seems to be under control! This is an unusual color which was included in a mixed bag.

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The hydrangeas continue to delight me! I think they are my favorite blooming shrub?  Thank you Mother Nature for the rain! This is an Incrediball Hydrangea which is a cultivar of the Smooth Hydrangea ( Hydrangea arborescens). I love its sister Annabelle, too, but I have not found a location for a few of those……yet!

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So little room!! I really need to buy that house next door…………

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Filed under cooking, Food, Vegetables

I am ready….

I am ready to plant the Spring garden! I have bags of garden soil to jumpstart the plants and freshen up last year’s soil.

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We have a threat of below freezing temperatures over the next few nights and I am waiting until the weekend to actually plant cabbage, collards, and the seeds of lettuce and arugula.

Daffodils are blooming, though. They can survive the light frost.

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My young buckeye trees are budding! They should survive the light frost unharmed, too.

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The garden centers are ready and I am excited with the beautiful plants such as this tropical geranium or Pelargonium. I might have to plant a few of these!

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And large clumps of fragrant hyacinths are beautiful!

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Every morning someone wakes me up at dawn. It begins with quiet whimpering and wining. Then a paw or two under the door.

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If he has to really, really go out immediately he will bark a few times!

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Look at all that gray hair! He is now middle-aged. My sweet old man!

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Filed under Design, General Gardening, Gus, Plants, Seasonal Maintenance, seeds, soul improvement, Vegetables

StayCation Day Five: The Vegetable Garden!

On the last day of my staycation, it was time to clean up the vegetable garden. The cucumbers have been long gone. The tomatoes were hanging on -barely. Its time to replace the Summer veggies with Fall, cool-season, vegetables.

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The trellises will be cleaned and stored in the garden shed.

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The Buddha will keep a watch on them as I work on the beds.

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A couple sweeps of the garden rake removes roots and weeds. The soil is leveled using the back of the rake.

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The seeds are broadcast sewn. They will germinate within a few days if it continues to be warm.

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Gus enjoys looking for any wildlife he can find among the azaleas and daylilies.

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The daytime temps were  in the 80s for the second day today. This will help the seeds to germinate but if it stays warm too long they my bolt, or go to seed too fast. This can produce bitter greens. Cooler temperatures are best to prolong the season. Some greens, such as collards, are best when they are nipped by frost at night!

XX

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Filed under General Gardening, Vegetables