In My San Diego Garden and Kitchen
The garden is in transition now. As vegetable harvests diminish, the apricots, apples and rhubarb take center stage. Last week spinach, kale, parsley, arugula and some of the calendulas were dispatched. Some of these went to compost or worm bins. The worst diseased plants and tough stalks landed in the green bin. Neighborhood bunnies and guinea pigs feasted on less than perfect greens.
I also delivered the last of the arugula flowers to the nearby Little Lion Cafe. They receive the “bouquets” enthusiastically and use in plating and salads.
In the next few days I’ll plant the first sowing of corn, zucchini, sunflowers and various beans for drying. Tomatoes, cucumber and pepper starts went in about a week ago, pole beans in mid-May. Summer crops are slow to commence since I let winter crops continue into our cool spring.
Tending to the apricots is a daily task—delightful though. The crop is larger than we first assessed and we’re at 30 pounds so far. Here I’ve selected some of the best ones for freezing and later use in cobblers or other desserts. I freeze them until firm then pack in containers.
I made the first apricot-almond cobbler for the Father’s Day weekend. Just out of the oven here but cooled briefly, servings are topped with vanilla ice cream.
Three stands of French lavender in the garden are thriving after the bountiful winter rains. Lavender lemonade is always my first use of the fragrant blossoms. Ahead are lavender shortbread cookies, lavender sugar and perhaps some new adventures.
It was one of those color-themed garden salads when the orange and purples come together. Here, my butter lettuce, purple carrots and radishes, orange chard stems and calendula petals. Red cabbage and red onions from Imperfect Foods.
Monarchs are especially attracted to this plant. I have stands of Verbena bonariensis around the front yard garden.
Sunday’s church bouquet came from the vegetable garden—Bright Lights chard, parsley flowers and calendulas.
Check the What I’m Planting Now page as I transition to summer in the garden. Then head to Harvest Monday, hosted by Dave at Happy Acres Blog and see what garden bloggers around the world harvested last week.
To leave a comment, click on “Leave a comment/Show comments,” enter the comment, then insert your name. Finally, click on “Comment as Guest” to post comment.
