I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Monday, July 1, 2013

Gardening



I don't actually have a garden [my yard is mostly just sand, or paved] but I don't let that stop me. I love flowers and growing things.



I pack as much as I can into my big deck planters.








Flowers grow well on the deck, it is sunny and warm and protected from the wind.



My lilies weathered the cold winter came back just spectacular. All except my pink stargazer lilies which haven't appeared as yet.



However, beautiful as lilies are---these are Asiatic and day lilies here--- when they re done blooming, they are done. So I knew I needed some fill-ins.



The big nursery had so many pretty things!



My kids requested blue and yellow flowers this year. I was glad I asked because I think they're very pretty. And also if left to myself I always buy very garish shocking pink, coral, and flame red flowers. No subtlety there.




So this year I picked out some pretty blues...petunias, pale blue, plus dark plum with green stripes; lavender; yellow tiny petunias; a couple blue somethings, I forget their names.




My son also requested sunflowers. The seeds I started disappeared! Either that red bird ate them or the 12" of rain washed them right out of their egg carton starter pots. Too bad! It was supposed to grow to 12 feet!



So I got this pre-started one. NOT tall and exotic, but the sunny face is there.



I always also spread a few seeds in the deck planters as I plant.



These sometimes do grow..and flourish in late summer when the petunias and lobelia have dried up and died. We'll see!



 I also started a pot of catnip for my feral kitties. Just because they're homeless wild cats doesn't mean they can't have fun, right? Kitty la-la land, I hope.



I do have a few hydrangeas bushes at the front of my house.


They also did very well over the winter. The salt water flood of H. Sandy must have contained whatever makes them BLUE, because, wow. Blue, aren't they.




My faves...

love
 
lizzy
 
gone to the beach...

PS look at the this cool wading bird! Looks like a black flamingo! Big guy. A glossy ibis. How do they find the swales so quickly?


 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

PPS ''That red bird" turned out to be a cardinal. He came and sat near me one day when I was handquilting, alone and very quiet. He was looking for his seeds! Another time I saw him with his mate. She is gorgeous, peachy, rosy tan with a red head crest and red face, black beak. Maybe they live in the hydrangeas?

Friday, June 28, 2013

Spring Treasure: Farm Fresh Asparagus





The lingering chilly spring has extended the asparagus season this year. Something good has come from all that dreary rain.
The farmers market bunches are funny! Thin as a grass stem, thick as your thumb! But just harvested and oh so sweet.



My family loves asparagus. It's great with grilled steaks or BBQed chicken breasts, so while it is in season we have it often.




Easy and delicious:



roasted in the oven, I sometimes peel the very ends. Toss with a bit of olive and smidge of butter, some lemon pepper.


Roast in oven[or on grill] at 400* for about 20 minutes. Sprinkle on some freshly grated parm and Yum!
enjoy....
 
 


I also experimented with white asparagus. Exotic [to me] veggie finds are part of the fun of the farmers market.



Who knew they have to be meticulously peeled! Or that they take longer to steam than the green kind.
I made a brown butter lemon vinaigrette, with fresh lemon juice and tarragon sprigs.


Favorite new summer seasoning. Very fragrant and summery, very versatile. It was a trial package, I plan to order more.
 
 
 


 Served room temp..


.

 

My kids loved it with grilled tuna and avocado. [I forgot to take a photo, I have to ask the kids if they have a shot on their phones....]

Hope you're inspired for the weekend! Simple fresh produce, big rewards for your tastebuds. Have fun!


love

lizzy
 
..........gone to the beach...







Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Strawberry SuperMoon



Hi! I want to show you the huge full moon ....



This was on Sunday....



Sunset...



Very high tide, and flooding....



The full moon always rises as the sun sets, and this creates a very high tide.
Not just this week but always. For example during  H. Sandy the height of the storm hit us at sunset, as the October Harvest full moon rose on one of the highest tides of the year [plus winds form the south], creating the enormous, lethal storm surge.



This June moon is traditionally the Strawberry Moon...because of the harvest, not because of its color. But look, it is so pink and golden.

 
I loved the pink reflection on the surf.



My camera does not take good nighttime photos. And it was very windy,. I wish the photos were better.




                                  

....but I wanted to share it with you all anyway.



It was a wonderful evening, a glorious show in the heavens...


love

lizzy

gone to the beach....