Greenish Thumb

Storm's a-brewing

2010-07-25T16:04:00.008-04:00

If this doesn't make you ache for a rain barrel, I don't know what will! Within the first few minutes of a very severe (yet brief) thunderstorm, the rain barrel was completely full. If we have a dry week, this volume will keep my vegetables watered. You would not have wanted to be caught outside during this very short storm we just had!

Edited to add the photo below: 20 minutes after the storm started, the sun's rays beat down upon us once again (we had another 100+degree day today). Out and about, the storm appears to have been more serious than I thought!

Below, the 12-year old bracing herself with her skateboarding helmet during the thunder and power outage. After she realized I was taking pictures, she began running around avoiding my camera. Maybe because she still had that nasal strip on her nose that we were playing with earlier in the day. Maybe because she was frantically busy preparing a "disaster pack" (canned food, her favorite stuffed animal, her cell phone, etc.).

Here she is, running upstairs to avoid the camera because she's not too old to pack her favorite things during a scary thunderstorm, but too old to want any physical record of it! Too precious.

Here's the 5 year old, not too embarrassed to show us what she put in her disaster pack. She's wrapped in Nana's blanket (which prevents bad dreams), and in her box - a wind-up flashlight, 2 cheese sticks, a juice box, and a picture she'd just drawn. What else would one possibly need?

Got a match?

2010-07-24T01:09:00.003-04:00

...neither do I. But I do have these cute little matchbooks containing seeds. I wish I could say I came up with this ridiculously creative gem myself, but I followed the guru herself (or at least her team of gurus), Martha. Here are directions if you'd like to make these adorable seed packets, originally intended to be wedding favors.

Readers who responded to my giveaway last week (now closed) will receive their packages in the mail soon!

Growing, buying, cooking Chinese long bean

2010-07-21T19:20:00.006-04:00

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. This is how you'll spot Chinese long beans at the market. These ridiculously long beans are cut into short lengths before cooking.

This relative of the cow pea is also known as the yardlong bean. Though it's possible for these green beans to reach a yard long, they should be harvested when they're tender and just about 12 inches. You get a big bang for your buck with these beans. They're such vigorous growers in the heat of the summer that they may require daily harvesting/checking. Long beans grow in pairs and dangle down interestingly from the plant, making the harvesting easy (and probably fun for kids too!). The vining plants should have a trellis or some other sort of structure to climb and will happily grow to about 10 feet in length. In milder zones, a string to climb might be sufficient, while in a warmer area, a sturdier trellis is necessary.

*******************************************

Chinese cooks tend to stir fry these beans and prefer them to a Western green bean because they're sturdier and hold up to stronger sauces and the high heats of a wok. In restaurants, they're often deep fried in oil first - till they just begin to wrinkle up, then drained, and finally stir fried. The frying in the first step helps to preserve the sweetness and bright color of the bean. The recipe below is a typical long bean stir fry. My kids, who detest anything not a broccoli (go figure), LOVE Chinese long beans cooked this way. In fact, I'm usually looking at a near empty plate by the time dinner is ready since the kids come in stealthily snatching beans while the rest of dinner is being prepared. I'll allow this, since they're actually eating something green, but I just need to find out where they're wiping their hands!

***Though I'll still give a general idea, I'm no longer giving exact measurements for ingredients in my recipes unless it's truly important. Much of Chinese cooking is based on experience and personal taste, so getting out the measuring cups and spoons and freaking out about 1/8th of a teaspoon here and there is a waste of time and effort.***

Chinese Long Beans with Garlic and Dried Olive (serves 4 as a side dish)

About 4 Chinese dried olives*, chopped

About 4 large garlic cloves, chopped

2 large handfuls of Chinese long beans, cut into 2-3 inch lengths

Soy sauce to taste

Small pinch of sugar (optional)

Stir fry beans in oil in a hot wok until slightly wrinkled. Add olives and garlic. Continue to stir fry until garlic begins to turn golden. Add a drizzle of soy sauce and a pinch of sugar (if desired...a tiny pinch of sugar often balances the dish in Chinese cooking). Stir and serve.

*Chinese dried olives are available at specialty markets and at most Asian supermarkets. They're a bit different from a Mediterranean olive in that they're almost like a preserved plum - a touch tart. Beans are delicious fried with just garlic, but if you can find the olives, they'll make the dish.

But wait! There's more!!! Act now and I'll send you a few seeds just for being a valued reader!!! See my last post for details!

1st blogiversary giveaway!

2010-07-17T21:21:00.005-04:00

Chinese wax gourd seeds. The melons develop a waxy coating when fully mature, hence the name. These are also called winter melons, are not sweet, and are typically used in soups.

In celebration of a year of my gardening ramblings and of the people who humor me by actually reading about them, I'm giving away seeds. I'm really humbled and thankful for the people who visit this silly little blog. I've loved meeting fellow bloggers this past year! I could go on about all the meaningful ways in which my life has been affected since I've created this blog exactly one year ago, but then I'd be taking up the space in which I could be discussing this seed giveaway!

Daikon radish seeds. These end up looking like gigantic white carrots and taste much milder than your typical radish. If you have dim sum this weekend, you might want to try the delicious savory radish cakes.

As a small token of appreciation, I'm going to send the first 25 people who e-mail me their names and addresses to wkspray at gmail dot com a sampling of seeds in super cute seed packets I made (I'll post on this later on). Here are the terms: though I've listed the variety of what I have below, I get to choose about 8-10 little seed packets for you. If there's something you really want, I MAY be able to accommodate, based on my limited supply. Just let me know. Also, when I say little seed packet, I mean little seed packet. Don't expect enough to fill your garden next year. Think of it as a sampling of trial sized seed packets.

Chinese long bean seeds - these plants grow on vines. The beans grow by twos and reach ridiculous lengths - they're also known as yard-long beans. They should be picked young and tender though. They are tremendous stir fried!

I know some people do not need/want seeds - if this is you and you've reached this point in this post, please know how much I appreciate you! It's kept me shamelessly posting for 12 months and counting!

*******************************************************

All seeds are organic. Most are heirloom. Some are saved by me or my father. Some are purchased. Most are saved for this year. Some are from last year but still have good germination rates.

Chinese wax gourd

Asian sweet melon (like a small honeydew melon)

Daikon radish

Chinese long bean

Thai eggplant

Luffa gourd (angled)

Luffa gourd (smooth - can be eaten or left to dry for sponges)

Malabar spinach (Chinese vining spinach)

Flowers: Russian mammoth sunflower, cleome, salvia, gomphrena, marigold

Broccoli: early purple sprouting, green calabrese sprouting

Peppers: sweet banana, Thai burapa, sweet red,

Charentais melon (a small sweet orange melon)

Imperial star artichoke, marketmore 76 cukes, butternut squash, tomatillo verde

Selection of herbs: cilantro, giant of Italy parsley, Genovese basil, fine verde basil,

Selection of lettuces: lettuce mix, Swiss chard rainbow lights, mache

Sorry, THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

GBBD - July 2010

2010-07-15T11:54:00.010-04:00

Wow, is it July already? Lilies confirm yes. Visit May Dreams Gardens to see what others have blooming on this month's Bloom Day. Don't forget to come back here - first ever GIVEAWAY to be announced very soon!!!

My 5-year old said the orange lily looked like a pumpkin squeezing out weenies. I hope I didn't just ruin it for you - but isn't it so true?

From a bargain bag of daylilies used to dot the slope in my backyard. These were all planted in slightly amended clay (virtually brick!) and rocks in mostly shade and after a few years, are finally starting to thrive.

The peach-colored sibling of the pardancanda above.

A very reliable and very pretty shrub rose.

The trifecta for every long-blooming perennial garden - echinacea, moonbeam coreopsis, and Russian sage.

Echinops - ehhh...comme ci comme ca.

Verbena - I love it!

Finally, clematis crystal falls - currently reblooming and color-changing...

I hope your flower garden is full of color, life and constant reblooms and free of rust, mildew and Japanese beetles.

Serious harvest, funny carrots

2010-07-07T21:00:00.005-04:00

Yesterday it was 104 degrees in DC. Today, it was predicted to reach at least 100 again. This was why I decided to do some morning gardening. Despite the insect horrors that I posted about the other day, I can't be kept out of the garden. I told myself to stop being such a freaking baby about it and decided that should I happen to meet my nemesis in the garden, I would meet it with nerves of steel (anyway, the de-hornwormer-for-hire sleeps in until noon these days, so I was on my own). I'm happy to report that I did not find any additional hornworms today, though one of my gorgeous Japanese black trifeles was eaten in half.

I found the carrot bed had to be cleaned up. The goal each year is to sow seeds generously and thin later. Each year, I forget this task. The thing is, I've never been successful with carrots. This short post from last year shows what I typically "harvest". The carrots this season are in my "magic garden" where everything grows - and grow they did. I never got around to thinning them and then decided they'd probably produce nothing edible since they'd be too crowded. I left them for dead. I don't know what my problem is - perhaps it's a lack of confidence - maybe in myself - maybe in my little garden. When I actually dug up my garlic the other day, there were bulbs. And when I pulled the carrots today...there were carrots! I'm pleased enough to be comfortable with calling this a harvest (even without the quotes around it).

In addition, I may have grown some real winners as well!

*******************************************

Most Ambitious Carrot

Suicidal Carrot

Carrot Most Likely to Get Around (in the literal sense)

Size is just a matter of perception...

Freddie Krueger!

This one has birthed children

OK, in all seriousness, thin your carrots!!!

The great outdoors (is testing my resolve)

2010-07-05T21:31:00.006-04:00

Despite the heat wave, things are plugging along in the vegetable garden. Here, the Japanese black trifele tomatoes are getting ready to ripen. Don't they have a beautiful shape?

But lo...my precious tomato plant has been relegated to sticks!

If you don't know me, know this: I have a certain "respect" for insects - I see their place in the scheme of things. But the fact is, I hate them - and here's what I'll admit: it's because I'm scared. Of all garden insects, I've been most scared of tomato hornworms ever since I saw one covered in parasitic wasps on a website a few years ago. I've been so scared and disgusted by them that I think I've written several posts about them by now. Today, as I was up close inspecting the damage to my tomato plant, I ended up face to face with the dreaded tomato hornworm for the first time in real life... I identified it immediately. What I didn't expect was how big it would be in real life. I screamed. I ran. I got my daughter.

She read over my shoulder as I researched on the web. You would not believe the manipulation of this smart little kid. Knowing her dad is out of town, "Mom, I'll get rid of it for $5. Otherwise, it will stay in your garden and eat all your tomato plants". I readily paid. She removed the hornworm but then had the nerve to chase after me with the bucket. Luckily, I'm smarter and as I ran into the house, I threatened to lock her out.

Apparently, where there is frass there are hornworms. I also have a 5 year old so I'm all for cutesy names for poop, but look at the size of it! In my opinion, it's absolutely abnormal for any insect to have poop of this size. This is no frass. This is a full blown bowel movement. We found another hornworm, so the bill went up to $10. My skin was crawling so my inspection may not have been too thorough, but hopefully that was it.

And just to give me more of a fright since I was already freaked out, this guy was guarding the back door. I almost had a heart attack going back for this photo (I hope you appreciate it!).

*****************************************

In an additional test of my resolve...

When I remember, I wear pants and a hoodie in the garden to keep from being eaten alive by mosquitoes. I've recently written about my problem with this. So as I type this, the mosquito bites on my neck, thumb knuckle, and little toe are itching the hell out of me (I'm going to start going out in a beekeeper's suit). Also, my right butt cheek is hurting because guess what? I got stung by a bee at the pool yesterday.

A funny thing I'm thinking of now - my 5 year old could tell her own bug story. This morning, I heard a little scream just before she ran over to me and grabbed onto my legs. Pointing to a little moth on the wall, she said, "I thought that was a heart sticker so I tried to get it but it was a moth!"

****************************************************************

Just so I don't have nightmares, I'll end with a nicer image - the pretty blooms of hairy vetch, saving the space for garlic to be planted in October.

Grace's summer garden

2010-07-01T17:23:00.008-04:00

My friend Grace and her summer garden... Enjoy!!

Above: Malabar spinach that will grow up the impromptu (and very lovely) trellis/plant stand. This contraption was saved from the trash. Below: Meet Goldie. Goldie is an octuplet. She and her sibs will keep mosquitoes out of Grace's rain barrel.

A baby lime. This plant sits next to its cousin, the Meyer lemon.

I'm breaking my promise not to post this photo, but in it, you can see how much fun Grace has. Her way is to constantly seek the joy in life. She says this swing gets REALLY fun once you get past the height of the wood pile. If she really really wants me to, I'll remove this photo. But blog readers, you don't want me to take this out, do you?? Hopefully she'll be OK that I at least posted a distant shot and that she's not facing the camera. :)

Raspberry season has begun!

The following photos show some beautiful summer-blooming plants and combinations... The first is my personal favorite.

My birfday

2010-06-28T12:00:00.006-04:00

No, I didn't turn three, but I guess the family couldn't find the second digit. One of my favorite cakes, the frozen Sara Lee strawberry shortcake!

In the past several years, my husband's task has been to cook a homemade meal for my birthday. Unfortunately, I only have one birthday a year. This year's meal was as usual, a strictly guarded secret, and resulted in a 2 hour slow-cooked corn chowder with Italian sausage. I had a last bowl for breakfast today - there's nothing else like a chowder that's had a couple of days in the fridge to come together just perfectly.

A couple of almost mishaps...He called down at one point wondering why the "condensed milk" the recipe called for seemed not quite right - and too sweet. Luckily, he commented on this just before making the decision NOT to add the can of sweetened condensed milk to his dish.

Then, he decided to add some fresh basil as a garnish. When he returned from the garden, he said that the basil tasted like grass, and he wanted me to try it to see if it tasted right. When he showed me the bunch of leaves he'd snipped, attached were a couple of jalapeño blossoms!

Minor mishaps averted, dinner - complete with asiago-garlic toast was delicious. And as an added bonus, I was regretful to tell him upon his request, that I did NOT have any fresh garlic. If you saw the last photo in my previous post, you know that I wasn't going to even bother with "harvesting" that shriveled up crap. Well, in a burst of energy, I did go out to see if anything was out there and sure enough, I was able to dig up about 20 bulbs of garlic. Seed stock replenished.

WYG: what a difference a few weeks makes

2010-06-26T10:35:00.004-04:00

A gorgeous planter near the entrance of the Administration Building of the National Arboretum.

Below are beets that I helped sow in the Washington Youth Garden just three weeks ago. Rows are labeled with pieces of old vinyl blinds.

A few other sights around the Washington Youth Garden on this very hot early summer day...

Things were smelling as good as they were looking - and I'm not just talking about the rosemary shrub we were weeding around. A local chef was doing an outdoor cooking demonstration for some WYG families. Can you smell the freshly harvested garlic sauteing in the pan?

Today's duties for the volunteers consisted mostly of taking care of the Bermuda grass - pulling, covering with cardboard, mulching...not fun, but like all weeding tasks, somewhat fulfilling as well. Here are some of us, sweaty but proud of how things in the perennial border look. I'm in the red shirt.

Here's Mamoi weeding (sorry - I'm spelling his name phonetically because I can't remember the proper spelling!). I learned the most interesting thing from him today. We were talking about bamboo when he mentioned having seen bamboo seeds in his country. He said that unfortunately, seeds bring poverty and famine (to which I was very confused). I did a little research on this later on and here's the explanation in short: Bamboo flowers/seeds about once every 100 years. There is actually a mass flowering of a certain type of bamboo, regardless of location or region. Due to the mass fruit/seed production, the rodent population booms. This boom in the population also means they will eat whatever is available, including food stores and farm crops. Many of these pestilent rodents also carry disease. Now if that's not enough, after the mass flowering, the bamboo dies. This is a huge loss of a natural resource used for building material, floors, furniture, many other products and for trade. All this could be really devastating to many countries that are just barely making it anyway.

Anyway, in addition to the knowledge I always gain from either the WYG staff or other volunteers, this week I also gained a fresh bulb of garlic! This is no small token for my 3 hours of labor on a 95 degree day because have you seen my garlic stock? Me neither but 8 months ago, it was here...

20 photos (and just 7 words to read!)

2010-06-21T21:48:00.011-04:00

Pretty things from my garden. I'm happy...

John's garden

2010-06-19T16:30:00.006-04:00

John wouldn't let me take his photo, which I can more than understand since we don't necessarily look picture perfect when we're working in the garden. Plus, I would imagine some people might be slightly guarded when a stranger stops and asks to take their picture- even when she claims to be a neighbor. John did turn off his hedge trimmers though and took a short break to chat about his garden. Framing his yard are numerous boxwoods and other shrubs that he likes to keep in natural but tidy shape. I didn't take a photo of the hedges as it looked like he was just starting and I'd sure be upset if someone took a picture of my "before" work to post on the Internet.

So on my run this morning, I did shoot one of the expansive garden beds situated within the boxwood hedge. These lovely garden beds on John's corner lot have always caught my eye as they're tall, mature, and just scream wildlife habitat. Turns out John enjoys his garden for just that reason as well. John mentioned the critters who make their homes in his garden, "...butterflies, bees, birds,chipmunks, even several bunnies. And THAT guy over there..." (as he points to a white cat crossing the street towards his house). I ask,"You welcome him too?" To which he responds, "Welcome? Yeah, one of these days I'll have a welcome for it!"

MC MG demo garden

2010-06-16T19:53:00.008-04:00

I was happy as could be the other afternoon...an all-day work meeting ironically titled "retreat" ended early (the real treat!), the ATM at the bank was actually in operation, I dropped off my mail at a drive-by PO box, and returned some lights at Home Depot without incident. The next stop was to get my automobile emissions test which was due in a week. When I drove up to the emissions station, I found it was no longer in service. A wrench in my plans, but I still had time to kill before kid pick-up time. I realized I was very nearby the Montgomery County Master Gardeners' Demo Garden, and after reading via the Grow It, Eat It blog about all the interesting things the Montgomery County Master Gardeners are planting, I decided to search for this place.

When I climbed the hill and entered through a most charming garden gate, I was awestruck at the hidden gem this garden is. Though "Demo Garden" isn't exactly the most clever name (and for some reason I always think of demolition rather than demonstration), it certainly is descriptive. This garden, one of the most obviously loved gardens I've seen, really demonstrates different vegetables, ornamentals, trellis systems, planting beds, paving materials, mulching strategies, and composting system. I'm not sure who exactly maintains this garden space, but it really looks like 20 very special little gardens in one large plot.

Above: the expanse of the Demo Garden. Below: something I'd really like to try - attractive and space-saving.

When I visited, I remembered that I wanted to come here and learn just before my first season gardening, and I really should have. A new gardener can read the educational signage, see how things are done, learn about how to grow veggies in a raised bed, and how much space to devote to certain vegetables (which would have helped me as you can read from this old reflection). A more experienced gardener can learn about unique vegetables to try, gain ideas for trying something new, and even see in action, that colorful spiral trellis you've had your eye on. I, personally, am motivated to stop simply scattering my lettuce seeds, and grow in neat rows because it's just that much more attractive!

Above: a shade garden. Below: a fun reminder about the habits of mint!

And the best part after this super-charged productive day that even got to include a garden visit...as I was taking this weird road home that I'd never travelled on, I happened to look left while sitting at a red light. Guess what I see? A small VEIP sign - an emissions testing center just around the corner! Alas, there was just one car in front of me. My trusty SUV passed with flying colors.

GBBD June 2010

2010-06-14T22:00:00.007-04:00

For this month's Bloom Day, hosted by May Dreams Garden, I'll be showing off my father's water lilies. I have shown a few of these photos in a previous post. I was thinking about printing and framing some of these photos to give as a Father's Day gift. I can't decide whether I'd like to print a series of photos, or a single photo. Can you help me figure this out?

Annual Chopping of the Hogweed

2010-06-11T21:28:00.011-04:00

A famous landscape designer made the decision to use Heracleum mantegazzianum liberally in the design of this beautiful Washington, D.C. public space. It's not difficult to understand why. At an imposing 8-14 feet, it commands the attention of city pedestrians. There is something for everyone to admire, whether it's the gigantic leaves, the large summer fruits, or the gorgeous white umbels that reach to the sky.

So why the chopping? Heracleum mantegazzianum has an ugly side. Let's call that side hogweed. Hogweed is considered a noxious weed. It's invasive. Destructive. Non-native. Learn about the perils of hogweed here, and other facts about hogweed here.

The planting in this particular location makes many stakeholders nervous. Across the street, this path leads to a creek that leads to the National Zoo. Because hogweed loves to grow in semi-shade, moist and rich soil, seeds that drift into the creek are very bad news. As I drove to the location, I passed a group of kids on a walking field trip. I'm sure they noticed the ridiculously large and gorgeous flowers. Must have been a wonderful walk. Oh, but did I mention that the sap of hogweed can cause reddish-black, painful, burning blisters? Yep. The sap increases the skin's sensitivity to light and can cause the blistering. Hope the kids didn't decide to bring a bouquet to the teacher!

Unfortunately, what makes controlling the situation complicated is the number of players involved. An embassy sits on the top of the hill. The hogweed is growing on embassy property, but is on State Department land. Factors that keep the control of hogweed a struggle may have to do with ownership (of the land and the problem), the best method to control the plant, who will provide the labor, and more than likely (since they impact everything else!) - money and politics. Much of it is probably taken for granted by most people not directly involved, but I can tell you this...on this sunny day in June, the Annual Chopping of the Hogweed occurred.

Two watchdogs of the hogweed: buddies Dr. Alan Tasker, the National Noxious Weed Manager for USDA/APHIS, and Sandy Farber-Bandier, Extension Agent, UDC.

Above: the aptly named "Giant Hogweed". Alan at the left calling for reinforcements

And here to answer the call - to the left, members from the National Park Service Capital Region Invasive Species Team , and to the right, a happy team of student interns from the Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS) program (who claim a day of chopping hogweed is better than a day in the office!).

Coming up with a game plan...

Because the sap of these plants can lead to painful blisters and burning, it's important to wear long sleeves and gloves. Below, gathering supplies - loppers and plastic gloves.

Because the plants had not yet gone to seed, the plan for the day was to simply lop off the flower heads, and carry them off.

Kevin Archuleta from the National Park Service

Though I've made mention of my inclination to overextend myself, I did not help with this effort, but only stood taking photos. I was only given a day's notice, but when I heard of the Annual Chopping of the Hogweed, I knew I needed to make space in my day to at least visit the site and learn about this noxious weed. I had to zip off and get back to my regularly scheduled responsibilities but hopefully I didn't leave too far before the others did. I would say that with lots of help, the chore of chopping the hogweed seemed very quick work. Hopefully there will be no burns or blisters to show for it!

My sweat smells good...

2010-06-09T18:01:00.004-04:00

...to mosquitoes. That's because I emit a wonderful proportion of carbon dioxide, octenol, nonanal (I prefer to put the accent on the first syllable), and other compounds. Yes, a large part of the mosquito's sense of smell is devoted to human targets like me. In fact, of the 72 types of odor receptors on the antennae of mosquitoes, 27 detect chemicals in human perspiration.

Some other facts about mosquitoes...

They are vector agents for not only malaria, but yellow fever, dengue fever (which a friend of a friend is now recovering from), and chikungunya. Now, I don't know if you know what that is, but I bet it's something you could probably do without.

You may have heard that bats and purple martins devour mosquitoes, but actually only about 1% of the diets of these winged friends consist of mosquitoes.

There are all kinds of breeding grounds for mosquitoes in your backyard - consider the more hidden places that may collect pools of stagnant water - a dip in a bag of mulch, kids' toys, a shovel left out, a watering can, a wheelbarrow, etc.

We know DEET is a great repellent, but also that it's dangerous. There are all sorts of recipes for repellents out there, but the compound in catnip essential oil has been found to be 10 times more effective than DEET (and your cat may put on a good show if you wear it)! Do you have a recipe that works? I want to hear from you especially if you typically get mosquito bites but have an effective repellent!

A mosquito not only sucks your blood, but actually injects you with saliva first. The saliva contains a sort of anti-coagulant that keeps its horrid proboscis from being clogged with blood clots.

This is all bad news for me because I happen to be highly sensitive to insect bites. A single bite will often swell up, and itch intensely for several days. What I can confirm for you though, is that as you may have seen on My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Windex does work to relieve the itch! Maybe it's because the burn of the chemical offers relief from the itch!

Once, a mosquito made its way up my pant leg and I ended up with a zig zag of 6 bites from ankle to butt cheek. Imagine what happens when the butt bite starts itching during a meeting at work. So now I tuck my pant legs into my socks (it's not a great look). Another time, I must have been bent over doing something and got 4 bites around my waist. After this, I began to cover any exposed skin with bug spray. Thinking that the bug spray would prevent the usual bites on my legs and arms, I then got a bite on my eyelid. My eye was swollen for 2 days.

This all brings me to the motivation for this post. Yesterday, a mosquito was in our bedroom. I was brushing my teeth and heard a loud SLAP. Then my husband said, "Sorry buddy, I didn't want to kill you".

I felt no compassion for the dead mosquito.

Growing, buying, cooking: bamboo

2010-06-05T23:20:00.004-04:00

Bamboo is not quite the nemesis that people make it out to be. It’s a beautiful and sustainable material made into screens, furniture, flooring, paper, yarn, most anything. My father has a large stand of bamboo he’s taken advantage of by crafting his own natural brooms, serving spoons, garden trellises, tomato cages, and the cheapest high quality mulch around.

Unlimited supply of mulch!

There are two main types of bamboo – clumping and running. Clumping bamboo can be kept contained but the running type is what may give pause for concern. The running type of bamboo, which is what we typically envision when we think of bamboo, is spread by underground rhizomes that can run long and varying distances. As with many plants that send runners, new bamboo rhizomes are vigorous and can run deep. For someone like my father though, it poses no problem. Then again…he maintains an eight acre property and can afford to allow bamboo to happily reside in its several hundred square feet spot. In fact, the large stand greets visitors with a sense of serenity as it gently sways in a wind. For backyard gardeners though, it would be wise to either plant bamboo in a lovely container, to plant a clumping bamboo without fear of too much spreading, or to take the time and care to install a metal or concrete barrier so that running bamboo can grow in a contained space. The barrier would ideally be at least 60 mil thick, and at least 30 inches tall, peeking about 2 inches above ground.

New bamboo plantings need to watered regularly and kept from drying out. Aside from that, bamboo is not too fussy, and only asks for full sun. Bamboo can withstand cold and snowy seasons. In fact, during our last blizzard which dumped four feet of snow, I took notice of the bamboo pushed almost completely down to the ground and had a clear understanding of why bamboo is known as the great symbol of resiliency.

The versatile and resilient bamboo, once again standing tall

Clumping bamboo is typically harvested in summer/fall, while running bamboo is harvested in the spring at about 8 inches high. To harvest, cut at ground level. To make it simpler, do like my mom does – put on a pair of sneakers, and kick the bamboo shoots off – they’ll break off at ground level.

Bamboo shoots, ripe for the kicking!

Once harvested, bamboo shoots are best eaten within two to three days. To prepare the long, thin shoots of running bamboo, slice in half lengthwise as shown in the photo. Find the tip of the tender heart in the center of each side, and using your thumbs, cut the heart out of the bamboo shoot.

Bamboo shoots are a mainstay in Chinese cuisine. Bamboo shoots can be sliced in stir fry dishes, julienned in soups, and in any number of ways in between. Because bamboo shoots can be bitter and tough, it is necessary to cook them first (if you’re using canned shoots, first of all, you’ll be making an inferior dish - (I'm just saying!), and second of all, you won’t need to pre-cook).

Below, the recipe for braised short ribs and bamboo shoots. I almost laugh in anticipation of sharing this recipe as it is such a typical dish my mother loves to make - Extremely time-consuming, fairly complex, totally delicious, and quickly devoured. I urge you to make this dish using fresh bamboo at least once in your lifetime. It will give you an appreciation for bamboo shoots you could not gain otherwise.

Braised Short Ribs and Bamboo Shoots (serves 8-10)

1 pound short ribs, marinated for at least one hour
Marinade: 2T soy sauce, dash pepper, 1T sesame oil, 1T cornstarch

5 cups fresh bamboo shoots, peeled and pre-cooked (Boil in large pot of water for about 40 minutes, then drain and rinse in cold water. This step can be done ahead of time)

2T Shao Xing rice wine or sherry
2T rock sugar
1/8 cup dark soy sauce
½ T salt

2T cornstarch

Remove ribs from marinade and set marinade aside. In a large pot, brown ribs in oil. Add bamboo shoots and stir. Add marinade and water to just near the top of the meat and bamboo shoots. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to simmer. Add the wine, rock sugar, soy sauce and salt. Simmer for an additional 45 minutes or until meat is tender and sauce has reduced by half. To thicken sauce, remove about ½ cup of sauce from the pot and stir in about 2T of cornstarch. Add to pot. Raise heat, add cornstarch mixture and stir while cooking for another few minutes. Serve with rice.

Recipe for pizza parties

2010-06-05T09:47:00.003-04:00

My 5 year old was regaling me with the details of the wonderful pizza party her school had yesterday during which all the students made their own pizzas using herbs from their student-tended garden. I helped her record the recipe so that we (and now you!) can have your own fabulous pizza party at home!

Preschool Pizza (do it with a grown up)

Ingredients:

4 muffins if you all want to make one

4 cheese

5 scoops tomato sauce

4 leaf herbs from the garden to make it taste good

Method:
Pick the herbs and wash them, then put them in the sauce.

Put the muffin on your plate and put the sauce on with a spoon.

Put the cheese on, then sprinkle it all around.

Bake it in the oven on warm until you count to 60, then count to 30.

Enjoy!

Nora's garden

2010-05-31T16:42:00.004-04:00

Though we've lived in the same neighborhood for a long time, I'd never met Nora until this morning. Her husband has always been the mainstay of their backyard garden, and during my beginning days of experimentation with my own garden, he was on my list of people to one day consult. I'd see him in his garden during drive, walk, and jog bys, recognizing him from afar with his trucker's cap, work pants, and button-down short-sleeved shirt. He'd be casually working his plot, hoe hanging from the low branches of the tree that frames his vegetables.

Detailed in my (from the vault) post My Neighbor's Garden , I'd always thought it would be a good idea to seek out our gardening neighbors and learn their stories, but of course, there have been many excuses not to stop and chat. I'm working on jumping on more of these opportunities.

On my run this morning, I thought it strange to see this woman working in the garden instead of the man I'd seen working on it every other time. Nora and I met when I asked her if I could snap her photo for my blog. I commented that I'd noticed a man typically working this plot. She said her husband has leukemia and recently had a stroke. He is in a wheelchair now. These days, Nora tends to the garden, finding relaxation and peace in her work.

This morning, she told me she was working on tomatoes, and I noticed that she has moved some things around since she's taken over. Despite the changes this little garden has experienced, one thing that so obviously has carried over is the solace it provides the gardener. Join me in sending positive thoughts to Nora and her husband.

Scenes from my father's place

2010-05-28T20:18:00.005-04:00

In the vegetable garden. Top: left side of the garden, ready to be planted. Bottom: funky scapes.

The landscaping in the circle of the driveway...

To watch these duckings hatch through a series of photos, click on this old post...

And at the end of a long day maintaining this property, one must take time to unwind...

Click here for a more detailed tour and other photos from late last summer.

Still more strawberries...

2010-05-25T17:29:00.006-04:00

"What are we going to do with the strawberries today, Mom?"

Perhaps chocolate-covered...

Maybe topped with sweetened vanilla whipped cream...

And if we're patient and put some effort into it, we could make homemade strawberry ice cream...

Profile of a volunteer (cont'd - and MYG)

2010-05-22T17:25:00.012-04:00

In my post about both human and flora volunteers, I described some of the stories behind why people volunteer. Here, you see other volunteers in action. Scenes from today's morning at the Washington Youth Garden at the National Arboretum...

Weeding, weeding, weeding. Many hands make quick work of this necessary chore.

Cheerfully mulching tomato plants.

Chris - one of a few WYG employees - skilled in gardening and giving orders in the kindest manner, with the ability to detect from 200 feet away with eyes closed when one of the army of volunteers is stepping in a garden bed. Chris is particularly happy today (does the energy jump off your computer screen like it does mine?). This is Chris moments before he calls out, "Who's feeling good?!!"

Volunteer gardeners wheeling mulch over and planting new rows of carrots, beets, Swiss chard, and pak choi (need info on pak choi - try this post). I should really alert people before I take pictures of their butts.

In the distance at the National Arboretum. It definitely catches your eye. Perhaps if the weather looked less ominous, it would appear less creepy.

****************************************

Now for an update on the flora volunteers I posted about a few weeks ago...

The grass that sprouted on my back slope turned out to be something really pretty. It's a keeper.

The plant I thought could have been the Japanese lanterns I planted and forgot about was...not. Not a keeper.

Allium shubertii ended up being really spectacular. Their tendrils reach probably close to 2 feet from end to end. These bulbs bloomed this year for the first time, after turning to mush the past few years (late frost). Interestingly, these bulbs volunteered to live in their new spots (talk about creepy).

Poor schubertii. The good news is that the garden attracts butterflies. The bad news is that the butterflies attract the kids down the street who don't get the difference between a play area and a do-not-trample area. Allium schubertii - definitely a keeper. Neighborhood kids who trample my garden - well, I won't say it publicly.

Page 22

2010-05-20T20:04:00.003-04:00

...there on page 22 of the June/July issue of ReadyMade magazine, is a tip that an editor happened to stumble upon from a post on trapping fruit flies from deep in the Greenish Thumb archives. Had I guessed something like this could happen, I would have jazzed up the blog photo to look a little less like an old urine sample sitting on my kitchen counter. No doubt I will need to make the fruit fly trap I described in the post again this year as I have already gotten lazy about dumping my kitchen scraps. Love to collect them, hate to walk them out.

Anyway, I wish I could have my 15 minutes of fame (or at least what's as close to fame as I'm going to get!) for something a little more attractive - and maybe for something that doesn't involve bugs, but I'll take what I can get. In all seriousness, I'm actually really, really flattered that a magazine editor would spend any amount of time on my blog, particularly one from an uber cool magazine like ReadyMade (all the blogs are great too - click here for the home and garden one).

You may not see ReadyMade magazine in your local supermarket, but can find a copy at Barnes and Noble or Borders. Better yet, get a subscription. It is completely FILLED with creative, inspiring, and doable DIY projects, interesting articles about food, travel, art, and fun stuff. I'm certain my gardening friends would love it. I don't want to give too much away, but just as an example from this issue, I'm planning to make an incredibly simple and beautiful centerpiece from an old brick, a succulent, and a votive. Imagine the possibilities...

POP! a glorious sound

2010-05-17T20:54:00.008-04:00

The periodic pop I hear tells me another jar of Mara des Bois strawberry (picked today), blackberry, and lemon preserves is sealed and ready to be stored for gifts or for our own use long after strawberry season is over.

And for dessert? Sunday's glut of waffles with double Devon cream, and the warm leftovers from tonight's jam-making.

My adorable assistant and I have been picking a bowlful every day for about 2 weeks now. From the first batch: blackberry, raspberry, strawberry.

Five cups of crushed berries yield about 10 small jars of preserves.

Are you growing strawberries? What are you doing with your harvest? Don't grow strawberries? WHY??!!! Oooooh! Just heard another pop!

GBBD May 2010

2010-05-15T10:05:00.009-04:00

Garden Bloggers' favorite activity - the monthly show and tell. I'll spare you too much of the tell, since I have so much to show. See more at May Dreams Gardens...

Keys to heaven.

From the rose collection...

I got this mostly for the variegated foliage, but the iris isn't so bad either!

My favorite spring site on the stone wall out back. Blushing rosie.

A baby Knock Out. Should be a staple of every garden!

My favorite spring perennial - baptisia.

Green halo peony. Can you see the green halo?

Blooms on my favorite shrub - sinocalycalycanthus.

Blue anemone.

Finally, a challenge for you. Can you guess what this (grotesque-looking) thing is?