tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48598733190685397012024-03-14T20:01:34.985-04:00Natural GardeningObservations on nature and gardeningLisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.comBlogger2363125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-7906080664881001202024-03-14T17:17:00.006-04:002024-03-14T17:21:42.545-04:00Bloodroot: a favorite spring wildflower<p>We have numerous bloodroot plants flowering now; they're beautiful, as always. It seems like an early mild spring here, but checking <a href="https://placesofthespirit.blogspot.com/search?q=bloodroot" target="_blank">Places of the Spirit for bloodroot posts</a> confirmed the normal flowering time is March, perhaps we're edging up a bit, but not much.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9CA8YC0PTSrL0TT6iPuRmx_bKHj-WqgmM4JTkFmbBlWOPLYmatqd7CY_Eos5QWVLS9C4mqRvfR8a_F0GX0ncJyE0K7qmqfAXDTwHX9vnP93Y8EhGQb_L_XhIY272Kro5VUPNghYojYZiciux7oHRh9MEqCKz81oHl4e_kpONLJa1hUmWwK8ZJ51BkJOy/s2593/380C72B2-868F-4DAC-9537-7081FB0AF0E0_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2593" data-original-width="2236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9CA8YC0PTSrL0TT6iPuRmx_bKHj-WqgmM4JTkFmbBlWOPLYmatqd7CY_Eos5QWVLS9C4mqRvfR8a_F0GX0ncJyE0K7qmqfAXDTwHX9vnP93Y8EhGQb_L_XhIY272Kro5VUPNghYojYZiciux7oHRh9MEqCKz81oHl4e_kpONLJa1hUmWwK8ZJ51BkJOy/w345-h400/380C72B2-868F-4DAC-9537-7081FB0AF0E0_1_201_a.jpeg" width="345" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWpGRduFAORMGRKjo7C7MvVsZ-PgenhIf0UCQ2Pi_d_VcuH0r-jE9E_ZI6ABdj2H96W1CkoOB66dmgUVeMoTFNv2JWDFs15wAFXzF6jjcjgtAxlZ6KbxdCwh-O55sC9naAskNpI9nBPywAz8OGTejzOjiGR1OkP4emMnPwAzIhRHzCebgJ7Nz8V6rRtIH/s1349/458D3C4A-DE4C-4A00-AAD7-CF5C2446A3B9_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="1318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWpGRduFAORMGRKjo7C7MvVsZ-PgenhIf0UCQ2Pi_d_VcuH0r-jE9E_ZI6ABdj2H96W1CkoOB66dmgUVeMoTFNv2JWDFs15wAFXzF6jjcjgtAxlZ6KbxdCwh-O55sC9naAskNpI9nBPywAz8OGTejzOjiGR1OkP4emMnPwAzIhRHzCebgJ7Nz8V6rRtIH/s320/458D3C4A-DE4C-4A00-AAD7-CF5C2446A3B9_1_201_a.jpeg" width="313" /></a></div><p> </p><p>These are just two of our plants. From our initial transplants from Clemson years ago, we've divided clumps, but more importantly, ants have dispersed bloodroot seeds, so we've had successive seedlings to move around and establish.</p><p><a href="https://naturalgardening.blogspot.com/search?q=bloodroot" target="_blank">A search here on Natural Gardening brought even more posts about bloodroot</a>! It was always a treat at the beginning of spring in the back woods at SC Botanical Garden, where I used to work.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-37474965665291166122023-10-05T19:11:00.002-04:002023-10-05T19:11:37.261-04:00San Marzano tomatoes<p>This is a decent harvest, at least of green tomatoes. There are lots more to harvest, but they're still relatively small. This is Eastern Quebec, after all.<br /></p><p>I'll try to speed up ripening of the green ones before we head south, hoping to roast and freeze them for next winter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJWBZWG5atdb-l5CMNzz1RcEm25z0PNd6HUFbX13pmgssIWP_33G00980GnUR5yYn8aT3fZDBOPeApAXZGFafYag1TVjtDY664C1cBSznqZBLTfuH07Bthlw7wKwsMiqLOmh-nV03I_5JN6F-3GPvIpx1pEM7x654joc3X2o7stqc6003F81k8Fu4CEUo/s2797/FEEBAC2A-1D6D-4B66-9CF0-BD34F0864067_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2201" data-original-width="2797" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJWBZWG5atdb-l5CMNzz1RcEm25z0PNd6HUFbX13pmgssIWP_33G00980GnUR5yYn8aT3fZDBOPeApAXZGFafYag1TVjtDY664C1cBSznqZBLTfuH07Bthlw7wKwsMiqLOmh-nV03I_5JN6F-3GPvIpx1pEM7x654joc3X2o7stqc6003F81k8Fu4CEUo/w400-h315/FEEBAC2A-1D6D-4B66-9CF0-BD34F0864067_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-51787194872246756132023-08-31T19:53:00.003-04:002023-08-31T19:54:50.653-04:00A duplicate post from Places of the Spirit<p><a href="https://placesofthespirit.blogspot.com/2023/08/a-walk-down-road.html">https://placesofthespirit.blogspot.com/2023/08/a-walk-down-road.html</a></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-45988574353632967102023-08-20T21:07:00.005-04:002023-08-20T21:08:07.314-04:00Tomatillos in Quebec<p>They seemed like an unlikely transplant, offered at a local nursery in June. But I bought one and it's been growing robustly in my old trough, fertilized with some organic fertilizer left behind by the previous owner. </p><p>Hmm. It clearly was potent as the calyxes of these tomatillos are bigger than any I've ever grown before (in the Carolinas).</p><p>My first harvest was modest, but made lovely green verde sauce to go with chicken this evening.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WvPwd-dn7nmqtaVoWIqwwBLNtiYTvhUOjdloeidjAWJCrhO-vZ5Ko7Hs64B-ng8I3UKUGwLUxgx-MgSZWXSUtRoNnPEEy1AsSbvf-set01oTTxoJaqDVgi107aEYdqTNfcgMbBOeAu-GOGAA9l7B_104LJp3p5EX6W5xaTWPed-jDxyYmODfgRuB7akP/s3024/B3EF66DC-20CE-43BB-B171-AF6B8A4FC207_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2905" data-original-width="3024" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WvPwd-dn7nmqtaVoWIqwwBLNtiYTvhUOjdloeidjAWJCrhO-vZ5Ko7Hs64B-ng8I3UKUGwLUxgx-MgSZWXSUtRoNnPEEy1AsSbvf-set01oTTxoJaqDVgi107aEYdqTNfcgMbBOeAu-GOGAA9l7B_104LJp3p5EX6W5xaTWPed-jDxyYmODfgRuB7akP/w400-h384/B3EF66DC-20CE-43BB-B171-AF6B8A4FC207_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-58149749534980605482023-07-31T19:16:00.006-04:002023-08-01T18:55:58.529-04:00First tomatoes and peas<p> In Quebec, we have a short growing season. </p><p>This year I put in two tomato transplants; one a Sweet Million cherry tomato, the other a San Marzano paste tomato. Even in a warming climate, Eastern Quebec doesn't impress me as an excellent tomato growing environment.<br /></p><p>Remarkably, they've been growing well and I collected the first ripe tomatoes from the Sweet Million plant today, along with some Sugar Snap peas.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gsubsmGfTn_Gkl2c3LM555-qF8b2KwzrM7JNaVQmUEov0ofjpewOhxBcle9yYsrrTu2hpii4QBrdTwdQKZu8S5eDCW7MxPCIj0_RPykDoa5_zA43FTb-Uvg6PZnrEcgHHGk6RGPzBXq2TgT3qzRpWisC_YH03rmWxy9XKy-luMmPW-bh6Qg38Kr0Ddiw/s2523/A45FA030-678F-4DE4-9635-A809245259E2_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2396" data-original-width="2523" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gsubsmGfTn_Gkl2c3LM555-qF8b2KwzrM7JNaVQmUEov0ofjpewOhxBcle9yYsrrTu2hpii4QBrdTwdQKZu8S5eDCW7MxPCIj0_RPykDoa5_zA43FTb-Uvg6PZnrEcgHHGk6RGPzBXq2TgT3qzRpWisC_YH03rmWxy9XKy-luMmPW-bh6Qg38Kr0Ddiw/w400-h380/A45FA030-678F-4DE4-9635-A809245259E2_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>I wish I'd harvested broccoli leaves as greens earlier, as the developing heads look a bit puny. But my climbing squash plants are doing well, as is the spinach I seeded after the solstice, so my vegetable gardening adventures here continue.<br /><br />I have one tomatillo plant (another unlikely Quebec transplant) and a ground cherry (ditto), both are developing fruits, so that's interesting! <br /><br />The fresh garlic harvested from the garden is delicious, too. Glad to have it and I'll be planting more cloves in the fall before we return to North Carolina.<br /><br />An addendum: these cherry tomatoes were the most delicious that I've ever grown!<br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-82322502816058950782023-07-30T19:18:00.000-04:002023-07-30T19:18:16.179-04:00A harvest of raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries, rhubarb, and garlic<p>Our garden now is providing small treasures: berries, rhubarb, and garlic. </p><p>I've harvested all the cherries I can reach now; we're eating the cherry crisp today and tomorrow. (Cherry jam is already in the freezer).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-djj9-FGRQB-a8z7atK1Rk8Oh3zJuW2GxgCPwRA2rr8nfD49jJHBhwbgo7gU3hndvqO2Oy3IhkYhBecj7ytchBAVp6wK3oRaTegzu6q7VI6ekdvVnpLNd3UwF1-fDcXA4uCIiYVl7YiiDvqT0W_YLA8Ws3m-FnN3S-0OFZdMS_QWEMfOLeVIijfD7tDD/s3979/IMG_5279.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3979" data-original-width="2888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-djj9-FGRQB-a8z7atK1Rk8Oh3zJuW2GxgCPwRA2rr8nfD49jJHBhwbgo7gU3hndvqO2Oy3IhkYhBecj7ytchBAVp6wK3oRaTegzu6q7VI6ekdvVnpLNd3UwF1-fDcXA4uCIiYVl7YiiDvqT0W_YLA8Ws3m-FnN3S-0OFZdMS_QWEMfOLeVIijfD7tDD/w290-h400/IMG_5279.jpeg" width="290" /></a></div><br /><p>Dealing with cherries!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl32oz3tcB6o9mQDCpqwGLaDlKw_EwTfKdY1NHA2d-_Q-21OMUmE_2YVU949nxHrLcKnNABOjA6jFDnCR1K0Zf8_H2ofyZhCx-MdDSZM94wE3mWil7wlu4KMt-pjsKtILK_tjk46ikK3-mhNYh0XgvzpfqR09TVkC5WU7UkQPqj9BpD3VTiDr48Nr7C3Ew/s4032/LW%20processing%20cherries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl32oz3tcB6o9mQDCpqwGLaDlKw_EwTfKdY1NHA2d-_Q-21OMUmE_2YVU949nxHrLcKnNABOjA6jFDnCR1K0Zf8_H2ofyZhCx-MdDSZM94wE3mWil7wlu4KMt-pjsKtILK_tjk46ikK3-mhNYh0XgvzpfqR09TVkC5WU7UkQPqj9BpD3VTiDr48Nr7C3Ew/w300-h400/LW%20processing%20cherries.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-77356803823288803752023-07-26T18:38:00.001-04:002023-07-26T18:38:26.362-04:00A wildflower Wednesday post: Monotropa uniflora<p>As it's emphemeral, my sister and I were glad to see clumps of Ghost Flower (<i>Monotropa uniflora) </i>earlier this week. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9dsEXRBVWtwIdFaWbjOv58PGG2KgMpfjzhit_dQIgygzgE-gSqw3KgYNoMlByqw7e-sqxcvMxb9do695OkK83ESXe7MXQzx_avLiORr9YsK1jeVpocWrOiuyg-5G5e5nvL36JNh-iOyJUQmfxLsSwWFiuzXy37iIws3vULKt7-f_0TYtv19z2nIbCUYn/s4032/9E1FD511-620C-4DEA-9A85-1ACC0187B677.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9dsEXRBVWtwIdFaWbjOv58PGG2KgMpfjzhit_dQIgygzgE-gSqw3KgYNoMlByqw7e-sqxcvMxb9do695OkK83ESXe7MXQzx_avLiORr9YsK1jeVpocWrOiuyg-5G5e5nvL36JNh-iOyJUQmfxLsSwWFiuzXy37iIws3vULKt7-f_0TYtv19z2nIbCUYn/w300-h400/9E1FD511-620C-4DEA-9A85-1ACC0187B677.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p>This will be my Wildflower Wednesday contribution.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-77494930223810431672023-06-21T19:22:00.003-04:002023-06-21T19:22:36.679-04:00Lupines, grown from seed<p>They're gracing our garden in Quebec now. Robust plants in multiple hues, largely purple with pale pinks popping up, too.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs--aXFEFquP4YzPi-Q3HpdKDfRjFNp7WlXZtnTaVu-R9HSLSTTMEIVZq7efiEIMdXXInG8_x5gDScduw8IpkXKnl_6jRnbGVcGodi8vY_w8oduA53ixb7FwFZviMK7uFIjxu0PMqYdvk8Icbd_RYAerDXnIzPR_8wFCu0Qzep40qYEsXa_KW6W0E9HngI/s1280/lupines.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1116" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs--aXFEFquP4YzPi-Q3HpdKDfRjFNp7WlXZtnTaVu-R9HSLSTTMEIVZq7efiEIMdXXInG8_x5gDScduw8IpkXKnl_6jRnbGVcGodi8vY_w8oduA53ixb7FwFZviMK7uFIjxu0PMqYdvk8Icbd_RYAerDXnIzPR_8wFCu0Qzep40qYEsXa_KW6W0E9HngI/w349-h400/lupines.jpeg" width="349" /></a></div><br /> Near our parking area.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9voYctTokdgKSY8fB5Gn-7qCimw1yX3GLqeOeLOi87oUPKBTMk2qW0YRvfXB1anx3s8btVFn28Zl3TsWYrYeTO53NmXYk9LL98X5Cfn2wcl0vWeJjuDym02H7q_WoaBpTzZDQyzbIw2r9HMa3dHudwOUdWdpIkso7XLJessgmldDLvu3tnaY1kUmJnSZw/s1280/A%20misty%20view%20on%20a%20rainy%20day.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1123" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9voYctTokdgKSY8fB5Gn-7qCimw1yX3GLqeOeLOi87oUPKBTMk2qW0YRvfXB1anx3s8btVFn28Zl3TsWYrYeTO53NmXYk9LL98X5Cfn2wcl0vWeJjuDym02H7q_WoaBpTzZDQyzbIw2r9HMa3dHudwOUdWdpIkso7XLJessgmldDLvu3tnaY1kUmJnSZw/w351-h400/A%20misty%20view%20on%20a%20rainy%20day.jpeg" width="351" /></a></div><p>A misty view on a rainy day.</p><p>And a view out the kitchen window.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBwdSfQ5aXsyzs-lGJ8ELK4sqWpPnKyYFP83qpep8Y9ii1sSxFRh0r4tUIuQmdDL25myzJZfF7ITFvvvkHkbnHnp7pZxkEZ1GD4ssrv27Ct3novUHRHiN5YChk08_fjM38h07_ocbBvbddK-1LFSSPirI2nSK2IM2No5tHzSldgcMn8wPiXPnSnKSUeoR/s1280/lupines%20from%20the%20kitchen%20window.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="1280" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBwdSfQ5aXsyzs-lGJ8ELK4sqWpPnKyYFP83qpep8Y9ii1sSxFRh0r4tUIuQmdDL25myzJZfF7ITFvvvkHkbnHnp7pZxkEZ1GD4ssrv27Ct3novUHRHiN5YChk08_fjM38h07_ocbBvbddK-1LFSSPirI2nSK2IM2No5tHzSldgcMn8wPiXPnSnKSUeoR/w400-h329/lupines%20from%20the%20kitchen%20window.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-41436515763727464312023-06-11T19:54:00.000-04:002023-06-11T19:54:10.311-04:00A Quebec vegetable garden in progress<p>Vegetable gardening in a short season climate is a challenge for a gardener who's used to the 4-season pattern that I've had in the Southeastern U.S. in the past. I've had four years here now to experiment. This is a new one.<br /></p><p>I've already put in lettuce, swiss chard and broccoli transplants, along with a pepper and two tomatoes. Even though tomatoes are wildly popular here to grow, frankly I'm limiting myself to Sweet Million and San Marzano. This is really not a great tomato climate.</p><p>I did snag a tomatillo transplant. Really, I thought? I'll see how it does. Parsley (curly and Italian) were also added. An Egyptian tree onion will join my asparagus patch, which needs lots of extra help. Perhaps I harvested too much last year, or the darn dandelions nearby are taking too many nutrients.<br /></p><p>Now it's a bit warmer ( I won't check the soil temperature and wait like I did last year). Soaked beans, sugar snap peas, and beets will go into the ground tomorrow, along with various squash varieties, also directly sown.</p><p>Not sure about basil and cilantro. Perhaps I'll try them in flats. And I'm not going to plant cool-season greens until after the solstice, when days are shortening. Spinach bolted incredibly quickly one summer early on, but perhaps it wasn't the right variety. A friend here, with a shady garden, had great spinach that year.</p><p>I had such wonderful greens this spring in Asheville, I'm not devoted to more here, but I'll plant spinach, kale and arugula in mid-summer.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6a14Exuj5YMlu9Qt0-mQJFUeS9NGTetSIz7J4yfLIE9SOJdf9j5zwMf_ZyzYZR1UNDrJ24DUR33ic50jyy70vzoV3lNPCrUTE1DpjpCjEkWdYtWMh1U87V695LfwEE1s6SoUema5TzoJMI9gBy-QFiPY-MrO-YKGMjG4gSfvX3kudiSQUfc0whLWQw/s3292/9E3C7322-5D30-4044-AA64-E80F204B4E96_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2378" data-original-width="3292" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6a14Exuj5YMlu9Qt0-mQJFUeS9NGTetSIz7J4yfLIE9SOJdf9j5zwMf_ZyzYZR1UNDrJ24DUR33ic50jyy70vzoV3lNPCrUTE1DpjpCjEkWdYtWMh1U87V695LfwEE1s6SoUema5TzoJMI9gBy-QFiPY-MrO-YKGMjG4gSfvX3kudiSQUfc0whLWQw/w400-h289/9E3C7322-5D30-4044-AA64-E80F204B4E96_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-59831972408931529192023-05-08T18:59:00.005-04:002023-05-08T18:59:47.085-04:00Cool-season greens<p>I’m so enjoying my cool-season greens this spring: spinach, lettuce, kale and swiss chard. I’ve planted an assortment of tomatoes (San Marzano, Better Boy, and Sungold) along with an Italian pepper and Pingtung eggplant for our summer tenants.</p><p>I’m delighted that they’re both interested in growing vegetables! My raised bed are great, even as we’ve converted some of my former vegetable-growing areas to native plants as we now have a northern garden to tend, too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief800kvkJdOx2Mi_U-KvG2KXQUggwGTL4c-yfytLWnIk2zvRQZ7BNbp8M4IYDXtpG0XFZQ4QH4Aa0720tyQk0OksqP-SX0FK28-KgNQIiJnGfG4pHZYuVQgqXYuve3YWc_RCDtiavQgrybhnSMCE4JKLuSuOjXnlbRA0ayV5W_uAZjGEJU1iF4AyL7A/s3846/IMG_5075.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2817" data-original-width="3846" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief800kvkJdOx2Mi_U-KvG2KXQUggwGTL4c-yfytLWnIk2zvRQZ7BNbp8M4IYDXtpG0XFZQ4QH4Aa0720tyQk0OksqP-SX0FK28-KgNQIiJnGfG4pHZYuVQgqXYuve3YWc_RCDtiavQgrybhnSMCE4JKLuSuOjXnlbRA0ayV5W_uAZjGEJU1iF4AyL7A/w400-h293/IMG_5075.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-17890911341504825632023-05-03T20:35:00.006-04:002023-05-03T20:35:40.483-04:00A lovely harvest of Swiss Chard<p>The cool-season greens in my raised beds are doing well, thanks to cool weather and the addition of mushroom compost and sustained release organic fertilizer after we returned from Quebec in early March.</p><p>I’m a happy gardener when I can share a bunch of beautiful purple kale, harvested yesterday, with a good friend this afternoon and harvest chard for this evening’s dinner.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DYDoKMT5SDPOnAyF9-wsnzKTZvJN3jjh1JVlDlMHNrPUW2dMIIL3lcF6XibeM8asuIuaO9H8hA319mwELZaUfmOLs1d2OHt3Cf1FY6WN-Dl9IWKOOL-bRFiNs2IoLcuyJXC6veKQFFJ8VZraQyopsOctnkQs90GkROPp0EFHrj_dfTGMzN080mu8zg/s3301/IMG_5071.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3301" data-original-width="2729" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DYDoKMT5SDPOnAyF9-wsnzKTZvJN3jjh1JVlDlMHNrPUW2dMIIL3lcF6XibeM8asuIuaO9H8hA319mwELZaUfmOLs1d2OHt3Cf1FY6WN-Dl9IWKOOL-bRFiNs2IoLcuyJXC6veKQFFJ8VZraQyopsOctnkQs90GkROPp0EFHrj_dfTGMzN080mu8zg/w331-h400/IMG_5071.jpeg" width="331" /></a></div><br /><p>There are harvests to come thais month, so plenty of kale, chard, and spinach!</p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-24703272202262929902023-04-26T18:56:00.002-04:002023-04-26T18:56:16.974-04:00Wildflower Wednesday: Flame Azalea<p> In full flower now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpHm2faccoYr4CzBlN35iFVTSfekztbm_jDfgEYRnLgvuInfIIW9g8kos1j-979PNywUWbf-tZ5T7BUdlPL6v5Rra70nWvU6keDUkMqxNIJTzKPwaARCRmtA-JZV-NyVE_CuPOPaeQrXhTCluEPEYYlbUK7wo6crF4fQIT3dyxJ9TZuQkIJqHNfjVrw/s4032/IMG_5068.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpHm2faccoYr4CzBlN35iFVTSfekztbm_jDfgEYRnLgvuInfIIW9g8kos1j-979PNywUWbf-tZ5T7BUdlPL6v5Rra70nWvU6keDUkMqxNIJTzKPwaARCRmtA-JZV-NyVE_CuPOPaeQrXhTCluEPEYYlbUK7wo6crF4fQIT3dyxJ9TZuQkIJqHNfjVrw/w300-h400/IMG_5068.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-43642299228230810622023-04-13T19:31:00.002-04:002023-04-13T19:31:28.666-04:00Spring emerges<p>A duplicate post from <a href="https://placesofthespirit.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Places of the Spirit.</a></p><p>As the forest below our house greens up, spring continues to emerge.
The dogwoods, red buckeyes, painted buckeyes, and yellow buckeyes are
in flower, not to mention the recent emergence of Frazer magnolias. </p><p>The
woodland wildflowers are doing well this year -- lovely to see them.
Robin's plantain, trillium, celadine poppy, foamflower, and black
cohosh, The coral honeysuckle has rebounded from an apparent demise a
few years back, and is looking great.</p><p>The flame azalea on the side of the house is about to pop!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWbPou9OkZnG_48ka8bZ-L-jsKl2pwtiFP970zR58zqxNe6gcTK9Jab-NIuuzMtM9umPPH8vvZOvjAa76W7hBBxwWbtE3LsT5fzPPdpamLuzlsdihBosqcwpe75kpfTDM3-CCqy3Gb-20-ppBDhXpr8wgCHEYb7U8_LmbZQl1sx3x7phkvC6BcmeB/s4032/9894DF13-3B55-4112-859B-5E8D191F3C97.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWbPou9OkZnG_48ka8bZ-L-jsKl2pwtiFP970zR58zqxNe6gcTK9Jab-NIuuzMtM9umPPH8vvZOvjAa76W7hBBxwWbtE3LsT5fzPPdpamLuzlsdihBosqcwpe75kpfTDM3-CCqy3Gb-20-ppBDhXpr8wgCHEYb7U8_LmbZQl1sx3x7phkvC6BcmeB/w300-h400/9894DF13-3B55-4112-859B-5E8D191F3C97.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p>Beautiful!Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-79745641375005234792023-03-21T16:49:00.008-04:002023-03-21T17:02:29.604-04:00Yay for Remay!<p>I planted cool-season veggie transplants WAY too early, shortly after returning from Quebec, on a very spring-like weekend in Asheville. I think I planted on March 11th.<br /></p><p>It was an enthusiastic nod to gardening again, as I welcomed seeing green after 2 snowy months of wonderful cross-country skiing. I actually hadn't checked the forecast ahead (a newbie gardener mistake for an experienced gardener!) I did know better, but my vegetable gardening patterns have been upended with time in Quebec in summer and fall, different than my familiar year-round gardening practices here in the Southeastern U.S.<br /></p><p>So ahead of a series of nights of temperatures in the low to mid 20°'s F., I covered my planted bed with Remay (spun, <span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">non-woven polyester fabric</span></span>), doubled over hoops. I wasn't all that hopeful, even though the raised beds are stone and they're surrounded by stone pathways and river stones (which would radiate back warmth).</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOO2FuAITRpdZynWGQE4SlLyRpX8FHjnaTkUow3ERMZwrOlK2Afn9wCZwahKUEtr-nAOnKko9daVhKfNh9QmdnuKcnfCRtQD55-mB_EZ7ql4oO3jHbBkG-zZbnpIEZ4MwYpyFyupAhMJbTE2JSCo7oy6uP6wnydM7jAtQpJOMMIuXOcIO64FKxUvG_w/s3152/897913C0-3C99-4C8C-9F87-2D1B97DB97F4_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3152" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOO2FuAITRpdZynWGQE4SlLyRpX8FHjnaTkUow3ERMZwrOlK2Afn9wCZwahKUEtr-nAOnKko9daVhKfNh9QmdnuKcnfCRtQD55-mB_EZ7ql4oO3jHbBkG-zZbnpIEZ4MwYpyFyupAhMJbTE2JSCo7oy6uP6wnydM7jAtQpJOMMIuXOcIO64FKxUvG_w/w384-h400/897913C0-3C99-4C8C-9F87-2D1B97DB97F4_1_201_a.jpeg" width="384" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Remarkably, uncovering the bed after well over a week of below freezing temps, the transplants looked in pretty good shape, aside from a couple of the chard plants, which probably will be fine. Hooray. The spinach is just waiting to get going!<br /></p><p>I have two more beds ready to plant, with additional mushroom compost added today. I'm ready for greens and spring.</p><p>After another program about garden blogging and garden journal keeping tomorrow, in person at the NC Arboretum, I'll be stopping at a favorite nearby nursery nearby to get more transplants. Such fun!<br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-88386995999753396002023-03-02T19:58:00.001-05:002023-03-02T19:58:44.957-05:00A Hepatica spreading<div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">I was so delighted to read my friend and former colleague's post on Facebook, about a <i>Hepatica</i> colonizing a mossy rock and now flowering at the South Carolina Botanical Garden, where I used to work.</div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1swvt13 x1l90r2v" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_5"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">My friend and former colleague, <span><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/sue.watts.3114?__cft__[0]=AZV7sHFgei9eIPNqLSXelI0tRlLCRQCL32zAsz7a_VbxbUv_3OHIjYqKygFjJHr4NOosVz6h-KR8uBjVe0n-xJ4WLkQUsGpyf8CX8Gpx6GgDw4pxy9NFDihjS5j_ErILBqIzmEon8eX5kFfYh2BgV7s02AfyOOgrd9sdgxoPhUzpc9a0HQU3Na10Ah5WF9MYsiA&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="xt0psk2"><span>Sue Watts</span></span></a></span>, posted this wonderful documentation of a spreading Hepatica. They don't reproduce prolifically at all, so a good thing! </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">I watched a plant at the Garden where Sue still works, for years. So heartened to see that this one is spreading on a mossy rock. And wonderful to see it flowering.</div></div></span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><h3 class="x1heor9g x1qlqyl8 x1pd3egz x1a2a7pz x1gslohp x1yc453h" style="text-align: left;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x676frb x1nxh6w3 x1sibtaa xo1l8bm xi81zsa x1yc453h" dir="auto"><span><span class="xuxw1ft"><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j x1jfb8zj"><span class="x1rg5ohu x1n2onr6 xs7f9wi"><svg class="x1lliihq x1k90msu x2h7rmj x1qfuztq xcza8v6 x1kpxq89 xsmyaan" fill="currentColor" height="1em" title="Shared with Public" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="1em"><g fill-rule="evenodd" transform="translate(-448 -544)"></g></svg></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">She wrote, I've checked this rock every year for at least 5 years - first one leaf became two and now this hepatica is flowering!!!</span></span></h3><h3 class="x1heor9g x1qlqyl8 x1pd3egz x1a2a7pz x1gslohp x1yc453h" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are the photos that she included. Beautiful.</span></span></h3><h3 class="x1heor9g x1qlqyl8 x1pd3egz x1a2a7pz x1gslohp x1yc453h" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNGJjCQyR0QG5PCItDRZbJQ6glW-zvoBtJ8oMJXoQfD4XlqwvCQSNOhkP8xCNvgP7lxp_aCElGBU0UtRs065aTd54MAHHcsJS_wNLxwc_8VZUvRgMBJ30Wggnw-RrkZoYc9NbEXLLnf0NXTwX-X-d8LECx47eIXebiCt-IWo32tiNMGPAkFcAcwj5qQ/s2048/moss%20with%20Hepatica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1542" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNGJjCQyR0QG5PCItDRZbJQ6glW-zvoBtJ8oMJXoQfD4XlqwvCQSNOhkP8xCNvgP7lxp_aCElGBU0UtRs065aTd54MAHHcsJS_wNLxwc_8VZUvRgMBJ30Wggnw-RrkZoYc9NbEXLLnf0NXTwX-X-d8LECx47eIXebiCt-IWo32tiNMGPAkFcAcwj5qQ/w301-h400/moss%20with%20Hepatica.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwU-GSl-yWArpFG1ejAGc6G_ci59QqXC4LgGuxL5sUXVxb5qXHmS0BUzzwjAFZiatKPtCscXl3tnnykX7gM0_ivONAgpV3FLoU9NEKzzbbtBGsxXM_Ui8mgQRSGn6zUt4NB2xhHFzWaYb_6cLEw4ALhRzV9u_Z_FN92BwBan1asUW0rlLdjDCtcrmRfQ/s2048/Hepatica%20in%20flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1542" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwU-GSl-yWArpFG1ejAGc6G_ci59QqXC4LgGuxL5sUXVxb5qXHmS0BUzzwjAFZiatKPtCscXl3tnnykX7gM0_ivONAgpV3FLoU9NEKzzbbtBGsxXM_Ui8mgQRSGn6zUt4NB2xhHFzWaYb_6cLEw4ALhRzV9u_Z_FN92BwBan1asUW0rlLdjDCtcrmRfQ/w301-h400/Hepatica%20in%20flower.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br /> Thanks, Sue, for sharing these photos!<br /></span></span></h3></span></div><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><h3 class="x1heor9g x1qlqyl8 x1pd3egz x1a2a7pz x1gslohp x1yc453h"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h3></span><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1swvt13 x1l90r2v" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"></span></div></div></div></div></div><p></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-38907816792368334932023-01-04T19:02:00.002-05:002023-01-04T19:02:18.527-05:00Quebec greenhouse-grown strawberries<p>It's an encouraging trend, I think, as companies manage to grow vertical strawberries under LED lights or these in greenhouses.</p><p>Savoura is a company that produces delicious greenhouse tomatoes here in summer; so why not strawberries in winter, too? Their website doesn't provide much information about how they're growing them, but they smell good and the packaging is refreshingly compostable.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS9fs90ZPFfG-uBusMMUIi6O3XWFgxPanXD6wiq311f_uQTqe0nEkNW64GA_liZ0vKwMsVHWCATumDqlb1racnAkNcN9nQplTIbYzhbGZ5oaQrRihncfj3psNj-YJKesyYz5qwD50UWZ21vZUgAoBXktW4Z6EF1JyojAAMpOQLtTInVqSgagJbG9n7g/s2849/BCBA53B6-EFEA-4E36-96D2-174B884EB383_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="2849" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS9fs90ZPFfG-uBusMMUIi6O3XWFgxPanXD6wiq311f_uQTqe0nEkNW64GA_liZ0vKwMsVHWCATumDqlb1racnAkNcN9nQplTIbYzhbGZ5oaQrRihncfj3psNj-YJKesyYz5qwD50UWZ21vZUgAoBXktW4Z6EF1JyojAAMpOQLtTInVqSgagJbG9n7g/w400-h210/BCBA53B6-EFEA-4E36-96D2-174B884EB383_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-54225141021276269582023-01-03T18:48:00.002-05:002023-01-03T18:48:12.103-05:00Thankful to be back home in Quebec<p>We left early this year, taking a window of clear weather that fell over Jan 1-3. We weren't sure what that would mean, hopefully less trucks, but maybe a lot more returning holiday travelers. That turned out to be pretty on-target, although I'd have been happier with fewer holiday travelers in a rush to get back home.</p><p>The weather cooperated, with a bit of fog early on, then a few flurries, but nothing substantial. Perfect.</p><p>My venerable Volvo XC wagon was making its last trip, complete with snow tires and a few niggling issues. It's been a really good car and hopefully will be fine this winter and complete the journey back home to Asheville in March.</p><p>It was so nice to arrive to our historic cottage, surrounded by snow, but not that much. Temperatures were mild (~35° F), so it was easy to bring the house up to a nice temperature (starting from 55 °F).</p><p>We dealt with mice incursions and other minor cleanups, a power mistake in the basement found me cleaning up moldy fruit again. Oh, well. At least I don't have to make all of it into something! I harvested it, and we composted the remains over the fence.<br /></p><p>And the upstairs freezer still has a nice array of home-harvested fruit, too. More than enough, I encourage myself, as I was sad about the loss, and my gardening companion was willing to compost over the fence.</p><p>The light was beautiful this afternoon, driving back from the village market. I didn't stop to take a photo, but this image is similar, from a walk a couple of years back.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVgtPhH83trnYgJ2opt5PETvuvEiZr-CTkf8CQv60rSnt8Q8B66jT8y5E3nf9Q2QDT0q0qMbssOwsnafOurVcjsWrbKqktB7vjHCuyIAiB3WG0wWwVt-FE9pdnDgyo39UGM7JBQ-3mDOijOdjHyUZ8Y1oE0TNrDwmtjoCiKYQ40wAvfSgX1pOuSH5hg/s4032/IMG_4209.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVgtPhH83trnYgJ2opt5PETvuvEiZr-CTkf8CQv60rSnt8Q8B66jT8y5E3nf9Q2QDT0q0qMbssOwsnafOurVcjsWrbKqktB7vjHCuyIAiB3WG0wWwVt-FE9pdnDgyo39UGM7JBQ-3mDOijOdjHyUZ8Y1oE0TNrDwmtjoCiKYQ40wAvfSgX1pOuSH5hg/w300-h400/IMG_4209.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-78814482839724451532022-12-30T19:07:00.002-05:002022-12-30T19:07:38.604-05:00Robins were gleaning winterberries this afternoon<p> It’s early, I think, for robins to be harvesting the winterberries from the tree next door. There was a substantial flock circling from </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49QEN9LDMZM8hP1YCu17amPSzkLy_b8B4zUISz8aV10kgqHKNINpMnBHZgt7K566xHoDzqtPF-8tyQ7j128wyHA8ES2OJAVPrA6Lmz_rT6dGzBnoVyppPs6SZQ7A1iNjV23nKSDPShcuw7a4pZTdd2lcAdqhvChb4wjVNz8vndNvKh8jPI8-B0O634w/s2048/E5E37D2D-959E-406D-90F1-545489113A39.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49QEN9LDMZM8hP1YCu17amPSzkLy_b8B4zUISz8aV10kgqHKNINpMnBHZgt7K566xHoDzqtPF-8tyQ7j128wyHA8ES2OJAVPrA6Lmz_rT6dGzBnoVyppPs6SZQ7A1iNjV23nKSDPShcuw7a4pZTdd2lcAdqhvChb4wjVNz8vndNvKh8jPI8-B0O634w/w400-h300/E5E37D2D-959E-406D-90F1-545489113A39.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />the big oak across the street to yum up the berries.<p></p><p>But we’ve had significantly cold weather in the last week, followed by warm days, so the tannin levels must be fine, with lipid-rich fruits attractive.</p><p>The number of robins was remarkable -a large flock, swooping in. They took all of the berries over a 15-20 minute period.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-53872585017010062552022-11-13T18:48:00.005-05:002022-11-13T18:48:51.420-05:00The last Swiss Chard<p>I had hoped that I’d taken a photo of the flourishing Swiss Chard that illuminated the deepest raised bed. Our summer and early fall renters didn’t like chard, so the leaves to harvest have been large and delicious.</p><p>But no such luck. </p><p>I harvested all of the leaves ahead of a hard freeze tonight.</p><p>It made a delicious and nutritious addition to meals to come.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT6QhpHft9yDT3p3KXmqrkiYNbOUFEkPkalrzs7E3nLszEayDCERLwjfyhpwccLc2dG88NV9H1F70Np673YvMUN1QNL1bLS3p1vK_K8bP7wqwFIvo3dHP1YZG5CfxyrL4D2CjnAA_Aqhrx7tCwKO3t9LdSqhzmpl-UpxrDSUeduzOJT8LHP4Ndzi6SQ/s4032/3775D609-6903-4BA0-8648-B726CF16583C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT6QhpHft9yDT3p3KXmqrkiYNbOUFEkPkalrzs7E3nLszEayDCERLwjfyhpwccLc2dG88NV9H1F70Np673YvMUN1QNL1bLS3p1vK_K8bP7wqwFIvo3dHP1YZG5CfxyrL4D2CjnAA_Aqhrx7tCwKO3t9LdSqhzmpl-UpxrDSUeduzOJT8LHP4Ndzi6SQ/w300-h400/3775D609-6903-4BA0-8648-B726CF16583C.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-81855478186423542802022-11-01T21:11:00.005-04:002022-11-01T21:14:35.260-04:00A repeat post<p><a href="https://naturalgardening.blogspot.com/2009/12/leaves-persimmons-and-traveling.html">https://naturalgardening.blogspot.com/2009/12/leaves-persimmons-and-traveling.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p>I was reminded of persimmons, harvested years ago, via a writing prompt <a href="http://naturalgardening.blogspot.com/search?q=persimmons" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">before.</span></a></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxrH9Lp3iD_KdK8sVdRbjHdBLW-aaFHKfPNR_ole8cbMSbyMCEjJgPZidythir14AH3PMpU45OcYrZxdAC7qO9erxRfalGGraDv795j3tqAxhPw3Pf0Eao0_6V9j9f9eat7cbjIkC9P9Y/s1600/Persimmon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxrH9Lp3iD_KdK8sVdRbjHdBLW-aaFHKfPNR_ole8cbMSbyMCEjJgPZidythir14AH3PMpU45OcYrZxdAC7qO9erxRfalGGraDv795j3tqAxhPw3Pf0Eao0_6V9j9f9eat7cbjIkC9P9Y/s1600/Persimmon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-24511673043723377572022-10-26T20:07:00.005-04:002022-10-26T20:07:53.517-04:00Wildflower Wednesday<p>Here's a photo of Fothergilla in fall from some years ago in our SC landscape.. I saw a similar shrub today on a garden excursion here in Western North Carolina.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-8obIW630cewjkNyS7y7MIbcOyfTQJ4kjzoW07WQL_-aPoqrJECtnMKN7RPuJLH1qohrzwfPaDu2jmq-CSf87wZ9KbNC-auq8Ye9vI6IhgGd3-I90NXX_bRFqTZqwFus0wBQW-xZikjgnTCt_doVtPUsxYoQlwPaOY9Iy09-xgQhntChmvcXFoEodg/s752/Fothergilla%20fall%20color.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-8obIW630cewjkNyS7y7MIbcOyfTQJ4kjzoW07WQL_-aPoqrJECtnMKN7RPuJLH1qohrzwfPaDu2jmq-CSf87wZ9KbNC-auq8Ye9vI6IhgGd3-I90NXX_bRFqTZqwFus0wBQW-xZikjgnTCt_doVtPUsxYoQlwPaOY9Iy09-xgQhntChmvcXFoEodg/w266-h400/Fothergilla%20fall%20color.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-71647730803820664632022-09-19T19:18:00.005-04:002022-09-19T19:18:56.985-04:00A strange vegetable gardening summer<p>A duplicate post from Places of the Spirit.</p><p> <a href="https://placesofthespirit.blogspot.com/2022/09/a-strange-vegetable-gardening-summer.html">https://placesofthespirit.blogspot.com/2022/09/a-strange-vegetable-gardening-summer.html</a></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-33543455643700136322022-09-10T18:50:00.002-04:002022-09-10T18:50:54.921-04:00Maybe a last hummingbird<p>Their visits have been slowing down, but Tim saw a female at our feeder this afternoon. I'm marking that observation. </p><p>We've had quite a few females over the last few weeks, but it's cooling down now, and we're wondering about the last one we'll see.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8TI_IdRTVWmoc9BbgbwLyNRhgDedZergfzapqxiFVhTtqczxObLRio_1iGFIv0muB7RIInpeRqx3ECeVj-_t9Jvi6LpANABy3nYYY-Do3ugUKItDq_Ogx_3Z7LOwJvUL51J4TlMavtqatCwTIi8hDWmU2oxtlyQOOU7FY5otBFrkyyaFlrI0E8dWOA/s510/rt%20hummingbird(tr).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="510" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8TI_IdRTVWmoc9BbgbwLyNRhgDedZergfzapqxiFVhTtqczxObLRio_1iGFIv0muB7RIInpeRqx3ECeVj-_t9Jvi6LpANABy3nYYY-Do3ugUKItDq_Ogx_3Z7LOwJvUL51J4TlMavtqatCwTIi8hDWmU2oxtlyQOOU7FY5otBFrkyyaFlrI0E8dWOA/w400-h400/rt%20hummingbird(tr).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From a lovely book, saved from years ago<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-27230674776867432992022-08-24T13:29:00.001-04:002022-08-24T13:32:28.448-04:00Spotted Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum)<p>Added last year, the Joe-Pye (<i>Eutrochium</i> <i>maculatum</i>) has thrived. Visible out the living room windows, it's been in flower the last few weeks. Now going to fruit, it's still a delightful pink color.</p><p>And I was thrilled to see a couple of our resident sparrows gleaning seeds from the flower heads mid-day, taking a break from the feeder's sunflower seeds. They remained for some time, seemingly appreciating the small seeds as they foraged from below.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohCcTiUK6e7UF0mV5X1AkY5aOylekmsANWlU_HeB5TvdVRI3fsRpW31ZVjtJnFwi9ZFHhVaXISZ6YsLruzrNo1e0mCtmHLqZJebMe-oQz5HBLBqARLNRElPE_MeUjG0Q4ABpa4xkWdfKjP8SYyfxEGxmJQf0WMOeprNPrD3_1SNGx4wAhgVYuo1RGPg/s3123/Eutrochium%20maculatum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3123" data-original-width="2656" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohCcTiUK6e7UF0mV5X1AkY5aOylekmsANWlU_HeB5TvdVRI3fsRpW31ZVjtJnFwi9ZFHhVaXISZ6YsLruzrNo1e0mCtmHLqZJebMe-oQz5HBLBqARLNRElPE_MeUjG0Q4ABpa4xkWdfKjP8SYyfxEGxmJQf0WMOeprNPrD3_1SNGx4wAhgVYuo1RGPg/s320/Eutrochium%20maculatum.jpg" width="272" /></a></div> <p></p><p></p><p>We seem to have several sparrow species, visiting our feeders. Song sparrows and chipping sparrows seem to be frequent.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexbw8y1zO9bU94D_MBSH8uq9wcn5cqiKA33rCRUv8-eeaBq67ybFdUp6kR1MJQvlMEm7io9tK448yox6HsCLNg0codknTNInFgrPUz3mZDbxaHrz5GAYR7sgFTKve4q3Xle8WOO_BFtONR70TxY3Fb_SGrBwvx9F3bP39xxM6ot7dVpNjJBQmTZ-GYw/s3253/Joe-Pye%20through%20the%20window.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3253" data-original-width="2627" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexbw8y1zO9bU94D_MBSH8uq9wcn5cqiKA33rCRUv8-eeaBq67ybFdUp6kR1MJQvlMEm7io9tK448yox6HsCLNg0codknTNInFgrPUz3mZDbxaHrz5GAYR7sgFTKve4q3Xle8WOO_BFtONR70TxY3Fb_SGrBwvx9F3bP39xxM6ot7dVpNjJBQmTZ-GYw/w323-h400/Joe-Pye%20through%20the%20window.jpg" width="323" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe-Pye out the window<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859873319068539701.post-84707084386472537242022-08-23T19:04:00.000-04:002022-08-23T19:04:09.875-04:00Violet Queen potatoes<p>I planted a small box of Violet Queen potato starts late last May (https://naturalgardening.blogspot.com/2022/05/violet-queen-potatoes.html). An impulse buy at a local nursery here in Quebec<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPh59VAFVfLFOvbATO-dZHVmG15ewFRSZr97g9dMJFHd9j5w0Ph8ILueLQ0zpjgFonA_p8dq6KvF7iIWJKaoMUEAa0XpNb1UyLutJLAy-fU3g1HSyYyJgkIgzuZfhmMDoYDtCl_2H2M2kemYDTOHh--Vi7sMWzQWJd9oQ-eOExH3F8WktIg5abD3eT7A/s3196/Violet%20Queen%20potatoes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3196" data-original-width="2359" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPh59VAFVfLFOvbATO-dZHVmG15ewFRSZr97g9dMJFHd9j5w0Ph8ILueLQ0zpjgFonA_p8dq6KvF7iIWJKaoMUEAa0XpNb1UyLutJLAy-fU3g1HSyYyJgkIgzuZfhmMDoYDtCl_2H2M2kemYDTOHh--Vi7sMWzQWJd9oQ-eOExH3F8WktIg5abD3eT7A/w295-h400/Violet%20Queen%20potatoes.jpeg" width="295" /></a></div> <p></p><p>I harvested my results a couple of days ago. Surprisingly, I got a reasonable number of large fingerlings, along with more smaller ones. I didn't have a great site, nor was I hilling them up as much as would be beneficial, so I was glad to get these.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROC-E77AlH9pyThPwR8mkJtwULVL6jOJw1l1IzMqdRXL65_af8FWKMIcdpcIamIUkhrtBt-74tk615iiutBE8ZiEuuQtAMMhVznYLQPOwhnUV2fjh-u6y8-fF3tz3Hg3ZIs7jdBHtkrBWWptxsVTUyE7T2f6ZHtx9kOO8JrxX2f6J5nwo0VVGuwxf9g/s3731/F4A36AFF-BA35-4345-AF35-1EE1C7A9117D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3731" data-original-width="3022" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROC-E77AlH9pyThPwR8mkJtwULVL6jOJw1l1IzMqdRXL65_af8FWKMIcdpcIamIUkhrtBt-74tk615iiutBE8ZiEuuQtAMMhVznYLQPOwhnUV2fjh-u6y8-fF3tz3Hg3ZIs7jdBHtkrBWWptxsVTUyE7T2f6ZHtx9kOO8JrxX2f6J5nwo0VVGuwxf9g/w324-h400/F4A36AFF-BA35-4345-AF35-1EE1C7A9117D.jpeg" width="324" /></a></div><p></p><p>Mashed, with garlic and Greek yogurt, they made a healthy and colorful addition to dinner.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8p69DjtjVEPJnnm7ZklVHx4-UFCCSthJh-Gp9NWxC3sygqSEOb9tIzt6awiOSi2diZ2GXN0SMB4Djb76Yb2FGAzNdyXhq5iRtbsYsBs12-q3VdAdxBMz5yY62loZ5jipVyVf1qicZrxzWq485AuEN6scG-fga1KR9IKk7BUDLQyha8-lKHkxSKEvXQ/s4032/6E9B3D3C-61E4-4772-B775-FE61BA0424EF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8p69DjtjVEPJnnm7ZklVHx4-UFCCSthJh-Gp9NWxC3sygqSEOb9tIzt6awiOSi2diZ2GXN0SMB4Djb76Yb2FGAzNdyXhq5iRtbsYsBs12-q3VdAdxBMz5yY62loZ5jipVyVf1qicZrxzWq485AuEN6scG-fga1KR9IKk7BUDLQyha8-lKHkxSKEvXQ/w300-h400/6E9B3D3C-61E4-4772-B775-FE61BA0424EF.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p>Remarkably tasty. Perhaps I'll grow them again next year!<br /> </p><p><br /></p>Lisa Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08546271182217310594noreply@blogger.com0