[gardeners] Snow in the Garden
Linda Baranowski-Smith (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Sun, 3 Jan 1999 00:08:06 -0500
Oh, the weather outside is frightful...
And the fire is so delightful...
Yup, first day we haven't been able to get out into the garden. Although
there's nothing there to pick, we've been spreading composted manure.
Looks like we may be done for a time as it's snowin' and blowin' and
rainin' (not sleet, RAIN) at the same time. Had to send my DH out in the
storm to disconnect his ham radio antennae as we had a few rounds of snow
lightnin' and thunder too. Ohio weather is oh so fickle.
Also sent my DH out a few days ago to line the greenhouse vent edges with
fiberglass insulation. Guess you know who the "plant manager" is at our
house! We heat with propane over the winter and keep the stored plants and
cuttings at a minimum temp but it has been sooooo cold that the heater
doesn't stop.
We were lucky that the storm held off as we had to take my brother to the
Detroit airport (about 60 miles north) yesterday to head back to Phoenix
after his holiday visit. He was amazed that we had some fine, sweet
escarole yet for dinner salad. Also had the last of the ripened 'maters
from the garden, which I'll miss until next year's crop. Refuse to eat the
tasteless 'maters from the store. If I get desperate, I'll have to buy
those $3.00/lb kind. Ugh!
Seems that turnips have been a hot topic. Yea, I like 'em and all veggies
except one... okra. Guess I never learned to cook them correctly. The
first time I tried them, I boiled them. Wrong thing to do, I guess. The
dawg wouldn't even touch 'em. They're ok in veggie soup, but I just can't
get the boiled okra picture out of my mind! Gross! You have to forgive
me, a northerner, for screwing up this veggie.
Was visiting an aunt in Beaumont several years ago. We were invited to an
out-of-my social-class friend's house. They had a cook from 'Loosiana.'
She fixed okra, breaded and fried. It was good. She also made some
authentic gumbo with oysters. Now, oysters are not on my favorite foods
list either, but I must admit that if everything at that dinner was
gen-u-ine southern cookin', I could become a southerner real fast.
Oooooo-eeee, she made some dishes with hot pepper that blew the pilot light
from the stove!
We have one more big task to do, that is, take my mother to the airport
Monday morning for her 3 months in Phoenix. Then I get serious about
reviewing the mountains of new catalogs I've been collecting in a box.
Already have some plug orders in, but there's always something untried to
try. Love it! My first time artichoke plants this season were amazing.
Got about 30 chokes from them. It was so neat. Haven't decided what my
'first time' veggie will be in 1999. What are you all trying for the first
time in '99?
Linda in NW Ohio near Toledo/Lake Erie, USDA Zone 5
llbs@mail.glasscity.net