MAY PLANTING GUIDE: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

VEGETABLES TO PLANT IN THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY:

 

BEANS: Bush and Pole
BEETS- these can be bought in seed strips which makes planting very easy
CANTALOPE- yummy
CARROTS- you can buy carrot strips for easy planting
CORN- a fun garden plant for kids
CUCUMBER- try patio snackers variety
EGGPLANT- a great purple color in the garden- try the Nadia Eggplant 
LIMA BEANS- only if you have to- do southern californians really eat Lima Beans?
OKRA- do you think Oprah likes Okra?
PEPPERS- I typically will get peppers as plants vs. seeds
PUMPKIN - try Carriage Pumpkins
RADISH- try rainbow radishes
SQUASH- winter and summer can be planted now
SUNFLOWERS- from miniature to 8 foot tall growers- they are all amazing
SWISS CHARD- easy to grow and beautiful colors
TOMATOES- I grow yellow pear and cherry tomatoes every year + roma and heirloom
WATERMELON- sugar baby is a great small melon for backyard gardener

COMPANION PLANTING- TRY GROUPING TOGETHER THESE COMBINATIONS:
Why companion plant? 
* It helps and improves plant growth by enriching the soil. 
* Plants help eachother grow by placing tall plants next to smaller plants that need shade.
* It can help with pest problems with the aromatic scents of marigolds and other herbs.
* Attract the good insects "beneficial" insects- plant attracting pollinators!

BEANS - RADISH - SUNFLOWER- EGGPLANT- ROSEMARY

TOMATO- BASIL- CARROT- PARSLEY

CUCUMBER- PEA - SUNFLOWER- MARIGOLD- RADISH- CARROT

SAGE - THYME - TOMATO - BASIL- DILL- MARIGOLD- LETTUCE

Check out these Heirloom Seeds on ETSY that looked interesting. Sunflowers and all types of seeds


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Agave Victoria-reginae

This agave has the look of hand painted white lines on leaves. A slow grower and drought tolerant, a landscape design gem! Grows in USDA zone 9-12. High heat tolerance, full sun and can survive temperatures as low as 12 degrees F. This Agave was named after the English Queen Victoria with several varieties and can take up to 40 years to bloom. Small spines are on the tip of each leaf which reminds me of an artichoke. 

Omelettes Baked in Muffin Tins

I found this idea on Pinterest  and repinned it to my "That's Clever" board. Create your favorite omelette and bake them in muffin tins. Pour the mixture into greased muffin cups and bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes depending on size of muffin pan. Place them in baggies and store in the fridge, enjoy them all week long. These came out great and I look forward to easy on the go breakfasts this week. Using egg whites that come in the cartons works well too.

Ingredients: Broccoli, Mushroom, Onion Omelettes- some cheese and garlic too

Shredded Broccoli 

Mushrooms into the mix...

I sauteed onion, garlic, mushroom and broccoli prior to adding the eggs

A little Parmesan and Cheddar cheese

Into the Oven they go- YUMMY!

There are many recipes online 

Time to Plant Pumpkins

Can it really be time for planting pumpkins? YES!

 I recommend trying the Cinderella's Carriage which in Southern California can be planted by seed April through June. Plant in Full Sun with a distance of 3 feet between seeds. They reach 18-35 pounds and are deep orange-red. I purchased these from Renee's seeds and in the past have had great success.

According to Renee's Seeds, "We import seed for this big gorgeous heirloom pumpkin from its original French breeder who maintains the best centuries-old strain, still beloved in European markets. Cinderella's Carriage is our name for this large, thick-fleshed selection that looks exactly like the original in the old-fashioned illustrations of the magical fairy tale coach."

 

Last year my Cinderella Pumpkin at 5 pounds- still growing

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   ************* pumpkin tins***********

BE KIND

The best part of life is not just surviving, but thriving with passion and compassion and humor and style and generosity and kindness.

- Author Maya Angelou 

so many ways to be kind...

 A little inspiration today as we mourn the sad events of the Boston Marathon and the Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion.

After a week of trauma in the news I was uplifted to find so many resources for kindness, especially the quote by Mr. Rogers that I heard for the first time:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me,

 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." 

1) The Be Kind People Project
2) Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
3) Wiki How: How to be Kind
4) To Be Kind Facebook Page
5) Quotes about Kindness

* Thank you Chula and Bella *

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Borage in the Garden

Borage: An aromatic herb with beautiful blue flowers. Blossoms are edible and the young leaves of a borage plant can be used in salads, or use the same as cabbage. Blossoms can also be dried or used fresh as a garnish, in ice cubes, cake decorating, cocktails, or candied. They can also be used in potpourri. Borage is rich in minerals and potassium and can be used in soups and stews, cooked or raw.

I harvested a huge amount of Borage last weekend and dried the flowers and saved them for many future uses. These photos below are from my raised planters.

Planter Bed full of Borage

Blue Borage Flower- these look great in ice cubes

Bee on Borage Flower

Set up for Drying with MicroFleur Microwave Flower Press

MicroFleur product for drying herbs and flowers

All Done- Dried and Stored for future use
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Ocean Theme Landscaping Gallery of Photos

Ocean Themed Landscaping, Drought Tolerant and Water Wise. I use all types of mediums to create a water wise landscaping with an ocean theme and peaceful oasis effect.

Ideas: Nautical items, Antique pieces, Driftwood, Seashells, Japanese Glass Floats, Rope, Cement Sea Figures, Glass Mulch, Moonstones, Aloe, Succulents, Cactus, Palms, Euphorbias, Sand, Antique Coke bottles, etc. The list is endless! 

Pinterest Photo Gallery Link

Bliss Chalk Drawing

BLISS: complete happiness, supreme happiness, utter joy or contentment, paradise.

Wishing you a blissful day full of kind and purposeful thoughts and actions. Create your own bliss? Absolutely!

This link shows how to create a DIY: wet chalk drawing.  Chalk boards make great canvases for artwork that can be changed up, or place in the kitchen for weekly dinner menus. 

(Thank you Taylor for this amazing chalk drawing- not to be erased!)
Happy Birthday Pam!
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BLoSsOm bLiSs

"What a strange thing! to be alive beneath cherry blossoms."

- Kobayashi Issa, Poems

I pulled my car over on the side of the road to catch this beauty last week on the windy roads in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. An ornamental Cherry 'Sakura' Tree in full bloom.
Link to the National Cherry Blossom Festival ongoing this month in Washington D.C.

'Sakura' Ornamental Cherry Tree
Pinterest Bliss Photos

Torrey Pines State Reserve Day Trip

Torrey Pines State Reserve is located in Del Mar, CA. and is considered one of the best ocean view hiking spots in Southern California. Currently the wildflowers are in bloom and this is the best time of the year to enjoy the color and beauty of these trails. Botanically speaking the reserve contains over 330 plant species including abundant annual and perennial natives such as sage scrub, chaparral and salt-march plants.  Panoramic ocean views, a visitors center with knowledgeable volunteers and a plenitude of hiking trails are what you can expect on a day trip to the reserve. The base of the reserve meets the beach with parking and restrooms available. 

Directions: From Interstate 5, exit on Carmel Valley Road and head west to North Torrey Pines Road (old Highway 101).  Turn South: the entrance is at the base of the bluffs.

Torrey Pine Trees consist of 5 needles: a unique and distinctive characteristic. It is the rarest pine tree in the United States and the seeds are edible.

 Many more photos on following page...........

Pink Grapefruit Margaritas

Springtime is here and entertaining in the warm weather is just around the corner. For a larger crowd I find serving margaritas a bit easier "pitcher style". This is a nice drink with or without the Tequila.

Ina Garten's Pink Grapefruit margaritas and pre-salt rimmed glasses work well in a large pitcher for a dinner party. I did a little blending of ingredients prior to adding the tequila and it made the mixture a little bit frothier and creamy. Add some fresh grapefruit wedges for a nice fresh touch. For salted rim glasses: dip glass edges in water and use kosher or sea salt spread out on a plate to get an even coating.

Barefoot Contessa Recipe
Pinterest

APRIL GARDEN PLANTING GUIDE

VEGETABLE PLANTING GUIDE: Southern California

Pumpkin

Carrot

Corn 

Tomato

Bush and Pole Beans

Radish

Beets

Cantaloupe

Cucumber

Eggplant

Jicama

Okra

Peppers

Summer and Winter Squash

Sunflowers

Tomato

Watermelon

TIME TO PLANT ZINNIAS and DAHLIAS

DAHLIA

FLOWER PLANTING GUIDE:

African Daisy, Marigold, Alyssum, Aster, Baby's Breath, Cornflower, Bellfower, Bells of Ireland, Blanket Flower, Butterfly Flower, Calendula, CA Desert Bluebells, Carnation, Chinese Forget-me-not, Chrysanthemum, Coleus, Cosmos, Dahlia, Floss Flower, Morning Glory, Passion Vine, Petunia, Phlox, Sage, Verbena, Viola, Zinnia

Pinterest Flower Photos

RAINBOW RADISHES