All of a sudden, there they are.

They have been hiding under the big leaves.

Two different recipes 

Peel and thinly slice cucumbers,

add salt to taste.

Place upturned plate on top of cucumbers and add heavy weight on top  and let stand for an hour.

Pour off liquid.

Add a dollop of sour cream and a small amount of sugar to taste.  

place in refrigerator until serving time.

Serve chilled 

 

These crystal bowls are more than 75 years old.  They belonged to my mother who always served this particular salad in these bowls. 

They are the only treasure I have from my home by the Baltic Sea.

  

This cucumber dish was Mr G 's favorite. 

Peel and slice cucumbers, pour light vinegar and water brine to cover.  Add salt and hot pepper flakes to taste.

Happy weekend to you and yours, 

Gina 

I didn't think that it existed

A tomato that actually tastes like a tomato. 

It's not very pretty, 

but oh, what a fabulous flavor.

It is an Heirloom Black Brandywine Tomato.

A friend gave me seedlings.   I didn't expect much 

and I was so wrong.  

I'm saving seeds.

Do you grow a special tomato?

Gina

So satisfying when they become more spectacular every year!

 All they need is lots of water and filtered sunshine

Tuberous Begonias

They will sleep in the greenhouse

They usually show new growth in March-April

Blooms appear where leaves point

Planned on picking my plums yesterday.  

Raccoons did the job for me AND they ate all of my grapes.  

I would love to join their midnight raids,

but I'm a coward, Raccoons are mean. 

Happy days to you, 

Gina 

Growing in my garden

Rondes de Nice

 

What makes Rondes de Nice so perfect is that the entire vegetable can be eaten.

Also known as Rolly Polly Zucchini,

Ready to eat when golf ball size

The entire Zucchini is edible including skin and blossoms.

Dredge blossoms into beer batter and deep fry.

Save a few seeds for next year.

Happy gardening 

Gina

Growing in my Garden

Salpiglossis  growing in my Garden

Salpiglossis are a cross between the Petunia and the Nicotiana (Tobacco Flower) 

They're an Annual, grown from seed.

They prefer cool nights.

They make excellent cut flowers. 

Happy Gardening. 

Gina

It's supposed to look like this

 But it doesn't.

They are still sleeping

No flowers for the house. 

Even too cold for pansies.

Not even a Hellebore in sight.

When are they going to show their faces?

There is only this and 

it is very cold. 

Enjoy your flowers, 

mine will come soon.

Gina 

I know, I know.

It is a weed.

But I watched it grow...right after the snow melted.  

It looked so interesting, so promising, so sculptural. 

Sleet and snow and heavy winds couldn't topple it.  

Now a new one is growing. 

Shall I let it continue to grow?  My friends are shaking their heads. 

I'm told that it is a noxious weed.  

Germans call it Königskerze

(King's Candle). 

What do you call it?

Stay safe and be well dear friends, 

Gina 

They have come back

After several weeks

And now they're all grown up.

Salpiglossis, Nemesia and Poppies brighten the flower beds.

First Crop has been cut and gathered.

A new kitchen is getting my new hand painted tiles. 

The house sits quiet and cool under the old trees. 

Take care dear friends. 

Gina 

Be prepared for an ugly surprise.

What do you think happened here? 
Seedlings forced themselves through the tomatoe, 
like a little bird pecking itself out of a shell. 

I know better than to buy tomatoes this time of year. 

The tomatoes had no taste. 

So I put them into a fruit bowl.  At least they had color. 

What is it that they do to tomatoes?  Why would it last for two months at room temperature? 

The tomatoes looked perfectly fine on one side...
UNTIL I TURNED THEM OVER!

I scooped out some of the messy insides and low and behold, I have little tomatoe seedlings.  

young tomatoe plant, soon to be planted outside.  

Can't wait to taste it. 

Be safe, be strong.  

Gina 

The hopeful gardener.

Will it ever look like this again?

Asters blooming from seeds collected in Italy many years ago. 

New soil did wonders. 

And then I had the soil removed because a nasty little worm had invaded my flower beds.  

The good soil was replaced and I have struggled for two years to improve  the top soil that was delivered. 

Come Spring, I will begin again. 

Happy planning dear friends. 

Seed catalogs are arriving.  

Gina 

Not enough time

It's all right.

I love what I see even if it isn't perfect.

Wild roses seeking support.

Salpiglossis are a challenge.

Poppies are amazing.

Yank out the entire plant, singe the stem and every poppy head will open. 

A poppy bouquet for a week. 

More rain than usual brought on the berries.

I have eaten the rest. 

I can grow figs in Utah ...in my greenhouse.

Nasturtiums grow easily from seed.

Who can resist an Opium Poppy?

The hay barns will be filled to the rafters.  

We will most likely have 3 crops of Alfalfa this year, 

who knows, maybe even four. 

Wishing you a bountiful week ahead. 

Gina