tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55792065064101933322024-03-13T19:31:43.675-07:00The WASPkid DiariesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-31209152976732906152012-05-21T21:18:00.002-07:002012-05-21T21:22:02.668-07:00Year Three Begins for the Redneck Garden<div style="text-align: justify;">
I finally got around to planting & realized this is the 3rd summer of Redneck Gardening. Same buckets, same small yard, but a few lessons learned along the way. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I started with heavy soil, much like the native clay soil of the region. It seemed like a good concept; if I had a bigger yard & was planting in the ground, this would be the soil type, so why not in containers? It turns out that one of the cool things about container gardening is that you CAN use better soil. DOH! Most folks aren't going to remove a foot of soil over their whole garden, install drainage & then put in a foot of high-dollar soil, so they make due with what they have, amend as best they can and garden away. Folks with money might build raised beds & bring in an amended soil from the neighborhood garden center, but even that is a crap shoot. Rock yard garden centers typically use whatever dirt they can get for free or cheap & the cheapest amendment they can get their hands on. This means the dirt likely came from a construction site & you can guess what may or may not be in it. Organic matter may be a commercially produced greenwaste compost or something like stable shavings, mushroom compost (which is typically sterilized, meaning it has zero beneficial biology), uncomposted manure or tree waste, and the list of possibilities goes on & on. As nice as those folks are, don't let them convince you that this is really the "Premium Planter Mix" the sign over the bin claims.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In containers, it's a whole different game! For one, if you are buying soil, you need a LOT LESS, so spring for the good stuff. No, that does not include anything with the Miracle Grow label on it. Read the label, folks. Make sure you know what you are getting. Factoid: labeling is very strict in places like California & the manufacturer HAS to be sure to include everything that goes in the bag. Unfortunately, since many of the big brands are manufactured & marketed in many different areas, the ingredient list not only includes what IS in the bag, but anything that might ever be in the bag. Again, you never know for sure what is really in the bag, or in what proportions. My best advice if you go the bagged soil route; by a regional product, something made close to where you are, preferably organic. Mixes with coconut fiber (coir) will hold more water than those with peat & will rehydrate better. Try to buy a mix with sand in it if you can. Manufacturers don't like sand, because it adds weight & reduces the volume they can ship in a given truck. Consequently most retail bagged mixes contain no sand or soil at all. I'm also not a fan of perlite (expanded obsidian) or vermiculite (expanded pyrite). These are ultra lightweight fillers often used to reduce weight and improve drainage. They are not porous, so don't help with air & water movement in the soil, they are also environmentally challenging to produce. I prefer a mix with pumice or lava if you can find it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am more fortunate than most in this department. Dirt is my life. Well, livelihood actually. I don't have any formal education in soil science, but I do have 20 years of on the job training. Seems odd that it took me so long to start gardening. You would think it would've been a natural thing for me, but it just didn't click for me until more recently. Better late than never, I guess. I've enjoyed tinkering with the soil in my containers. They have great drainage, but don't dry out (I hand water twice each week), they are about 2/3 mineral (sand, soil, lava) & 1/3 organic matter (compost & worm castings). I don't add conventional fertilizers. Instead I add a little new compost and calcium sulfate (or gypsum) each year & everything seems to be doing great. I have also added a product called AXIS, which is calcined diatomaceous earth. AXIS has the perfect pore size for absorbing & releasing water when the plant needs it. The other benefit is that as moisture levels draw down & AXIS releases the water, it actually pulls air into the soil. This stuff is awesome! This combination seems to produce healthy plants with amazing root development.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Enough rambling about dirt, time for some pics!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zUlz6ecz0dU/T7sL9PqzdkI/AAAAAAAABHo/pylDJMvrgag/s1600/Front_Porch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zUlz6ecz0dU/T7sL9PqzdkI/AAAAAAAABHo/pylDJMvrgag/s400/Front_Porch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Front Porch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Zu2bwcYLZg/T7sL-hW6DrI/AAAAAAAABH4/_tQC7OrBgcE/s1600/Lawn_Buckets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Zu2bwcYLZg/T7sL-hW6DrI/AAAAAAAABH4/_tQC7OrBgcE/s400/Lawn_Buckets.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poblano, Jalapeno & Habanero Peppers to Keep Things Lively.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0VDzPm8D00/T7sMFsyYJCI/AAAAAAAABJA/82q5mbGb0zw/s1600/Sideyard_Page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0VDzPm8D00/T7sMFsyYJCI/AAAAAAAABJA/82q5mbGb0zw/s400/Sideyard_Page.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grafted Tomatoes are new to me this year. And apparently I don't cook with fennel often enough.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And now for the ornamentals:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0_VKx6Gk8w/T7sL97H6wfI/AAAAAAAABHw/ka-Elyx_3Yo/s1600/Kniphofia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0_VKx6Gk8w/T7sL97H6wfI/AAAAAAAABHw/ka-Elyx_3Yo/s400/Kniphofia.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kniphofia on the left had four bloom spikes a couple weeks ago, now my other one is getting into the act.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zBYOFawx9-A/T7sMBK1Th1I/AAAAAAAABIQ/RTWJlNMthHg/s1600/SAM_1378s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zBYOFawx9-A/T7sMBK1Th1I/AAAAAAAABIQ/RTWJlNMthHg/s400/SAM_1378s.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wifey loved these little happy faces.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Vz7uG2cfbA/T7sMBpLVnzI/AAAAAAAABIY/adowKadPsE0/s1600/SAM_1379s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Vz7uG2cfbA/T7sMBpLVnzI/AAAAAAAABIY/adowKadPsE0/s400/SAM_1379s.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the color these dianthus bring & they love this hot little planter by our entry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PUA7e2dJfww/T7sMCbSO8SI/AAAAAAAABIg/q5FN3Q2hEXo/s1600/SAM_1380s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PUA7e2dJfww/T7sMCbSO8SI/AAAAAAAABIg/q5FN3Q2hEXo/s400/SAM_1380s.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last one, another favorite from Annie's Annuals. This even survived being tented with the house!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
HAPPY GARDENING!!!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-15607951500611051752012-04-29T14:33:00.000-07:002012-04-29T14:33:17.953-07:00Survival of the Fittest<div style="text-align: justify;">
Everyone knows that I never claimed to be a <i>good</i> gardener, just <i>a</i> gardener. Like many folks, my energy, available time & enthusiasm for gardening ebbs & flows. My yard, small as it is, suffers periods of neglect & inattention. This little Kniphofia from <a href="http://www.anniesannuals.com/">Annie's Annuals</a> is a perfect example.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5rljEjfAHz0/T52xWFWfheI/AAAAAAAABFw/-xa50W9mwhk/s1600/SAM_1088s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5rljEjfAHz0/T52xWFWfheI/AAAAAAAABFw/-xa50W9mwhk/s400/SAM_1088s.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This seemingly indestructible plant never gets fed, goes without water for weeks, has never been split, gets chewed on by snails (Really!) and this is how it rewards me for all the neglect. Four bloom spikes! I know some plants flower or fruit better if you stress them out a bit & I guess that is the case here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLj6pVmsa9g/T52ypXtLUdI/AAAAAAAABF4/-C9t38LlXMQ/s1600/SAM_1090s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLj6pVmsa9g/T52ypXtLUdI/AAAAAAAABF4/-C9t38LlXMQ/s400/SAM_1090s.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm sure none of you treat your plants like this, but for the other sporadic gardeners out there, just know that there are a few plants out there that will tolerate a good amount of neglect. I will get better. Sometime...</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-58366438449601413452012-02-19T19:15:00.000-08:002012-02-19T19:15:56.847-08:00So Many Possibilities...<div style="text-align: justify;">It's pretty hard to beat the mild weather we've been having in the Bay Area lately. Mid 60 degree temps & lots of sun makes for pleasant days to work in the garden. If anything, it's too nice. trees are all blooming, plants are shooting up (especially the weeds) & the temptation is to start slamming those veggies in the ground, but we all know it's too early for that. Isn't it?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last Sunday I managed some yard cleanup & cleaned out most of the containers that had remnants or weeds growing in them. I graduated from general cleanup to clearing dead/dying foliage from a few of the neglected plants. Then I saw the Cannas...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kc6GQFFu41o/T0GRmVeEmMI/AAAAAAAABAQ/V6ILoVMFe00/s1600/Canna_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kc6GQFFu41o/T0GRmVeEmMI/AAAAAAAABAQ/V6ILoVMFe00/s400/Canna_page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As you can see in the top-left, they haven't been dug up in awhile. The tubers were so overgrown that they were actually about 6" above the level of the surrounding concrete. I couldn't turn away, I just <i>had</i> to dig them up & split them. These are two 10" circular openings in the concrete & I dug up enough tubers to fill a 5-gallon bucket!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back to the subject of possibilities; I have all these empty containers (buckets) & a planter strip that was decimated by the exterminators who tented the house last fall. I am resisting the temptation to start planting early, but it seems they are calling to me even as I write this.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f-ZC6_XnzgM/T0GVVFa0kQI/AAAAAAAABAY/8Uc38XhuJZs/s1600/Empty_Container_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f-ZC6_XnzgM/T0GVVFa0kQI/AAAAAAAABAY/8Uc38XhuJZs/s400/Empty_Container_page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I decided to put my energy to good use & knock out a couple projects that were nagging at me. If you've read my blog before, you've seen the bare trellis on my back fence. It just kind of stands there & blends into the background.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3eFIZznAALk/S_4A4MwnCbI/AAAAAAAAAm8/vF_F25KACRw/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+022sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3eFIZznAALk/S_4A4MwnCbI/AAAAAAAAAm8/vF_F25KACRw/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+022sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, none of the plants in this pic are still with us (except the roses), but the trellis is still hanging around. with nothing colorful to cover it, it definitely needed sprucing up. Now to figure out what all to hang on it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZFM406yFs8/T0G2HnQrteI/AAAAAAAABAw/5-IhUT9z9aY/s1600/Lattice+After+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZFM406yFs8/T0G2HnQrteI/AAAAAAAABAw/5-IhUT9z9aY/s400/Lattice+After+%282%29.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And then I looked up & saw the trees... I haven't properly pruned my apricot tree or the IDKWTFII tree in several years. A couple hours & several scratches later, this is what I had...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KECtTdph7Hg/T0G3kGq98HI/AAAAAAAABA4/oxRF7NrYjP8/s1600/Tree+Parts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KECtTdph7Hg/T0G3kGq98HI/AAAAAAAABA4/oxRF7NrYjP8/s400/Tree+Parts.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The tools & spoils of my battle with the trees. Even with no leaves on the branches, the effect was big. Hopefully I did more good than harm. Would actually have liked to do more, but the IDKWTFII is stuck in the corner of the yard & actually hangs over my neighbors yards more than my own.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I write this, the endless possibilities for all those empty spaces are rattling through my brain. Apparently I still have a few marbles for them to rattle around with. Besides my empty containers & planter strip, I also have a sort-of hell strip between my driveway & the neighbors. It's really part of their lot, but I take care of it out of self defense. It would be a great spot for a few artichokes I think. What do you think?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-79755426529096985632012-01-29T12:07:00.000-08:002012-01-29T12:07:00.545-08:00San Francisco & Treasure Island 1-28-12<div style="text-align: justify;">We've been home-bodies a lot lately and the cabin fever was getting to be a bit much. The upside of a lost wager & the unfortunate demise of the Forty-Niners in the recent NFC Championship game was that it gave us the excuse we needed to make a trip into The City to arrange payment of my debt. I was really looking forward to those Connecticut Bluepoint Oysters, but instead, my friend Scott Hokunson, of <a href="http://bhld.wordpress.com/">Blue Heron Landscapes</a> will be feasting on fresh San Francisco Dungeness Crab for his Superbowl party. It was such a gorgeous January day, I thought I'd share a few pics with you all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l2sulme___U/TyWZM3bCt5I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/FQ5R5ohloMM/s1600/SAM_0856s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l2sulme___U/TyWZM3bCt5I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/FQ5R5ohloMM/s400/SAM_0856s.JPG" width="400" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, it really was this nice out. Even in January.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P0KoniAc8kg/TyWaGE-LfdI/AAAAAAAAA-o/fL8kyXqc2Wg/s1600/SAM_0848s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P0KoniAc8kg/TyWaGE-LfdI/AAAAAAAAA-o/fL8kyXqc2Wg/s400/SAM_0848s.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coit Tower, one of San Francisco's Iconic Landmarks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIzUGxTvBu4/TyWaH-bIWgI/AAAAAAAAA-4/r7Mita7cUwc/s1600/SAM_0851s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIzUGxTvBu4/TyWaH-bIWgI/AAAAAAAAA-4/r7Mita7cUwc/s400/SAM_0851s.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda & Joni walking on the pier by the Ferry Building.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GGkHbDKlcbE/TyWaI-PIvmI/AAAAAAAAA_A/psOk9NWKweI/s1600/SAM_0852s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GGkHbDKlcbE/TyWaI-PIvmI/AAAAAAAAA_A/psOk9NWKweI/s400/SAM_0852s.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not your typical street musician. This guy is playing an Erhu, a one-string Chinese violin.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8kS-wpuL55Q/TyWaJx9yoXI/AAAAAAAAA_I/PpZgmGm-4l8/s1600/SAM_0853s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8kS-wpuL55Q/TyWaJx9yoXI/AAAAAAAAA_I/PpZgmGm-4l8/s400/SAM_0853s.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Ferry Building Market. There is also a large outdoor Farmer's Market going on & the place was packed!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCvDKHgy-oA/TyWaK4pxttI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/A3rhqPRhWk4/s1600/SAM_0855s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCvDKHgy-oA/TyWaK4pxttI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/A3rhqPRhWk4/s400/SAM_0855s.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting twist on a Living Wall. This was inside "The Plant", the organic cafe where we had lunch.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HI1PD-BEiuQ/TyWaMwRi3uI/AAAAAAAAA_g/4-9QD0yFy10/s1600/SAM_0858s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HI1PD-BEiuQ/TyWaMwRi3uI/AAAAAAAAA_g/4-9QD0yFy10/s400/SAM_0858s.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next stop was the Treasure Island Flea. This is a great new market with a fun mix of vendors, food & beverages.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CaIs6tnj5yk/TyWaNjdHRyI/AAAAAAAAA_o/M23zpw8gANk/s1600/SAM_0859s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CaIs6tnj5yk/TyWaNjdHRyI/AAAAAAAAA_o/M23zpw8gANk/s400/SAM_0859s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHUc4mSiu0k/TyWaPxW2tQI/AAAAAAAABAA/Jg1Js3LGdDI/s1600/TI_Flea_2012-01-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHUc4mSiu0k/TyWaPxW2tQI/AAAAAAAABAA/Jg1Js3LGdDI/s400/TI_Flea_2012-01-28.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vendors outside as well as inside the historic "Building One", built in the late 1930s for the 1939-1940 World's Fair.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MD6_PeeTmCs/TyWaPH_87rI/AAAAAAAAA_4/KlO_TEP9qGA/s1600/SAM_0861s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MD6_PeeTmCs/TyWaPH_87rI/AAAAAAAAA_4/KlO_TEP9qGA/s400/SAM_0861s.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a small piece of the huge panoramic mural inside Building One.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The Treasure Island Flea was a very pleasant surprise. I'd heard about it just recently & figured this would be a good time to check it out. This just happened to be their first time setting up inside Building One, the last of the original structures built for the 1939-1940 World's Fair. Lots of vendors selling vintage clothing & jewelry, art, collectibles of all sorts, antiques, etc... They also had a great bunch of food trucks providing lots of food & beverage options. Treasure Island has also become a bit of a haven for the Urban Winery movement, with at least three wineries and another tasting room that I saw. If you are anywhere near San Francisco on a weekend, I highly recommend you make some time for a visit to Treasure Island. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-6344363436211985722012-01-07T21:50:00.000-08:002012-01-07T21:50:12.088-08:00Frazier Lake Airpark, Jan. 7, 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">My good friend Monty Groves, who I originally met through our local Sportster motorcycle group, has been after me for the past couple years to come to the monthly Open House @ Frazier Lake Airpark, just North of Hollister. Well, I finally made it! we've been having incredibly nice weather lately, so this was a great chance to get some two-wheeled therapy & airplane therapy all in one shot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvxAtl33uxw/TwkR2cR_W1I/AAAAAAAAA70/rVi3UGDjOnw/s1600/1200S_C180_Matt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvxAtl33uxw/TwkR2cR_W1I/AAAAAAAAA70/rVi3UGDjOnw/s400/1200S_C180_Matt.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is me, blocking your view of Monty's beautiful 1955 Cessna 180.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Frazier Lake is an interesting place. It's a public use, private airport, with one grass runway & one water runway. The hangars are stuffed with all sorts of vintage flyers, kit planes & a few "spam cans". I really blew it by not taking more pics of the aircraft in their hangars, as there are many great classic birds to see. I guess I'll just have to go back next month ;-)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Instead, I focused on visitor aircraft, a few locals that had been pushed out to the grass & the flying that was going on.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8dfBTQBUKY/TwkUlCi1aMI/AAAAAAAAA78/e4JUWuRT2oY/s1600/No+Training+Wheels%2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8dfBTQBUKY/TwkUlCi1aMI/AAAAAAAAA78/e4JUWuRT2oY/s400/No+Training+Wheels%2521.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not many training wheels to be found around here, mostly classic stick & rudder tail-draggers in the crowd. Closest is a great example of the Stinson 108.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWNRsJfnSQw/TwkYGpE5uXI/AAAAAAAAA8E/VulFaudX-Po/s1600/Kits+%2526+Vintage.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWNRsJfnSQw/TwkYGpE5uXI/AAAAAAAAA8E/VulFaudX-Po/s400/Kits+%2526+Vintage.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a good example of the mix of classic & kit-built airplanes that frequent or live at Frazier Lake.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aML3FK-WFKc/TwkZGyReyRI/AAAAAAAAA8M/rQOgfAgcbeE/s1600/Fully+Polished+C-170A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aML3FK-WFKc/TwkZGyReyRI/AAAAAAAAA8M/rQOgfAgcbeE/s400/Fully+Polished+C-170A.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This fully polished C-170A was gorgeous. Sure looks like a lot of work went into that shine.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y29bZLGbBlQ/TwkZsWCJJRI/AAAAAAAAA8U/CXpRYKQ0ZJI/s1600/Sportsman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y29bZLGbBlQ/TwkZsWCJJRI/AAAAAAAAA8U/CXpRYKQ0ZJI/s400/Sportsman.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the kit-built group, this Sportsman was outstanding! The wing is polished, top & bottom and all the rivets are flush. This is one very slick little airplane & a lot of care & craftsmanship went into making it this nice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ta4SW3Ogn5w/TwkbaZwZ-JI/AAAAAAAAA8k/8ujpUv8528A/s1600/Stinson_Xwind_Landing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ta4SW3Ogn5w/TwkbaZwZ-JI/AAAAAAAAA8k/8ujpUv8528A/s400/Stinson_Xwind_Landing.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pilot of this Stinson demonstrates a perfect crosswind landing. There was a very stiff breeze blowing directly across the runway all day, making for some challenging landings, but the folks around here are pretty used to it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FmWM9-MvllE/TwkckrwvYAI/AAAAAAAAA8s/h2UhTRTQsQU/s1600/Bell_Takeoff_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FmWM9-MvllE/TwkckrwvYAI/AAAAAAAAA8s/h2UhTRTQsQU/s400/Bell_Takeoff_1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the more unusual visitors was this very clean Bell Model 47. I had to look around for Klinger & Hawkeye.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Time for a few more of the action shots...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ljEjUn263R4/TwkfoJdHbPI/AAAAAAAAA80/VtFRHnuFrkc/s1600/182RG_Takeoff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ljEjUn263R4/TwkfoJdHbPI/AAAAAAAAA80/VtFRHnuFrkc/s400/182RG_Takeoff.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Burrpv5d5B8/Twkja3LQKTI/AAAAAAAAA9c/FLqKfMgP7Mg/s1600/Luscombe_Takeoff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Burrpv5d5B8/Twkja3LQKTI/AAAAAAAAA9c/FLqKfMgP7Mg/s400/Luscombe_Takeoff.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OWVjA0DYYrM/TwkjjrNqd6I/AAAAAAAAA9k/EcQKIDvnKrc/s1600/Bonanza_Takeoff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OWVjA0DYYrM/TwkjjrNqd6I/AAAAAAAAA9k/EcQKIDvnKrc/s400/Bonanza_Takeoff.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YeGRe2LigXw/Twkj07gTeHI/AAAAAAAAA9s/eZQM49rydaQ/s1600/C180_2_Takeoff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YeGRe2LigXw/Twkj07gTeHI/AAAAAAAAA9s/eZQM49rydaQ/s400/C180_2_Takeoff.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And a couple slightly less polluted picks of Monty's 180.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cj8hBf2UWc/TwkmF0-cAZI/AAAAAAAAA98/GexRh9NWono/s1600/1200S_C180_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cj8hBf2UWc/TwkmF0-cAZI/AAAAAAAAA98/GexRh9NWono/s400/1200S_C180_2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QrdjlkyCGT8/Twkl3Oosy2I/AAAAAAAAA90/uGiyA29By70/s1600/Groves_C-180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QrdjlkyCGT8/Twkl3Oosy2I/AAAAAAAAA90/uGiyA29By70/s400/Groves_C-180.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">And for my horticulture friends; we did discuss potential maintenance practices for the grass runway. I know, I'm not usually a big fan of big expansive lawns, but this is different. This isn't somebody's wanna-be golf course front yard, this is a haven for grass-roots flying. Vintage aircraft, flying off of grass runways can really take you back in time. This is the kind of flying my folks were doing in the 40s & 50s.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For my flying friends; if you haven't made this trip yet you should. And for my fellow aviation junkie friends; Frazier Lake holds an Open House the 1st Saturday of every month. Come hang out & drool on airplanes with me sometime.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-35331770984682237132012-01-01T00:53:00.000-08:002012-01-01T08:08:46.032-08:00Where did 2011 Go?<div style="text-align: justify;">Reading all the "Year in Review" posts has been quite inspirational. I looked back at all two posts I wrote in 2011and figure it is just one more symptom of the ailments that I dealt with all year. Yes, I did start the year with a nasty round of sciatica and Damn, did that hurt, but that was just the beginning. I managed to shut myself off from a lot of people this year under the guise of being "busy". No need to go down that whole road, that part of the year is why I'm excited to move on into 2012. So, since I didn't post much in 2011 this is more of a condensed version of all the posts I should've done and a chance for me to reflect on the year & what changes I need to make for 2012.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There were plenty of interesting times in 2011. Mostly good, some not so much.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We started the year by taking in a very cool Bowl Game @ AT&T Park to watch Nevada whoop on Boston College. Was a great time with family & friends & thanks to my friends who work @ the park, we were able to go down on the field after the game, congratulate the players & just hang in the dugout for awhile. That was a really cool time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SCMcBIrltTk/Tv_d0I44xuI/AAAAAAAAA3A/RLfmy-_Lo7M/s1600/3_pic_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SCMcBIrltTk/Tv_d0I44xuI/AAAAAAAAA3A/RLfmy-_Lo7M/s400/3_pic_page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I managed a ride up Mt. Hamilton on Feb. 5th to take in the views & a great sunset.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0DsLg-gmxIQ/Tv_O_luYYlI/AAAAAAAAA1k/RrQfAdpqMtE/s1600/mt_hamilton_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0DsLg-gmxIQ/Tv_O_luYYlI/AAAAAAAAA1k/RrQfAdpqMtE/s400/mt_hamilton_page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And peeked into the Redneck Garden just enough to see how bad the neglect was showing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qw2Z0wk3oQ4/Tv_XGmY_q3I/AAAAAAAAA18/U3Wz11a6R64/s1600/Neglect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qw2Z0wk3oQ4/Tv_XGmY_q3I/AAAAAAAAA18/U3Wz11a6R64/s400/Neglect.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We braved some snow...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QOw5hzhA_bY/Tv_YKqad8CI/AAAAAAAAA2I/ift1tVVeQD8/s1600/SAM_1973s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QOw5hzhA_bY/Tv_YKqad8CI/AAAAAAAAA2I/ift1tVVeQD8/s400/SAM_1973s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So we could see my awesome son & granddaughters & their awesome mom who took the pic!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nqCE6AVO-QU/Tv_Y5Rk0_UI/AAAAAAAAA2o/WGFSbYoFyb0/s1600/SAM_1978s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nqCE6AVO-QU/Tv_Y5Rk0_UI/AAAAAAAAA2o/WGFSbYoFyb0/s400/SAM_1978s.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had a work trip to Orlando, but the best pics were actually from the flight there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Frfaz1tvVUg/Tv_a2wfAMjI/AAAAAAAAA20/ROnEdypdozs/s1600/Aerial_Page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Frfaz1tvVUg/Tv_a2wfAMjI/AAAAAAAAA20/ROnEdypdozs/s400/Aerial_Page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The highlight of March was the SFGS & spending time with cool folks like Jenny here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcByasu90i8/Tv_h2B93HcI/AAAAAAAAA3M/bvxC4tXE7jA/s1600/4_pic_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcByasu90i8/Tv_h2B93HcI/AAAAAAAAA3M/bvxC4tXE7jA/s400/4_pic_page.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In April I finally got around to cleaning up the Redneck Garden a bit & found out that a faily small pepper plant can actually have quite a bit of root mass.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xGUfH8SkfnE/Tv_mSepQGeI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/VdBnKSjPk_M/s1600/2_pic_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xGUfH8SkfnE/Tv_mSepQGeI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/VdBnKSjPk_M/s400/2_pic_page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">April also brought the 1st ever food truck fest in San Jose, so my brother & I & a few thousand others just had to check out San Jose Eats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DgCAjyDh3vk/Tv_obO-OxdI/AAAAAAAAA3k/THCKoJ3SXKc/s1600/4_Pic_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DgCAjyDh3vk/Tv_obO-OxdI/AAAAAAAAA3k/THCKoJ3SXKc/s400/4_Pic_page.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">May brought signs of life & renewal to the Redneck Garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fGGDyjiwElE/Tv_qweF3DnI/AAAAAAAAA3w/J8Q-0qhXe74/s1600/4_pic_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fGGDyjiwElE/Tv_qweF3DnI/AAAAAAAAA3w/J8Q-0qhXe74/s400/4_pic_page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">May 28th found me & some friends in Hollister for their 2nd annual air show.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_5TD0DHVzrs/Tv_sM2l_yrI/AAAAAAAAA38/x_mICEKR1no/s1600/4_pic_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_5TD0DHVzrs/Tv_sM2l_yrI/AAAAAAAAA38/x_mICEKR1no/s400/4_pic_page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And then the unthinkable happened. We lost Lorrie, my youngest sister at the age of 56, just days before her daughter's high school graduation. Being the youngest of the clan, Lorrie was often my adopted mother. This was extremely tough for my whole family. We're going to miss her immensely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bO5dQ6y7Dz4/Tv_urnb6tGI/AAAAAAAAA4I/pkDAPLgvvUk/s1600/page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bO5dQ6y7Dz4/Tv_urnb6tGI/AAAAAAAAA4I/pkDAPLgvvUk/s400/page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We did manage to have a pretty good shin-dig for niece Kat's graduation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q4sOh5S1shk/Tv_xoMv0FHI/AAAAAAAAA4U/lbiUYCz5J5A/s1600/page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q4sOh5S1shk/Tv_xoMv0FHI/AAAAAAAAA4U/lbiUYCz5J5A/s400/page.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In June you saw the Redneck Garden again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RpBLctzDpSM/Tv_yoiRtDLI/AAAAAAAAA4g/qIQ224TqIcs/s1600/Corn-Tomato+Combo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RpBLctzDpSM/Tv_yoiRtDLI/AAAAAAAAA4g/qIQ224TqIcs/s400/Corn-Tomato+Combo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And Ivette Soler @ Annie's Annuals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eP5W7YLJlEs/Tv_zJunZdKI/AAAAAAAAA4s/cdVrQZOaqJc/s1600/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+001s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eP5W7YLJlEs/Tv_zJunZdKI/AAAAAAAAA4s/cdVrQZOaqJc/s400/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+001s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">July 2nd made for a toasty ride to Hollister to the Corbin factory for their motorcycle show to see my buddy Fred's custom retro board-tracker, the PsyClone parked next to the actual Burt Munroe Indian.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0H1b-hr8YAw/Tv_3if6dkGI/AAAAAAAAA5E/oelHW6b2JyU/s1600/page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0H1b-hr8YAw/Tv_3if6dkGI/AAAAAAAAA5E/oelHW6b2JyU/s400/page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> I had a great ride to the Nevada County Airfest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMdHgLQHstU/Tv_1XotfpUI/AAAAAAAAA44/C_EmFun08LQ/s1600/page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMdHgLQHstU/Tv_1XotfpUI/AAAAAAAAA44/C_EmFun08LQ/s400/page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">July closed with the Travis Air Expo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PFUA35omWQg/Tv_7Q_XtPoI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/N1D4sc3aXJE/s1600/page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PFUA35omWQg/Tv_7Q_XtPoI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/N1D4sc3aXJE/s400/page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">By August, the Redneck garden was cruising along making corn, tomatoes, peppers & more...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cKEDWgKYnQ/Tv_-CYz1i0I/AAAAAAAAA5o/yBAs6ulzJY8/s1600/page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cKEDWgKYnQ/Tv_-CYz1i0I/AAAAAAAAA5o/yBAs6ulzJY8/s400/page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">August 21st I took a ride to Santa Rosa for the Wings Over Wine Country Airshow. One of the high points was an F-15 recently donated to the Pacific Coast Air Museum by the USAF. This particular F-15 was the 1st aircraft over NYC on 9/11. They are building a special exhibit just for this historic airplane. Lots of familiar faces & aircraft on the ramp at this show.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M_jxjLGNq_Y/TwABhly_dCI/AAAAAAAAA50/uyDGUzEQub0/s1600/page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M_jxjLGNq_Y/TwABhly_dCI/AAAAAAAAA50/uyDGUzEQub0/s400/page.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Got to spend a weekend with friends & family at Lake Tahoe helping to celebrate brother Pat & Birdy's wedding. Gotta love Tahoe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6g4XmFzoMKA/TwAN02qhiTI/AAAAAAAAA6k/UOGVbtTezKc/s1600/page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6g4XmFzoMKA/TwAN02qhiTI/AAAAAAAAA6k/UOGVbtTezKc/s400/page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Followed by Watsonville on Labor Day weekend...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GIForcAM4bU/TwAEeJ413fI/AAAAAAAAA6A/c0zWUR5xOwo/s1600/page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GIForcAM4bU/TwAEeJ413fI/AAAAAAAAA6A/c0zWUR5xOwo/s400/page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mid-September means the annual pilgrimage to Reno for the National Championship Air Races. Lots of amazing & historic aircraft & people attend this event every year & 2011 was no exception. We were honored to see some extremely rare & historic aircraft & the weather for race week was excellent.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxhPxvTD57o/TwAIlRjtXRI/AAAAAAAAA6M/rMdPcCJktrc/s1600/page_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxhPxvTD57o/TwAIlRjtXRI/AAAAAAAAA6M/rMdPcCJktrc/s400/page_1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And again, the unthinkable & unimaginable happened. Most of you saw the news unfold on your TV screen while many of us watched it happen. Jimmy Leward, veteran race & movie pilot lost control of his aircraft, the historic, highly modified P-51 racer, Galloping Ghost, impacting into the box seats, killing 10 spectators & himself and injuring scores more. The verdict is still out & we may never know what really happened, but the weight of this tragedy will be felt by everyone affected and the whole air racing family for many years to come. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-he9Eqkwqpl4/TwALAKJYulI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/BtH9HTN921k/s1600/ghost_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-he9Eqkwqpl4/TwALAKJYulI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/BtH9HTN921k/s400/ghost_page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The air show season continued on, with the next stop in Salinas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBgJqD-czGM/TwAQA4D6tCI/AAAAAAAAA6w/l5n4jtgbr0A/s1600/page_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBgJqD-czGM/TwAQA4D6tCI/AAAAAAAAA6w/l5n4jtgbr0A/s400/page_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j74EUlbqhig/TwARKjqZS7I/AAAAAAAAA7I/ANB1PDR8q-o/s1600/page_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j74EUlbqhig/TwARKjqZS7I/AAAAAAAAA7I/ANB1PDR8q-o/s400/page_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And yes, that's wifey with the Viper West Demo Team!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then came the Gathering of Mustangs at the Nut tree airport in Vacaville.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8LoQxMS38g/TwAThTNi_gI/AAAAAAAAA7U/3Kpgzbd7G9c/s1600/page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8LoQxMS38g/TwAThTNi_gI/AAAAAAAAA7U/3Kpgzbd7G9c/s400/page.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And an abbreviated Fleet Week show thanks to a fog bank that just couldn't stay away long enough for the Blue Angels to get their show in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkJaDfL2wXo/TwAVSc4KnQI/AAAAAAAAA7g/W8U2MatUV9s/s1600/page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkJaDfL2wXo/TwAVSc4KnQI/AAAAAAAAA7g/W8U2MatUV9s/s400/page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We finished out the year by hosting Thanksgiving dinner for 32 friends & family. What a blast we had! Wifey & I got to get away to Monterey for a work related Christmas party & then got to spend a nice morning kicking around the wharf.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DZs9Q7ApTEE/TwAXTCgfnII/AAAAAAAAA7s/0geCrXogwJc/s1600/Matt_%2526_Joni_Monterey_2011-12-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DZs9Q7ApTEE/TwAXTCgfnII/AAAAAAAAA7s/0geCrXogwJc/s400/Matt_%2526_Joni_Monterey_2011-12-03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you all the best for 2012.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-15120421936703616742011-06-26T10:08:00.000-07:002011-06-26T10:08:45.069-07:00Iivette Soler @ Annie's Annuals 6-25-11<div style="text-align: justify;">It looked like everyone had a great time at Annie's Annuals (no surprise there) listening to Ivette speaking passionately about her view of the Edible Front Yard. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hSFrXAGL1KA/Tgde81sXeZI/AAAAAAAAAyo/Qa4MIEoZoio/s1600/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+002s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tmForCnevAM/Tgde7zvMY8I/AAAAAAAAAyk/JWlilXWmCFY/s1600/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+001s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tmForCnevAM/Tgde7zvMY8I/AAAAAAAAAyk/JWlilXWmCFY/s400/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+001s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hSFrXAGL1KA/Tgde81sXeZI/AAAAAAAAAyo/Qa4MIEoZoio/s1600/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+002s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hSFrXAGL1KA/Tgde81sXeZI/AAAAAAAAAyo/Qa4MIEoZoio/s400/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+002s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Elayne & the crew @ Annie's had to bring out extra chairs to accommodate all the folks that showed up. Among the enthralled masses we found Maureen Decombe (@Plantanista) , Kristi (@Tikikristi) & Carri Stokes (@readbetweenthelimes). Somewhere out there is Susan Morrison (@susanlmorrison) of "Garden Up" fame.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MuBgkIN4HXE/Tgde-2vuvrI/AAAAAAAAAyw/sO6MjN-ZgjQ/s1600/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+005s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MuBgkIN4HXE/Tgde-2vuvrI/AAAAAAAAAyw/sO6MjN-ZgjQ/s400/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+005s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-huNlXOKYlII/Tgde94ZsF5I/AAAAAAAAAys/D4pPCw0zy4c/s1600/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+003s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-huNlXOKYlII/Tgde94ZsF5I/AAAAAAAAAys/D4pPCw0zy4c/s400/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+003s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> What a great setting for Ivette to bring her enthusiasm for combining good design principals with front yard food. She had the audience wrapped around her little finger and I'm sure everyone learned something useful. She presents a lot of information in a short time and makes it very entertaining! Though Ivette is very serious about proper design, she has a very go-with-the-flow attitude.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V96WoqBvD6s/TgdfADoyxQI/AAAAAAAAAy0/SLyEFb_QtXE/s1600/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+007s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V96WoqBvD6s/TgdfADoyxQI/AAAAAAAAAy0/SLyEFb_QtXE/s400/Ivette+Soler+%2540+Annie%2527s+6-25-11+007s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Signing books for the fans. If you don't have a copy yet, be sure to pick up a copy of "the EDIBLE FRONT YARD". And if you haven't met the wonderful @Germinatrx before, you don't know what you're missing!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-21912119273648920882011-06-19T14:30:00.000-07:002011-06-19T15:05:58.439-07:00Return to The Redneck Garden<div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, it has been awhile. No apologies, but I will say that I've missed blogging. I enjoy writing & it forces me to look at & think about things in more depth. Like being a photographer requires you to consider the subject in more than just an admiring fashion. Sort of self-induced introspection, if there is such a thing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, as for the Redneck garden; various influences kept me from planting winter veggies, so things pretty much languished in neglect.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ETvN7070bW4/Tf5VxTIFx-I/AAAAAAAAAxw/qXSDODw3t4o/s1600/Neglect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ETvN7070bW4/Tf5VxTIFx-I/AAAAAAAAAxw/qXSDODw3t4o/s400/Neglect.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But spring (such as it has been in Northern Ca this year) brings a sense of renewal & rejuvenation. I didn't get quite as ambitious this year and missed all the really good plant sales. A neighbor gave me a few seedlings of bean & cucumber, while the rest of my plants came from the local hardware store's garden center. That said, I'm pretty pleased with the number & variety of plants as well as the opportunity to take some new challenges this season.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_-H3XJni0U/Tf5ZnToR0qI/AAAAAAAAAx0/VGtH9_FjvJc/s1600/Corn-Tomato+Combo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_-H3XJni0U/Tf5ZnToR0qI/AAAAAAAAAx0/VGtH9_FjvJc/s400/Corn-Tomato+Combo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm trying corn in buckets for the 1st time. Fellow gardener Annie Haven (@GreenSoil) encouraged me to give it a try & these Redneck planters are set up perfectly for companion planting. I'm hoping the cucumbers will draw the pollinators for the corn. All of this was planted just three weeks ago & is really taking off. Oh, the fennel is a survivor from last year that just keeps producing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Dc2BkCLnH4/Tf5cdi0XlrI/AAAAAAAAAx4/8R_me-z47ps/s1600/RCG+6-19-11+016s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Dc2BkCLnH4/Tf5cdi0XlrI/AAAAAAAAAx4/8R_me-z47ps/s400/RCG+6-19-11+016s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This lettuce container is a bit slow getting going, but I'm optimistic.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Luz9ioKShF0/Tf5c_ntCSKI/AAAAAAAAAx8/ORaxVuvAiIM/s1600/RCG+6-19-11+002s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Luz9ioKShF0/Tf5c_ntCSKI/AAAAAAAAAx8/ORaxVuvAiIM/s400/RCG+6-19-11+002s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The red Cherry Bomb peppers are off to a good start. As are the bell, poblano & jalapenos.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G4Arou4blQo/Tf5d8SXLhoI/AAAAAAAAAyA/5EAhKw-NPoo/s1600/RCG+6-19-11+011s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G4Arou4blQo/Tf5d8SXLhoI/AAAAAAAAAyA/5EAhKw-NPoo/s400/RCG+6-19-11+011s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This new tomato appears happy with it's cilantro & basil under-planting & neighboring chives & marjoram, which are both blooming profusely right now thanks to the temperature change & sunlight.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ad97vQwJMJc/Tf5d9bHndfI/AAAAAAAAAyE/ywdpCMo5G_U/s1600/RCG+6-19-11+012s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ad97vQwJMJc/Tf5d9bHndfI/AAAAAAAAAyE/ywdpCMo5G_U/s400/RCG+6-19-11+012s.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This tomato is a "Classic yellow" from last year that survived the winter frost & neglect & insists on shooting up, tall & proud with lots of flowering going on. I'm interested to see how it does in year #2. This one also has the cilantro & basil companion planting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LaQ5qOFxEUs/Tf5ooz0hZmI/AAAAAAAAAyg/NTNFh2RKloE/s1600/RCG+6-19-11+014s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LaQ5qOFxEUs/Tf5ooz0hZmI/AAAAAAAAAyg/NTNFh2RKloE/s400/RCG+6-19-11+014s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Though the bean or squash plant in the center of this container failed, it looks like the scallions are going to make it just fine. That's another new one for me. I'll find something else to plant in the middle, maybe more scallions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylIU-XxlD-4/Tf5hEBJiyjI/AAAAAAAAAyI/t9Kv50KKZaA/s1600/SAM_2165s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylIU-XxlD-4/Tf5hEBJiyjI/AAAAAAAAAyI/t9Kv50KKZaA/s400/SAM_2165s.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This Kniphofia was blooming like crazy a month ago.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NTUDr760ZPQ/Tf5hKBhtceI/AAAAAAAAAyM/50ediOdrLZY/s1600/RCG+6-19-11+006s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NTUDr760ZPQ/Tf5hKBhtceI/AAAAAAAAAyM/50ediOdrLZY/s400/RCG+6-19-11+006s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But now looks like this. Did I piss it off by cutting off the (apparently) dead bloom spikes? Is it just because I have it in a fairly small container? I'm open to input from anyone with more experience.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gBGKHbePkOM/Tf5i5prpi4I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/aYhO58lepEg/s1600/SAM_2278s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gBGKHbePkOM/Tf5i5prpi4I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/aYhO58lepEg/s400/SAM_2278s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We do have some pretty happy Dianthus right now. This plant had one single blossom all last year. This year it is really bringing it!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4zGYsNBTukk/Tf5ktCxwR7I/AAAAAAAAAyU/PSnEjNVeEZo/s1600/Dianthus+Pair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4zGYsNBTukk/Tf5ktCxwR7I/AAAAAAAAAyU/PSnEjNVeEZo/s400/Dianthus+Pair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful, delicate flowers against very interesting structure.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-1FPSQ4BEU/Tf5kuCbnRMI/AAAAAAAAAyY/x7TehXV3d4U/s1600/RCG+6-19-11+009s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-1FPSQ4BEU/Tf5kuCbnRMI/AAAAAAAAAyY/x7TehXV3d4U/s400/RCG+6-19-11+009s.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Apparently the baby grasshoppers like them too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I know it's off-topic, but I have to show off the new houseplant that wifey brought home. I'd never seen a Red Maranta before, but love the red veins & velvety texture. A great find from my bride who really isn't a plant person.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nsYdDFnHX1U/Tf5m65xiezI/AAAAAAAAAyc/jD-uyXeeMGk/s1600/Red+Maranta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nsYdDFnHX1U/Tf5m65xiezI/AAAAAAAAAyc/jD-uyXeeMGk/s400/Red+Maranta.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another great combination of color & texture, courtesy of Mother Nature.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's about it for this update. I have some new twists in mind and will share them when the time comes. Hope everyone gets their summer off to a great start.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-52092148744750054362010-10-19T22:11:00.000-07:002010-10-19T22:11:17.328-07:00Puttin' Down Some Roots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5vGrK3UvI/AAAAAAAAAww/7vMhZybukQk/s1600/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+004s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Has it really been like seven weeks since my last post? Wow! Turns out that time doesn't just fly when you're having fun, it flies even when you <i>aren't</i> having fun. Don't worry, I'm not going to whine & bore you to death with the details. After all, this isn't about me, it's about The Redneck Garden!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Like most gardens in Nor-Cal, my summer veggies have all but flown the coop. I've been gradually pulling things, making room for winter veggies that I haven't started or purchased yet (right on my usual schedule). The latest to be thinned was the green grape tomato that produced quite well this year, but had finally withered beyond even the cage's ability to support it. Only challenge was, when I tried to pull it from the bucket, it wouldn't let go! I had to take it over to the driveway and turn the bucket upside down to get it out. Check out what I found...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="goog_391221356"></span><span id="goog_391221357"></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5vGrK3UvI/AAAAAAAAAww/7vMhZybukQk/s1600/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+004s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5vGrK3UvI/AAAAAAAAAww/7vMhZybukQk/s400/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+004s.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5vkrMHjmI/AAAAAAAAAw0/0WHoFZG2UrY/s1600/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+006s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5vkrMHjmI/AAAAAAAAAw0/0WHoFZG2UrY/s400/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+006s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> For starters, from the surface of the soil, to the tip of the stem was over 6 & 1/2 feet! Not bad for a semi-determinate cherry tomato grown in a plastic bucket!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5wVH0RldI/AAAAAAAAAw8/ejSYzrXv6RQ/s1600/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+001s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5wVH0RldI/AAAAAAAAAw8/ejSYzrXv6RQ/s400/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+001s.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5wYIq7xkI/AAAAAAAAAxA/ypmZtFDwUpY/s1600/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+002s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5wYIq7xkI/AAAAAAAAAxA/ypmZtFDwUpY/s400/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+002s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5wa8A7MsI/AAAAAAAAAxE/CNwEnVRfOVk/s1600/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+003s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5wa8A7MsI/AAAAAAAAAxE/CNwEnVRfOVk/s400/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+003s.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is after I dumped it out of the bucket, so the top of the pics is actually the bottom of the bucket. I'm not totally surprised at this great root growth, but very pleased with the confirmation that I was doing some things right. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5yG_x4IbI/AAAAAAAAAxU/p7E0cXsYZzU/s1600/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+014s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5yKrgD5AI/AAAAAAAAAxY/PNTsVsgBK90/s1600/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+012s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5yKrgD5AI/AAAAAAAAAxY/PNTsVsgBK90/s400/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+012s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5yG_x4IbI/AAAAAAAAAxU/p7E0cXsYZzU/s1600/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+014s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL5yG_x4IbI/AAAAAAAAAxU/p7E0cXsYZzU/s400/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+014s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The main root ball, after knocking most of the dirt off was a solid 10" mass of fibrous roots. I don't know if this is typical or not, being the novice gardener that I am, but for a bucket that was only 11" wide & 12" deep, this seems pretty good to me. Further proof that my custom blended soil had a great balance of air & water porosity and that the beneficial organisms in the soil were thriving and sharing their joy with the plant. The original mix contained greenwaste compost & worm castings, which are both great sources of beneficial biology & natural nutrients. The plant received a few applications of worm compost tea during the summer months, a couple small applications of a commercial organic vegetable fertilizer over the season and were never watered more than twice each week.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL51ulJ_F4I/AAAAAAAAAxg/GLVJ6t0_Dbc/s1600/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+013s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TL51ulJ_F4I/AAAAAAAAAxg/GLVJ6t0_Dbc/s400/Grape+Tomato+10-19-10+013s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And even now it wants me to believe it can still make those tasty green treats I've so enjoyed. Thanks to the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County & Cynthia Sanberg of Love Apple Farm for the good tips. Hopefully next summer will be just slightly warmer & we'll see a little more production.<br />
<br />
Until next time; get out to the garden and stay happy. <br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-59095411703851582222010-09-02T23:32:00.000-07:002010-09-02T23:32:35.979-07:00Eat Real Festival Year Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THs46kGEUaI/AAAAAAAAAs0/M-29PXVmToE/s1600/header_01.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THs46kGEUaI/AAAAAAAAAs0/M-29PXVmToE/s320/header_01.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I managed to get away to enjoy a few hours at the <a href="http://eatrealfest.com/">Eat Real</a> festival in Oakland this past weekend. I went last year as well, but this was a bigger & better event. Just about any kind of food you could want was being served from trucks, carts & booths. Of course there were several versions of the traditional taco truck or taco stand and they all looked great. Click on the pics for larger images.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THs9sSI9psI/AAAAAAAAAs8/dRAIVeAIaX8/s1600/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+015sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THs9sSI9psI/AAAAAAAAAs8/dRAIVeAIaX8/s400/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+015sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THs9vPqGKWI/AAAAAAAAAtE/rhecVd6eA5k/s1600/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+077sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THs9vPqGKWI/AAAAAAAAAtE/rhecVd6eA5k/s400/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+077sc.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THs_R5jezrI/AAAAAAAAAtM/noTpm-vxmKQ/s1600/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+149sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THs_R5jezrI/AAAAAAAAAtM/noTpm-vxmKQ/s400/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+149sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And some <i>not</i> so traditional versions...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THxmk7GsCRI/AAAAAAAAAtU/SazvRStGhKU/s1600/Get+Jerked%21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THxmk7GsCRI/AAAAAAAAAtU/SazvRStGhKU/s400/Get+Jerked%21.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THxpcOolmQI/AAAAAAAAAtc/6cJ9K1Zmt7g/s1600/Korean+BBQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THxpcOolmQI/AAAAAAAAAtc/6cJ9K1Zmt7g/s400/Korean+BBQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THxz_Aenv9I/AAAAAAAAAtk/Ik2zRZuqEfg/s1600/Kung+Fu+Tacos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THxz_Aenv9I/AAAAAAAAAtk/Ik2zRZuqEfg/s400/Kung+Fu+Tacos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THx0CGGewnI/AAAAAAAAAts/Oh5LfIHMCVw/s1600/The+Taco+Guys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THx0CGGewnI/AAAAAAAAAts/Oh5LfIHMCVw/s400/The+Taco+Guys.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
There were Filipino food trucks...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THx3jr57nQI/AAAAAAAAAt0/szEPEp2Xl_w/s1600/Filipino+Trucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THx3jr57nQI/AAAAAAAAAt0/szEPEp2Xl_w/s400/Filipino+Trucks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Argentinian & Indian food trucks...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THx87KbC_SI/AAAAAAAAAt8/Xbp3COe8Vec/s1600/Primo%27s+Parilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THx87KbC_SI/AAAAAAAAAt8/Xbp3COe8Vec/s400/Primo%27s+Parilla.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THx-HKjc7TI/AAAAAAAAAuE/3NDa0z0BwRY/s1600/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+043s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THx-HKjc7TI/AAAAAAAAAuE/3NDa0z0BwRY/s400/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+043s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And of course, a local favorite made even more famous by their recent appearance on the Food Network's "<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/the-great-food-truck-race/index.html?affiliate=blocker&omnisource=SEM&c1=Food_Truck_Race&c2=Google&c3=Great_Food_Truck_Race&c4=food%20truck%20race&c5=SEM">The Great Food Truck Race</a>", Spencer on the Go!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THyEhFAbJnI/AAAAAAAAAuM/jTHczB_2Zfw/s1600/Spencer+on+the+Go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/THyEhFAbJnI/AAAAAAAAAuM/jTHczB_2Zfw/s400/Spencer+on+the+Go.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, I did have the Escargot Lollipop, which was excellent and no, Spencer would not tell me who wins. So much for my phone call to Vegas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And there was entertainment in the form of good, live music...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TH3BFgUwrjI/AAAAAAAAAuU/4aXmz8pTjMQ/s1600/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+020s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TH3BFgUwrjI/AAAAAAAAAuU/4aXmz8pTjMQ/s400/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+020s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div>And more food...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIBgsdl_HwI/AAAAAAAAAuc/mh7ExuPVCWQ/s1600/erf-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIBgsdl_HwI/AAAAAAAAAuc/mh7ExuPVCWQ/s400/erf-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIBgvZhdJsI/AAAAAAAAAuk/lKNuZghJIFk/s1600/erf-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIBgvZhdJsI/AAAAAAAAAuk/lKNuZghJIFk/s400/erf-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And beverages...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIBko1M8i8I/AAAAAAAAAus/ZEGxga6T2Sc/s1600/erf-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIBko1M8i8I/AAAAAAAAAus/ZEGxga6T2Sc/s400/erf-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And great wood-fired barbacue...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIBl4Hf9gpI/AAAAAAAAAu0/Wk-avJenTq8/s1600/Jim+n+Nicks+BBQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIBl4Hf9gpI/AAAAAAAAAu0/Wk-avJenTq8/s400/Jim+n+Nicks+BBQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I talked with one of the guys from this crew; they came all the way from Alabama to do this event! They are trying to organize a similar event at home and have come to Eat Real the past two years to gain experience and learn what it takes to put together a food event of this magnitude. Oh, and they smoked a whole hog from <a href="http://www.marinsunfarms.com/">Marin Sun Farms</a>, who provided their pastured pork for all of the food vendors at Eat Real. Yumm!<br />
<br />
Can't forget desert...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIBxE4vxUyI/AAAAAAAAAu8/9JhLMCXIVIA/s1600/erf-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIBxE4vxUyI/AAAAAAAAAu8/9JhLMCXIVIA/s400/erf-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
But wait, there's loads more food...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIB14u4FYMI/AAAAAAAAAvE/GnjCCyh9dT8/s1600/erf-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIB14u4FYMI/AAAAAAAAAvE/GnjCCyh9dT8/s400/erf-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And there was a whole section on Urban Homesteading...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIB3tJkaocI/AAAAAAAAAvM/ud5iRYkitF0/s1600/erf-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIB3tJkaocI/AAAAAAAAAvM/ud5iRYkitF0/s400/erf-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Even my favorite CSA folks were here...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIB6PL2a2EI/AAAAAAAAAvU/6jZlUzCPQx4/s1600/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+039s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIB6PL2a2EI/AAAAAAAAAvU/6jZlUzCPQx4/s400/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+039s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>My family <i>really</i> enjoys the box we get from <a href="http://www.farmfreshtoyou.com/index.php">Farm Fresh to You</a> every other week. My little urban container garden is pretty good, but the CSA subscription keeps us in diverse, seasonal, organic fruits & vegetables that come fresh from the farm, for the same money we used to spend at the local mega-market.<br />
<br />
Organic dairy products anyone???<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIB8zmlM9SI/AAAAAAAAAvc/JdUh0hDEIP4/s1600/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+044s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIB8zmlM9SI/AAAAAAAAAvc/JdUh0hDEIP4/s400/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+044s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Have I told you about the "Pulled Rabbit Sandwich" yet???<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIB-4R026ZI/AAAAAAAAAvk/kn6RbV4tr74/s1600/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+071s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TIB-4R026ZI/AAAAAAAAAvk/kn6RbV4tr74/s400/Eat+Real+Festival+8-29-10+071s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Oh yes I did & it was delish! The rabbit, from Canvas Restaurant (a roving supper club) was a product of <a href="http://www.devilsgulchranch.com/">Devil's Gulch Ranch</a>, on the Marin county coast. Another great example of sustainable, organic agriculture just a few miles from San Francisco. The Pasternaks are not only farming, ranching & wine making people, they provide many educational opportunities as well. Elmer Fud woulda' loved this.<br />
<br />
And more food...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TICFLpc6eNI/AAAAAAAAAvs/ZPTeiU5avFU/s1600/Homeroom+Mac+%26+Cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TICFLpc6eNI/AAAAAAAAAvs/ZPTeiU5avFU/s400/Homeroom+Mac+%26+Cheese.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Mac & Cheese is the new Beef Stroganoff (especially the "Trailer Mac") and these ladies were rockin' it! MMMmmmm, pans full of warm gooey, cheesy goodness.<br />
<br />
And more food... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TICIUfWKloI/AAAAAAAAAv0/CagVyHBaS6k/s1600/erf-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TICIUfWKloI/AAAAAAAAAv0/CagVyHBaS6k/s400/erf-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TICKQf4C0KI/AAAAAAAAAv8/F9Dn6rilXog/s1600/erf-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TICKQf4C0KI/AAAAAAAAAv8/F9Dn6rilXog/s400/erf-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Seemed like the crowd was enjoying the whole Eat Real experience. The absolutely perfect weather didn't hurt either. <br />
<br />
My visit ended with something you don't see every day...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TICLwEwqueI/AAAAAAAAAwE/opOX3cxaZwU/s1600/erf-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TICLwEwqueI/AAAAAAAAAwE/opOX3cxaZwU/s400/erf-8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>A hog butchering competition. I know, seems a little strange, but part of the Eat Real message is for people to be more directly connected with their food and know where it comes from. These guys were truly skilled craftsmen and impressive to watch. Absolutely nothing was wasted. The lady emcee did a terrific job of describing exactly what was going on, interacting with the crowd & the judges and provided a lot of education along the way. I learned a lot about pastured pork and what I can do to improve my food supply. This was an unexpectedly good surprise.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, what did I eat you ask? Limited time and funds were my restrictions or I could've easily spent the whole weekend here. My first taste was the Maui Taco from The Taco Guys. This was a fantastic little fish taco with great big flavor and wonderfully crispy fried Pacific Rock Cod & Sriracha Mayo. My second bite was the pulled rabbit sandwich from Canvas Restaurant and third was the Escargot Lollipop from Spencer on the Go! Okay, I did have <i>one</i> beer on the way out. In truth, I wish I had used that $6.00 on more food.<br />
<br />
So there you have it; Eat Real Festival looked to be a huge success this year and I can't wait to see what next year brings. If you made the fest, let me know what your favorite bites were. If you didn't make it, mark your calendar for next year. If you are a fan of fresh, local, real food, this event is not to be missed!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-41880194831515148972010-08-19T20:34:00.000-07:002010-08-22T19:20:57.941-07:00Just a Little Bit Longer Kidz, We're Almost There.<span id="goog_1630392823"></span><span id="goog_1630392824"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I thought this day might never arrive, but some of the big heirlooms are finally showing a little color!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wH4tB2wI/AAAAAAAAArc/eeNd_KlwFEk/s1600/RCG+8-19-10+012s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wH4tB2wI/AAAAAAAAArc/eeNd_KlwFEk/s400/RCG+8-19-10+012s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1630392819"></span><span id="goog_1630392820"></span>Dagma's Perfection may not be quite perfect, but it will work for me!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wKR6bfcI/AAAAAAAAArk/zsyRokS6ifs/s1600/RCG+8-19-10+014s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wKR6bfcI/AAAAAAAAArk/zsyRokS6ifs/s400/RCG+8-19-10+014s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ernie's Round is coming along as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3weXGpp7I/AAAAAAAAAsc/0Ppjqe0m29k/s1600/RCG+8-19-10+008s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3weXGpp7I/AAAAAAAAAsc/0Ppjqe0m29k/s400/RCG+8-19-10+008s.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ernie's Round also won the "Vertical Challenge", climbing more than 7 feet above the soil. Not bad for a large variety growing in a bucket!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And then there are the peppers...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wWriK0uI/AAAAAAAAAr8/AErINaRN0GE/s1600/RCG+8-19-10+004s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wWriK0uI/AAAAAAAAAr8/AErINaRN0GE/s400/RCG+8-19-10+004s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This small plant was supposed to be a green bell, but turned out to be yellow instead. This is a very productive little plant.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wUrpDT6I/AAAAAAAAAr0/xIcs7J45C3U/s1600/RCG+8-19-10+003s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wUrpDT6I/AAAAAAAAAr0/xIcs7J45C3U/s400/RCG+8-19-10+003s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">These are the best of the Poblanos, nearly 6 inches long. I see Chile Rellenos in the near future!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wY1YoogI/AAAAAAAAAsE/twCOjK4_hl8/s1600/RCG+8-19-10+005s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wY1YoogI/AAAAAAAAAsE/twCOjK4_hl8/s400/RCG+8-19-10+005s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the Habanero that was near-death when I brought it home from the MG sale. Guess it likes my coddling, 'cause it's going gangbusters now, in a 10-inch pot!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wa53moNI/AAAAAAAAAsM/daxu4RgBUt8/s1600/RCG+8-19-10+006s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wa53moNI/AAAAAAAAAsM/daxu4RgBUt8/s400/RCG+8-19-10+006s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And the Hinkle Hatz? These little buggers are s'pose to be smokin' hot & this thing is loaded! I'm just waiting for one of them to turn color so I can test them out. There will be a VERY cold beer close by when that day comes!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3whRE17FI/AAAAAAAAAsk/WTyRUC9j1Fc/s1600/RCG+8-19-10+016s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3whRE17FI/AAAAAAAAAsk/WTyRUC9j1Fc/s400/RCG+8-19-10+016s.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wST5vm1I/AAAAAAAAArs/HGWitojJ7zs/s1600/RCG+8-19-10+002s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wST5vm1I/AAAAAAAAArs/HGWitojJ7zs/s400/RCG+8-19-10+002s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Black ChuChu eggplant & lemon cucumber have also been very productive lately. Do I ever LOVE all garden-fresh goodies in my salad bowl these days.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wckXyNcI/AAAAAAAAAsU/QxXbqMacYbQ/s1600/RCG+8-19-10+007s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TG3wckXyNcI/AAAAAAAAAsU/QxXbqMacYbQ/s400/RCG+8-19-10+007s.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just had to show off Mr. Black Adder as he looks sooo happy in a real pot. Hard to believe he was in a 6-inch pot just a couple months ago.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, as we've discussed before, patience is a BIG part of edible gardening and I don't seem to have much of that these days. It's just a darn good thing that the rest of The Redneck Garden has stepped up to keep me distracted from the lack of tomato availability or I'd be seriously bonkers by now.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-13019990514570214222010-08-18T22:29:00.000-07:002010-08-18T22:29:04.555-07:00Weekend @ Silver Lake<div style="text-align: justify;">I managed to escape to one of my families favorite camping spots last weekend. Silver Lake, located South-West of Lake Tahoe and at 7,200', has been part of our family since the mid 40s. Click on the photos for larger versions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8MpxTS7I/AAAAAAAAAqU/0EGf4H4Px7A/s1600/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+001s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8MpxTS7I/AAAAAAAAAqU/0EGf4H4Px7A/s400/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+001s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8qNpvWFI/AAAAAAAAAqc/zW1gHnxiFtg/s1600/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8qNpvWFI/AAAAAAAAAqc/zW1gHnxiFtg/s400/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Brother Pat trying to outsmart the locals. As the saying goes; "the fishing was great, the catching not so much". Still better than working and we didn't have to clean a mess of fish.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8uFSjAXI/AAAAAAAAAqs/s2wxDsOsdP8/s1600/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+008s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8uFSjAXI/AAAAAAAAAqs/s2wxDsOsdP8/s400/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+008s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy81TS_EpI/AAAAAAAAArM/IMgz-oDWXH8/s1600/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+015s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy81TS_EpI/AAAAAAAAArM/IMgz-oDWXH8/s400/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+015s.jpg" width="400" /><span id="goog_1992168334"></span><span id="goog_1992168335"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8wCn-7lI/AAAAAAAAAq0/47YLvL1IhdA/s1600/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+009s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8wCn-7lI/AAAAAAAAAq0/47YLvL1IhdA/s400/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+009s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8ryNo27I/AAAAAAAAAqk/s5ZWVAjlvjU/s1600/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+007s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8ryNo27I/AAAAAAAAAqk/s5ZWVAjlvjU/s400/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+007s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">An awesome Sierra sunset, looking West, down the canyon and then back to see Thunder Mountain lit up by the setting sun.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8x65X2-I/AAAAAAAAAq8/OIm8Ep9i2eU/s1600/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+012s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8x65X2-I/AAAAAAAAAq8/OIm8Ep9i2eU/s400/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+012s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8zcVzRiI/AAAAAAAAArE/52KaqqZTXj8/s1600/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+013s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TGy8zcVzRiI/AAAAAAAAArE/52KaqqZTXj8/s400/Silver+Lake+8-14-10+013s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> The crystal clear water, cool clean mountain air and just being out there with nature can be as healing as any spa in the world. I clearly need to do this more often.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-15890282405639379882010-07-21T23:18:00.000-07:002010-07-22T22:00:12.918-07:00Are We There Yet?<div style="text-align: justify;">"Are we there yet?" Anyone who's ever traveled with kids surely has heard that question and you younger gardeners were probably saying things like this not too long ago, much to your parents frustration. Well, it's the middle of July and hopefully your garden is bursting at the seams. I've been reading blogs, facebook posts & tweets from folks all over the country, enjoying bushels of juicy tomatoes, sweet corn, hot peppers, blah-blah-blah.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Don't get me wrong, The Redneck Garden is growing like mad, but outside of the herbs, all I've been able to harvest is lettuce & a couple of lemon cucumbers. Every morning I walk around my containers, say good morning to all my children and offer them heartfelt encouragement. I drive to work wondering, will this be the day I see some color in the tomatoes? Every evening, I drive home, walk into the yard, asking just like my kids on a long car ride; "are we there yet"? And every day, the answer is the same; "not ye-et". Patience has never been my strong suit, can you tell?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So here's what's going on in The Redneck Garden:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfUDWU5PkI/AAAAAAAAApM/17jabTauXMk/s1600/RCG+7-20-10+005sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfUDWU5PkI/AAAAAAAAApM/17jabTauXMk/s400/RCG+7-20-10+005sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Yellow Pear Tomatoes have looked exactly like this for at least three weeks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfV9ISzE3I/AAAAAAAAApU/DOjWC0nzgC4/s1600/RCG+7-10-10+024sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfV9ISzE3I/AAAAAAAAApU/DOjWC0nzgC4/s400/RCG+7-10-10+024sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The mystery volunteer is clearly some sort of cherry tomato that is putting out big long racks of fruit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfWEIopfRI/AAAAAAAAApc/wD1EVsEdgBY/s1600/RCG+7-10-10+014sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfWEIopfRI/AAAAAAAAApc/wD1EVsEdgBY/s400/RCG+7-10-10+014sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">On a hopeful note, I took this pic of the egg plant flower on July 9th.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfWM6j1IFI/AAAAAAAAApk/DryjLlDMBJY/s1600/RCG+7-20-10+025sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfWM6j1IFI/AAAAAAAAApk/DryjLlDMBJY/s400/RCG+7-20-10+025sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And just nine days later, we have fruit!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfX6xSZo4I/AAAAAAAAAps/969azEUm8k4/s1600/RCG+7-20-10+003sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfX6xSZo4I/AAAAAAAAAps/969azEUm8k4/s400/RCG+7-20-10+003sc.jpg" width="300" /><span id="goog_281469164"></span><span id="goog_281469165"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfYEmHSQWI/AAAAAAAAAp0/zLQ-x2Hfnpc/s1600/RCG+7-10-10+019sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfYEmHSQWI/AAAAAAAAAp0/zLQ-x2Hfnpc/s400/RCG+7-10-10+019sc.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The heirlooms have all outgrown their 4' cages by 2' or more, they have plenty of flowers & fruit, but the late spring and cool start to our summer are keeping them from really getting with the program.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfcCeMF6JI/AAAAAAAAAp8/6ShwVgQtSWc/s1600/RCG+7-20-10+019sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfcCeMF6JI/AAAAAAAAAp8/6ShwVgQtSWc/s400/RCG+7-20-10+019sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The new green bell from the Master Gardener's sale is covered in flowers and young fruit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfcFVbf4QI/AAAAAAAAAqE/dF5vsWM_Xws/s1600/RCG+7-20-10+020sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfcFVbf4QI/AAAAAAAAAqE/dF5vsWM_Xws/s400/RCG+7-20-10+020sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The little, frail Habanero (also from the MG sale) is finally bulking up and showing buds.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfcIYK9kMI/AAAAAAAAAqM/OG6Ex9faJSQ/s1600/RCG+7-20-10+021sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TEfcIYK9kMI/AAAAAAAAAqM/OG6Ex9faJSQ/s400/RCG+7-20-10+021sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And it looks like we will eventually get a good dose of "Hinklehatz" peppers, which the label said are "extremely hot". Someday.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I should say that the couple lemon cukes we've had were excellent and I've been able to enjoy a few delicious radishes, fresh cut lettuce & loads of herbs. However, if you've been following my chronicle of The Redneck Garden, you know that this is my first serious summer garden and I'm still learning the many lessons that gardening teaches. Let's just say that my grade in "patience" shows that I need to work a little harder at going with the flow. I enjoy the anticipation, but can't wait to show off a huge "Yellow Dagma's Perfection" or "Pink Stump of the World" to my mega-mart, sawdust-texture tomato eating coworkers. Soon, I hope.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So please tell me how your harvest is going, so that I may vicariously enjoy the fruits of your labor.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-50733382209602022952010-06-18T22:23:00.000-07:002010-06-19T09:19:32.299-07:00Rapid Growth in The Redneck Garden<div style="text-align: justify;">So, this is probably just my rookie gardener showing, but I just can't stop being amazed at how quickly my garden has taken off this season. All the transplants were done on 5/16 & the seed starts (lettuce, spinach, radishes & carrots) were sewn on 5/22. For the new visitors, you should know that I garden organically, there are no chemical fertilizers used, ever. Take a look, tell me what you think & let me know how your garden is doing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">5-22 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBwxpXC0R1I/AAAAAAAAAnc/JoguSi89FtA/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+017sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBwxpXC0R1I/AAAAAAAAAnc/JoguSi89FtA/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+017sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">6-16</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw2H64VfTI/AAAAAAAAAnk/jYa7Fliep88/s1600/RCG+6-16-10+020c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw2H64VfTI/AAAAAAAAAnk/jYa7Fliep88/s400/RCG+6-16-10+020c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">5-22</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw2vCtxRLI/AAAAAAAAAns/mnhN6M6q0fg/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+019sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw2vCtxRLI/AAAAAAAAAns/mnhN6M6q0fg/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+019sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> 6-16 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw3JQ1cEMI/AAAAAAAAAn0/RzkapdxYNig/s1600/RCG+6-16-10+038c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw3JQ1cEMI/AAAAAAAAAn0/RzkapdxYNig/s400/RCG+6-16-10+038c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">5-22</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw3zqm2P9I/AAAAAAAAAn8/twk42SoCgzk/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+016sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw3zqm2P9I/AAAAAAAAAn8/twk42SoCgzk/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+016sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">6-16</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw4gB3uH8I/AAAAAAAAAoE/WXCVAqZPcSQ/s1600/RCG+6-16-10+031c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw4gB3uH8I/AAAAAAAAAoE/WXCVAqZPcSQ/s400/RCG+6-16-10+031c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Yes, the lettuce finally bolted)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">5-22</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw5QcuHC6I/AAAAAAAAAoM/F6wGpC0ZluU/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+015sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw5QcuHC6I/AAAAAAAAAoM/F6wGpC0ZluU/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+015sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">6-16</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw5tkH4HnI/AAAAAAAAAoU/aLeMjICIADM/s1600/RCG+6-16-10+022c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw5tkH4HnI/AAAAAAAAAoU/aLeMjICIADM/s400/RCG+6-16-10+022c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">5-22</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw8P5-OnQI/AAAAAAAAAok/phKzCPPuKq0/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+014sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw8P5-OnQI/AAAAAAAAAok/phKzCPPuKq0/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+014sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">6-16</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw8GR7szpI/AAAAAAAAAoc/0C9tYPFwywI/s1600/RCG+6-16-10+021c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw8GR7szpI/AAAAAAAAAoc/0C9tYPFwywI/s400/RCG+6-16-10+021c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">5-22</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw9ptvc3eI/AAAAAAAAAos/lUFSFwlkxMY/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+011sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw9ptvc3eI/AAAAAAAAAos/lUFSFwlkxMY/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+011sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">6-16</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw9-nYprdI/AAAAAAAAAo0/Ou3U9F85r5A/s1600/RCG+6-16-10+026c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw9-nYprdI/AAAAAAAAAo0/Ou3U9F85r5A/s400/RCG+6-16-10+026c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">5-22</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw-nPMnO-I/AAAAAAAAAo8/V6-6qX0R9C8/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+010sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw-nPMnO-I/AAAAAAAAAo8/V6-6qX0R9C8/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+010sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">6-16</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw_EKENWsI/AAAAAAAAApE/ZF0ahLu9X9E/s1600/RCG+6-16-10+019c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/TBw_EKENWsI/AAAAAAAAApE/ZF0ahLu9X9E/s400/RCG+6-16-10+019c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are more, but I think you get the picture. Hey, I know it's early in the season, but things are looking pretty good in The Redneck Garden. We are already harvesting heavily from the herbs; parsley, basil, dill, fennel, chives, marjoram and lots of cilantro. There have been some challenges too, like the lettuce seedlings that were decimated by birds, some critter eating the tops off my radishes, the scallions that never showed at all and the habanero that is still only 3" tall. Overall though, the garden seems pretty happy. I think my latest incarnation of Terra Vida Living Soil has given everything a great start. Stay tuned for more updates as summer (if it ever really does get here) progresses.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In case anyone is wondering, here's a list of the edibles:</div><ul><li>Hinklehatz Red Pepper</li>
<li> Crookneck Squash (3)</li>
<li>Jalapeno Pepper</li>
<li>Lemon Cucumber (2)</li>
<li>Poblano Pepper (5)</li>
<li>Green Bell pepper (2)</li>
<li>Yellow Bell Pepper</li>
<li>Habanero Pepper</li>
<li>Ambassador Squash</li>
<li>Tomato, Green Grape</li>
<li>Tomato, Yellow Dagma's Perfection</li>
<li>Tomato, Ernie's Round Pink Beefsteak</li>
<li>Tomato, Pink Stump of the World Beefsteak</li>
<li>Tomato, Beam's Yellow Pear</li>
<li>Tomato, Unidentified Volunteer</li>
<li>Black ChuChu Eggplant</li>
<li>Blue Lake Bunch Beans (2)</li>
<li>Strawberries: Chandalier, Sequoia & Eversweet (1 each)</li>
<li>Radishes, Rainbow</li>
<li>Carrots: Purple, White, Red & Yellow</li>
<li>Baby Leaf Spinach</li>
<li>Sea of Red Lettuce</li>
<li>Sweet Baby Romaine Lettuce</li>
<li>Dill</li>
<li>Fennel</li>
<li>Parsley (2)</li>
<li>Sweet Basil (4)</li>
<li>Chives (2)</li>
<li>Marjoram (2)</li>
<li>Rosemary (2)</li>
<li>Cilantro (4)</li>
</ul>Hope you enjoyed the Redneck Garden update. Leave a comment & let me know how your garden is doing.<br />
<br />
MattAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-83414306415538919432010-05-26T23:03:00.000-07:002010-05-28T09:03:42.792-07:00The Redneck Container Garden ver. 2.0<div style="text-align: justify;">I don't know about where you are, but the prolonged cool, wet weather in Northern California has definitely slowed the pace in my yard. I've had some upgrades going on though to keep things interesting. If you've followed my previous posts (<a href="http://waspkiddiaries.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-redneck-nascar-container-garden.html">here</a>, <a href="http://waspkiddiaries.blogspot.com/2009/12/redneck-container-garden-update.html">here</a>, <a href="http://waspkiddiaries.blogspot.com/2009/12/redneck-frost-protection.html">here</a>, <a href="http://waspkiddiaries.blogspot.com/2010/01/spaghetti-westerns-and-redneck.html">here</a>, <a href="http://waspkiddiaries.blogspot.com/2010/01/rain-rain-go-away-come-again-another.html">here</a>, & <a href="http://waspkiddiaries.blogspot.com/2010/04/spring-in-redneck-garden.html">here</a>), then you know all about my miniature urban farm, grown mostly in five-gallon buckets as my postage stamp lot just doesn't have any other suitable space. Well, let me introduce you to The Redneck Garden ver. 2.0.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yIngEi5CI/AAAAAAAAAkk/4XaS2FQXlvU/s1600/Redneck+Garden+4-17-10+008sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yIngEi5CI/AAAAAAAAAkk/4XaS2FQXlvU/s400/Redneck+Garden+4-17-10+008sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was the final image from my April post, giving a hint of things to come. The 5-gallon buckets now have some tougher, stronger more handsome big brothers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yPPJLVfLI/AAAAAAAAAk8/dw-oKHAEtgk/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-10+004sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yPPJLVfLI/AAAAAAAAAk8/dw-oKHAEtgk/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-10+004sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Most of the buckets received a basic drainage modification courtesy of my cordless drill.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yNte1epoI/AAAAAAAAAks/iS3uvs2Es44/s1600/Redneck+Garden+Revival+5-2-10+005s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yNte1epoI/AAAAAAAAAks/iS3uvs2Es44/s400/Redneck+Garden+Revival+5-2-10+005s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks to a couple of my favorite tools, this...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yPLy--bwI/AAAAAAAAAk0/9veRH_W7FD0/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-10+009sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yPLy--bwI/AAAAAAAAAk0/9veRH_W7FD0/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-10+009sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and this,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yZGXUQtAI/AAAAAAAAAlE/C6aCIahiMQU/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+019sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yZGXUQtAI/AAAAAAAAAlE/C6aCIahiMQU/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+019sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have turned into these...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yZ8LL8M-I/AAAAAAAAAlM/oMfcYYx5n9I/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+011sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yZ8LL8M-I/AAAAAAAAAlM/oMfcYYx5n9I/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+011sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and these.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I learned a lot from conversations with other gardeners and reading articles like <a href="http://www.growbetterveggies.com/growbetterveggies/growing-tomatoes-in-pots.html">this one</a> from <a href="http://www.growbetterveggies.com/growbetterveggies/growing-tomatoes-in-pots.html">Love Apple Farm</a>'s Cynthia Sanberg, with very good instructions for growing tomatoes in containers. I learned that tomatoes need a minimum 15-gallon pot and they prefer to root deeply. The metal tubs met the 15-gallon minimum, but seemed a bit shallow. The Redneck Garden still has a very tight budget, so I searched for the best possible option for my dollar. Having no luck at yard sales & thrift shops, I settled on the metal tubs for $15.00 each and the plastic buckets are still just $2.34 each. Even the cheapest plastic containers approaching this volume were nearly three times this combined cost. Clearly, a better scrounge, with a little time & energy could round up these items for free or cheap, but I had procrastinated myself into a corner and needed something quickly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yjPU2dEQI/AAAAAAAAAlU/cYoflrdbN0c/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-10+039sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_yjPU2dEQI/AAAAAAAAAlU/cYoflrdbN0c/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-10+039sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This pot-within-a-pot design gave me the necessary depth to give the tomatoes the full Master Gardener treatment. The holes were dug, I dropped a couple aspirin into the hole, placed some calcium sulfate (basically high-grade gypsum, but egg shells are good too) and some organic tomato & vegetable fertilizer and tossed in the lower leaf stems that I removed from the plant. Unlike most plants, tomatoes will actually grow more roots from where the stems were removed when you plant them deeply like this.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_ynVnxzpBI/AAAAAAAAAlc/sJ_23hQYyUY/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-10+041sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_ynVnxzpBI/AAAAAAAAAlc/sJ_23hQYyUY/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-10+041sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3nsSQlMlI/AAAAAAAAAlk/Bus8pynHbTs/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-10+043sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3nsSQlMlI/AAAAAAAAAlk/Bus8pynHbTs/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-10+043sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Here you see a plant that was nearly 2 feet tall in it's 4" pot, now only rises about ten inches above the soil. Fill them in loosely, resist the urge to pack the soil as this forces much needed oxygen out of the root zone. I finish all my containers off with a layer of compost as a mulch. This will help retain moisture and provide more nutrients to the soil as the compost decomposes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As many of you know, my day-job involves large-scale soil blending for commercial landscapers, nurseries, golf courses and more. I've been using The Redneck Garden as a bit of a proving ground. Okay, so I couldn't stand to grow plants in sub-standard soil, meaning that there isn't any sort of true comparison. <i>However</i>, I offer the next two pics to show what kind of root growth takes place in good soil.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3qsJuK_QI/AAAAAAAAAls/yR9kkYuwt1c/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-10+053sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3qsJuK_QI/AAAAAAAAAls/yR9kkYuwt1c/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-10+053sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is one of the buckets that had a Romanesco Cauliflower in it until recently. With the plant and main root stem removed, you can see that the fine root hairs permeate the entire container. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3tncgIWqI/AAAAAAAAAl0/zTSWb81aK_U/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-10+054sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3tncgIWqI/AAAAAAAAAl0/zTSWb81aK_U/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-10+054sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a bunch of the "Brite Lites" chard I pulled out of the little window boxes. The soil couldn't have been more than 4 inches deep, but when I lifted up on this plant, it picked up all the soil in the whole container. The roots of the neighboring plants had all intertwined and were now just one big root mass.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here are some of the other new residents of The Redneck Garden:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3w-3Lo1xI/AAAAAAAAAl8/o2WlC8qhjfI/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+004sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3w-3Lo1xI/AAAAAAAAAl8/o2WlC8qhjfI/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+004sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lemon Cucumbers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3xeVKSoBI/AAAAAAAAAmE/I3RUkA5dfxU/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+014sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3xeVKSoBI/AAAAAAAAAmE/I3RUkA5dfxU/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+014sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ambassador Squash</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3x6fk-0AI/AAAAAAAAAmM/tvkEEg4VmBs/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+015sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3x6fk-0AI/AAAAAAAAAmM/tvkEEg4VmBs/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+015sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Black Chu-Chu Eggplant</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3zYf_gOLI/AAAAAAAAAmU/Kmybkipz-88/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+016sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_3zYf_gOLI/AAAAAAAAAmU/Kmybkipz-88/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+016sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And Blue Lake Bunch Beans. Oh, and that lettuce, we've been cutting off of that plant since last November and it is still going strong!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_30SQszHvI/AAAAAAAAAmc/9u0s9A5offo/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+017sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_30SQszHvI/AAAAAAAAAmc/9u0s9A5offo/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+017sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The window boxes are now home to Marjoram, Cilantro & Chives.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are a few hold-overs too. I saved my pepper plants from last year, some of which are doing well, others not so much. Three of my four Poblanos made it through winter, but they have been very reluctant to leaf out & flower. If they don't come around soon, they will lose their space to the new Habanero and Hinklehatz Red I picked up at the Palo Alto Master Gardener's plant sale.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_32fPwIuYI/AAAAAAAAAmk/KYT1S3kRBgA/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+008sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_32fPwIuYI/AAAAAAAAAmk/KYT1S3kRBgA/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+008sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My Yellow Bell has several clusters of new fruit already.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_33FTRkNsI/AAAAAAAAAms/gIlQrsfqg6E/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+018sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_33FTRkNsI/AAAAAAAAAms/gIlQrsfqg6E/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+018sc.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This Green Bell is doing better than it looks in this pic. It has lots of blooms and new fruit already.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_33qbQ0XzI/AAAAAAAAAm0/gRJCCivAiv4/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-10+020sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_33qbQ0XzI/AAAAAAAAAm0/gRJCCivAiv4/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-10+020sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Jalepeno has been bloomin' it's fool head off.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, my wife enjoys the fruits of my garden too, but she was craving flowers, so I surrendered my only two in-ground planting areas to appease her...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_4A4MwnCbI/AAAAAAAAAm8/QH1slHtgyso/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+022sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_4A4MwnCbI/AAAAAAAAAm8/QH1slHtgyso/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+022sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The back-fence planter is a heavily shaded work in progress.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_4BoUgfqdI/AAAAAAAAAnE/rIxlXkRKRuE/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+009sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_4BoUgfqdI/AAAAAAAAAnE/rIxlXkRKRuE/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+009sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the narrow front walkway strip now has lots of color. Hopefully it will attract some beneficials.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_4DM3L5xkI/AAAAAAAAAnM/Aa6X5QCA0G4/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+001sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_4DM3L5xkI/AAAAAAAAAnM/Aa6X5QCA0G4/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+001sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The current view from the curb.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_4DtpY36hI/AAAAAAAAAnU/JmlRDxB8Rmk/s1600/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+010sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_4DtpY36hI/AAAAAAAAAnU/JmlRDxB8Rmk/s400/Redneck+Garden+5-22-10+010sc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And my front porch farm.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hope you've enjoyed the updated Redneck Garden ver. 2.0. There are a few other new happenings too, but I have to save something for the next post. I encourage you to share this post with new or potential gardeners who may not feel they have the ability or the space to grow their own food. It has been a fantastic experience for me and I've been amazed at the amount and variety of produce we've been able to harvest. It's great to get in touch with your food supply. I know exactly what goes into those plants (100% organic) and the fresh, honest taste is at least ten times better than store-bought.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Stay Happy & Healthy,</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Matt</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-71282692913037759072010-05-22T19:40:00.000-07:002010-05-22T19:40:43.019-07:00Thunderbird Pilot Nicole "FiFi" MalachowskiMost of you know by now the meaning of my handle, "WASP-kid". "White Anglo-Saxon Protestant" may be appropriate to my heritage, but what we are really talking about is my mom, the "Women Airforce Service Pilot". She was an amazing woman who lived in an amazing time. She racked up time in T-6s, B-25s AT-11s and every other WWII aircraft flying in American service in the nineteen-forties.<br />
<br />
If you've been following the story of the WASP, then you know they were recently awarded a Congressional Gold Medal. What you don't know, is that the most amazing woman you never met was actually the driving force behind this huge honor. Nicole "FiFi" Malachowski was the first female "Thunderbird" pilot, even though she was really an F-15 pilot. I was lucky enough to see her fly when she toured with the USAF demonstration squadron and have met her in more intimate settings since those days. Nicole Malachowski is truly an amazing person.<br />
<br />
When Nicole was approached by Nancy Parrish, daughter of Deanie Bishop-Parrish, she couldn't possibly refuse. As a graduate of the Air Force Academy and a White House Fellow, Nicole made it a personal mission to see that the WASP were finally recognized for their service.<br />
<br />
Well folks, now the amazing Nicole needs our support.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_iSLeckbpI/AAAAAAAAAkU/A8RbwLZurNE/s1600/Nicole+M+FiFi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S_iSLeckbpI/AAAAAAAAAkU/A8RbwLZurNE/s640/Nicole+M+FiFi.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>Nicole has been on bed-rest with twins for the past month. They just passed 27 weeks, which is a huge milestone for the babies. But they need your help. Please send them all the positive energy you can muster. If you are believers, please pray for them and ask your friends to do the same. Nicole and Paul "Eyore" are incredible people who have done so much for others without any thought for themselves. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as often as you can. These are quality people who have never asked for anything from anyone, but they deserve our help. Please hold them up in your hearts today.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-42147163494703656452010-05-08T00:52:00.000-07:002010-05-08T08:22:29.688-07:00Taking Mother's Day Personally<div style="text-align: justify;">Mother's Day hasn't always been a "Hallmark holiday". Though there have been occasions to honor women or mothers throughout time, Mother's Day as we know it today is mostly the commercialized evolution of of what began as a daughter's memorial to her mother who had passed two years before. In 1914, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Jarvis">Anna Jarvis</a> succeeded in having "Mother's Day" become a nationally recognized holiday. Much to her chagrin, it didn't take long for the commercial interests to jump on board. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">From Wikipedia: By the 1920s, Anna Jarvis had become soured by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day#Commercialization" title="Mother's Day">the commercialization of the holiday</a>. She incorporated herself as the <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mother%E2%80%99s_Day_International_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Mother’s Day International Association (page does
not exist)">Mother’s Day International Association</a>, trademarked the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "Mother's Day", and was once arrested for disturbing the peace. She and her sister Ellsinore spent their family inheritance campaigning against the holiday. Both died in poverty. According to her <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Times" title="New York
Times">New York Times</a></i> obituary, Jarvis became embittered because too many people sent their mothers a printed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greeting_card" title="Greeting card">greeting card</a>. As she said,</div><blockquote class="templatequote">A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment. <br />
<div class="templatequotecite">—Anna Jarvis.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Jarvis#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"> A devoted daughter, she clearly had a vision for each of us to take just one day out of our busy lives to personally thank our moms and to show them some appreciation for all the sacrifices they made for us over the years. Now, I understand that not everyone has/had Harriet Nelson for a mother, but there was most likely a positive maternal influence of some kind in your life. A grandmother, an aunt, cousin, neighbor, family friend, parole officer, etc. How do you intend to show your appreciation to that person or honor their memory this Sunday?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-T9NHF0BSI/AAAAAAAAAkM/l99VBY8bSrw/s1600/Preflight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-T9NHF0BSI/AAAAAAAAAkM/l99VBY8bSrw/s640/Preflight.jpg" width="443" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was my mom in her heyday, pre-flighting whatever crate she'd been assigned for the day's target-towing mission. I don't know exactly where this was taken, but it would've been March Field, Muroc or one of the many dry lakes the WASP were flying from in Southern California in 1944. I didn't get to know her until several years later. I always thought she was just a regular mom. She cooked & cleaned, taught me how to make snow angels, packed my lunch, cut my hair, nursed the usual scrapes and bruises. All the <i>regular</i> mom things. Now I know she was Harriett Nelson with a major attitude!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Being the youngest of a big family has plenty of upside, but there is a big downside. My super-mom passed away half of my lifetime ago, but that doesn't mean I'm off the hook, far from it. Now, mom was a very selfless, honest and practical person. The last thing she would want me doing is rambling on in her honor, wasting my energy and boring you to tears. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the spirit of Anna Jarvis' vision, this will be a <b>personal</b> day in our home. Our grown kids still hand-make the cards they will give their mom. They think its just to save $2.00, but its really because I want them to keep it personal & my wife really enjoys them. They will help with chores while I plant the flowers she picked out at the nursery last Sunday and I will prepare the dinner of her choice. It will only be a mere token compared to what she does for us every day and something we should do more often. And yes, I'll be thinking of my mom all day. Honoring her memory by making Mother's Day a very personal day for my family.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Take a little time this weekend to appreciate the people you love and that have done so much for you.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-20784226020056234982010-05-05T03:00:00.000-07:002010-05-05T03:00:00.116-07:00Wordless Wednesday Wildflowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXKnu4p-I/AAAAAAAAAik/HDJZl9o9ZvQ/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+001stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXKnu4p-I/AAAAAAAAAik/HDJZl9o9ZvQ/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+001stm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXMmu-_II/AAAAAAAAAis/DReI_aav-h0/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+003stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXMmu-_II/AAAAAAAAAis/DReI_aav-h0/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+003stm.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXTDDNf_I/AAAAAAAAAi0/X998NjKeBfk/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+004stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXTDDNf_I/AAAAAAAAAi0/X998NjKeBfk/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+004stm.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXXA1tt8I/AAAAAAAAAi8/SpkAzXnmspU/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+005stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXXA1tt8I/AAAAAAAAAi8/SpkAzXnmspU/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+005stm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXeviJNqI/AAAAAAAAAjE/1mYqfnd5Gd0/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+006stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXeviJNqI/AAAAAAAAAjE/1mYqfnd5Gd0/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+006stm.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXhLlwM1I/AAAAAAAAAjM/qGACmILwfUw/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+007stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXhLlwM1I/AAAAAAAAAjM/qGACmILwfUw/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+007stm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXkKy7_aI/AAAAAAAAAjU/rdQBxnECf90/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+008stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXkKy7_aI/AAAAAAAAAjU/rdQBxnECf90/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+008stm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXmtAXCOI/AAAAAAAAAjc/qC8q7jo3QUY/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+009stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXmtAXCOI/AAAAAAAAAjc/qC8q7jo3QUY/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+009stm.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXxc-DNqI/AAAAAAAAAjk/V-cZNCK78_k/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+012stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DXxc-DNqI/AAAAAAAAAjk/V-cZNCK78_k/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+012stm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DX0pzc0vI/AAAAAAAAAjs/hViaIHYUMak/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+013stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DX0pzc0vI/AAAAAAAAAjs/hViaIHYUMak/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+013stm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DX5caFGAI/AAAAAAAAAj0/jUA_CrmxHB4/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+014stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DX5caFGAI/AAAAAAAAAj0/jUA_CrmxHB4/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+014stm.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DX8Smoa3I/AAAAAAAAAj8/EW58ZPlG9R0/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+016stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DX8Smoa3I/AAAAAAAAAj8/EW58ZPlG9R0/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+016stm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DX-Rkw_fI/AAAAAAAAAkE/nondOOGzIDk/s1600/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+017stm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S-DX-Rkw_fI/AAAAAAAAAkE/nondOOGzIDk/s400/Uvas+Wildflowers+5-4-10+017stm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-43776188313136812552010-04-19T21:43:00.000-07:002010-04-19T21:43:15.790-07:00Spring in The Redneck Garden<div style="text-align: justify;">I know, I've been slacking around here lately. Lets just say its been a very busy & interesting winter for me. Both at home and at work. Let me get you caught up on what is happening in The Redneck Container Garden. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The temps are gradually rising in the Bay Area. We've been blessed with great cycles of rain and sun. New life is abundant outdoors and like most of you, I expected this to be a time of re-birth for The Redneck Garden, but it doesn't feel that way just yet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80haZ5ZgVI/AAAAAAAAAhc/_mFsNOZ8HN0/s1600/Brocoli+Collage+4-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80haZ5ZgVI/AAAAAAAAAhc/_mFsNOZ8HN0/s400/Brocoli+Collage+4-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The "Purple Sprouting Broccoli" was very happy and productive, both in the small planter strip & the buckets. But the tasty florets have all been consumed along with the wonderful soup made from the stalks. No re-birth going on here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80hjQD4NWI/AAAAAAAAAhk/RsCoR_X-yb0/s1600/Romanrsco+clg+4-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80hjQD4NWI/AAAAAAAAAhk/RsCoR_X-yb0/s400/Romanrsco+clg+4-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The delicious & unique Romanesco (broccoli or cauliflower, what is your vote?) also performed well in the redneck buckets.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80iScF9dCI/AAAAAAAAAh0/LPZJ7-zfaPM/s1600/Happy+Romanesco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80iScF9dCI/AAAAAAAAAh0/LPZJ7-zfaPM/s400/Happy+Romanesco.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, they're mostly gone now too. Except this one plant that never produced a typical dense head, so I allowed it to flower. It seems to be pretty excited at the possibility of procreation, don't you think?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80iUCtw-bI/AAAAAAAAAh8/BM6-gXugypw/s1600/Bumble+Romanesco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80iUCtw-bI/AAAAAAAAAh8/BM6-gXugypw/s400/Bumble+Romanesco.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I realize he's no hummingbird (we can't all be Interleafer), but this large Bumble was quite happy to help the Romanesco with the fantasy of it's reproduction.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80iVu0kj_I/AAAAAAAAAiE/bfOXLYC6u2U/s1600/Knifofia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80iVu0kj_I/AAAAAAAAAiE/bfOXLYC6u2U/s400/Knifofia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another happy plant is this cramped little Kniphofia hirsuta, "Fire Dance" that I picked up at Annie's Annuals in December. I felt guilty and potted this up to a 1-gallon the day after this pic was taken. Its been living happily in the shade of my neighbors Birch tree, loving all the rain we were getting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80iXADywFI/AAAAAAAAAiM/_sXcNugIqGw/s1600/Salmon+Tacos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80iXADywFI/AAAAAAAAAiM/_sXcNugIqGw/s400/Salmon+Tacos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Walking around just <i>thinking</i> about what needed to be done made me hungry & thirsty. Homemade salmon tacos & a cold beer on the back patio were just what the doctor ordered on a very pleasant Saturday afternoon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80iY_7wX1I/AAAAAAAAAiU/CB72q-Myab0/s1600/Lunch+Date.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80iY_7wX1I/AAAAAAAAAiU/CB72q-Myab0/s400/Lunch+Date.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I wasn't the only one working up an appetite. This guy was working on a nut that was almost the size of his head. I ate my lunch, left and he was still munchin' away.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80iaQaH4kI/AAAAAAAAAic/VI7OsVafb4M/s1600/RCG+Future.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S80iaQaH4kI/AAAAAAAAAic/VI7OsVafb4M/s400/RCG+Future.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, the whole re-birth thing isn't really happening in The Redneck Garden just yet. We are a bit sad at the passing of all the good friends we had in the winter garden, but as this pic shows, the seeds of possibility are gestating in the Redneck Container Garden. Check back every once in awhile and see how the next generation fares. And what kind of fare they become!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-33298186410360962592010-03-30T21:57:00.000-07:002010-03-30T21:59:12.494-07:00My Trip to The San Francisco Flower & Garden Show<div style="text-align: justify;">I really don't know where to start. Most of the trade shows I attend or exhibit at are commercial B2B shows and to be quite honest, the attendance has been beyond dismal the last year or two. I knew something was different about the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show as soon as I walked through the door. The display gardens were huge, elaborate and beyond impressive. More than that, the aisles were full of people. People who payed good money to get through the door. People who were buying all sorts of things from vendors to take home. Now, we all know that the current state of the economy is certainly taking it's toll, but the appearance at this show was much better than what I expected to find.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7Au_w6-VhI/AAAAAAAAAgk/xwZRE6IBpWQ/s1600/SFGS+3-27-10+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7Au_w6-VhI/AAAAAAAAAgk/xwZRE6IBpWQ/s400/SFGS+3-27-10+050.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was the scene at the ticket booths on Sunday, the 5th and final day of the show. Apparently folks just couldn't get enough of this event!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I cruised all the aisles and checked out all the display gardens. Talked to lots of vendors and attendees. The vast majority were very pleased with the show. I was surprised at the variety of exhibitors and vendors. Of course there were all the cool nurseries and plant stuff, but then there was art of all kinds, outdoor furniture, tools, clothes, kitchen gadgets and more.<br />
<br />
Here is a sampling of the amazing gardens:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7LOqYZdpEI/AAAAAAAAAgs/4H6ILI72FV8/s1600/Apocolyps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7LOqYZdpEI/AAAAAAAAAgs/4H6ILI72FV8/s400/Apocolyps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I'm starting with my favorite. This is the post-apocalypse garden built by The Garden Route. I loved the overgrown appearance and the over-sized metal critters.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7LOs7Zm7tI/AAAAAAAAAg0/x-QlzlolUL8/s1600/Creole+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7LOs7Zm7tI/AAAAAAAAAg0/x-QlzlolUL8/s400/Creole+1.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7LOvgLBTpI/AAAAAAAAAg8/77J440FRsuE/s1600/Creole+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7LOvgLBTpI/AAAAAAAAAg8/77J440FRsuE/s400/Creole+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Coming in a close second for me was the Recycled Creole Jazz Garden. The crocs in the waterless fountain were just too cool. Their plant selections really captivated me. Oh, and then there was that cool jazz music playing all the time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7LOyFsnZXI/AAAAAAAAAhE/2I4lmWZ6Lx0/s1600/Jurasic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7LOyFsnZXI/AAAAAAAAAhE/2I4lmWZ6Lx0/s400/Jurasic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Jurassic Garden was a tropical adventure full of imagination.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7LO0VULEXI/AAAAAAAAAhM/2KDUUWwKXCY/s1600/Keeyla+%26+More.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7LO0VULEXI/AAAAAAAAAhM/2KDUUWwKXCY/s400/Keeyla+%26+More.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">More amazing designs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7LO11DjE1I/AAAAAAAAAhU/iXh2N7HRcJY/s1600/Lvg.+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S7LO11DjE1I/AAAAAAAAAhU/iXh2N7HRcJY/s400/Lvg.+Room.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the famous "Living Room". A complete room with walls of succulents, surrounded by water and a complete formal dining room inside.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The energy, creativity and planning that went into all the display gardens was extreme. The fact that they were all assembled in just three days really blew me away. I had only attended the SFGS one time previous, and that was several years ago. While I'm sure it was impressive then too, it sure didn't make the impression that this show did. I am certainly hooked and will most definitely be back next year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hope you enjoyed my novice perspective of the gardens. Check back in a couple days for my post about all the other exhibits and vendors.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-60732576759087881732010-03-02T19:40:00.000-08:002010-03-02T19:40:13.444-08:00Greening San Jose for Over 35 Years<div style="text-align: justify;">I apologize for my unplanned absence from the blogosphere, this post is long-overdue. I actually took these pics and started writing this article on February 6th. Unfortunately, before I could complete it my computer contracted the mother of all viruses and it's taken me three weeks and a complete re-formatting of my hard drive to get back to it. I know some of you out there can empathize with that. Anyhow, here it is and I hope you will agree that it was worth the wait.<br />
<br />
I admit to being a relatively new gardener. It's no secret. The odd part is that I've been working in the landscape & nursery supply business for more than 20 years and it took me this long to get interested in anything more than my meager front lawn. My history with plants was nearly perfect. Up until a little over a year ago, I had managed to kill just about every plant I ever owned. I'm not one to give up easily and it seems that the nurseries in my area are happy to keep supplying me with victims. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-fUzLz6DI/AAAAAAAAAec/GnxFWCb7T7w/s1600-h/Redneck+Garden+Update+1-1-10+001s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-fUzLz6DI/AAAAAAAAAec/GnxFWCb7T7w/s400/Redneck+Garden+Update+1-1-10+001s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Strangely enough, I started having success growing vegetables in containers (5-gallon buckets mostly). I even have a nice winter crop going right now. Success breeds enthusiasm and my next adventure involves starting my spring/summer garden from seeds. Wish them luck. Being a newbie, there was no drawer full of seeds in the garage. I would have to buy them. Since the company I work for supplies soil to nurseries, it seemed only appropriate to support someone who supports me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-fdRFAZTI/AAAAAAAAAek/2QyHX3guo30/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+014s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-fdRFAZTI/AAAAAAAAAek/2QyHX3guo30/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+014s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This quest led me to <a href="http://www.centralwholesalenursery.com/">Central Wholesale Nursery</a> in the heart of San Jose. I used to deliver here when I was a truck driver and have been talking to Betty when she orders soil, for more than 15 years. My newly enlightened gardener perspective couldn't believe I hadn't been back here sooner. I was having that whole kid-in-a-candy-store kind of experience. I know, I was only here for seeds, but the place was too cool not to have a look around. Join me, won't you?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-i0OdvcEI/AAAAAAAAAes/IStuYoFGWX4/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+001s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-i0OdvcEI/AAAAAAAAAes/IStuYoFGWX4/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+001s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I timed my visit perfectly between rain showers. Everything was clean & colorful. CWN sits on a triangle shaped lot with major streets on two sides and a bunch of new condos on the third. This part of town is seeing a lot of redevelopment right now and I'm sure the developers have knocked on the door. For very good reason, the nursery that has been here since 1974 persists. Serving gardeners, designers and landscapers around the valley in ways the big-box stores can't touch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-i2T6ZK7I/AAAAAAAAAe0/BRcto-R4C8c/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+002s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-i2T6ZK7I/AAAAAAAAAe0/BRcto-R4C8c/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+002s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The variety of stock made me wish I could conjure up a more substantial project. So many different colors and textures. And this is the middle of winter!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-i4VMBYlI/AAAAAAAAAe8/Lud9kkB-4Ek/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+003s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-i4VMBYlI/AAAAAAAAAe8/Lud9kkB-4Ek/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+003s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They had just about every type of ground cover you could want. They offer to order sod for those who just have to have it, but the emphasis is clearly on more attractive & responsible alternatives.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-pPbiGxjI/AAAAAAAAAfE/BgAyFwPcq2Q/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+007s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-pPbiGxjI/AAAAAAAAAfE/BgAyFwPcq2Q/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+007s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This crazy looking asparagus fern & the cool colorful pot had me hooked. It was difficult to leave without it, but the boss (read wife) would give me heck if I went that far off the list today.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-pWh3u1MI/AAAAAAAAAfU/nm5smyB7VpU/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+008s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-pWh3u1MI/AAAAAAAAAfU/nm5smyB7VpU/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+008s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-pg_dCiUI/AAAAAAAAAfc/3fkzr8V8jiM/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+009s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-pg_dCiUI/AAAAAAAAAfc/3fkzr8V8jiM/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+009s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They had a nice selection of water features. The way the ribbon of water twists in mid air had me really liking this one. Hmmmm, maybe I could make room in the raised planter in my back yard. I do have visions of turning my small planting space into a kitchen garden and personal oasis. And no oasis is complete without water, right?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-pSGD2X1I/AAAAAAAAAfM/t-Hf-IdnDFU/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+005s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2-pSGD2X1I/AAAAAAAAAfM/t-Hf-IdnDFU/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+005s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sorry, I'm not enough of a plant geek to remember the names of everything and I didn't write them down, but they were too cool to be left out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43MBND95AI/AAAAAAAAAfk/vwrwZhn-Ma8/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+010s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43MBND95AI/AAAAAAAAAfk/vwrwZhn-Ma8/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+010s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43Mbqtf1NI/AAAAAAAAAfs/4f2qTlbwBmg/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+011s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43Mbqtf1NI/AAAAAAAAAfs/4f2qTlbwBmg/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+011s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> They have lots of cool statuary, including this Silicon Valley icon, Buddha with a laptop.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43NS1WXNQI/AAAAAAAAAf0/vvlP1E2rP7w/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+012s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43NS1WXNQI/AAAAAAAAAf0/vvlP1E2rP7w/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+012s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And more cool colorful pots. Know anyone who is into frogs?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43OhZpJsdI/AAAAAAAAAgE/Bo9-y7lifoI/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+017s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43OhZpJsdI/AAAAAAAAAgE/Bo9-y7lifoI/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+017s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43Oeum6FKI/AAAAAAAAAf8/La38AVSZmdU/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+013s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43Oeum6FKI/AAAAAAAAAf8/La38AVSZmdU/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+013s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course they have all the usual racks full of color and vegetable starts too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43OlUQnBLI/AAAAAAAAAgM/r-F-cPlSq6k/s1600-h/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+015s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43OlUQnBLI/AAAAAAAAAgM/r-F-cPlSq6k/s400/Central+Whsl.+Nurs.+2-6-10+015s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">They really maximize the small amount of indoor space they have.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Time for one more spin around the nursery before they lock the gate and I have to spend the night here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43OrC7AjTI/AAAAAAAAAgU/0NbcPfJtjN0/s1600-h/P.+Black+Adder+%40+Cen+Whsl+Nurs+-+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43OrC7AjTI/AAAAAAAAAgU/0NbcPfJtjN0/s400/P.+Black+Adder+%40+Cen+Whsl+Nurs+-+s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Can't believe I walked right past these! A whole row of Phormium cookianum, "Black Adder". One of the killer dark foliage plants developed by our friend Pat FitzGerald of <a href="http://fitzgerald-nurseries.com/">FitzGerald Nurseries</a> and <a href="http://www.myplant.ie/index.php">MyPlant</a> in Kilkenny, Ireland (sorry for the lame pic. For some strange reason I only took this shot with my phone.). Click <a href="http://fitzgerald-nurseries.com/plants/">here</a> to see more of Pat's wonderful plants.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43OtOO1I6I/AAAAAAAAAgc/6854GQbuRPA/s1600-h/Another+Adder+Gets+Adopted+-+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S43OtOO1I6I/AAAAAAAAAgc/6854GQbuRPA/s400/Another+Adder+Gets+Adopted+-+s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just HAD to have Black Adder to go with my Ceanothus Tuxedo, another dark-leaved FitzGerald Nurseries creation. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's it for this trip, hope you enjoyed it. If you are in the Willow Glen area, stop in, have a look around and talk with some of the great people who work at Central Wholesale Nursery. You'll be glad you did. Oh, and yes, I did leave with a healthy collection of vegetable seeds. Stay tuned for future posts to see how they do.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-89852978459325417342010-02-02T21:13:00.000-08:002010-02-03T10:27:43.074-08:00A Little WASP History For YouThere have been some great posts about bees lately from some very knowledgeable bloggers and writers, but WASP are very different. Yes, this space has typically been used to talk about gardening, or to brag about my recent road trip or adventure, but there is some particularly exciting activity around my family right now and I just have to share a little of it with all of you. Join me for a little WASPkid history lesson.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2juSPvrVDI/AAAAAAAAAeU/LZd65EicdwQ/s1600-h/Mom+%26+BT-13+Vultee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2juSPvrVDI/AAAAAAAAAeU/LZd65EicdwQ/s400/Mom+%26+BT-13+Vultee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are one of those who maybe wondered what a WASPkid is, but never took the time to read the little bio on the side of the page, you're about to find out. The very lively lady in the picture above is my remarkable mother. Mom was one of 1,074 women to fly military aircraft during WWII as a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). These amazing women trained to more stringent standards than the men, flew all sorts of non-combat missions.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2evGAEXiiI/AAAAAAAAAds/MX_oR5fFrLo/s1600-h/Mom+%26+T-Craft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2evGAEXiiI/AAAAAAAAAds/MX_oR5fFrLo/s400/Mom+%26+T-Craft.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After completing primary training in the Civilian Pilot Training Program and logging some hours, mom was fortunate to be selected as a candidate for what was then a very controversial program. WWII was in full swing and male pilots were in demand for combat operations. Pioneering aviatrix Jaquie Cochrane had the political clout to convince Washington to give women a shot at filling the non-combat flying jobs, freeing up more male pilots for combat positions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2evOxn7VnI/AAAAAAAAAeE/4QGu9-wC30U/s1600-h/WASP+Postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2evOxn7VnI/AAAAAAAAAeE/4QGu9-wC30U/s400/WASP+Postcard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">From 65 horsepower Aeroncas, Taylorcrafts and Cubs, they would move to the Primary Trainers like this Stearman. From there they would move into the Basic Trainers like the BT-13 Vultee in the top picture.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2ey-8beDII/AAAAAAAAAeM/H8FtEqgvn4s/s1600-h/Mom+%26+Friends,+Ready+for+Some+T-6+Flying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2ey-8beDII/AAAAAAAAAeM/H8FtEqgvn4s/s400/Mom+%26+Friends,+Ready+for+Some+T-6+Flying.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After mastering the basic trainer, they progressed into the advanced trainer, the AT-6 Texan. With 650 HP and retractable gear, this was a big step up in training. The T-6 has never been accused of being docile when touching down and landing in the strong winds of West Texas was often a test in itself.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2evJaBWTgI/AAAAAAAAAd0/90xXp-pG_9c/s1600-h/Preflight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2evJaBWTgI/AAAAAAAAAd0/90xXp-pG_9c/s640/Preflight.jpg" width="443" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Successful graduates went on to advanced schools for different aircraft, like pursuit school where they would train to fly fighters like the P-47 Thunderbolt, P-38 Lightning or the P-51 Mustang. Others went on to fly bombers like the B-17. One crew was even trained to fly the massive B-29 when male pilots were having concerns about their airworthiness. It worked too. The men were not about to be shown up by a "bunch of girls".<br />
<br />
Mom went on to earn a multi-engine instrument rating and was sent to Mather Field in Sacramento, CA where she flew B-25s for a considerable time. Missions involved flight training, flight testing of equipment and relocation of assigned aircraft. From here she went on to March Field in Riverside, CA to fly target towing missions in a variety of aircraft. She would tow a target, trailing on a cable behind her aircraft for artillery platoons training in the desert. She helped train my Uncle Matt's platoon as they were preparing for the invasion of Normandy. She flew out of several desert airfields including Muroc, now known as Edwards AFB and home of the Lockheed Skunkworks. Any flying here was likely flight testing or in direct support of flight testing as there were lots of interesting new things going on while she was there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2evA_M4CYI/AAAAAAAAAdk/adxFapwUVAU/s1600-h/fifinell.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S2evA_M4CYI/AAAAAAAAAdk/adxFapwUVAU/s400/fifinell.gif" width="367" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The WASP program was terminated in December of 1944. The war was winding down and pilots who had completed the required number of missions were returning stateside needing jobs (at least that's the official story). Each WASP was separated wherever she happened to be at the time and had to pay their own way home. Their records were sealed, stamped "Classified" and locked away in storage for 30 years. They were not granted veteran status until 1977, when the US Air Force announced that it was graduating the first women to fly American military aircraft. The WASP mounted a public campaign and with the help of Sen. Barry Goldwater and Bruce Arnold (Son of Gen. Hap Arnold), were finally recognized as veterans, entitled to all the same benefits as any other service member.<br />
<br />
So what's the excitement you ask? Last summer Congress passed a bill to award all of the WASP graduates and the 11 who were killed during training a Congressional Gold Medal. The President signed the bill into law on July 1, 2009. This past Friday, January 29th, it was announced that the WASP Congressional Gold Medals would be awarded at a ceremony in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol on March 10th, giving us about five weeks to make preparations. My six siblings and I are extremely excited and doing everything we can to get to Washington DC. It will be a serious stretch, but what better way to honor an incredible lady than getting all of her kids together for this grand occasion? It will be an adventure to meet some of the surviving WASP and listen to their stories. Of course I will be picturing mom along side them the whole time.<br />
<br />
Here is a little more WASP info for you:<br />
<ul><li>25,000 women applied for Army Airforce flight training.</li>
<li>1,879 women were accepted into training.</li>
<li>1,074 women graduated training.</li>
<li>38 women lost their lives in service over the duration of the program. 11 of those during training.</li>
</ul>WASP Links:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.wingsacrossamerica.us/">WASP WWII</a></li>
<li><a href="http://fifinella.com/">Fifinella.com</a></li>
<li><a href="http://wwii-women-pilots.org/">Andy's WASP Web Pages</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.womensmemorial.org/">Women in Military Service for America Memorial</a> (WIMSA)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.twu.edu/library/wasp.asp">Texas Woman's University WASP Library</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://hutchison.senate.gov/WASP.html">Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison</a></li>
</ul></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-15592632168247328772010-01-25T21:53:00.000-08:002010-01-25T21:53:51.380-08:00Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day.<div style="text-align: justify;">I know, we've had three consecutive years of drought and need every drop of rain we can get, but seriously, 10 consecutive days of rain in the Santa Clara Valley? We're looking for high ground around my neighborhood. Never mind the <b><i>TORNADO WARNINGS</i></b> for seven straight days (In CA? WTF?) the hail, funnel clouds and water spouts that wandered around at will. So, I don't really wish for the rain to go completely away, but would a week of sun really hurt anybody. Sorry OR & WA friends, but there is a reason we live in this amazing climate and it's called SUN! Something like 325+ days per year of it.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Obviously, this kind of weather takes a toll on any garden and the Redneck Container Garden is no exception. Most things are doing okay, but there are a few issues. These guys are doing pretty well...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157EKq7BWI/AAAAAAAAAaM/5eB4gqnvzqI/s1600-h/1-23-10+001s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157EKq7BWI/AAAAAAAAAaM/5eB4gqnvzqI/s400/1-23-10+001s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As are these...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157hInuR_I/AAAAAAAAAaU/baEYKPLGhCg/s1600-h/1-23-10+005s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157hInuR_I/AAAAAAAAAaU/baEYKPLGhCg/s400/1-23-10+005s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These ones, not so much...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157zZ6PEmI/AAAAAAAAAa8/vslxchEN_CM/s1600-h/1-23-10+011s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157zZ6PEmI/AAAAAAAAAa8/vslxchEN_CM/s400/1-23-10+011s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S159RV2cGDI/AAAAAAAAAck/LUzLpQKNuOo/s1600-h/1-23-10+004s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S159RV2cGDI/AAAAAAAAAck/LUzLpQKNuOo/s400/1-23-10+004s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The rest of the gang is hanging pretty tough...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1579zaubGI/AAAAAAAAAbc/_TjWTk20tUI/s1600-h/1-23-10+016s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1579zaubGI/AAAAAAAAAbc/_TjWTk20tUI/s400/1-23-10+016s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S158FAdeA1I/AAAAAAAAAb0/4qkirVXz1Ow/s1600-h/1-23-10+021s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S158FAdeA1I/AAAAAAAAAb0/4qkirVXz1Ow/s400/1-23-10+021s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157_cOjNsI/AAAAAAAAAbk/B8VqFT0iD1U/s1600-h/1-23-10+017s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157_cOjNsI/AAAAAAAAAbk/B8VqFT0iD1U/s400/1-23-10+017s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know if the weather has anything to do with it or not, but this...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S15-doLj71I/AAAAAAAAAcs/A9sdMcamSCw/s1600-h/Lettuce+3+mo+1-11-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S15-doLj71I/AAAAAAAAAcs/A9sdMcamSCw/s400/Lettuce+3+mo+1-11-10.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Has turned into this...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157ngMlMbI/AAAAAAAAAak/Adv7rXMBkNA/s1600-h/1-23-10+007s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157ngMlMbI/AAAAAAAAAak/Adv7rXMBkNA/s400/1-23-10+007s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I suppose I should be upset that these are bolting, but it amazes me how rapidly they grow at this stage and they still add great texture and color to my garden...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157pyxnmhI/AAAAAAAAAas/JHnKdhIAyNo/s1600-h/1-23-10+008s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157pyxnmhI/AAAAAAAAAas/JHnKdhIAyNo/s400/1-23-10+008s.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157r_guhyI/AAAAAAAAAa0/PV2VOVIY4Uw/s1600-h/1-23-10+009s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S157r_guhyI/AAAAAAAAAa0/PV2VOVIY4Uw/s400/1-23-10+009s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, that's what the Redneck Garden looks like after a solid week of rain & wind. How is your garden holding up? <br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-62632288648625694532010-01-22T22:42:00.000-08:002010-01-22T22:50:29.918-08:00Bend, Oregon a Road Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> I had occasion recently to take a road trip to Bend, Oregon. If you've been there, you already know how scenic the region is. I had been through here before, but it was more than 25 years ago, so memories weren't so vivid any more. I started by driving from the Bay Area to Carson City to hook up with my brother who would share the rest of the trip with me. Now, I love the Bay Area and you absolutely can not beat the mild Mediterranean climate, but I grew up in the high desert of Northern Nevada and those wide open spaces still have a special appeal to me. So many people look at these landscapes and fail to see the amazing character , colors and textures. I'd be interested to know what you think.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The next four pics were taken on Hwy 395, Northbound from Reno...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-lrpqfbI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Q-CW0tJNiVE/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+002s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-lrpqfbI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Q-CW0tJNiVE/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+002s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-njb6U4I/AAAAAAAAAXc/DL7JBg26FqY/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+003s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-njb6U4I/AAAAAAAAAXc/DL7JBg26FqY/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+003s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-qna9JDI/AAAAAAAAAXk/6tVnGnY5HME/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+007s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-qna9JDI/AAAAAAAAAXk/6tVnGnY5HME/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+007s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-s_Q1t7I/AAAAAAAAAXs/ue-hem33Sok/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+008s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-s_Q1t7I/AAAAAAAAAXs/ue-hem33Sok/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+008s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's not just the landscapes that have character around here. The old barns and farm houses always make me think about the sturdy folks who lived and worked in this challenging environment without the modern conveniences and tools we enjoy today.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-vzLPVCI/AAAAAAAAAX0/x9x2d4jNSX4/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+012s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-vzLPVCI/AAAAAAAAAX0/x9x2d4jNSX4/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+012s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-0YzWPMI/AAAAAAAAAX8/EQuc6skY-_8/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+017s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-0YzWPMI/AAAAAAAAAX8/EQuc6skY-_8/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+017s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thompson Peak in the distance, the Litchfield water tower and the wide open view as we descend toward Ravendale. It was around here where we saw a massive Golden Eagle sitting on a telephone pole, but I wasn't quick enough to get his picture.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-3Fah5AI/AAAAAAAAAYE/zS1H8QiYfIc/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+019s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-3Fah5AI/AAAAAAAAAYE/zS1H8QiYfIc/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+019s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-6ZzPCtI/AAAAAAAAAYM/oHCNd8YMIHo/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+021s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p-6ZzPCtI/AAAAAAAAAYM/oHCNd8YMIHo/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+021s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_Ju7_RXI/AAAAAAAAAYU/pXaLPQYLjig/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+025s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_Ju7_RXI/AAAAAAAAAYU/pXaLPQYLjig/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+025s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The "Most Likely Cafe" in scenic Likely, CA. My brother Pat & I had lunch & homemade pie here with our dad 33 & 1/2 years ago while on a fishing trip. You know we had to stop for lunch today. The town consists of about 5 or 6 houses, a few mobile homes, the cafe and a small general store. If you ever pass this way, The Most Likely Cafe is worth the stop.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_KjBb7gI/AAAAAAAAAYc/n9ladISPbrY/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+029s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_KjBb7gI/AAAAAAAAAYc/n9ladISPbrY/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+029s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The roaring metropolis of Alturas, CA.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_LY04f8I/AAAAAAAAAYk/EnjwGAemNso/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+033s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_LY04f8I/AAAAAAAAAYk/EnjwGAemNso/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+033s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">More beautiful desert scenes between Alturas & Tulelake, CA. It was along this stretch that we saw a Bald Eagle on an island in a pond about a 1/4 mile off the highway.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_Mj52UKI/AAAAAAAAAYs/VIanqdN--NA/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+035s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_Mj52UKI/AAAAAAAAAYs/VIanqdN--NA/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+035s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_QayGASI/AAAAAAAAAY0/lVHFI7wBSpg/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+037s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_QayGASI/AAAAAAAAAY0/lVHFI7wBSpg/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+037s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_TVuYmHI/AAAAAAAAAY8/dhU6jxhLgaw/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+040s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_TVuYmHI/AAAAAAAAAY8/dhU6jxhLgaw/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+040s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We were digging this long-range view of Mt. Shasta, approximately 60 miles in the distance. At over 14,000 feet, it looked like a ghost mountain looming way out there.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_Wq1VV2I/AAAAAAAAAZE/EnI9YLgdcMI/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+042s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_Wq1VV2I/AAAAAAAAAZE/EnI9YLgdcMI/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+042s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Merrill, OR<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_ajqvU0I/AAAAAAAAAZM/iX9fT4LhrKg/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+044s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_ajqvU0I/AAAAAAAAAZM/iX9fT4LhrKg/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+044s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">More scenic farm/ranchland just North of Klamath Falls, OR and the view of Mt. McLoughlin across the frozen waters of Upper Klamath Lake. The iced over lake and snow on the banks are leftovers from the severe cold snap in the middle of December. While we were busy whining about low temps in the mid-twenties, this region was just wishing for high temps above zero. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_er9S8uI/AAAAAAAAAZU/5sI0vjKOkhs/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+047s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_er9S8uI/AAAAAAAAAZU/5sI0vjKOkhs/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+047s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_qX_t01I/AAAAAAAAAZc/ecIIEYkvOzc/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+055s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_qX_t01I/AAAAAAAAAZc/ecIIEYkvOzc/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+055s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A very large hawk flying over the highway as seen through the sunroof and a view of Mt. Thielson, another of the many extinct volcanoes in this region.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_vaDYQ2I/AAAAAAAAAZk/6F2kHsbqJVE/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+059s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_vaDYQ2I/AAAAAAAAAZk/6F2kHsbqJVE/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+059s.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_0L4M71I/AAAAAAAAAZs/4AMRSYe8z44/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+062s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_0L4M71I/AAAAAAAAAZs/4AMRSYe8z44/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+062s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My one and only picture from downtown Bend. This is the Deschutes river winding through the heart of town. I love the nice parks all along the river around here. The locals told us how this area really hops in the summer time and I can see why. The downtown are was very clean and very lively. We were pleased to see only one empty shop in the whole downtown area of a dozen or so blocks.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_46C8VeI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/WIZWLnwM--s/s1600-h/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+065s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1p_46C8VeI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/WIZWLnwM--s/s400/Oregon+Trip+1-16-10+065s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just a couple shots from the return trip; one of the two Bald Eagles we saw roosting in a grove of trees in bustling Likely, CA and a stormy sunset over Susanville. I really must get a camera with more zoom capability, these eagles were only about 100 yards off the road and this was as much zoom as my little camera could muster. I see things like this so seldom, I really need to be able to reach out and capture them.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1qABhGiYVI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/_rxnwmtRRDg/s1600-h/Bald+Eagle,+Likley,+CA+1-17-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1qABhGiYVI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/_rxnwmtRRDg/s400/Bald+Eagle,+Likley,+CA+1-17-10.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1qACgFjOVI/AAAAAAAAAaE/caLQWDNKigc/s1600-h/Stormy+Susanville+Sunset+1-17-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S1qACgFjOVI/AAAAAAAAAaE/caLQWDNKigc/s400/Stormy+Susanville+Sunset+1-17-10.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hope you enjoyed riding through the high desert with the Moore Brothers. Be sure to subscribe so you can join us as we trip around, having fun and taking pics as we go.<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579206506410193332.post-43052647068187576032010-01-13T21:41:00.000-08:002010-01-13T21:41:23.214-08:00Wordless Wednesday the Year in Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06VlnVfRQI/AAAAAAAAAUE/2Zhc9Z6wW9M/s1600-h/New+Orleans+2-5-09+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06VlnVfRQI/AAAAAAAAAUE/2Zhc9Z6wW9M/s400/New+Orleans+2-5-09+011.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06WaYdHSgI/AAAAAAAAAUM/h6QAxcg3Wn8/s1600-h/Planes+of+Fame+2-27-09+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06WaYdHSgI/AAAAAAAAAUM/h6QAxcg3Wn8/s400/Planes+of+Fame+2-27-09+052.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06W0vztYfI/AAAAAAAAAUU/_M0l6-GS7eU/s1600-h/Long+Marine+Lab+2-21-09+001+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06W0vztYfI/AAAAAAAAAUU/_M0l6-GS7eU/s400/Long+Marine+Lab+2-21-09+001+s.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06XpVMH_yI/AAAAAAAAAUc/M1ids0CMUJY/s1600-h/Gayles+%2799+S+1st+Day+3-13-09+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06XpVMH_yI/AAAAAAAAAUc/M1ids0CMUJY/s400/Gayles+%2799+S+1st+Day+3-13-09+007.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06ZXsdcQsI/AAAAAAAAAUk/ufURk0u985U/s1600-h/Beale+AFB+Open+House+%28Jay%27s+Pics%29+4-18-09+007s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06ZXsdcQsI/AAAAAAAAAUk/ufURk0u985U/s400/Beale+AFB+Open+House+%28Jay%27s+Pics%29+4-18-09+007s.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06bERujgXI/AAAAAAAAAU0/BEGzBR2J1tI/s1600-h/Hollister+Airport+5-22-09+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06bERujgXI/AAAAAAAAAU0/BEGzBR2J1tI/s400/Hollister+Airport+5-22-09+019.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06bf0rxhpI/AAAAAAAAAU8/8397AyudFPc/s1600-h/Watsonville+Air+Show+5-24-09+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06bf0rxhpI/AAAAAAAAAU8/8397AyudFPc/s400/Watsonville+Air+Show+5-24-09+041.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06aW8DwvtI/AAAAAAAAAUs/xJaVpoAl7NI/s1600-h/Madera+5-30-09009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06aW8DwvtI/AAAAAAAAAUs/xJaVpoAl7NI/s400/Madera+5-30-09009.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06cYszrpQI/AAAAAAAAAVM/bqxeJZSWIlk/s1600-h/Dream+Machines+%2709019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06cYszrpQI/AAAAAAAAAVM/bqxeJZSWIlk/s400/Dream+Machines+%2709019.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06cBvaXKeI/AAAAAAAAAVE/mxKeynmWQh0/s1600-h/Pat%27s+6-0+6-25-09030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06cBvaXKeI/AAAAAAAAAVE/mxKeynmWQh0/s400/Pat%27s+6-0+6-25-09030.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06fUXYPg9I/AAAAAAAAAVU/Wud5mXFXffY/s1600-h/3AIOBSaRBBBQE004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06fUXYPg9I/AAAAAAAAAVU/Wud5mXFXffY/s400/3AIOBSaRBBBQE004.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06hlya2EII/AAAAAAAAAVk/ZAZtHiqKf6Y/s1600-h/Giants-Phillies+7-09+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06hlya2EII/AAAAAAAAAVk/ZAZtHiqKf6Y/s400/Giants-Phillies+7-09+011.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06gQYaZZqI/AAAAAAAAAVc/X_KA6LdUdrU/s1600-h/Psycho+Ride+8-2-09+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06gQYaZZqI/AAAAAAAAAVc/X_KA6LdUdrU/s400/Psycho+Ride+8-2-09+012.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06jXxnz9EI/AAAAAAAAAVs/XW5ZS8TOr5I/s1600-h/CA+International+Airshow+8-8-09+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06jXxnz9EI/AAAAAAAAAVs/XW5ZS8TOr5I/s400/CA+International+Airshow+8-8-09+003.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06lVFxIPXI/AAAAAAAAAV0/1uPj1E_oZLw/s1600-h/Gathering+of+Mustangs+%40+Nut+Tree+9-5-09+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06lVFxIPXI/AAAAAAAAAV0/1uPj1E_oZLw/s400/Gathering+of+Mustangs+%40+Nut+Tree+9-5-09+004.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06md6nzUZI/AAAAAAAAAV8/Y3mCGuruZfw/s1600-h/BD%27s+9-12-09+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06md6nzUZI/AAAAAAAAAV8/Y3mCGuruZfw/s400/BD%27s+9-12-09+001.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06m04mALLI/AAAAAAAAAWE/cIL_-uh8V-4/s1600-h/NCAR+%2709+097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06m04mALLI/AAAAAAAAAWE/cIL_-uh8V-4/s400/NCAR+%2709+097.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06nGuq332I/AAAAAAAAAWM/5a9MO7ysO90/s1600-h/Annie%27s+Annuals+Fall+Party001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06nGuq332I/AAAAAAAAAWM/5a9MO7ysO90/s400/Annie%27s+Annuals+Fall+Party001.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06pWl1_fMI/AAAAAAAAAWU/--e2QSVEtOw/s1600-h/F-35+Making+it%27s+Public+Debut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06pWl1_fMI/AAAAAAAAAWU/--e2QSVEtOw/s400/F-35+Making+it%27s+Public+Debut.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06qHFwIqeI/AAAAAAAAAWc/ng-ftREjM1Q/s1600-h/Tiger+Walking+to+his+Final+Shot+of+the+Tournament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06qHFwIqeI/AAAAAAAAAWc/ng-ftREjM1Q/s400/Tiger+Walking+to+his+Final+Shot+of+the+Tournament.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06q6-LRNoI/AAAAAAAAAWk/bns2F5xuhX8/s1600-h/Reno+Trip+12-26-09+008s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qHw9i1rcSss/S06q6-LRNoI/AAAAAAAAAWk/bns2F5xuhX8/s400/Reno+Trip+12-26-09+008s.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765315164080479977noreply@blogger.com2