tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14105073314253953032024-03-04T22:11:07.658-08:00Gardening--a simple pleasure!A garden is full of delight! When the sun is up, I love visiting it to check how my plants are doing and watching them emerge from the ground is just as exciting. It's a place to nurture and be with the nature; to linger and listen to the birds and the bees. It's truly a refuge to peace, serenity, and joy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-44813788367178822352010-05-20T17:54:00.000-07:002010-06-29T00:41:00.607-07:00Summer Crops<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHSBYtudKGLzmosUKV8QgCdz-4BqUdhrZYJ5Fr9qe7sDCclTyQGSo0K474MLYLg6nDNf9dMTO0XGvictBVFZKUAJ3SBi1aGoKGyZ2lSnc_bhmtNTciPDhEgv8CNklsURat-iJQGV_oME/s1600/Beets_Carrots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHSBYtudKGLzmosUKV8QgCdz-4BqUdhrZYJ5Fr9qe7sDCclTyQGSo0K474MLYLg6nDNf9dMTO0XGvictBVFZKUAJ3SBi1aGoKGyZ2lSnc_bhmtNTciPDhEgv8CNklsURat-iJQGV_oME/s400/Beets_Carrots.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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CX_VkofLmLfMCL6S4OeppKXhlEeANQd6kQho-Z7DPiBGit9B-xPTT6XaaA9Y9XYvYO7xehusbAh0m2Y_Dgnr2WebMwzfiFdGbHohCuVHJ1ojGVsI2QG2Z1gSWaXpifflxTGGThZGzXY/s1600/Beans.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CX_VkofLmLfMCL6S4OeppKXhlEeANQd6kQho-Z7DPiBGit9B-xPTT6XaaA9Y9XYvYO7xehusbAh0m2Y_Dgnr2WebMwzfiFdGbHohCuVHJ1ojGVsI2QG2Z1gSWaXpifflxTGGThZGzXY/s400/Beans.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>What a wonderful time I had harvesting my beans, beets, and carrots. Beets are great steamed and drizzled with a simple salad dressing. The dandelion are flowering and it was fun to blow the fluff in the air.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEowleXYtzjm8KAZHzfiLMUET63hhPXNbAW0MN32FZU6X_i9oSWHSSydnA2eV6S5AtJ5DAmR4sJe7QmF-5fP_tkTO665EnRDcyhxlpaqwx9lB7a-K7VzMARMNGAmQqkQsnVW2mUbeSYoM/s1600/Dandelion-pk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEowleXYtzjm8KAZHzfiLMUET63hhPXNbAW0MN32FZU6X_i9oSWHSSydnA2eV6S5AtJ5DAmR4sJe7QmF-5fP_tkTO665EnRDcyhxlpaqwx9lB7a-K7VzMARMNGAmQqkQsnVW2mUbeSYoM/s400/Dandelion-pk.jpg" width="381" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-49915393131866760312010-04-20T19:01:00.000-07:002010-06-29T00:23:00.861-07:00MP3 on the Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBUoyCvGUp80fb2f88BehvgAEeLS_rSGt7ZTEVK3XfqAyIfyPy3xfNrJpjgnl0Onp4UbYzHV8TL7RytE5IihxqUsCx9NzxQFPq243mvGBYDBxXCRuY3679La-eaXZ1ae_ZT7vBm-1MUM/s400/Chics_post-pk.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Left: Polly, 3, Molly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0l0zhwkRKWuTwUdInMj2i5FNLZ2hM1SPRw56vljHFPYAA0m8Kv9jRhb6n_o0Apmo9UN9gceRGKZ-NM-7muXL6ZzOHyJUC3Zhdzq659wEBYE2QCjo5T3MBKgT2NXaayCXijPhlfUjLVTw/s400/ChickonPost1-pk.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Right: Ruby's the bully.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Guess what I found when I was checking on the chickens this evening! Our three new chickens were perched on the post that John put up last year. He was sort of disappointed when the larger hens (Henny and Ruby) would not perch on it. Thought I share this with my readers who happen to love chickens.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-35024689234450092862010-04-01T22:51:00.000-07:002010-04-20T16:23:48.549-07:00Tree Peonies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hIWjrHQ8Q7QqU7sUaJqlldC3jlVGf4kili55cCMKkh2-u72SYjbv06RKPBTDoWQzjXw6W5uTNi8syIkoQVtbRChJ9MwsXtRPhqx8XYKTnT2q7h55M7WWSQkPLxYTmszssGNWuXeo5Wg/s400/Peony-Usethis-pk.jpg" width="400" /></div>Spring time is one of my favorite season as it reminds me of pretty flowers and Easter bunnies. One of my tree peonies has started to show buds last week, and I am keeping an eye for it to bloom completely. This one has three gigantic flowers and the color is vibrant red. They are simply gorgeous and magnificent! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHLA1a4c2_FDt3OY1Iixk8ynhZobjyH3jMDqn2SbXZNkZ_7gTYygmBYe2MCOpy3jfHV9zt3w9B0m-6yMf22KJ0F_yukn7gZSM8s-K-zXrRPX_OGB-j4mkzD855u4O0kLInHYD_MKfMWU/s400/LadyBug_aloe3-pk.jpg" width="297" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-20906696051532764382010-03-28T22:25:00.000-07:002011-01-12T08:56:52.219-08:00Front Yard: 8 Months Later<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IXiarfBXr7NvEwhJBqeq8cnbDzOQ-qu9msW6IAPdSBILYYc8NkU8EDt9ygBdIxd6XjBTrW9aryu7eeXx3GLKi9CerhjBDavGP0UcSKbOO3n80Wai2h78E6ofbGubUans2n9_s-7U5sI/s1600/Flowers3a-mainpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IXiarfBXr7NvEwhJBqeq8cnbDzOQ-qu9msW6IAPdSBILYYc8NkU8EDt9ygBdIxd6XjBTrW9aryu7eeXx3GLKi9CerhjBDavGP0UcSKbOO3n80Wai2h78E6ofbGubUans2n9_s-7U5sI/s400/Flowers3a-mainpicture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Eight months ago we landscaped our front yard with shrubs, flowers, and bulbs. I am glad most of them survived the heat last year as our place tends to get hotter in the summer. These are some of the pictures that we took this morning.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaUqXJ-ObVrh2f4sHtG06UZqfItdhtvdA4L3z_HXz_OQgdEQh6FdtF5oSjP_f2yGcD7pz6M1qFBxa6fotxqIliDVf11m9-a0HFKWYmFsnQB9ldxHiAMSQ4JFJwXDVR3jRuCNmFeublL8/s1600/FrontPlants-collage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaUqXJ-ObVrh2f4sHtG06UZqfItdhtvdA4L3z_HXz_OQgdEQh6FdtF5oSjP_f2yGcD7pz6M1qFBxa6fotxqIliDVf11m9-a0HFKWYmFsnQB9ldxHiAMSQ4JFJwXDVR3jRuCNmFeublL8/s400/FrontPlants-collage1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-49462578896838562132010-03-28T18:23:00.000-07:002010-06-29T00:23:34.773-07:00MP3!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v5Q9ANQzp0CLTK4jqmIOGFPCTVkYeyRdiMKpNoW4ZehCRUEvMk-aSXDrRsVXZdFVY2QM0P2SQPV597egBbOE2zZgh3y02M91w7oy9tlDas3Ogl2LQDr-49cY2JhWffiopceiMYbZrdw/s1600/3chicks-collage-pk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v5Q9ANQzp0CLTK4jqmIOGFPCTVkYeyRdiMKpNoW4ZehCRUEvMk-aSXDrRsVXZdFVY2QM0P2SQPV597egBbOE2zZgh3y02M91w7oy9tlDas3Ogl2LQDr-49cY2JhWffiopceiMYbZrdw/s400/3chicks-collage-pk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Left: Molly (yellow); Polly (brown); Penny or 3 (black w/white spots)</div>Here's an update of our new flock of chickens. They are exactly a month and eleven days old, and we let them out with our other hen, Ruby in the backyard. This will helps them adapt and acclimate to the outside temperature. It is really fun to watch them with Ruby when she towers over them like a mother hen. When the chicks are ready to go outside, we will put them inside the hen house with Ruby when it is dark. I used this method with my last flock of chickens, as in the morning the old and new chickens will get up and thought they'd known each other for years. Wish we humans are that easy to fool.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-75450131366951588062010-03-14T23:07:00.000-07:002010-03-23T15:26:40.243-07:00Spring is finally here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhxgM8UYWGBp_V1gOB-7tPtNkWXGBGrZD9v6iRfzZLSxNWH8ixgAh60E6WRqCo3FHRInUgteTJFnsuxcadRPg-WC3zgjkBY29MV7RnQ6SjFOpr0lwYGNDRt1WTBoc3jmosg4eAcAxITo/s1600-h/Vegetables.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhxgM8UYWGBp_V1gOB-7tPtNkWXGBGrZD9v6iRfzZLSxNWH8ixgAh60E6WRqCo3FHRInUgteTJFnsuxcadRPg-WC3zgjkBY29MV7RnQ6SjFOpr0lwYGNDRt1WTBoc3jmosg4eAcAxITo/s400/Vegetables.JPG" vt="true" width="400" /></a></div>The sun is up, the weather is nice, and OSH is having a sale! It would be a shame to sit at home and not to be out in the garden. I skipped breakfast and drove down to the store and picked up a tray of different vegetable seedlings--tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, basil, beans, and some annuals. The minute I got home, I am in the backyard ready for the challenge. We have a decent size backyard (2500 sq. ft) with two vegetable boxes in the middle, an apple, peach, apricot and plum trees, a chicken coop and a greenhouse that John builds for me. Too much to do---I need manpower!<br />
Today, I shall start working on the vegetable boxes and the little patch adjacent to it. I weeded, removed dead debris, shoveled, tilled and amended the dirt with compost and chicken manure. I am not an expert in gardening, and I learned alot from Kwan and by reading about it in books and periodicals. I learned about the importance of plant rotation, companion planting and pest management. By doing so, this will helps repel and attracts beneficial bugs to the environment. Some plants enhance the growth rate and others help flavor other plants, thus creating a balanced and holistic system to the garden. In other words, eco-system, a word that is commonly used nowadays, as more people are growing their own food, raising chickens for eggs, and buying from local farmers. I used to think that organic produce are way overprice and a niche to the consumer---now I think otherwise. Farming, either organic or inorganic is laborious and time consuming. Organic produce takes more time to grow, environmentally safer and has more flavors.<br />
A few useful resources: (I plan to update this list frequently) Mouse over bold text to read more.....<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companion_plants#Vegetables"><span style="color: #990000;">Companion Planting</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/California-Master-Gardener-Handbook-UNABRIDGED/dp/1879906546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268718728&sr=8-1"><span style="color: #990000;">California Master Gardener Handbook</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.localharvest.org/csa/"><span style="color: #990000;">Community Support Agriculture (CSA)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.clarksummitfarm.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">Clark Summit Farm</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1268765600425"><span style="color: #990000;">Capay Farms</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=fmlp&topic=landing"><span style="color: #990000;">USDA-FSA (Farm Loans Program)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.logees.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">Logees</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.turtletreeseed.org/"><span style="color: #990000;">Turtle Tree Seeds</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-58577295470621401672010-02-17T13:20:00.000-08:002010-06-29T00:23:47.569-07:00New Chicks for Ruby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkgaS6eNJ28lFtY0KB36Y3fOL4VVPqBJkCT80rFVirW5SkuTCfeH-7nu3xoilofrwiHyh7vlVkId6g1KDKNRQWFgP9IAztZf2Mtt8fd75qfG9LrIzijiRl2SOnzH-Cq2zaOS3O-7lJY8/s1600-h/Picnik+collage-newchicks-pk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="102" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkgaS6eNJ28lFtY0KB36Y3fOL4VVPqBJkCT80rFVirW5SkuTCfeH-7nu3xoilofrwiHyh7vlVkId6g1KDKNRQWFgP9IAztZf2Mtt8fd75qfG9LrIzijiRl2SOnzH-Cq2zaOS3O-7lJY8/s400/Picnik+collage-newchicks-pk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Last week our local feed store brought in a load of fresh chicks in time for Easter. I bought three little cuties of the different breeds: Barred Plymouth Rock; Orpington; and Rhode Island Red. Most of these birds lay light to medium brown eggs. Their names are Molly, Polly, and Penny. We will introduce them to Ruby probably in the summer when they get bigger. We put them in a cardboard box with a heating lamp to keep them warm indoors. They are fuzzy and warm and so damn cute!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-42422749932037674822010-02-11T17:02:00.000-08:002010-04-05T22:34:14.354-07:00Fresh Eggs<img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPj77lfnX3GcfSUFxrx37il-EncmyR73i_lc6IpaighTZWLsabQKD4yq7TOQsDzQilENx2maxBYOt4Ray9XoO0_qXXm3S073WZBOn6rCK9iILApn5ze0QnSkch6o5ApbDu0_GnVJuniyQ/s400/ChickenEggs-pk.jpg" width="400" /><br />
After a month long of the cold and wet season, Ruby our only hen is out and pecking around. Her feathers have started to come back and she seems eager to see me. I gave her a pat on her back when she ate from my hand. And to my surprise, I found 3 eggs inside her coop. She must have begun her egg laying cycle early this week. We'll have enough tomorrow to make an omeletteUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-7807973880980408972010-02-05T12:55:00.000-08:002010-02-11T16:04:56.281-08:00Crocus Flower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wriE9xFx_twoMzHJBYx9viyybCsJolD1SaY78Kaf0O7_ahMPmzBbXVUY4M5015B2W-KrWZy45WAdpwmD2_CRuhJTOLaO4zE-00Oeqe07P4djih55mK_WbTPFt1oDK3qH1p_A_q2YoNw/s640/Crocus-Flower-pk.jpg" width="403" /></div>This morning, I saw a row of purplish-blue flowers in one of the flower bed. Its bloom is still covered with droplets of the morning dew. The way how the leaves dropped, it seems to be waking up from its long sleep beneath the ground. Its give me a sense of joy to see such a pretty sight and to appreciate the wonderful gift of life! In celebration of this simple pleasure, here's a selection of quotes and poems.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">THE CROCUS</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75;">(by Harriet Beecher Stowe)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Beneath the sunny autumn sky, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>With gold leaves dropping round, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>We sought, my little friend and I, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>The consecrated ground, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Where, calm beneath the holy cross, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>O'ershadowed by sweet skies, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Sleeps tranquilly that youthful form, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Those blue unclouded eyes. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Around the soft, green swelling mound</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>We scooped the earth away, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>And buried deep the crocus-bulbs </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Against a coming day. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>"These roots are dry, and brown, and sere; </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Why plant them here?" he said, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>"To leave them, all the winter long, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>So desolate and dead." </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>"Dear child, within each sere dead form </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>There sleeps a living flower, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>And angel-like it shall arise </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>In spring's returning hour." </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Ah, deeper down cold, dark, and chill </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>We buried our heart's flower, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>But angel-like shall he arise </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>In spring's immortal hour. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>In blue and yellow from its grave </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Springs up the crocus fair, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>And God shall raise those bright blue eyes, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Those sunny waves of hair. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Not for a fading summer's morn, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Not for a fleeting hour, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>But for an endless age of bliss, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Shall rise our heart's dear flower</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other." ~Chinese Proverb</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed." ~Walt Whitman</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-79344684453259490962009-07-31T14:34:00.000-07:002010-03-28T22:32:42.678-07:00Front Yard: Before and After<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDcsJxWZAnOhUKMh4jWGDgzbdrfGTKrbqU93DJozbXnlGKd2cdjA24Tr5G2HgJBYTn0LagF5PtTyKBYJRnSExqYqGWJ8otJS3iE7a0mcRAbWSou0FDbck-wLpRd9p_QumK9nqimYpMFA/s1600-h/FrontViewBefore1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDcsJxWZAnOhUKMh4jWGDgzbdrfGTKrbqU93DJozbXnlGKd2cdjA24Tr5G2HgJBYTn0LagF5PtTyKBYJRnSExqYqGWJ8otJS3iE7a0mcRAbWSou0FDbck-wLpRd9p_QumK9nqimYpMFA/s400/FrontViewBefore1.JPG" width="400" /></a>Our front yard in the neighborhood was not the greatest sight and I am sure it wouldn't be selected for any gardening magazine. For the past few months I spend most of my weekends planning and visiting nurseries for ideas on landscaping our front yard. I've always wanted a garden filled with an array of annuals perennials, shrubs, to attract birds, bees, and butterflies. We look at several landscaping magazines for ideas on different types of designs and plans. We've decided to that our front yard will have a row of jasmine that will give us some privacy; a layer of brick pavers along the border and a path of flagstones with buffalo grass.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyXILgSzq9lmoc9OjvZTQ2fUWylpzXAEgGkKvkVBBtQR1AyVu0e1KA_76bwyUvoLavBZ3xMgG87bOJzIEAfReNsnEQv1iXvhi_NIte-qXP2LHrWMi2lR32voZUIZe2w0fbXHF4_aM-mc/s1600-h/FrontViewBrick.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyXILgSzq9lmoc9OjvZTQ2fUWylpzXAEgGkKvkVBBtQR1AyVu0e1KA_76bwyUvoLavBZ3xMgG87bOJzIEAfReNsnEQv1iXvhi_NIte-qXP2LHrWMi2lR32voZUIZe2w0fbXHF4_aM-mc/s400/FrontViewBrick.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The ground was solid hard and was covered with ghastly weeds and almost dead-looking grass. It looks pretty sad and neglected. John spent two weekends spraying roundup on the entire lawn. The ground was then rototilled and amended with fresh dirt and compost. The best part of it was getting down on my knees and hands to dig and plant all the freshly purchased plants and shrubs and grass seedlings. I have three different varieties of hydrangeas, tree peonies, lavender, rubeckia, wigelia, penstemon, salvia, chrysanthemum, coneflowers, daisies and a border of alternating rows of hostas with variegated leaves,white bacopa and purple nierembergias. I can't wait for the grass seedlings to germinate and all my darlings to grow and be blooming happy in their surroundings.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIQgArm6rsEXxL6FcdK3xGr0wq0obWrbq6yFLfCT3mZzMCJYxRa8pjeEyag8AGuNJhDpozai5zlIV2ls5HBdrjQzRUgsBtuoa_bBFdXChmWxHH4blMQ3XYalILLkvMbaSlxldgC9bfVA/s1600-h/FrontViewFlowers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIQgArm6rsEXxL6FcdK3xGr0wq0obWrbq6yFLfCT3mZzMCJYxRa8pjeEyag8AGuNJhDpozai5zlIV2ls5HBdrjQzRUgsBtuoa_bBFdXChmWxHH4blMQ3XYalILLkvMbaSlxldgC9bfVA/s400/FrontViewFlowers.JPG" width="400" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-22994848149189762222009-05-12T18:48:00.001-07:002010-06-29T00:22:09.215-07:00Doves on Mother's Day!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HStAouwIqwKSkjkbC-3UO57TgTO_NyrG3h59S3zWNSi1LL4fwwCbv5Sw2VA34lM3pvHF6lwkRoa-IXCZrVIMzASKvU3AGi8LwV_G3zBaemsQonOugAHHGOb4MqFjWeBNKl2KMShlBeI/s1600-h/Dove1.JPG" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335133670672896994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HStAouwIqwKSkjkbC-3UO57TgTO_NyrG3h59S3zWNSi1LL4fwwCbv5Sw2VA34lM3pvHF6lwkRoa-IXCZrVIMzASKvU3AGi8LwV_G3zBaemsQonOugAHHGOb4MqFjWeBNKl2KMShlBeI/s320/Dove1.JPG" style="height: 309px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMG8URIbaDO-Uc2iDFVWqJzxdJhtePBFPdlT1vxaCh67rHNItMqq-EjnePBIfadeTYCaoyABoYoTFHUMCa9v7E5gXzsYNECJkXNaCYyoCoblYaQ8qKLRmLarkg_6rhRJlqa4sT2S14Go4/s1600-h/DoveDad.JPG" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="214" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335131769968125650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMG8URIbaDO-Uc2iDFVWqJzxdJhtePBFPdlT1vxaCh67rHNItMqq-EjnePBIfadeTYCaoyABoYoTFHUMCa9v7E5gXzsYNECJkXNaCYyoCoblYaQ8qKLRmLarkg_6rhRJlqa4sT2S14Go4/s640/DoveDad.JPG" style="float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" width="320" /></a></div>Last Sunday, I found a pair of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_Dove">Mourning Doves</a> gathering twigs to build their nest. It was perched up on top of the trellis by the side of our house among the Lady bank roses and Wisterias. The father bird was perched on top of our neighbor's roof guarding his mate. Doves take turns to sitting on their eggs and their nest is never abandoned. So it seems, that the female will take the afternoon and night shift, while the male in the morning. If you are lucky enough, you might just catch them changing shifts. They also have a tendency to keep really still when you are looking at them. I was touched and was thrilled that they find my garden a welcoming place to stay. The following day, I told my friend about the birds, and she told me it was a sign from a loved one is telling you that they are okay. I was choked and was in tears as the night before Mother's Day, I dreamt about my mother who had passed away last August in Malaysia. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-69536522593436723872009-05-12T18:28:00.000-07:002010-03-16T13:42:19.364-07:00Chickens Behaving BadlyI have three chickens and their names are Henny, Ruby and Maude. They get to have the free run of the backyard and some of my flower boxes. Here is a movie on Maude and Ruby digging into my bulbs box. Maude died last summer-sigh! P/S: Ruby is Henny to John. <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwO6tjF34EYeOkW5U93mKi4aK_IGVtoUjOVAYikzRgeePvE6dREWVfazOl9CKICXLL_BJDXcO-6_k_oA3ujSw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-60768357825304859812009-05-12T16:50:00.000-07:002010-06-29T00:21:09.506-07:00Poem: Trees<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3Z43-c8tAnl1wTgpo1anjuS-Nq541fCn5hAXVXAeF0aIDzm3Y-821b56_eUX9cSD7GAIld94gNpVzHLeVGYAY-oSXFpIYldXzxeavJ53Qbz1BZiINuNUW9T6QiSdqktVNJEttMP4BPI/s1600-h/Trees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3Z43-c8tAnl1wTgpo1anjuS-Nq541fCn5hAXVXAeF0aIDzm3Y-821b56_eUX9cSD7GAIld94gNpVzHLeVGYAY-oSXFpIYldXzxeavJ53Qbz1BZiINuNUW9T6QiSdqktVNJEttMP4BPI/s400/Trees.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div align="center"><em>I think that I shall never see</em></div><div align="center"><em>A poem as lovely as a tree</em></div><div align="center"><em>A tree whose hungry mouth is prest</em></div><div align="center"><em>Against the earth's sweet flowing breast</em></div><div align="center"><em>A tree that looks at God all day</em></div><div align="center"><em>And lifts her leafy arms to pray</em></div><div align="center"><em>A tree that may in summer wear</em></div><div align="center"><em>A nest of robins in her hair</em></div><div align="center"><em>Upon whose bosom snow has lain</em></div><div align="center"><em>Who intimately lives with rain</em></div><div align="center"><em>Poems are made by fools like me</em></div><div align="center"><em>But only God can make a tree.</em></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">-Sergeant Joyce Kilmer, 1914</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410507331425395303.post-89977429010564900432009-05-12T16:11:00.001-07:002010-06-29T00:19:45.553-07:00Fungi Cultivating<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzioKrlzqniQ3pAArPH6Opdqs89wwV6TCu2uJY1ZTgc0kC5dhHE7rqcC_fQs6LtobotEJ-SYv3Et1I6PKAhHLp-O4wvTRYmW_Oz4eLRJomvc7Fwter1o35Y02KY_YtpdKbmEgsNS4UNs/s1600/Winecap1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzioKrlzqniQ3pAArPH6Opdqs89wwV6TCu2uJY1ZTgc0kC5dhHE7rqcC_fQs6LtobotEJ-SYv3Et1I6PKAhHLp-O4wvTRYmW_Oz4eLRJomvc7Fwter1o35Y02KY_YtpdKbmEgsNS4UNs/s400/Winecap1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Earlier this year, I was introduced to Wine Caps cultivating by Kwan who had some classes in mycology at college. The scientific name is Stopharia rugosa-annulata. Quite a mouthful, imagine if asked what's for dinner--it's grilled tomato-infused Stopharia rugosa-annulata! The mushroom features a robust white stalk with a port wine colored cap. They are crisp, slightly nut flavored mushrooms that are great for cooking and grilling. I was hesitant at first as I've heard horrifying stories about eating the wrong mushrooms. He told me that Wine Caps is one of the easiest to grow and it requires a small area,<br />
I thought I'll give it a try! I bought some spawn pegs, bale of straw and some wood chips. I prepared the ground with dirt and mulched with wood chips, and soaked the straws with water in large buckets.<br />
<div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzet0Zk2gAZXFT5NnnGSke9MyBa0nWset8lpFqkSsVJNGDpFJEfKsXSdWVPUPHnHHAPmcUCPdCzXrRFUkCw9uv0x9geHhv7WZNq8GNkabSfpRIsU0SarVDwIuUOLGN3DBnAjaJDDlpG4/s1600/WinecapGill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzet0Zk2gAZXFT5NnnGSke9MyBa0nWset8lpFqkSsVJNGDpFJEfKsXSdWVPUPHnHHAPmcUCPdCzXrRFUkCw9uv0x9geHhv7WZNq8GNkabSfpRIsU0SarVDwIuUOLGN3DBnAjaJDDlpG4/s400/WinecapGill.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I also planted two blueberries bushes beside the patch. I kept the area moist and hope they will grow. I was disheartened when Kwan showed me his Wine Caps--while mine was covered with stray mushrooms--sigh! Last evening, I was caught by surprise when I visited the patch. There in middle was---two beautiful wine caps sprouted from the ground. I was ecstatic! I jumped for joy...:)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0