Miracle

It has long been a mystery to me how, when planting a seed, a plant or bush or tree is the result. 

Corn and bean seeds 
planted in one raised bed

Stupice tomato
Seeds from Turtle Tree Seed

Additional tomatoes planted in the West most raised bed.are Snow White, California Sunshine and Black cherry tomatoes. In clay pots on the back patio three Silvery Fir Tree tomatoes are planted. These are cooked with the skins removed and preserved in quart jars placed in the freezer for use during the winter.

I love having sunflowers growing.  The tall stocks with a single head of one flower is pleasing to look at. Often looking out the front windows people taking pictures of themselves with the sunflowers behind them was often seen.

Hopi Black Dye Sunflower

Hopi Black Dye Sunflower was introduced to me while living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Seeds were brought with when relocating back in California.

A tree I first saw growing out of huge crack in an empty swimming pool in Apple Valley, California so amazed me with it beauty. Narrow leaves set the backdrop for the gorgeous flowers.

As we rejoice in the glorious Spring into Summer weather may we all

 

Scorching

Viewing a spectacular early morning from 
the dining room double doors.

                                           I do so love what I call "popcorn" clouds.

This week here in Northern California the temperatures outside have been scorching hot . . . literally. My outside thermometer has read as high as 118 degrees in the mid afternoon . . . yikes!  It has been too hot to be outside caring for the garden. I do water either right after breakfast or in the late evening. Last evening as I tended the garden in the rear of the house I discovered all of the Scarlett Runner beans leaves essentially fried. I cut them to the ground and transported them to my compost pile.

The Stupice tomato plant in the
East most raised bed.
The tomatoes do not
seem to be affected.
The leaves on the other hand
are another story.

The single rhubarb plant,
a cultivated plant of the dock family,
that grows beneath the plum tree.
As you can see the leaves
have indeed been fried by 
the hot temperatures
now stretching almost into a week.

The recently planted lemon tree in the front yard is looking very droopy inspite of regular morning watering. I do hope it not only survives but flourishes since its name is "Dwight"! Tanis decided we should call this lemon tree she brought me Dwight since he is the person who really wanted a Meyers Lemon Tree growing in our garden.

Lonicera involucrata (Twinberry honeysuckle)
planted last Fall against the West
outside wall of the garage.
The most recent leaves have
been seared by the hot,
hot, hot sun.

Luckily the temperatures are to be returning to "normal" (mid '80's) for this time of the year by early next week. I have noticed that each day the temperatures are a bit lower than the previous day. For those who believe "climate change" is a hoax, they are now experiencing often drastic changes in their previously usual everyday weather.

On this note of accepting our changing climate AND doing something about it . . . those who live in Sonoma County (and I am sure elsewhere in Northern California) are early adopters. When we sought a replacement for our Subaru whose engine needed replacing, I had my heart set on Prius, a used one of course. We did find one and purchased it on the spot. Shasta was none to sure since she could not tell when the engine was on then turned off. She asked Sandy, "how am I suppose to protect the car?" 

At that time Prius was the chosen car people to reduce fuel consumption thus affecting the production of greenhouse gases. Presently, as I am about the county, I find the chosen car is Tesla. I see them plugged in at the local charging station as well as in people's driveways. I am sure those of you who live elsewhere are finding similarities.

                                    Monardella villosa (Coyote mint ‘Russian River’),
                                        Epolibium canum  (California fuschsia ‘Calistoga’,
                                                          & bird bath Dwight created.

                                  These plants seem unaffected by the hot temperatures.

With this incredible heat I am so fortunate that we decided to install air conditioning when we had our ducts and furnace replaced. The house remains fairly cool. When I get up in the very early morning, I shut all the windows and pull the window coverings down. Still my "crazy" dog Shasta likes to have an outside regular midday "baking" in the sun. When she's in the house she finds the coolest spot . . . "go figure" my long time friend Lynette would say.

As I walk about the garden and survey how the literally baking hot temperatures are affecting the  garden, to blunt the sadness, I have a frequent

                                           

More Than I Can Possibly Eat Fresh

Begonia hybrid 'Summerwings
Dark Elegance'
purchased at Emerisa Gardens 

Please note that the
beautiful red blooms
match the red in my gardening
Birkenstocks.

Even though a number of the tomato plants have been pulled out and have found their way to the compost pile, there is way more ripe tomatoes on the remaining plants than I can possible eat. So yesterday all the ripe tomatoes were picked, cleaned and cut in half.

1/2 cup of organic olive oil
is poured over the halved tomatoes 
then chunky sea salt is sprinkled over
the top before sliding them into the oven.

Once the oven temperature reaches 275 degrees. The prepared tomatoes are slowly roasted for two hours. When all three of the Corningware cookware filled with halved tomatoes completed roasting, they are removed and cut with two very sharp knives. Quart jars are then filled with the "tomato sauce" that will come in handy during the Winter months. 

The yellow tomatoes are Blue Gold Tomatoes
The red tomatoes are a combination of
Chadwick's Cherry Tomatoes,
Stupice Tomatoes and 
Silvery Fir Tree Tomatoes.

When fresh tomatoes are unavailable I use a quart for soup. A defrosted quart jar of roasted tomatoes are whirled it into a relatively smooth consistency. This makes for a wonderful evening meal. I also use a quart for pasta sauce which once heated is ladled over Bionaturae 100% organic gluten free rice and lentil spaghetti. Grated Asiago cheese is sprinkled over the top. Delicious! And brings memories of the abundance of fresh tomatoes in August and September.

Through the entire day of picking, cutting tomatoes in half then roasting and jarring up the roasted tomatoes, I had an often and frequent belly