The garlic has been put to bed

It is officially fall when it's time to plant garlic, and our cloves were just put to bed.  We planted copious amounts of garlic to ensure that we have plenty to eat, share, and store next summer.

Last year I waited too long to order garlic to plant.  By the time I attempted to order some, which really wasn't that late in the year, garlic just sells quickly, every variety was sold out.  I would have ordered garlic from just about anyone but there wasn't any to found.  Thankfully, we had two bulbs of garlic remaining from our summer harvest so they were sacrificed and planted.  8 cloves yielded 8 bulbs of garlic this summer.  8 bulbs sounds like plenty but it really isn't.  Not nearly enough for the remaining summer months and to last throughout the winter.  Not to mention not enough to be able to share with garlic-loving family and friends. Once you've eaten homegrown garlic you will not want to use what's available at most every market.  The flavor of store-bought garlic pales by comparison.  Lesson learned: Order garlic early.  And I did.  Five bulbs each of two different varieties and three bulbs of a third variety.  There are currently 60 cloves of garlic planted in our yard right now!  If only you could see the wide smile on my face as I typed that last sentence.

The original area where garlic has been planted currently holds a variety called Chet's Italian Red.  It is an heirloom variety from Chet Stevenson of Tonasket, Washington, found growing wild in an abandoned garden along the roadside.  The information card from Seed Savers Exchange goes on to say that it is a good garlic for eating raw because the flavor is not too strong.  Softneck, 12-16 cloves per bulb.

A new long and narrow garden bed was formed specifically for the garlic between the backside of the raised garden bed and our fence.  Georgian Fire is planted in one half of this narrow bed and Chesnok Red in the other half.

Georgian Fire was obtained from the Gatersleben Seed Bank (#6822) in eastern Germany.  Described by chefs as a truly "white hot" garlic.  Raw taste is strong with a nice hotness that is not at all unpleasant.  Great for salsa and salads.  Hardneck, 4-6 cloves per bulb.


Chesnok Red (aka Shvelisi) originates from the village of Shvelisi, Republic of Georgia.  Beautiful purple striped paper with red cloves, easy to peel.  Good lingering taste, retains flavor well when cooked.  Rated as one of the very best for baking or roasting.  Hardneck, 8-10 cloves per bulb.

The garlic is planted two inches beneath the soil, which has been amended with mushroom compost and peat moss, and then covered with a six inch layer of straw.  The garlic needs to be insulated against the cold.  In the past I've used a combination of leaf cover and straw with excellent results, too.  In the spring, the mulch covering helps to prevent weeds, retains moisture in the soil, and provides the soil with additional nutrients as it breaks down.

Garlic!  Who's ready for some?

The power of the butterfly bush

When we planted the butterfly bush in the front yard we were hopeful that many butterflies would visit our yard.  We also figured that the bush would attract many different types of bees.  What we didn't expect to see is a particular winged wonder that visited the bush this afternoon.  For all we know this insect has been visiting ever since the bush began blooming this year and it took this long for us to notice.

While I was cutting the front lawn and ready to make a pass along side the butterfly bush I noticed movement from a yellow and black insect flying around a flower head.  My initial thought was that it was a rather large bumblebee, but in the next instant I observed that this creatures flight pattern was like that of a hummingbird!  My next thought was, Oh my gosh! Could this be a very tiny hummingbird?!  Trying to keep my cool so I didn't scare whatever it was away, I began rapidly knocking on a porch window and calling for John.  Finally, I just sprinted inside to grab the camera before this thing flew away.

Once armed with the camera, I spent about thirty minutes observing and photographing this marvelous insect. It flew like a hummingbird but had legs like a butterfly or moth.  Its manner of getting nectar was like that of a butterfly or moth, too.  A very long needle-like tongue that probed the center of the flowers.  No beak and too many legs, and its hind quarters appeared sectioned.  It made me think of a shrimps tail.  What I was beginning to think is that this was some sort of unique moth.  It was only about an inch and a half in length.

Once the front lawn was cut, I plopped myself down in front of the computer and excitedly searched for North American/Illinois hummingbird species.  Hummingbirds.net included this note:  If you're having trouble identifying a small flying creature, especially if it has red or yellow near its tail, take a look at Moths of the United States or The Butterfly WebSite.  Bingo!  A photo of the insect in question was included next to that note and it looked just like what I saw.  A quick search of the regional checklist at the Moths of the United States website led me to Hemaris thysbe - Hummingbird clearwing.  It is the only moth with the word hummingbird in its description so I feel pretty confident that I've identified this moth correctly.

There were two of these hummingbird moths drinking nectar from the bush this afternoon.  I'm so happy to have spotted them and learn of their existence.  I love when magical events like this happen, especially when you're not expecting them.


Talking about the butterfly bush and remembering how large it was when we brought it home (three short slender branches with a single tiny flower head) compared to it's size the past two years, got me thinking about how the front yard has transformed to its current state of beauty.  Included below are a few photos taken of the front yard in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively.  We've done good! 

May 14, 2009 (The house was officially ours!)

November 2010 

April 2011

May 2011

August 27, 2011

Home Sweet Home.

For folks who receive an email as new posts are created, please feel free to visit the blog itself or share the URL.  http://wrightgardenchronicles.blogspot.com/  Included there is a lovely photograph of our back yard.  

August harvest!

Our first substantial basket of vegetables was picked today!  Included are Black from Tula, Green Zebra and Sweet 100 tomatoes; Serrano and Jalapeno peppers; pickling cucumbers, string beans and yellow squash.

The beets that were planted from seed have already been devoured, greens and all.  Out of all the seeds planted, three sprouted.  Of the three sprouts, two were likely munched on by some wild creatures velvety lips because they disappeared.  Luckily, the remaining plant didn't get eaten.  Additionally, the plant that continued to grow was the result of two seeds that sprouted side-by-side.  Two beautiful ruby red beets were pulled from the ground and promptly eaten by me!  I'd have shared them with John but he does not like beets.  I was so excited to have fresh beets that I neglected to photograph them.  You'll have to trust me when I say they were beautiful.  Many more will be planted next spring.

Time to make pickles!

Hot ass July

John and I both prefer summer weather but I really like hot summers.  This week I've been home and enjoying (so far) the hottest week of the year.  Don't get me wrong, it is HOT out there and the humidity is a complete drag but this is perfect summer weather in my book.  I'd choose a 97 degree Fahrenheit day (the current temperature) over any that's below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

While inside taking a break from the heat to re-hydrate and refuel, I thought it would be the perfect time to make a new blog post.  The garlic was harvested last weekend!  It looks and smells fabulous.

It is exciting to see the plants that made it to the garden growing like mad.  After moving the hill of delivered top soil to the new raised bed frame, vegetables got planted about a month later than I would have liked.  Still, there are plenty of green maters on the vine, several yellow squash that have already been harvested (and eaten!), serrano and jalapeno peppers, string beans, cucumber and a nice variety of herbs growing.  Oh, a butternut squash plant that's small yet but doing well.

I'm heading back outside now to cut the front lawn and move a few more wheelbarrow loads of soil that remains on the driveway.  I'm dirty and sweaty and kind of smell like a man right now, but I don't mind.  When I shower later I'll be squeaky clean and grime free.

{sizzle}

Raising the bed

Three weeks after 8 yards of top soil was delivered, the raised bed is finally full of soil!  In the mix is a generous helping of peat moss, mushroom compost and compost from our own backyard bin.

The tomatoes are a little stressed being in full sun for the first time. 

Viola!

The last wheelbarrow of soil was added this past Sunday.  It felt so good to finally be transplanting seedlings in the garden!  To date, the garden is home to tomato plants (1 Ponderosa, 3 Black from Tula, 1 Green Zebra, 1 Sweet 100 and 2 Celebrity), a row of purple carrot seeds, a poblano pepper plant, 1 Georgia Flame pepper plant, and a yellow squash plant.  We plan to add much more to the garden this weekend including Detroit Red beets, string beans, bell peppers, cucumbers, butternut squash, leeks and, well, whatever else strikes our fancy.

The garlic is looking good and should be ready to harvest by this time next month.

In the herb garden we have sage, oregano, tarragon, dill, basil and chives. This coming weekend we will add rosemary, parsley, marjoram, thyme and chervil.  Also growing in the herb garden is a patch of red bergamot flowers.  Only a couple flowered last year but this year the stems are loaded with flower heads.  When they bloom, hopefully the hummingbirds will return!

Chet caught in the act of grooming his belly.

More to come as the blooming continues!

L&J

Everything is coming up irises!

Last year our irises were busy establishing themselves so only a couple of the plants actually produced a flower or two.  The plants weren't very big or strong but this year is a different story.  The plants are large and producing several flowers per stalk. We're pretty pleased with how our flower beds are transforming and how lush everything is looking.

This is our Root Beer Iris.  It smells like root beer!  No joke.

The garden is under going an upgrade this year.   8 yards of soil was delivered Friday afternoon and a frame for a raised bed was built today (Memorial Day).  I wish that more could have been accomplished but Mother Nature put the kibosh on using power tools Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday was spent shopping for the lumber to build the raised bed frame as well as to purchase a new circular saw.  Yes!  The saw is my first power tool purchase.  It's completely geeky but I was giddy driving home in Hank (my F150 pick-up truck) with the bed full of lumber, a new wheelbarrow and a circular saw.

Originally, the plan was to rent a mini bobcat to move the mound of soil from the driveway to the garden bed, but with the rainy weather it was uncertain whether the soil was going to be delivered on Friday.  With the materials being wet, less than 8 yards would have been delivered.  We'd have been paying for water weight.  In any event, with the soil delivery up in the air I didn't want to rent the mini bobcat, and once I knew the delivery was a go, I learned that the rental store didn't have a mini-cat to rent.  It was being used by some other lucky person.  I've been moving soil with the wheelbarrow and have scarcely made a dent in the pile.  Depending on the price, this weekend there may be a mini bobcat helping me to move the soil to the garden.  The soil can be moved in a fraction of the time and save my lower back from strain.  Plus, the mini-cat would be so cool to operate!

Here's the progress thus far...



Chet really wants to join me outside.
Both cats peek out the back door regularly when I'm outside.

Mama Robin.
She was very patient with all of the noise and activity today.

Mr. Spencer.  He enjoys supervised time outside in his collar and leash.

It was a beautiful day today and as much as I worked my butt off, I enjoyed the day and the work that got done.  Hopefully your weekend was relaxing and a safe one.

L&J

Curb Appeal!

Spring seems to be officially here.  Our lawn was cut for the first time this season on Saturday, we spotted our first super-plump bumblebee that day too, and flowers are blooming all over the place.  Plus, there is evidence of leaves on trees all over the place.  This is such an exciting time of year!

The front yard is looking very cheery with all of the new blooms.  We can't stop taking pictures as there seems to be something new blooming each day.

We plan to concentrate effort on the backyard this year and softening it's edges with lush floral and edible landscape.  I'm looking forward to getting dirty and sweaty and transforming our backyard into one that is beautiful and relaxing.