Keyhole Garden Progress – April 13, 2020
Not much new this week. The lettuces continue to putter out and what remains of the bok choi looks like it's about to bolt. On the other hand, the tomatillos and cucumbers are flowering and I've got a couple of yellow pear tomato (the wife's favorite) seedlings getting ready to move into the bed, so we're in good shape.
Cleveland Sage Blooming in April
Cleveland Sage in bloom in San Diego County, Calif. Ahh... April and the native sages are all blooming profusely following last week's rain. This one is a Cleveland Sage (Salvia Clevelandii), which both looks amazing and smells incredible. Check out the snake-like whoop-de-do the flower stem on the right is doing for no particular reason. Nature's funny that way.
A New Member of the Family
Walked out into the yard today and saw that one of the girl ducks has hatched a new duckling. First of the season. Welcome little duckling!
Romaine Lettuce with Freckles
One of the early spring veggies to make it through last week's torrential rain is this cute little Romaine lettuce called Freckles. Assuming they make it through my current gopher scourge, these guys should color up the veggie garden's "greens and onions" bed.
A DIY Rocket Stove from Recycled Cans
A rocket stove is an ingenious cooking device that produces a whole lot of heat with very little fuel. You can make one in 10 minutes with 3 cans. Here's how.
Yellow Rose With a Leaf Umbrella
I lost track of why type of rose this one is a long time ago, so we just call it "the yellow one." As I was snapping shots of the plant after the rain this morning, I noticed this bloom peeking out from the shelter of a leaf umbrella.
Keyhole Garden Progress – April 6, 2020
The weather is warming and the days are longer giving the cucumbers a chance to finally kick into high gear (too bad the dill is done). The garlic and tomatillos seem to sense warmer weather too.
Ducks Gone Rogue (Video)
Some of my ducks have figured out how to climb fences and wander up where they shouldn't be. Multiple times a day now I'll pass through my bedroom and be surprised by a band of the feathered rogues not two feet away. Here's a video of what it looks like.
It’s a Pandemic and We Are Dillin’
This winter I grew two varieties of dill I usually don't grow, Fernleaf and Bouquet. Both did exceptionally well in the keyhole garden, producing densely leafed plants about 15 inches high. Fernleaf was darker green and denser, but Bouquet was more fragrant and flavorful.
Red Ripe Ruby Perfection Cabbage
Coming to the last of the winter veggies in the keyhole garden. This sexy beast is a ruby perfection red cabbage. Absolutely gorgeous, full-sized plant with a nice tight purple ball in the center. Ruby Perfection red ball cabbage - a full-sized red cabbage It's supposed to be sunny and warm all week, so this is going to make some great coleslaw this weekend.
Keyhole Garden Progress – April 13, 2020
Not much new this week. The lettuces continue to putter out and what remains of the bok choi looks like it's about to bolt. On the other hand, the tomatillos and cucumbers are flowering and I've got a couple of yellow pear tomato (the wife's favorite) seedlings getting ready to move into the bed, so we're in good shape.
Cleveland Sage Blooming in April
Cleveland Sage in bloom in San Diego County, Calif. Ahh... April and the native sages are all blooming profusely following last week's rain. This one is a Cleveland Sage (Salvia Clevelandii), which both looks amazing and smells incredible. Check out the snake-like whoop-de-do the flower stem on the right is doing for no particular reason. Nature's funny that way.
A New Member of the Family
Walked out into the yard today and saw that one of the girl ducks has hatched a new duckling. First of the season. Welcome little duckling!
Romaine Lettuce with Freckles
One of the early spring veggies to make it through last week's torrential rain is this cute little Romaine lettuce called Freckles. Assuming they make it through my current gopher scourge, these guys should color up the veggie garden's "greens and onions" bed.
A DIY Rocket Stove from Recycled Cans
A rocket stove is an ingenious cooking device that produces a whole lot of heat with very little fuel. You can make one in 10 minutes with 3 cans. Here's how.
Yellow Rose With a Leaf Umbrella
I lost track of why type of rose this one is a long time ago, so we just call it "the yellow one." As I was snapping shots of the plant after the rain this morning, I noticed this bloom peeking out from the shelter of a leaf umbrella.
Keyhole Garden Progress – April 6, 2020
The weather is warming and the days are longer giving the cucumbers a chance to finally kick into high gear (too bad the dill is done). The garlic and tomatillos seem to sense warmer weather too.
Ducks Gone Rogue (Video)
Some of my ducks have figured out how to climb fences and wander up where they shouldn't be. Multiple times a day now I'll pass through my bedroom and be surprised by a band of the feathered rogues not two feet away. Here's a video of what it looks like.
It’s a Pandemic and We Are Dillin’
This winter I grew two varieties of dill I usually don't grow, Fernleaf and Bouquet. Both did exceptionally well in the keyhole garden, producing densely leafed plants about 15 inches high. Fernleaf was darker green and denser, but Bouquet was more fragrant and flavorful.
Red Ripe Ruby Perfection Cabbage
Coming to the last of the winter veggies in the keyhole garden. This sexy beast is a ruby perfection red cabbage. Absolutely gorgeous, full-sized plant with a nice tight purple ball in the center. Ruby Perfection red ball cabbage - a full-sized red cabbage It's supposed to be sunny and warm all week, so this is going to make some great coleslaw this weekend.