5. My 60+ year-old orange tree is loaded with the best, most delicious Valencia oranges just waiting for the juicer…or a great bottle of Prosecco (okay…or Champagne). Just mix together and toast the New Year.
4. The bird migration is limited to Birds of Paradise.
3. The camellias are in bloom.
2. Cayenne peppers are still growing.
1. My December 30th harvest includes peppers, peppers and more peppers along with broccoli rabe, lemons and passion fruit.
And now…the rest of the garden.
These beets are roasting in the oven right now. I’m going to add them to some kind of a salad for dinner tonight–maybe with the arugula I’ll pick later this afternoon so the salad will truly be fresh from the garden.
My garden has been sadly neglected the last couple of months since I moved to a new company. I was leaving for work in the dark and coming home in the dark, then heading out with a flashlight to find something to cook for dinner. I’m so happy that the days are getting longer and my hours at the office are finally getting a bit shorter.
But the good news–it’s been forgiving. So if you want a garden, but feel you don’t have the time, take heart. If you plant the right veggies they will grow and surprise you with very little effort on your part.
I’ll leave you with these shots of how the garden looked at the end of 2012.
Here’s the cauliflower I planted in the fall. No signs of any cauliflower yet, but I’m still hopeful. At least the plants look healthy….
…unlike my poor red cabbage plants. As you can see the snails have had their way with them. I’m not giving up yet. Usually I can always count on red cabbage, so we’ll have to see what happens here.
The spinach (left) and carrots are coming along. I’ve already been eating the spinach, but the carrots are still too small. They don’t even qualify as “baby” carrots.
The bok choy has been wonderful. I’ve already made an Asian Salad with some of them. I’ll let you know what I do with the rest.
My lettuce crop this winter was also really good.
I can’t wait to use this rosemary as skewers for something on the barbecue…maybe scallops!
Here’s how neglectful I’ve been. I didn’t even remember I had planted cilantro in the garden. I don’t remember it doing very well in the winter months so I’m both pleased and surprised.
And now as 2012 comes to an end I’d like to wish all my fellow gardeners and wanna-be gardeners abundant and healthy harvests in 2013! And to all my readers..in 96 countries (and counting)…I’m wishing you a very Happy New Year!
Don’t forget…you can always read this at Stu News.
- Jake’s Pulled Pork, Bacon, Egg and Cheese Po’Boy
- Lemon Rosemary Chicken Breasts With a Touch of Garlic
Categories: Gardening Tips, Winter
Tags: birds of paradise, California winter gardening, growing beets, valencia oranges, winter vegetables
1 reply ›
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Amazing gardens!! You are so lucky to have that weather!!