Growing Roses in the Forest

 

Last week I spent several hours digging into my rocky mountain  soil and planting shrub roses.  The effect is gorgeous.  I love the mixture of roses, pine trees, oaks, and berries.  The height of the trees makes it so theatrical.

The Hollyhock seeds that I sprinkled in this sunny. corner have sprouted.  Next year they should be tall and colorful.  I love the tall, cheerful, old fashioned flowers.

This is the first season I have had fresh blackberries.  They are sweet, juicy and delicious!  I need to move the other berry bushes into full sun.  

How is your garden doing?  What are you growing?

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Reaping the Rewards of Growing Fruit

 

This week I will continue to harvest Meyer Lemons, Blood Oranges, and Ruby Red Grapefruit.  Citrus trees take many years to mature and produce fruit.  Once they hit a certain level, their production power is amazing!  I am able to share the sun ripened fruit with several of my neighbors.  The rain we are receiving right now from the lates atmospheric river will greatly help next year's harvest.  It is also plumping up the citrus that are still hanging on the trees.  I like to wait for the rain, and let it do its job.  

I am growing mostly fruit right now.  I used to plant and harvest more vegetables like artichokes, lettuce, mesclun greens, and potatoes.  Since I receive so many of them from the co-op, I really don't need to grow my own at this point.  I may plant a few favorites in the spring, like zucchini and pumpkins.  I focus mainly on fruit, since it is more expensive in the stores.  I studied the prices in the produce section of our local mountain market yesterday.  It was shocking.  I felt sorry for an elderly man with just a few items in his basket.  It made me realize how important it is to be able to feed yourself.    

It is very rewarding to produce food in your front and backyard.  Building the soil, composting the fruit and vegetable scraps, and spreading straw mulch have made it much easier.  So has the plentiful rain.

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Extreme Self Care

 

I was chatting with an eighty-year-old dancer friend of mine recently.  She sounded much happier and more grounded than the last time we had spoken.  I mentioned it, and she explained that she had been practicing extreme self-care.  What a difference that makes.  Nobody around us has to change.  We can improve the quality of your lives through food, exercise, spiritual practices, and small luxuries.  

For me, being outside in nature and high up in the mountains makes me feel happy and at peace.  The views this time of year are spectacular, and there are very few people out on the trails.  It feels so expansive and freeing to meander up and down the paths, studying the trees, the clouds, and the position of the sun.

Yesterday I picked half of the persimmons from my Hachiya Persimmon tree and delivered bags of them to my neighbors.  (I know a few women who love to make persimmon cookies.)  They are always so appreciative this time of year when I bring them to their door.  Persimmons are expensive in the stores.  It is inspiring to pick hundreds of fruits from one standard sized tree.  I plan to plant more fruit trees for the future.  It's so rewarding to have your own supply in the front and backyard.  

What do you do to practice extreme self-care?

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Freeing up Psychological Energy by Preparing for Winter

 

Have you ever noticed that when you take care of chores that are nagging at you, you have more energy?  This week I had my firewood delivered, took my beach cruiser into the shop to be repaired, and lined up Lula's vaccinations.   Phew!  It feels like such a relief.  Most of the firewood is now neatly stacked, and I am carrying loads of what's left up the steps each day.  The snow tires on the red Beetle, and my mechanic just checked the transmission fluid this afternoon.  The oil was recently changed and the tank is full of gas.

As the birds were starting to zing their beaks into my apples, I picked what was left from the trees.  They have made fragrant apple crisp and tart and flavorful unsweetened applesauce.  Wrightwood is filled with several different varieties of apple trees.  It used to be an apple orchard.  Well, part of it did.  Pears grow very well here, too.  I love walking by all of the fruit trees this time of year.  Two different people gave me apples today.  It was an unexpected surprise. 

  I think you really have to enjoy working with contractors if you own a home.  I find it all very rewarding.  The same thing goes with the car.  I so appreciate paying talented people to use their skills and knowledge in areas where I don't have it.  

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Harvesting MacIntosh Apples

 This morning I picked the apples off one of my trees;  they were starting to fall on the ground.  Tree ripened fruit is the best!  It is exciting to be growing apples in Cailfornia.  They do so well up here in the mountains.  The climate is perfect for them.  I believe these are MacIntosh.  They came with the property, so I'm not sure of the variety.  The flavor is fantastic.  It's such a treat to have fresh fruit from the garden.  

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Baby Fruit and an Owl

 

The other day I was pleased to see that my cherry and apple trees are overflowing with small, green fruit!  All of the rain and snow that we received has really helped the gardens.  The bees have been buzzing around the citrus blossoms, doing a thorough and complete job of pollinating.  I will have a bumper crop of Meyer Lemons this year.  It's a satisfying feeling to see your future food stored in a thriving backyard orchard.

It's amazing how fast the fruit develops.  Soon the apricots will also be ready to harvest.  It's a dance to let the sun sweeten them before any observant wildlife decides to visit for a feast.  I will probably line them up on my kitchen counter soon, and let them ripen there.

My neighbor discovered a family of owls nesting in a Eucalyptus tree on our street.  They are such magnificent creatures.  Here is a photo she snapped of the male.  Look at those eyes!  They blend in very closely with the branches and leaves on the tree.  It can be very difficult to spot them.  I love the sound they make at night, when we are sleeping.

How is your garden growing?  

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Tangerine Harvest

 

This afternoon I stripped the Algerian Tangerine tree of all of its fruit.  I wanted to leave the beautiful citrus on the tree; they looked so pretty!  (Everyone was commenting on them.)  But, my neighbor let me know that she saw a squirrel with one in his mouth while she was on her walk.  She recognized the orange color.  Once the animals start helping themselves to your fruit, it can disappear very quickly.

The recent rain helped them to swell with water.  We've been in a drought here in California, so the storms we've had have really helped those of us who are fruit growers.  I am hopeful for a plentiful harvest of rhubarb and apricots in the spring.

Growing your own food is an incredibly rewarding experience.  It takes time to build up the soil, but once you have worms, they do the work for you.  My soil used to be red clay.  I plan to feed the fruit trees some homemade compost before the next storm.  

How is your garden doing?  What have you been harvesting?

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The Grinch and the Garden

 

I found this set of Christmas characters from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas today.  Aren't they cute?  I adored that movie as a child, still do.   I have been singing the songs from it all afternoon.  What a brilliant piece of art it was, and so funny...

I have roses opening in December!  I think it's because I didn't prune back them for winter.  I'm hoping they will become huge.  We have had some nice rain, too.  The soil is rich and healthy, thanks to the straw mulch.  I love roses...they are the perfect flower to have in a cottage garden.  They make my heart sing.

The Algerian Tangerine tree is loaded with fruit.  Each year it gets bigger and stronger.  Eventually it will be three times this size.  In the early days, many of the homes in Southern California had fruit trees in the front yards.  Green lawns then came into fashion, but that has changed, with the drought.  There are a lot of squirming earthworms in this soil,  When I first bought the house, the front yard was hard, red clay and tangled bermuda grass.   It is rewarding to see the growth and improvement.  The tangerines are a bit small, but they taste delicious.  We are expecting rain, so that will help them to become bigger and jucier.

How is your garden right now?  Are you growing any food?

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Leaf Litter and Butterflies

 

The other day, one of my neighbors stopped by as I was sipping coffee near my roses, and asked me about my trees.  He said that the fire department had issued him a notice.   He raked up his yard, and now his pine trees are dying.  I nodded in agreement.  This is happening all over California.  We have been experiencing raging forest fires, and are in the midst of a drought.  

I explained that we are allowed to have some mulch on the ground.  We have to keep our weeds trimmed below four inches, but when bare soil is bone dry, it becomes hard as a rock and can't absorb the water.  

Today I watched a documentary explaining how native plants help butterflies produce.  That's part of the reason why my land is so productive.  It is filled with lilacs, oak trees, and bright red Indian paintbrush wildflowers.  The tiny hummingbirds flit from flower to flower, soaking up the nectar.   My land is filled with them.  I let the seeds dry on the stems, and then spread them each September.  The soil remains undisturbed, except for the wildlife.  I stay on my path when walking up and down the mountain with friends,  neighbors or my dogs. 

This afternoon I harvested the coffee berries.  They are a flavorful fruit that resembles a blueberry.  The taste is almost like licorice.  They contain seeds, like a Concord grape.  They start out green, turn red, and then become almost black.  The plants were here when I bought the cabin, and are native to the area.  

So, as the ecosystem hums along, without sprays or chemicals, people feel the buzz of life as they walk by; everyone who visits comments on the trees. They look up in amazement.  Trees are life, and oaks are spectacular.  My dad taught me that you can't put a price on mature trees in a neighborhood.  

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Getting Grounded

 The last few days I have been doing a lot of cooking, baking, exercising and knitting.  All of these activities are very grounding.  I feel calm and relaxed after completing them.  A few days ago, I made homemade pizza from scratch.  I love the rhythm of kneading the dough, letting it rise, and keeping it in the fridge overnight. That way it becomes easy to handle and elastic.  Delicious food takes time to prepare, but the results are well worth the effort.

I added fresh herbs from my garden to the sauce.  I bought some Italian crushed tomatoes on sale, since the cans were slightly dented.  It came out really well.  I had forgotten to buy more tomato paste, so I just left out the water and tomato paste in my pizza sauce recipe.  It was still flavorful and tasty.

I baked a lemon pudding cake using Meyer lemons from my tree. It's one of my favorite vintage recipes.  I used goat's milk in place of the regular milk.   It's a treat to have a freshly made dessert sitting on the kitchen counter. 

I picked a bag of homegrown Algerian tangerines, Navel oranges, and Meyer lemons and dropped them off at my neighbor's house.  She loves citrus, and runs a wonderful co-op for us in Wrightwood,  I knew she would appreciate their organic goodness and flavor.  Fruit is expensive these days, too.  

I have been biking Jacques on one of our local trails.  It's safe from cars, and the mountain scenery is gorgeous.  I like being around the other locals who walk or run each day.  Daily exercise is such preventive medicine.  Being out in the fresh air is an added bonus, too.  Home cooked meals have been tasting so good to me lately.  Maybe it's all of the time outdoors and the cardio.  I have been kayaking and walking the dogs regularly, too. 

How about you?  Are you able to get outside where you live? 

Mulched the Front Yard to Prevent Flooding

 We have had a significant amount of rain recently.  It is wonderful for the soil and plants, but I live in a flood zone.  If I don't apply straw mulch in my front yard and on my porch, I will end up with a soggy living room carpet.  

After arriving home, I noticed a small patch of wetness by my front door. It concerned me.  I placed towels on it and walked on them to absorb the moisture.  I had to do this several times.  I sprinkled baking soda on the affected area this morning and vacuumed it up eight hours later...I don't want any moldy or musty smells.  

There is always something that needs doing when you own a house.  The straw breaks down over the winter and really nourishes the soil.  It makes the tangerines burst with flavor, and the irises burst into colorful bloom.  

How was your Christmas?  Did you have fun?

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Taking Care of the Soil and the Trees

 Yesterday I drove down the 405 to Marina del Rey and went kayaking again.  I have figured out how to time the traffic.  I depart early, and head home before 1:00 p.m.   It is such a joy when I can fly down that 405 freeway.  It was crowded at the beach.  I have never seen so many kids in my life!  They kept arriving in school bus after school bus.   It reminded me of Disneyland.  I wasn't expecting it.  What a fun field trip for them.  

After paddling across the channel that leads to the open water, I noticed an animal sputtering by the dock.   At first I was concerned that it was a shark or dolphin.  I watched cautiously, and a sea lion poked its head through the surface of the water and  wriggled up onto the sun bleached wooden platform.  He sprawled out right next to one of the boats, nose in the air, very vocal and energetic.  I was thrilled to see him; I love seals.  They seem so awkward on land.  He or she squirmed  into a more comfortable position, like a mermaid.  Their fins fascinate me.

I have been focusing on caring for the numerous  trees at the cabin and have been religiously amending the soil.  The other day I applied composted manure to the woodland garden.  I will mulch it with straw tomorrow.  The hollyhocks are in bloom, and everyone asks me what they are.  I love the old fashioned flowers.  The dahlias look like they will flower soon.  

I'm finding that if I water the oak trees when it's cool and shady, they emanate a tremendous amount of oxygen.  You can literally feel it on your skin.  It's a relief to inhale such clean, healthy air.  I remember the days when everyone had gardens, healthy trees, and colorful flowers.  Now the focus seems to be on vehicles and possessions.  I love keeping the yard natural and comfortable for the wildlife.  There are so many birds!  I've seen quail, red tailed hawks, woodpeckers, robins, orioles, and a blue heron.  The mulch helps to keep the soil cool and moist.  When I had the trees trimmed last year, the arborist commented on how healthy the soil is.  That's where it all starts, down beneath the ground.  The forest floor is layered with nutrients.  How is your soil?

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Replacing the Faucets and Hot Water Heater

 

Today I replaced the kitchen faucet and hot water heater.  I decided to buy a Bradford brand for the water heater, since they are the best quality, and last the longest.  I asked the plumber to choose a faucet that he thought would be well made, durable, and not need to be replaced quickly.  I would rather spend more money up front on excellent materials, than have to pay for another visit from a plumber, and all of the other expenses of replacing something that isn't well made.

The first thing I did was take a bath, then did a load of laundry.  The sun is hot, and it is drying the clothes and towels quickly on the line.  I stopped at a local fruit stand yesterday, and picked up some fresh blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.  They are so sweet and delicious.  My rhubarb is nearly ready to harvest.  I am slowly reaching my goal of having enough fruit from my trees to feed myself all year.  There are still blood oranges in the bins of my fridge.  The last harvest was huge!  They keep well, too.

The birds started to peck at the apricots on my tree before I got to them, so I stripped the tree, and placed the fruit carefully on the kitchen counter.  In just one day, the apricots had gotten soft and turned sweet.  They are such a delicious fruit, and grow so easily in California.  I love their flavor.

It's time to polish the furniture and clean my washing machine.  The older I get, the more I see that less clutter makes your life easier and happier.

Bulbs Are in Bloom

 

On Saturday I was happily surprised to receive two bouquets of gorgeous tulips from hollandridgefarms.com.  I wasn't expecting them.  I had started to place an order on their website for peonies, and then canceled it.  (once I realized that you need to order those in the fall.)  I will go back and reorder.  These bulbs are spectacular!  I am eagerly waiting for them to open and bloom.  I have been changing the water in their crystal vase each day.  They sent me both yellow and red ones...my two favorite colors when I was a little girl.  How thoughtful of them.  (and a smart business move.)

Many people are relaxing their Covid restrictions here, but I am still being very careful.  I shop for groceries at 6:00 or 7:00 a.m., and spend a lot of time bicycling, walking, and hiking.  I turned down a recent invitation to a fantastic party in Las Vegas.  I would love to connect with my friends, but I just don't feel like it's safe yet.  Patience is a virtue.  I chat with my close friends on the phone, and keep in touch with others online.  I don't feel comfortable getting the vaccine at this time.  I plan to wait a year.

Spring is definitely here.  I have been feeding the fruit trees homemade compost, added a layer of mulch, and have been giving them plenty of water.  They really respond to the care.

Lula and I have also been soaking up the sunlight and vitamin D.  It really makes a difference in how you feel, I think.  Is it sunny right now where you live?

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Mature Trees Need Water, Too

I learned the other day from our local arborist that mature pine and oak trees need to watered.  I had always assumed that if we had received adequate rainfall or snow, that their roots went deep enough into the ground to keep them healthy.

I asked him if a once a week watering schedule was sufficient.   "No, they need to be watered every other day," he answered.  Wow!  I had no idea.  I had noticed that the trees near my new woodland garden had been looking much healthier, happier and greener.  I thought it was the compost and mulch that I had applied.  The growth is now very vigorous on the oak leaves.  I soak that area every couple of days.  It makes sense.

The large trees near the lake look exceptionally beautiful;  same with those close to the beach in Ventura.  The dryness and lack of water makes in other locations them brittle, stressed and susceptible to disease and beetles.

So, I have a new hobby, forest bathing.  That's what the Japanese call spending time in the woods.  For now I am irrigating all of the trees on my land by hand.  Once I got into the new routine, my whole yard filled up with birds, butterflies and a sense of busy life.  The trees immediately responded.  I could feel their relief and gratitude.

Do you water your trees?

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Being Honest With Money

Today I stopped at a local fruit stand that I frequent this time of year.  It's located between my cabin and the cottage.  There is one woman who is always working there, by herself.  I bought two baskets of pluots, and one large one filled with sweet, white nectarines.  The quality of their fruit is always superb, and they don't use any sprays.

The total came to $16.25.  I gave her $21.25, so that she wouldn't have to use up her singles.  She handed me back a ten dollar bill, looking slightly confused.  I gave it back to her, and explained that she only owed me five dollars.  She looked extremely relieved and a bit panicked and gasped, "God bless you."

I could tell that she was surprised that I didn't just keep the money.  I would never do that; I know better.  A lot of people these days get confused when making change.  We learned and practiced it in school.  I was trying to help her, but it kind of threw her off for a minute.  I smiled at her and nodded. "God bless you, too," I answered.  She is a hard working lady running a needed and wonderful small business.

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The Rhubarb Is Teeming With Life!

As some of you know, I have tried to grow rhubarb in the past, but without success.  I've always wanted to grow it.  It's not easy in our climate.  This year, the stalks are starting to swell, and it is nearly ready to harvest.  I am thrilled.  You have to wait for two years in order for the plant to develop the size and vigor it needs.  The first year they are kind of spindly.  They look like celery. 

the smaller ones on the right are new growth

I put these bulbs in last winter.  Because we've had a wonderful rainy season, the plant seems much happier is very vibrant.  Fortunately, the temperatures haven't been too high.   I feed it homemade compost tea, and  mulch it with straw.  The red wiggler worms have done an excellent job of nourishing the soil. 

a nearby apple tree in full bloom

It looks like I will be able to bake a rhubarb crisp in the near future.  It is usually very expensive in our grocery stores, so I am super excited to finally be able to produce it.  Have you tried planting rhubarb?

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California Poppies, Celery, Pink Roses, and More Garden Photos

I have some more photos of the garden for you.  The picture above captures the  bright orange of my patch of California poppies.  I save the seeds every year and spread them in the ground.  If we have rain, they come back each spring.  They are so easy to grow here!

This celery plant I rooted from the base of a bunch that I got from the co-op.  I set it in water for about a week, changing the water each day.  It looks like it's pretty happy.  We will see it it regrows...

My pink roses make my heart melt.  I thought that I couldn't grow roses.  I gave up on them for fifteen years.  Then I decided to try planting them in the ground instead of in pots.  I stopped trimming them and fussing over them.  What a difference!

They go through different stages of color.  I find their energy to be so spiritual and uplifting.  I love to sit outside and bask in their beauty.

The bearded irises are almost finished blooming.  They come all the way up to my shoulder this year!

This is the backyard.  All of the green spots are weeds that I am removing each day.  I have my work cut out for me. I use a shovel and they come up easily.  In time, this will be a forest of fruit trees...

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Finding Solace In Nature During the Coronavirus

the hummingbirds have been sucking the nectar from these periwinkle flowers

Yesterday I felt renewed sense of hope after spending time in the garden.  I have all kinds of energetic, beautiful birds visiting.  I saw orioles, sparrows, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and a titmouse.  They all looked so happy and excited.  It's as if they were pleased to find plenty of bugs, nectar, and water to splash in; they love the birdbath. 

there is the first lime of the season

Seeing their antics gave me faith that everything is going to be all right.  They are busy with their babies.  I always take my cues from the animal kingdom.  They are so wise, in the moment,  and in tune with nature.  

the rhubarb is growing quickly

My artichoke plant is getting gigantic!  Soon I will be able to harvest artichokes to cook with homegrown lemons and Italian salad dressing.  It is an exciting time, and a bountiful harvest is just beginning...

Will you be growing food this year?  I left a bag of homegrown organic blood oranges and Meyer lemons in the mailbox for my mail carrier.  She was happy to receive them.

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Taking Positive Action While We Are Staying Home Due To The Pandemic

I think most of us are feeling anxious and worried during this pandemic.  I watched a video on Youtube with John Edward this afternoon.  He used to be a ballroom dancer.  I have always enjoyed his readings.  Listening to him  made me feel much better about the situation.  He believes that it will last until June.  I can deal with that; we shall see...Things have changed so drastically.

Today I planted more rhubarb, and the Anna apple tree.  I also whacked back my Valencia orange tree.   I was afraid that it was dead, but then saw a tiny green leaf sprouting on one of the branches that I had thrown in the bin.  Perhaps the tree will recover and  come back?  I am going to leave it in the ground, and see if it springs back to life.  It looks like it has fire blight.  It's strange; all of the branches look like they have been burned.  At least my other citrus trees are doing well.  They are so green and fruitful.

I have been knitting each day on this pair of socks.  I absolutely love the yarn.  It's by Austermann, my favorite brand of fancy sock yarn.  I made a pair of leg warmers with this wool, originally.  They were pretty, but I never wore them.  So, I unraveled them, and started this  pair of socks.  I wear hand knit socks every single day.  They are so warm and practical.

It's been lovely sitting out on the porch each day.  We are getting more sunshine.  I have been making some fruit tea that I had in the cupboard.  I re-use the tea; it really holds its flavor well.  I made this tea cozy a couple of years ago.  It's Noro Silk Garden yarn.  That dog figurine belonged to my mom.  She used it as a door stop.  I love the shape of it.     
 

Are you doing okay where you are?   I know this is a challenging time for all of us.  I have been chatting with some of my neighbors.  It's interesting to hear everyone's take on the situation.

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