The Garden Chronicles

It has been a terrific year for tomatoes; half the number of plants and just about the same yield at harvest.  I have a couple of San Marzano tomato plants that are not growing in rich volcanic soil in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius.  The are thriving in crappy, Door County clay soil and are absolute tomato factories.  Consequently, our diet features tomatoes at virtually every opportunity.

Tomato tart, tomato seafood stew, venison bolognese, caprese salad, you name it.  

Just the other day I found myself with about 5+ pounds of ripe, San Marzano tomatoes so I whipped-together eight pints of homemade salsa and canned it for winter use.

We all know the uncomfortable truth; that our lover affair with fresh garden tomatoes is a brief and fleeting dalliance.  Incredibly sensuous; and short-lived.  By the time January rolls-around and Ma Nature is hurling freezing sleet against the windows and temperatures hover in the single digits we all would consider felonious behavior to get our hands tomatoes such as these.  

Can 'em while you got 'em.......

Got Rhubarb?

Rhubarb is currently in season and if you don't already have a plant of your own you can find it at the local farm market, roadside stand and sometimes in a grocery store.  The recipe that follows is an all-purpose coffee cake; meaning that it is not restricted to rhubarb.  You could substitute apples, fresh cherries, blueberries or just about any other favorite fruit.  Between you and me the tartness of the rhubarb is a nice compliment to the crunchy streusel topping.

I made this today.....

Rhubarb Coffee Cake

Prep: 30 mins Cook: 45 mins Total: 1 hr. 15 mins Servings: 12 Yield: 1 - 9x13 inch cake

Ingredients - Cake

1 ¼ cups white sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup sour cream

3 cups diced rhubarb

 Ingredients- Streusel Topping

1 cup white sugar

¼ cup butter, softened

¼ cup all-purpose flour

Ground cinnamon for dusting

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, stir together 1 1/4 cups sugar, baking soda, salt and 2 cups flour. Stir together the eggs and sour cream until will mixed.  Add to the dry ingredients and stir until smooth then fold in the rhubarb. Pour into the prepared dish and spread evenly. 

In a smaller bowl, stir together the remaining 1 cup sugar and butter until smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup flour until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle the mixture on top of the cake then dust lightly with cinnamon.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 to 60 minutes depending on your oven.

Pro Tip –  I threw a double fistful of chopped walnuts in the cake batter along with the rhubarb because that was what was left languishing on the pantry shelf.  Good pick.  

Messenger Of The Gods

Iris is the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow – who also happens to be the messenger of the gods. This name can also be given in reference to the word (which derives from the same Greek/modern Latin source) for the colored part of the eye and the flower.

The wild-growing iris - like those found in the low areas and on the banks of Silver Creek - should begin their seasonal blooms later this month and into the next.  More on that to follow.

For now there are Jill's domestic cultivars that are adding some spectacular color around the house and serving the pollinators. Pictures are from this morning.

 

 

Jill's father raised iris and at least one of these goes back many, many years to one of his.

Others are from friends.

These iris are doing pretty well; actually thriving at a latitude half-way between the equator and the north pole.

 

Tough plant the iris is.....

Porch Beer

After working in the garden it's always good to retire to the porch with my sidekick to enjoy a bowl of salted in the shell porch peanuts, a frosty Canadian lager and watch a spring thunder storm roll-in.

It's quitting time after-all.

Raising a toast to our friendly neighbors to the north!

The Garden Chronicles

If you are a San Marzano tomato snob you likely already know that a purebred San Marzano tomato is grown in the rich, volcanic soil in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius.

This year I’ve sourced my San Marzanos from a mutant plant that has overgrown the composter.  

A very robust volunteer from 2023 garden waste.

I collected enough fruits to can and foolishly imagined a dozen half pints.

Here is my harvest.

Four half pints.

Tomatoes and cracked Spanish sea salt. That’s it.

On a foundation of my sourdough crust this is the foundation of a real Neapolitan pie….
 

Lilac Blight

We have a long-established hedgerow of lilacs situated around the footprint of where the ancestral farmhouse once stood.  This summer we notices that there was leaf die-off and a darkening of the stems and branches.  Upon closer examination the woody part of the shrub was not dead.  If scratched there was healthy, green matter beneath the bark.  Nevertheless, something was stressing the plant as it was pushing-out replacement leaves and flowering.  Go figure.

According to the interweb this is likely a form of blight caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae.  Among other things, it is characterized by leaf spots that can lead to leaf darkening, leaf wilting and premature leaf dropping. 

Fortunately this is mostly a cosmetic condition and unless it reappears over multiple seasons there are no lasting effects.  It is associated with wet conditions; which certainly describes our monsoon-like spring.  

Because this is not a fungal pathogen spraying with a fungicides is a waste of time.  Cleaning-up the leaf debris will prevent transmission next year.

Pizza! Pizza!

Tossed some pies in the Forno last night with some pals.

After a dalliance with instant dry yeast, 2024 has been witness to the return of sourdough leavening.

An altogether superior bake.

Bonus was tomatoes and sweet peppers from the garden….
 

Summer Safari

Fun facts about the peninsula.  Door County has 298 miles of coastline and boasts more lighthouses and state parks than any other county in the contiguous United States.  It also is home to the largest percentage of individuals over the age of 65 in all of Wisconsin.  Not the highest number, highest percentage.  That said, with only about 30,000 permanent year-round residents it doesn't take long to feel like you've met just about everyone.  Six Degrees of Separation is a real thing.  

The peninsula has become something of a retirement destination - with a disproportionate number of retired professional types.  Anyway, since I retired here permanently I've made many new friends through the Community College's Learning In Retirement Program.  For several years now I've coordinated the Current Affairs class - A Fine Kettle of Fish.  My friends include retirees ranging from doctors, civil and petroleum engineers, naval architects and a medical examiner.

Recently a group of neighbors got together for a couple of tours in Manitowoc followed by lunch.  It is called a Summer Safari.  The botanical garden was short and sweet, lunch was excellent; but the highlight was a tour of Dramm Corporation.

Dramm manufactures and distributes a complete line of professional greenhouse tools and equipment distributed throughout the world.  It is one of the most respected names in the horticultural industry.  

Founded in 1941 by John G. Dramm, a local florist, who developed a soft-touch garden hose watering nozzle.  It was this invention that helped drive the company from a basement operation into the Top-of-the-line global leader it is today.

We scored a private tour of the new 98,000 square foot building located at the Manitowoc Industrial Park.

A well designed, environmentally-conscious building and modern manufacturing methods.

Most of the Dramm product line is available in a rainbow array of colors:  red, orange, yellow, blue, green and berry.

 

Orchard and commercial applicators of all variations.

With the legalization of cannabis in many states, the sale of high-tech drip irrigation systems have rocketed-off the charts.

In the shipping department there is no heavy lifting with this device.

Top-shelf, quality engineering and assembly.  Keep an eye out for the rainbow colors wherever you shop for gardening and horticultural supplies.

 

 

The Trifecta

Good things come in threes today. 

Wordle in three

Rototiller started on the third pull

 

Garden tilled, radishes planted and garage swept = three chores

Three Drop Dead Blondes in the garage fridge to pick from 

 

Third consecutive day of +80 F and sunshine

 

The Garden Chronicles

I don’t know about you but there is a big whiff of autumn in the air lately. With football beginning the wood box is filled to the brim. 

The garden is nearing the end too. 

There was a Hail Mary sowing of lettuce, radishes and spinach a couple of weeks ago yet everything else is about done. 

Even the tomato avalanche is waning. 

Once, again, I’m reminded that when you live equidistant from the equator and the pole every waking day of our short growing season is precious.

Big beefsteaks are heading for the canner.

Kitchen counter snacking tomatoes.

Vine-ripened plum tomatoes will be converted into pizza sauce.

Vive le Jardin Magnifique!

 

Kermis Time

Kermesse, or kermis, or kirmess, is a Dutch language term derived from 'kerk' (church) and 'mis' (mass) that became incorporated in French and English. Its origins are originally associated with the mass said on the anniversary of the founding of a church (or the parish) and in honor of the Patron Saint.  Such religious celebrations were regularly held in the Low Countries, in Central Europe and also in Northern France, and were accompanied by feasting, dancing, drinking and sports. 

The Dutch-American Village of Little Chute, Wisconsin, has celebrated Kermis annually since 1981 with a street festival. The Wallonian settlements in Door and Kewaunee Counties have celebrated Kermis with traditional Belgian dishes and events for as long as anyone can remember.  

Traditionally, Kermis around here stretched over several calendar weeks as each small settlement - Namur, Brussels, Rosiere, Little Sturgeon, Forestville, Lincoln, Duvall and Casco celebrated the harvest and the life-giving bounty of food.  

I'm not of Dutch or Belgian descent - but we're heading over to the park in Brussels for the Kermis shortly.  The festivities will kick-off with mass followed by food, music, a dunk tank featuring the local priest, beer, both a silent and live auction and a gun raffle.  

In the meantime, for the last few weeks we've been celebrating our own Kermis here with a steady harvest from the garden including an avalanche of tomatoes!

Several batches of homemade pizza sauce.

And cantaloupe too... 

 

 

Mutant

I picked this today from my cherry tomato plant.

 

A conjoined (Siamese) tomato.  Remarkably a threesome with a single common stem.

The interweb tells me that this can be caused by any number of things - mutation of developing cells, a viral or bacterial infection, or mite or insect attacks.

I ate it and it was delicious.

If I grow a third arm I'll report-back.....

The Garden Chonicles

The resident whitetails have been munching on my pea vines while we slumber - mostly helpless to their nocturnal garden raids. 

 

Cover your pea fence in drop cloths? The wind and the critters move them. Grrrr

 

In any event, between other chores I picked peas yesterday and today and began processing them. 

 

Pick, shuck, blanche, fast chill in ice water, drain, flash freeze and vacuum seal. 

 

During the shucking Blonde Dog in particular was intent-upon chasing-down the random errant pea on the porch.

 

Direct to the freezer in about 24 hours or less. 

 

 

The remaining pods are deliciously immature and I’m going to pick those tomorrow with a vision of incorporation in a stir fry. Maybe shrimp stir fry.

 

So, let the word go forth to whitetail nation - garden raiding is a capital offense around these parts.

 

Vive le Jardin Magnifique!

 

Messenger of the Gods

 

Iris was the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow – who also happened to be the messenger of the gods. This name can also be given in reference to the word (which derives from the same Greek/modern Latin source) for the iris flower or the colored part of the eye.

The wild-growing iris - like the one above found on the banks of Silver Creek - should begin their seasonal blooms later this month and into the next.  More on that to follow.

For now there are Jill's domestic iris cultivars that are adding some spectacular color around the house and serving the pollinators. 

 

 

Jill's father raised iris and at least one of these goes back many, many years to one of his.

Others are from friends.

These iris thrive here at a latitude half-way between the equator and the north pole.

Tough plant the iris is.....

What To Do With Garden Tomatoes

Dining-upon garden produce regular-like. Including tomatoes!

 

With the addition of the Forno this year I planted Italian herbs and plum tomatoes. Fresh-sliced plum tomatoes from the garden on a New York thin crust pie are delectable. Add some fresh basil when served and it’s the bomb. 

 

 

With the current surplus I canned six pints of plum and a couple of quarts of ordinary tomatoes today.And there is more in the pipeline too.

 

I have a vision of venison bolognese in my future…..

 

The Garden Chronicles

Most of you readers know that I like to garden – vegetable gardening to be clear. I found time to maintain a garden while holding-down a day job.  Now that I'm retired I stretch-out the joys of gardening.  

Sure, I know it is less time-consuming, far more convenient and absolutely less costly to purchase vegetables from a grocer or a local farm market.  I continue to do so myself because that is what rational people do.  I'm not preaching of life off the grid or promoting going full-bore apocalyptic prepper.   I want to introduce some of the tangible and intangible benefits of growing your own fruit and vegetables. 

A garden is a source of healthy food that can immediately find its way to the table or be canned or frozen for year-round use. The very act of tending a garden can have positive impacts on our physical and mental health. Don’t take my word for this – there is science to back it up. 

On a personal level I like knowing the source of my food and certainty in the knowledge that it is wholesome and pesticide-free. 

I’m not a control freak but I like the notion of choosing my regular lineup of plants that can be counted-upon to make a repeat appearance as a consequence of their predictability and our personal culinary tastes. I also like introducing an experiment or two every growing season and measuring outcomes.  I take notes, sketch locations and rotate my crops.

And there is the idea of starting from scratch each year and the challenge of insects, critters and weather conditions that erect obstacles in my path – and if successful the satisfaction of a job well-done with a harvest.

The science behind much of this supports the social and community connections and psychological benefits as well.   Gardening helps an individual to develop coping mechanisms and patience as there will always be frustrations over things that go wrong or are beyond one’s control.  Nevertheless, success contributes to building confidence.  And sharing the bounty contributes to a sense of community. 

Gardening likely is not going to solve all the myriad problems of our world – nevertheless, it is farm to table sustenance, a source of fresh air and sunshine and a connection to the natural world.  Gardening is good therapy. 

Got some stuff planted last Sunday so stay-tuned for periodic updates and Vive le Jardin Magnifique!

 

Garden Tomatoes Hold the High Ground

Yesterday a garden tomato was featured in our fish tacos. 

 

In October I speculated that there was a high probability of garden tomatoes making an end of November finish line. It would be close - yet there was a chance.

 

A FB friend suggested I feature them in a pizza.

 

Here it is - end of the first week of December - garden tomatoes, chicken, Marchant’s bacon, mozzarella and basil pizza pie. Red sauce too. 

 

Believe it or not there are tomatoes (small buggers) remaining.

 

Absolutely unbelievable.........

 

Behold the Tomato

In October I speculated that there was a high probability of garden tomatoes making an end of November finish line. It would be close. 

 

 

 

 Here it is - end of the first week of December.

 

Tacos tonight and there is this.

 

2020 has certainly been a year of ‘Firsts’.

 

This is a bright spot given all the pissing and moaning filling my bandwidth.

 

Vive le Jardin Magnifique!

 

Kermis

Kermesse, or kermis, or kirmess, is a Dutch language term derived from 'kerk' (church) and 'mis' (mass) that became borrowed in English and French, originally denoting the mass said on the anniversary of the foundation of a church (or the parish) and in honor of the patron. Such celebrations were regularly held in the Low Countries, in Central Europe and also in northern France, and were accompanied by feasting, dancing and sports of all kinds. 

The Dutch-American Village of Little Chute, Wisconsin, has celebrated Kermis annually since 1981. The Wallonian settlements in Door County, Wisconsin, also celebrate a Kermis with traditional Belgian dishes and events.  Kermis is often associated with the harvest and the life-giving bounty of food.    

I'm not of Dutch or Belgian descent - but we're celebrating our own Kermis here with a steady harvest from the garden.

The onions are in and curing on their tarp in the machine shed.

And another batch of COVID dill pickles over the weekend. 

Yard Blooms

It is appearing to be the last act for Jill’s iris cultivars.  Oddly-enough the native ones are just starting to bloom. 

Nevertheless, other blooms in and around the yard are beginning their first and second acts.......