A Peak at Paradise

"To create a garden is to search for a better world. In our effort to improve on nature, we are guided by a vision of paradise." - Marina Schinz



Gardens aren't maintenance free. Like any meaningful relationship, they require interaction.

Unlike between lovers, hands on attention can be hired with no harm. But unless you are either seriously rich or handicapped, this simple beauty is easily attainable by anyone on their own.

If your vision of paradise is springtime at the Poppy Reserve in the Antelope Valley- then the most cheerful flower in the world sends you this recipe for joy.

First- choose a sunny spot barren of pretty plants, where big weeds rule. Yank the monster predator plants by the roots and banish to the landfill.

Spice up a bucket full of seed topping mix with handful of California Poppy Seeds. A handful at a time, toss the seeded topping mix like it were feed for a hungry lot of chickens.

When the bucket is empty, follow behind with the rest of the seed topper to give the seeds some advantage in nature's game of hide 'n' seek with the local birds.

Once ground has been seeded - other than watering the infant seeds lightly until nature is ready to take over- about the only duty is patience.

Photo by Gene Sasse. Used with Permission.

The Grapes of Wrath Revisted

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex. It takes
a touch of genius- and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction."
--- Albert Einstein




















Topsoil barren, blows away in winds. Their living in agriculture destroyed, a half million Americans are displaced. For his chronicling of the human toll of this avoidable tragedy caused by the Great Dust Bowl of the 1930's in The Grapes of Wrath, author John Steinbeck earned the Pulitzer and the Nobel.















What happened in the 1930's should not be recurring. But it is. In a twist of irony, to where American refugees fled ecological disaster earlier this century: California. This photo was taken yesterday by Sue Maxwell between Sacramento and Los Angeles. Whipped by winds, the topsoil of some of the most fertile crop land in the world turned to dirty dust and choked the sky.

What clouds the air should be nourishing crops to feed and clothe people. If it blows away because we have allowed the political establishment to not put first things first, then fruit trees will continue to die, more families will lose their homes, more people will lose their dignity. The state will have less revenue, need to provide more welfare and import food we once grew ourselves.

Why? Because many intelligent fools in courts and legislatures have forgotten what can be accomplished when goals are simple, targeted and focused. Gratitude for, "Where water flows crop grows," needs to be rekindled.

Creating Heaven on Earth

In the mid-1960's, the pastor at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church gave a sermon where he described heaven to a congregation which included a very impressionable adolescent girl. Me. He promised in heaven is a garden filled with fruit and flower. Everyone has work.

That sermon planted a seed of believing there is no higher calling than to create heaven on earth with a garden.

I was introduced to Giant Squill (Urginea maritima) when writing the text for Gene Sasse's electronic newsletter. A quick inquiry to author Nan Sterman about the gargantuan bulb got her enthusiastic endorsement, "Urginea maritima is one of my all time favorite bulbs. All year long, it has nice, strappy leaves. Come June or July, the leaves turn gold, and the most amazingly tall, mahogany colored spear rises from the center. The spear is topped in a snow white, pointed column of buds that open from the bottom to the top in sequence. A mature bulb can be big as a basketball and the flowering spear reach six feet tall or taller. A field of them in bloom looks like a wonderland! "

Not needing irrigation, hated by rodents, as soon as the story was filed, the perfect spot for my 9.1 pound bulb was found way out back where its presence will clothe the naked land with elegant garb about the start of football season.

Speaking of football....

The sun and moon for the NFL Stadium to be built in neighboring City of Industry are lining up. When the landscaping goes in, it would be heavenly if Majestic Real Estate included a stand of the Giant Squill to light up the landscape at the start of the season.

The giant squill, as well as other premium bulbs for our warm weather climate can be purchased by clicking onto http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/index.asp

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This simple statement arrangement in my living room was created by Xavier's Florist of Diamond Bar. http://www.xaviersflorist.com/

California Gardener's Guide Volume II by Nan Sterman- "The ONLY book about low water plants and Mediterranean climate gardening written specifically for California" can be purchased at better book purveyors or at her website at //http://www.plantsoup.com/

HOT TIP- Call Nan for free advice on how to save water in your garden courtesy of The Water Smart Pipeline, (866) 962-7021 Tuesday mornings (8:30 am to noon PST) and Thursday afternoons (1:00 pm to 4:30 pm PST).

The Water Smart Pipeline is a project of the Water Conservation Garden and funded by the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust.

Images of giant squill are by photographer Gene Sasse. http://genesasse.com/Used with permission.

Autumn Abundance

Tonight's menu-

Tender slices of braised corned beef served over creamy saffron infused risotto, topped with caramelized cabbage drizzled with a Dijon and natural juice reduction with brandied apricots.




The oven was set very low. 225°F. On a shallow baking pan overlayed with a big sheet of foil , a rack is made from vegetables. Their flavor will add depth to the broth.


An offering of flat cut corned beef brisket is laid upon it. The foil is sealed like tissue paper over a gift. Into the oven it goes for a few hours.




Dried apricots are allowed to plump in a baptism of brandy.
















An uncovered saucepan is the vessel into which olive oil and butter are melted before weighing out the Arborio rice; sizzling it for just a handful of moments.



I calculate the white wine and chicken broth needed to simmer soft the pearly grains





The liquid is almost absorbed, but the rice is not tender.

The rice is anointed with more broth.

Saffron is sprinkled about, clothing the individual hulls with its goldenrod hue.

When it is almost ready- the stove is turned off and the rice waits for the brisket to finish

Briefly, the brisket was taken from the oven.Unwrapped.

Dijon mustard were mixed in equal measure with apricot preserves: this masque slathered on the upturned face of the meat.
The plumped apricots and their brandy bath is poured around the meat. The package resealed and returned to the oven- which is turned up to 350°F until the salty broth bubbles free of the meat which is fork tender. About 1 more hour.

Wedges of cabbage are caramelized in butter with shallot, a sprinkling of pepper flakes and a dash of butter.

While the finished meat rests, the broth is poured off with a spoonful more of Dijon mustard stirred in, the liquid reduced by half as it simmers. Drizled across the platter- words do not need to be said.

Yes, it would be easier to have stacked all the ingredients into a crock pot. But it would not have been nearly so GOOD.

This is not just Autumn on the calendar. It is the autumn of our marriage. Of the time we will get to spend here on earth. In all of these, it is a season to celebrate the abundance with which we are graced.

When God says "yes" to prayers for gentle rain, it is time to thank Him for abundance by showing our pleasure. On days like today, when the heavens kiss the earth with wet kisses, I am compelled to go in the kitchen to show my appreciation by using His gifts.

When it rains, I play in the kitchen with no recipe> Just an idea of what I want the house to smell like when my hero returns home from work. I want it to smell like there is no effort I would not spare to spoil my partner of over three decades.

Unfinished Business

Unfinished business is an anchor which weighs one's spirit down.

Some things are out of individual control- standard fuchsias are not in season, so that will have to wait.

But this window. The one I designed in a past century. There is no good excuse that it isn't finished.



















The custom design for my shed's transom is my celebration of the happiness I feel from nature's abundance.

A thousand reasons have stood in the way of it being finished. But the truth of it is they were all excuses. Obstacles I only needed to leap over to move closer to enjoying the beauty of sunlight streaming through hand-selected glass.

With the baseball playoffs in the background, I now listen to the sound of the wheel glass cutter zinging through jewel tone bits of glass like a ball slicing through the air. Rough cut, the glass edges are ground smooth, then wrapped in foil before carefully sealing sections solid with molten solder.

The work is painstaking. My fingers are as sore as my eyes are crossed. But my soul is refreshed. As the image comes alive- I am pregnant with joy that this creation will be born. Soon.

Learning from Pumpkinistas

Day 5 of homebody project.

I hoped I might have photos of a certain to-die-for fuchsia. But the garden teaches patience and priority. The local garden center did not have any fuchsias, let alone the perfect fuchsia. And really, meeting my deadline and sending off a query letter were more important than rushing through something that if it takes my lifetime won't be any less satisfying.

Until that time, Susan Maxwell gave me permission to share photos of her favorite pumpkinistas- her grandchildren: Samantha and Tucker.



















These photos reminded me not just of the glorious bounty of the season.

When my sons were in elementary school they were asked what was their favorite season. They both picked the hunting season. I would have probably called it pumpkin season.



















The images remind me of one of my favorite Bible passages Luke 18:16-17

16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
















What does this mean? Surely not that if someone does not have the opportunity as a child to know Christ that he is parted from eternity.


















Rather, what do we know of the nature of children?

Children make up for in love what they do not have in knowledge. This must mean that love is more important than knowledge. Children are also endlessly curious and innocent. So while we rightly seek knowledge, we must block cynicism and jadedness.

Any other thoughts?

Money Tree

Day 4 of homebody.

67° was today’s high. With gossamer clouds sailing by, it was the kind day the miniature pine tree would have liked if it hadn’t succumbed to the heat wave that comes in each year with the Los Angeles County Fair. The tree was only a year old when it passed on to the compost pile.

I had kind of the horticultural equivalent of an Irish wake for it. I looked at the photos from last Christmas and wondered if in this warm climate- would the patio table would ever be so festive again.

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It already is thanks to Molly at California Cactus Center.

She has 16 inch moss- lined cones which fit the 16 inch circumference of the now-lonely bowl perfectly. I took her advice in the selection of succulents

. .

Back home in Diamond Bar, when my husband’s attention was diverted, I snuck the cardboard flats of planties to the patio table. When Gerry left for work- the assembly line was set up, starting with a big towel to shorten the clean up. A bucket of water to soak the form and extra moss for stuffing. Potting soil to level the soil. Push pins to anchor the rooted cuttings safely.

The whole topiary production took about 2 hours start to finish, but it is worth the effort. It will last longer than the dearly departed pine. My husband- who had this look his face I imagine is him wondering if plantaholicism is something for which someone can be committed for- I explained to him that this newest addition is quite practical. Because as it fills in it becomes a little cutting factory. Kind of a money tree from which future gifts will grow.

More info on California Cactus Center in Pasadena can be found at http//www.cactuscenter.com/