Category Archives: Uncategorized

April 22, 2015 · 12:00 pm

THE REDBUD TREE

When I was growing up

My father had a love of Redbud trees.

They are native here on the plains

Growing wild along the creek beds.

It’s a breathtaking site as you drive the countryside in early spring.

That’s probably why it was designated the official state tree.

Which gave Daddy the perfect opportunity to spread the love.

He gave away hundreds of Redbud saplings.

In his official capacity representing Oklahoma.

They say you marry your father.

In the case of Redbud trees that is true for me.

Each spring when they bloom.

John heads to the nursery

And buys one….or two.

So it is that he has planted 6 in the 10 years we’ve lived here.

Even this week he mentioned that he had been looking around!

Where would we plant it I asked.

He just smiled.

The truth is we’ve spent the last several years

In fear that the one native Redbud that was here when we moved in

Was dying.

Each springs big chunks would fail to leaf out.

We knew it was near the end of it’s natural life.

So we were excited a few years back

When we noticed sprouts coming out of the base

And the side of the trunk.

We’ve babied them over these years

And they have responded.

Our hope was that they would grow strong and tall

So that when all of the branches of the original tree were gone.

It would have replaced itself.

And it did.

Last week John took down the old tree.

Bit by bit he pulled down the remaining branches.

Then he cut out the trunks

Staked the new branches so that they could grow straight and tall

Into a new tree.

It’s gut wrenching to take out old mature dying trees.

They leave a hole in the landscape

And in your heart.

But this time it was less painful.

The cycle of nature continues

With just a little help from us.

Gail

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April 19, 2015 · 9:50 pm

FAITH FARM V.2

Last year I wrote about a new gardening project.

It’s a small city lot

Filled with raised beds.

Faith Farm is a production and teaching garden

For Loaves & Fishes.

A food resource center feeding over 800 families each month.

In our inaugural year we grew 3,000 pounds of fresh organic vegetables.

That were picked fresh and given to the clients at L & F.

WOW!

What fun we had.

So much so that we’ve re-arranged and added 8 new beds

Which should increase our production significantly.

Yesterday was Family Volunteering Day

At Loaves & Fishes.

We do this every other month from February through October.

It’s a great way to introduce people to our program.

A sponsor is found for each month.

They provide the lunch and a great t-shirt.

Thanks 1st Presbyterian.

Volunteers do all kinds of things that don’t get done

In the normal course of things.

Deep cleaning, painting & 0rganizing.

A lucky few

Get to go to Faith Farm.

I was one of the lucky ones.

I love this place.

And it’s great fun to see not only the vegetables grow.

But also the people.

Yesterday was no exception.

We happen to have several volunteers from the air force base here.

So we had natives of

North Carolina,

Portland,

D.C

And England.

Along with Andrew from Maryland.

Andrew is the minister at 1st Presbyterian.

He grew up a city boy in Baltimore.

In addition to being a minister he’s also a gifted pianist and organist.

Those hands hadn’t spent much time in the dirt.

Until he moved here.

From that first fall he’s been working in the yard of his home.

Yesterday he helped chop leaves

And spread them on the bed for mulch.

Then he planted carrots.

And he was hooked.

Before sunset

He texted that he when he got home he planted

Lettuce, carrots, beets and radishes.

He also reports that Loaves & Fishes

Is a blessing to more than just those who need food.

And that’s the thing we are hoping for.

Spreading the word about hunger

And how we and many like us across the country

Are feeding our hungry neighbors.

You can help us.

We are in the middle of a contest to win a $20,000.00 grant

From Seeds of Change

For Faith Farm

Just go to http://www.seedsofchangegrant.com to vote.

Search Faith Farm.

Please vote everyday between now and April 27th.

We’ll use the money to grow more to feed more.

And we’ll teach clients and pilots and ministers and neighbors

About growing their own vegetables along the way.

Gail

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March 23, 2015 · 2:45 am

Good Soil

What a glorious weekend.

For me it was the official beginning of the gardening season.

And so I began at the beginning.

Soil

Good soil

Improving soil is likely the most important thing I do in my garden

Without this continuing act of love of God’s good earth

My garden would slowly

But surely

Be less and less.

So what is this process?

It’s really more of a circle.

So let’s jump on board of this cycle last fall.

I have two composting areas in my garden

One is my giant Mantis twin composter.

This is where the process begins.

Kitchen scraps go here to break down.

It’s enclosed and keeps all kinds of critters

From dining on the garden’s leftovers.

To this I add cuttings from the garden

Mostly green.

And some of the brown stuff – mostly leaves

That are always hanging around.

Once the food scraps are no longer edible

I transfer this across the yard

To stage 2.

Under an old cedar tree

Atop the now defunct cellar

Is a small berm

The only undulating part of our yard.

It’s where I’ve been stashing tons of leftover leaves

Since creating my garden.

I layer it all here.

Eventually it turns into the most wonderful deep, dark, rich soil.

So why all this

To create something

That all ready exists?

There are many reasons for me.

I hate sending things to the land fill.

Always have

And when you can turn them into something good

All the better.

Soil is truly the beginning of a garden

Without rich loose healthy soil

Plants will not thrive.

They may survive

But they will not thrive.

Something else that we have in common

Plants and people.

The need to be rooted in a rich healthy environment.

One where we can spread our roots

Grow new branches

And reach for the sky.

Gail

P.S. I realize these pictures are a bit random but it’s what’s blooming now

and they are prettier than dried leaves and my compost tumbler!

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November 3, 2014 · 12:55 am

THE BASIL RITUAL

There’s a rhythm about fall that seems to be well, common.

At least among my friends.

With our first freeze predicted for Halloween

I began cutting basil on Thursday

And again on Friday.

Buckets of basil.

I always plant too much

Which means I have basil to spare

For months on end.

I use it during the growing season.

But by October it’s giant and going to seed everywhere.

Yet I feel that none of it can go to waste.

I either have to dry it

Or make pesto

Or find it a home.

Pesto is my first plan of attack.

So on Friday

When the weather men were issuing their threatening forecast.

My sister Ann called and said.

“So I’m guessing you’re making pesto.”

And I was.

She’s in the same place I am.

With way too much basil.

But she has the advantage of being able to feed her extra.

To her bunnies.

I on the other hand

Do not have hungry bunnies living at my house.

So when a friend dropped by with a cape for Coco to wear for Halloween.

She was rewarded with bonus basil.

Others who dropped by were also given the chance

But most declined.

I thought of bagging it up in little bags and giving it out

To the 400+ kids who came trick or treating.

But there might be potential for misunderstanding there!

I’ve now made 3 batches of regular pesto

3 C. packed fresh basil leaves

1/3 C. grated parmesan cheese

6 cloves chopped garlic

6 T toasted Pine nuts

4 T olive oil

Put all ingredients into food processor.

Pulse till well chopped but not a puree.

Spray ice-cube tray with non-stick cooking spray.

Freeze. Then store cubes in plastic bag.

It’s about a tablespoon or 2 of pesto.

And a couple of roasted red pepper and sun-dried tomato pesto.

3 medium red bell peppers 0r 1 jar .

12 sun-dried tomatoes – soaked and drained

1 clove garlic chopped

3 T roasted pine nuts.

a handful of fresh basil leaves.

A handful of fresh Italian parsley

Juice of 1 lemon

2 T grated parmesan cheese.

Prepare like basil pesto

I’ve also been roasting and freezing the last of the ripe tomatoes.

All of which is giving our house

A rather Italian aroma.

Now…what to do with all those

Peppers and green tomatoes.

And in the end

It didn’t even freeze!

Gail

The other fall ritual I love

Is sharing plants with friends

Kay and Tori came by on Saturday morning.

To dig the last of the ferns.

New plans for this area

Come spring.

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October 12, 2014 · 12:28 pm

FAMILY VOLUNTEERING DAY V.2

Yesterday was time for fall clean up

At Faith Farm.

It’s been an astounding first year of

“Gardening for Good”.

We will soon surpass 3,000 pounds of fresh organic produce

Grown for Loaves & Fishes

And given to our hungry clients each week.

Freshly picked, organic produce

Given to people who otherwise might not have food on the table.

Week after week, Charity and a small group of volunteers

Have harvested literal 1 1/2 tons of food.

And it’s a good thing

Since July was the busiest month ever at L & F

Serving 954 households…YIKES!

But we want to do more

With the space we have.

So yesterday we began a simple transition

From less ornamentals

To more raised beds.

We moved some from L & F

Over to Faith Farm

And set them in place

With the help of Jim

Our perennial volunteer

And a couple of friends from the Air Force base.

We were also joined by a group of young women

From the 2020 club at Chisholm Middle School

They’ll graduate in the year 2020

Which gives us lots of time to train them

As gardeners.

They have great potential

Because even a big ole tomato horn worm

Didn’t scare them.

Instead they were fascinated.

Gotta love girls who likes bugs!

They were all great help

So I hope they’ll be back

Another day

For another installment

Of this great adventure.

Feeding the hungry

Fresh, organic vegetables

And lots of love.

Gail

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September 28, 2014 · 11:51 pm

CHANGE

Fall arrived last week.

It’s the reason I abide summer.

You can’t fully appreciate

These cool crisp sunny days

Unless you have lived through summer.

It’s the same relationship

That spring is to winter.

One of the reason I love life here on the Great Plains

Is that we experience all four season.

Some years

Some seasons more than others.

It’s the change that seems to appeal to me.

And since I spend many days outside

I consider myself to be

An observer of those changes.

So as the season comes to an end

I carry a list of changes

I want to make in my garden in my head.

This weekend I began to work on the list.

John and I both have wanted a lilac for some time.

We’ve planted one

But it seems to be suffering from

“Failure to thrive”.

In this case it’s a lack of sunshine.

I’ve found it a sunnier home

But there’s a rose bush there.

Or at least there was.

This particular rose bush

Is very finicky.

It only blooms

If it’s not too wet

Or not too hot.

Or I threaten to murder it.

So yesterday

After years of fiddling to make it happy

I cut it down

And dug it up.

I know

It’s not a very friendly thing to do.

But I need its sunny home

For the lilac bush.

And there’s time in the fall

To make these changes.

Their lackluster performance

Is fresh on my mind

In the fall.

If I wait till spring

To do the dastardly deed

That “hope of spring” thing

Will fog my fall reality.

All this digging and moving around

Has me thinking about changes in my life as well.

There are times when one thing must end.

In order for something new to have a place to call home.

That’s the trick as life lumbers on.

Making room in your life for change

For the things you learn

And people you meet.

Change brings growth.

If you let it in.

Gail

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September 15, 2014 · 1:58 am

SEPTEMBER’S SONG

I have long loved fall.

You would think as a passionate gardener

That would not be the case

With the season winding down and all.

Certainly I know what is coming

An end will come with its inevitable freeze.

But here in the middle of September

Winter is still a bit out of reach.

And what a September it is.

Endless days of crisp air and sunshine.

This is the time of the year

That the garden slows

And so do I.

My weekend gardening days

Move at a more reasonable pace.

Which gives me time to observe.

Bumble bees in flight.

Baby praying mantis

Blending in with zinnia leaves.

Even a large praying mantis

Outside the kitchen window.

Orb spider spin their amazing webs.

Butterflies bask in the soft fall sun.

And peppers finally have their day.

This is also the time of year

That pots come into their own.

They begin to ooze over the side

With the fullness of the season.

I’m not great with annuals

But September makes me look like I know what I’m doing!

Plants that were cut back in mid summer

Are coming into full bloom again.

Smaller…more contained than their spring version

But just as lovely.

The last few years

I’ve taken a new look at fall

As a time to plant.

As I pull up things that are spent

Cockscomb mostly

I plant seeds in their place.

So mixed leaf lettuce, arugula and carrot seeds

All were planted today.

Not in tidy little rows

Like most vegetable gardens.

But in the empty spaces.

I know I’ve said it many times

But fall seems like the time to repeat

The value of taking time

To observe nature

It’s seasons

It’s changes

It’s lessons.

Enjoy the week,

Gail

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Filed under Arugula, Bugs, Bumble Bee, Butterflies, Carrots, cockscomb, container gardening, Fall, Fall Vegetables, Gloriosa Daisy, Orb Spider, Peppers, Seeds, Uncategorized, Vegetables, Zinnia

June 23, 2014 · 1:49 am

MIRACLES

This morning’s sermon was about miracles.

A reminder of those familiar Bible stories

And a challenge to think about miracles

In life today.

For gardeners this is not really a challenge.

We spend our time observing nature

Digging in the dirt

(Sorry Daddy – soil)

And watching what are for me

Miracles everyday.

Who among us can turn this

into this?

Plant a seed or plant

and you end up with this…

or this…

It can’t possibly be what we do.

I for one, can’t even imagine how this happens

Yet it does.

Season after season.

Year after year.

Now there are weeds along the way.

This particular season it seems to be

Crab grass in my garden

And there are years when

Things don’t go as we hope and plan.

For instance it’s another year of limited hydrangea blooms.

But all in all

The miracles are there

Every day.

We just have to stop

And look

And open ourselves to see them

Everywhere.

Gail

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Filed under Clematis, Gloriosa Daisy, Larkspur, Lilies, Miracles, Perennials, Poppy, roses, Seeds, self seeding annuals, Stella d Ora Daylily, Uncategorized

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May 27, 2014 · 1:19 am

STARTING AND STOPPING

At long last we’re getting rain.

Not tons of it

But rain just the same.

Soft showers

Interspersed with real rain.

Throughout this long weekend.

So my gardening has followed the rain.

Starting and stopping

As the weather allows.

It’s actually nice.

Cool days

Soft soil

Perfect for weeding

And planting more seed.

So I’ve decided to run a little experiment.

Since we are having a bit cooler than usual spring.

I’m thinking I still have time to plant

Cool season seeds.

Lettuce – Arugula – Radishes – Bush Beans

I know

It’s way past time to plant these.

But I’m experimenting with a little

Micro climate vegetable gardening.

So…as I’ve weeded the edge of the garden

And along the paths

I’ve planted all of the above.

Some in sun like I’ve always done

And this year in dappled shady areas

To see if I can have fresh greens

Later into the season.

We’ll hope it works.

I’ll let you know.

And when it rained

I arranged flowers

In my friend Beth’s fun Fiesta pitchers.

And oh yes…

There was this.

While thunder rolled through the state

The Thunder rolled over the Spurs.

What a fun weekend!

Gail

P.S. I realize these pictures have nothing to do with the subject.

But pictures of seed packets and hoes just are all that much fun!

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Filed under Arugula, Bouquets, Flower Arrangements, Gloriosa Daisy, Larkspur, Lettuce, OKC Thunder Basketball, Poppy, Radishes, Seeds, Stella d Ora Daylily, Uncategorized, Vegetables

Tagged as Arugula, Gloriosa Daisies, Larkspur, Lettuce, Poppies, Stella d Ora Daylily, Vegetable Garden

April 28, 2014 · 2:25 am

TULIP TIME

One of the last things I do at the end of the gardening season each fall

Is one of the first things to bloom come spring.

Tulips

It’s a gift we gardeners give ourselves.

Just at the end of the season

When we’re almost too tired to do another thing

And our knees really don’t want to bend down

Comes the time to plant Tulips.

Some years it’s hard to get it done.

But when spring comes I’m oh so grateful that I did.

Last fall I planted the path to the garden house

With my favorite varieties

Packed the trenches

Covered them with pansies

And let them sleep.

We had also added a new bed on the landing in the front.

Which was planted with a new variety

Of tulips called French blend.

They have proved to be perfect for this spot.

This variety bloomed a little later than those in the back.

Which has turned out to be a good thing.

You see this is a very sunny place.

Surrounded by bricks

Without a drip line.

So the only thing I know to plant there for summer is periwinkles.

But since periwinkles don’t like cold wet weather

You have to wait till May to plant them.

So having a tulip that is still blooming

This last weekend in April works well.

They’ll last a few more days

Then it will be time to pull them up

And plant again.

The cycle goes on.

Gail

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Filed under spring, Spring Flowering Bulbs, tulips, Uncategorized

Tagged as Spring Flowering Bulbs, Tulips

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