February 2nd

Well, it looks as though

Punxsautawney Phil saw his shadow.

If you subscribe to this particular

rodent and his meterological

prowess, than we can

expect below average temps

and six more weeks of winter.

But,

in looking at his stats,

he's only been accurate 37% of the time.

So, while his popularity seems to be

simply on his good looks,

I think we'd better just listen

to our local forecasts to get the weather

and maybe

watch a rerun of the movie,

"Groundhog Day"

as a way to celebrate.

😀

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There wasn't much to blog about last month.

The freezes killed some of our plants,

but some made it.

A few were more hardy than we expected.

The onions, being in the ground,

did really well because

the freezing temps didn't last too long.

We harvest the actual bulb as well

as the green tops, so we essentially get

2 for 1 with these guys.

A few of the broccoli plants died,

but we saved the rest by pruning off the 

dead parts and giving the plants

room to grow.

Head of broccoli

Romanesco broccoli

Everything about a broccoli plant is edible.

Sometimes the stalks are tougher,

but just boil them in stock a bit longer,

then dice up to add to any food or salad.

The carrots and beets did well too.

Several harvests for lunches or to use

in dinner. The veggies always taste

amazing too!

This is carrots, broccoli and beets.

Carrots, microgreens, broccoli and celery leaves.

Microgreens can be the small leaves

of cabbages, kale, beets, lettuce

or just about any green leafy plant.

They actually contain about 45% more

nutrients than the full grown plant,

and they fit nicely on a sandwich!

They taste a lot like sprouts.

(because they are)

Carrots and broccoli

We use the beet tops as lettuce sometimes.

The taste is a bit different, but

its great cut up for use in salads

or as taco ingredients!

The potatoes are poking their heads

out of the soil.

Potatoes are in the nightshade family

and their leaves are poisonous

to humans.

New lettuce crop

Radishes

Lemon grass and spearmint.

Steep lemon grass in hot water

with a tea bag (any flavor)

makes a great lemony tea.

Chickory

These leaves have a slightly bitter undertaste,

but they taste great in a Ceasar salad

or with a stronger dressing like Italian.

Red Cabbage

Cabbage

We grow this mainly for the hens.

They love to eat the leaves.

Flat leaf parsley

Italian oregano

Bay tree flowers

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The next celebration is Valentine's Day.

  

The freeze killed our ornamentals on the

front porch, so the CEO found

a few pretties on sale at Home Depot.

Yay!

The tall yellow and red flowers are

 Snapdragons and the small white ones 

are Pansies.

More Pansies. 

So pretty and they scream spring!

Mary's Garden.

She's flanked by Rosemary in the large blue pots.

On each side of Her base is Sweet Peas.

We are hoping that as they grow, they'll trellis

up the iron behind Her.

In the forefront is pink Dianthus.

It's a little flower that looks a bit like a carnation.

A few of my succulents.

The CEO was able to put this pot

in the garage under a grow light,

so thankfully they didn't die.

They are 3 different kinds of Kalanchoe.

Can't forget Mardi Gras!

I don't decorate much,

but my colorful wreath

is a family favorite.

Chrysanthemums,

still doing well.

Spider plant.

The CEO was given 2 pieces of spider plant

babies that he planted in hanging baskets.

Hopefully they'll grow.

*****************************

The menagerie.

Ethel and Minew hanging out together.

I really think the cat believes she's a hen!

Ethel giving me the stink eye.

She was in pursuit of a small cricket

and I interrupted her to take a picture.

Feeding time at the Zoo!

The hens are eating cabbage leaves

and Minew is inspecting.

Lucy and Ethel

Lucy

She always looks pissed off,

but she loves to be close to us.

And Minew,

she always has the last word...

Meow!

Lucy, eyeballing me,

with Ethel in the background eating

beet leaves.

Now, if they'd only lay eggs...

This girl is both aloof and needy.

I've never had cats before, but

she kinda adopted us and became

part of the flock.

She drinks from their water feeders

and

she'll even sleep with the feathered ones

in the coop.

Ha!

Ethel says it's time for a 

chicken and cat snack.

Gotta go!

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I hope this day isn't on endless repeat!

Thanks for reading.

💓

💚💙