I haven’t posted about my balcony garden in some time and as I was about to plop this glorious strawb in my mouth, I thought…perhaps I should take a photo and let y’all know what’s growing.
Right now, I’ve got a nice little strawberry patch going alongside some raspberry canes (!). I’ve never grown raspberries and growing up in LA, I’ve never seen how they come about. So, I was surprised to find that they actually grow out of the center of a little white flower and start as little green dots! I’ve got about 20 berries that are about to get good, so I’ll keep you posted. I’ve also updated my herb box with pineapple mint, lime mint and some Oregon peas. AND, I’m starting some plants from seed…which I’m very excited about. I talked to my uncle who, along with my other uncle, runs our family flower farm in Carpinteria and he said right now is perfect for starting from seed. I’ve got a little starter palette with Pink Pinderosa, Green Zebra, Carbon and Suncherry tomatoes, Japanese cucumbers, Japanese eggplants, Green Machine melons, sugar pumpkins, White Scallop squash and edamame. SO, in a month or so those will be ready to pop into containers and hopefully provide some yums all summer long.
Continuing on my farm-girl path, I visited my grandmother a couple of days ago and she has an amazing garden. She introduced me to her asparagus plants that have been in her yard for 20 years! We picked some for dinner and they were so tender you could eat them raw, right in the garden. Delish. The next morning she taught me how to make butter! Um, yeah, amazing. It’s super easy, you just beat heavy cream till it separates into butter and buttermilk, drain it off and enjoy! I mixed in fresh cilantro from her garden and some sea salt. Amazing. I feel a butter exchange in the works.
Anywho, that’s all I’ve got right now. And yes, that is Doob’s little schnozz trying to nab my strawberry!
