Hatch Hollow Fame

Hatch Hollow

It has been a tough season for home vegetable gardens but Morgan and Mike's vegetable plot in Hatch Hollow is doing really well. The one problem seems to be cucumbers which are dying. Here's Morgan's description in an email the other day:

“Got tons of broccoli, beans, peas, lettuce, beets, tomatoes, cabbage, celery, kale, and my pumpkin patch, as I call it, is doing awesome too. No pictures, but HUGE pumpkins, I planted mt squash plants with them and have tons of zucchini and summer squash! Planted tons of sunflowers and Indian corn also for wedding decorations.”

Mike and Morgan will tie the knot in October and I am sure there will be garden foods and, from the garden, decorations for the big event.

They use a lot of companion plantings in their garden, and Morgan, is currently working on putting together a pollinator/perennial garden this fall in between wedding plans.

Hatch Hollow is a small community, a blink and miss it sort of place. There is no grocery store, no gas station, but a small church and cemetery and a cluster of homes.

The place had one former resident who reached national prominence, Ida Tarbell. Tarbell was born in a small cabin not far from the pictured garden. She and her family moved later to Pithole during the great oil boom there around 1866 and then when the oil ran out in the Pithole area, moved to Titusville. Ida Tarbell is best known for her still respected biography of Abraham Lincoln, and the classic History of Standard Oil.

Note: If you want to send a garden picture with some notes, please leave a comment at the end of the blog. Thanks.

Fall Garden and Think Spring

August and September are good gardening months. There are many vegetables which can still be planted and harvested before winter arrives. Peas, beets, turnips, broccoli, lettuce and other greens are good options.

This is also a good time to re-do or establish perennial beds for pollinators and to get the compost pile started again for better soil nutrients for next year. August and September are also good months to think about and plant cover crops like buckwheat and oats which will help to suppress weeds while adding good nutrients to the soil. Cover crops also give added protection to the microbes living unseen in the soil but which are critical to organic gardening success.
Fall Vegetable Plantings: A Good Opportunity
A fall vegetable garden offers many opportunities for an extended harvest season and a spring head-start next year.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/2048567/fall_vegetable_plantings_a_good_opportunity.html

Independent Book Stores keep the money local. Buy from your Independent Book Store. Click on the link below to buy a book from the nearest Independent Book Store.


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H1N1


There will likely be a lot of sick people, down with the flu. Government estimates indicate that half of the population will suffer from the flu and upwards of 90,000 could die. Eat healthy, wash your hands frequently and if you feel sick, stay home. For more information and CDC updates click on the link below. The flu season is coming early and in fact has already begun in several US communities.



Fleas and Ticks

Darn critters bother us and the pets. But be careful using some of the spot-on treatments. They could harm you and your pets. Use caution and read the link below for further information.
Fleas and Ticks: A Nightmare for Pets and You
Some flea and tick treatments pose risks to humans and pets.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/2084141/fleas_and_ticks_a_nightmare_for_pets.html

For the Heck of IT:

In some regions, a weather folklore claims an abundance of American Mountain Ash berries in August and September indicates a mild winter. This year there seems to be an abundance of berries (could we be so lucky) The berries can also be used to make a jelly or jam. As far as the prediction, we'll have to wait and see; what happens, happens. But it is fun to dream.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, today is a Gift.

Blogs that are good to read and informative:
Vincent di Fondi- Vincent just published his first novel, Blessed Abduction, available through the link above, Indie Books. Or check his blog to learn more about the novel and his new home in Costa Rica.

On Your Way to the Top – Kathleen always has good insights.

New York's Southern Tier – A travel destination in nearby New York by Richardson

Urban Veggie Blog – Dan is located in nearby Ontario and is a good gardener.Dan has some creative meals from the garden.

Other articles I have written for Helium can be found by clicking the title; other articles can be found below in the box at HubPages.

more »
HubPages

SEARCH BOC CODE FOR GOOGLE

The Buzz about Lemon Queen, the Sunflower

The Lemon Queen -"The best bar in town."

The first of the Lemon Queen Sunflowers opened August 21st despite the cold and wet summer. Another followed the next day, a another dozen or so should be open this week. Actually, they grew pretty well; seeds planted along a back garden fence June 5 , sprouted four days later. Good for a cold wet summer.

The sunflower seeds were free from the Great Sunflower Project started by a San Francisco University biology professor, Gretchen LeBuhn. The project asks participants to become a “citizen scientist”. For about five minutes a week or so, citizen scientists are asked to count the number of bees and, if possible what species, which visit the sunflowers. Then record the data and submit it. There are over 65,000 citizen scientists in North America watching and counting.

Health and Food - We need the bees.

Bees and other pollinators are critical. In the US alone, bee activity contributes $15 billion in agricultural production.
And maybe the bees should be discussed in town hall meetings focused on health care.

“Of the top 150 prescription drugs used in the US, 118 originate from natural sources. 74 percent from plants, 18 percent from fungi, 5 percent from bacteria, and 3 percent from a species of snake! And, where did the ingredients from your lunch or dinner come from? One of every three bites you took probably came from a plant pollinated by wild pollinators. This is just the beginning of the list of the services provided by healthy, natural ecosystems," according to the Great Sunflower Project.

Here is the link for the Great Sunflower Project and this is a link to further information in an front page article from the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Lemon Queen Sunflower was chosen for the Great Sunflower Project because, "They are the best bar in town," according to LeBuhn. If no bees are noticed on the sunflowers, it indicates a problem with the population in that neighborhood.

Trouble in Bee World

Wild pollinators and the non-native honey bees are in trouble for a number of reasons and their populations have been dwindling at an alarming rate. But there are very few and limited studies about these valuable creatures. "we have to pay attention," LeBuhn told the Chronicle.

Some research, from Penn State and other universities, indicate the problems facing the pollinators are a combination of factors, including: lack of good native plants, loss of habitat, widespread use of killer pesticides, mites and other disease organisms.

Pollinator gardens are another very important way to help. A pollinator garden, useful in the vegetable garden or anywhere, is comprised of native plants and flowers which benefit the pollinators and bloom continuously throughout the season. This is a good time of the year to start a pollinator garden in most of garden Zone 5 in the US.

Independent Book Stores : Click the ad to link up Independent book stores in your area. How about a book on pollinators?


Grange News

Nominations for the Ag Hall of Fame and the Ag Industrial for Crawford County are due by September 10. The names should be submitted to either Chester Tau or Susan Tau. Both awards recognize outstanding achievements in agriculture. The award program is organized by the Grange but involves all agricultural organizations in the county. Awards will be presented at the annual banquet in November. For more information, contact the Ag Extension Office in Meadville at 814-333-7460.

For the Heck of It:

August 26th is National Dog Day, at least get some treats for the dog.
And this is cool, while trying to figure out my latitude and longitude for the Sunflower Project I came across this Web site. Enter your address and you get it.
Get ready the next Full Moon is September 4, the Full Corn Moon.

From the Sunflower Project:...the value of pollination services from wild pollinators in the U.S. alone is estimated at four to six billion dollars per year. While these ecosystem services are currently produced for “free”, replacing the natural ecosystem would cost many trillions of dollars. Unless human activities are carefully planned and managed, valuable ecosystems will continue to be impaired or destroyed.

Good Blogs to Read:

Vincent di Fondi- Vincent just published his first novel, Blessed Abduction, available through the link above. Or check his blog to learn more about the novel and his new home in Costa Rica.

On Your Way to the Top – Kathleen always has good insights

New York's Southern Tier – A travel destination in nearby New York by Richardson

Urban Veggie Blog – Dan is located in nearby Ontario and is a good gardener.

Other articles I have written for Helium can be found by clicking the title; others can be found below in the box at HubPages.

more »
HubPages

Goodbye - Weeds, Fleas and Ticks: Welcome Buckwheat

Buckwheat Sprouts - Four Days

The buckwheat seeds sprouted in the old garlic bed in four days.The buckwheat seeds were planted on a hot Friday; the following Tuesday little green shoots made the brown earth almost invisible.

Garlic use to grow in the new buckwheat bed. The garlic was harvested one day last week in between rainstorms. Hopefully,some buckwheat will mature before the killing frost arrives. Most information I have found claims buckwheat is rapid grower and ready for harvest in 8 to 12 weeks.

Buckwheat is a good cover crop; it improves the soil and it helps to suppress weed growth. The buckwheat did germinate faster than any weeds, and everyday seems to grow faster; so maybe it will give the weeds a taste of their own medicine. The plan is re-planted the bed back into garlic before Jack Frosts comes along.

There is another advantage. Buckwheat should bloom when it is four weeks old. This bed should start to bloom by mid September. The buckwheat, on this schedule, should be helpful to the late season bees and other pollinators. Most everything else will be dying back as the buckwheat begins. At least, that's my theory.

Read, Buy a Book from your Local Independent Book Store. Click the logo below.




Fleas and Ticks: Bad, Bad, Creatures

Fleas and ticks are nasty critters for both people and pets. Many of the available spot-on treatments contain some powerful insecticides. If you need to use these dangerous chemicals, be careful, follow the directions closely, and save the container in case there is an emergency with you or your pet. The FDA has listed some new advisories and warnings on their Web site linked below.

More natural and organic methods for being a responsible pet owner include brushing the cat or dog with a flea comb, herbal collars and bedding and daily household vacuuming.
No Fleas and Ticks without toxic chemicals makes for happy pets and people, like Yaw and Mike (photo - try to find the hidden beer - hint-in the flowers.) Yaw's real name is Yahataw, a Sioux word meaning "coyote".

More information can be found at the EPA Web site, Humane Society and the Center for Public Integrity. These sites can be a real eye opener for some people who don't get much of a chance to follow some of these issues.

Consumer Note:

While researching material about fleas and ticks, I happened on a natural fly repellent. The flies yesterday were flat out nasty o I went with this. In a spray bottle. Add a couple drops of dish soap and fill with water. Dang it work. Amazing. It kills these pests. Now to my quart spray bottle I have added a little baking soda (½ teaspoon) and ½ teaspoon of cooking oil. Now I've been spraying Yaw before and after using the flea comb and getting flies in between. It seems to help.


For the Heck of It:
There are two kinds of people in this world. There are those who walk into a room and say, “There you are.” and others who say: “Here I am.”

The Lemon Queen Sunflowers, photo above, should bloom this week....finally.


Blogs I like to read and recommend:

Vincent di Fondi- Vincent just published his first novel, Blessed Abduction, available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Check his blog to learn more about the novel and his new home in Costa Rica.

On Your Way to the Top – Kathleen always has good insights

New York's Southern Tier – A travel destination in nearby New York by Richardson

Urban Veggie Blog – Dan is located in nearby Ontario and is a good gardener.

Other articles I have written for Helium can be found by clicking the title; others can be found below in the box at HubPages.

more »
HubPages

Ripe Tomatoes: Late Blight - Stay Away

Harvest Season: Buy Local

I ate the first ripe tomatoes yesterday. In the excitement, I forgot to take a photograph So my friend Mike on the guitar was chosen for this post. (Besides, forty years ago today was the last day of the Woodstock Festival). There are some things to sing about, some songs could be –well, the blues. Late blight, a disease which kills tomatoes and potatoes, is rearing it's ugly head.

It is a late harvest because of the rain and cool conditions over much of the summer; many garden crops are stunted or have failed. However, the roadside stands appear to have plenty of produce available. Corn, tomatoes cucumbers, melons and peppers, even late strawberries are just now starting to be picked.

Support your local growers and shop at the farmers markets and roadside stands. They are local family, friends, and neighbors. Buy local. It is better for the environment, better for the local community and the produce is better for you.

So far so good with the late blight in my garden, although some things didn't do so well, like the spring peas. The pole beans are late but I am going to get a harvest. However, while the tomatoes look okay, that could change overnight, no sense singing too much just yet..

The first ripe tomatoes I picked were a variety called Speckled Roman. I was introduced to this variety by a grower several years ago and have been saving my own seeds ever since. They are an orange-red color with yellow streaks and look like a giant Roma tomato about five inches long.

They are indeterminate, a variety which will keep on producing until the first frost. A paste tomato, they make a great sauce and are great for fresh eating or for drying. Speckled Roman is a tomato which was developed by crossing an Antique Roman with a variety called Banana Legs by a plant breeder, Jim Swenson. If the blight stays away, I'll have hundreds of them; the plants are loaded with green tomatoes. Otherwise, I'll be singing the blues.

The Late Blight:Buy Local Seedlings

While weather conditions were perfect for a severe outbreak of this deadly disease, diseased plants, according to an editorial in the New York Times, from Bonnie Plants in Alabama shipped infected plants to many northeast and mid west retail garden centers. The infected plants were not discovered and recalled until June 26th. The damage was done and many unsuspecting home gardeners purchased the infected plants.

Consumer Note: It is better to start your own plants or purchase them from a reputable grower. Plants grown and shipped from 2,000 miles away have problems just like the food shipped from 2,000 miles away. It is better to buy local once again. Your chances of purchasing diseased plants are much less. Both heirlooms and hybrids can fall to the late blight. The late blight spores don't care.

Employment Fresh from the Vines is looking to hire someone at their bakery located on the farm; 20 to 40 hours, experieince helpful but commitment is more important. Contact rebecca@freshfromthevines.com

A New Introduction:

The link posted below is for books being sold at local, independent book stores in your area. Once again, purchasing from local bookstores is better for the environment and keep profits and money in the local community. I checked this site out and it is user friendly. Just enter your zip code in the menu box and you'll get a list of book stores in your area.

I found Vincent di Fondi's book, Blessed Abduction, listed as well as local northwestern Pennsylvania author, Sam Hossler, from the Canadohta Lake area. Sam's three novels, A Bloodstained Land, The Summer of 1763, and The Great Land Grab, are all based on actual historical records about events that happened in western Pennsylvania. To learn more about Sam, www.samhossler.com
Buy from your local book store through this site. It is easy and convenient.

Yes, I do get a small commission from books purchased through Koyote Hill. It is a tough recession and not a perfect world. Purchase a book and get ready for Christmas a little early.
Click the Indie Ad below:




For the Heck of It:

As of today, there are 36 days left until the first day of autumn.
Lettuce can be planted just before the really cold weather sets in this fall for an early spring crop. Plant the seeds and cover with a good layer of much. Once the weather warms in the spring remove the mulch and enjoy an early crop.
No, the buckwheat planted Friday has not germinated just yet and I am catching birds eating the seeds.
Just singin in the rain....thanks

Blogs

Vincent di Fondi- Vincent just published his first novel, Blessed Abduction, available through the link above under Introduction. Or check his blog to learn more about the novel and his new home in Costa Rica.

On Your Way to the Top – Kathleen always has good insights

New York's Southern Tier – A travel destination in nearby New York by Richardson

Urban Veggie Blog – Dan is located in nearby Ontario and is a good gardener.

Other articles I have written for Helium can be found by clicking the title; others can be found below in the box at HubPages.

more »
HubPages

Woodstock, Mystery Garden and the Buckwheat

Woodstock Anniversary Weekend - Have a Happy!

Backyard Buckwheat

The buckwheat was planted today in the first garlic bed that was harvested this week. The weather is forecast to be warm and sunny for a change so expect the buckwheat will germinate by Monday. It is the first fall garden crop to be planted. Jimmy Hendrix and his Woodstock Star Spangled Banner played. (Glad there are no close neighbors.)

Buckwheat is a rapid grower and is a good plant for soil management since it helps to add nitrogen to the soil and will suppress weeds. I covered the broadcast seed lightly with grass clippings hoping to fool the birds. With luck, the buckwheat will be ready to harvest by mid-October and the bed can then be re-planted in garlic for next year. I am thinking the bees will appreciate the crop. Never really tried to harvest the buckwheat seed but I'm going to try this year.

A second buckwheat planting, in a still yet to be harvested garlic bed, is planned for the weekend. Maybe I'll listen to some Woodstock Arlo Guthrie. This morning, after the buckwheat planting, a fall garden bed of lettuce was planted to Joe Cocker, another musician of Woodstock.

I added a row of swiss chard and a row of radicchio (some extra seed from last year I discovered), rossa di treviso precoce, This garden should rock by next week.

The fall garden peas are next on the agenda. And if you have the time, check an article about fall vegetable gardens here.

Mystery Vegetable Garden

This spring I moved the compost bin to another area. It was located in a corner area and with the rain and cold weather sort of forgotten. Over the last couple of weeks, I noticed large, blooming tomato plants growing in the old spot, along with some blooming melon vines and kale. The plants have nice sized green, unblemished and not cracked tomatoes. No sign of any blight on these wild plants and I only plant heirlooms. These could be Permisson tomatoes but I'll have to wait and see. The seasons not over yet but this wild, mystery vegetable garden could be an unexpected fall harvest.

Politics
Enough is enough with the health care nonsense. By nonsense, I mean these extremist groups who are fear mongering and twisting the facts and the truth. I have heard such crazy and undefined things as “socialism” - whatever that is; death panels – a basic fairy tale story a step or two beneath the tooth fairy story and “welfare” – the thing we call bail-outs for Wall Street and mega banks. And my favorite is free health care for illegal immigrants.
What happened to Christian values of truth telling? What happened to American values of freedom of truthful and accurate information?
Boycott those who peddle the lies, be it media, insurance, or health groups. Our health is too important to make decisions based on lies. The bottom line for these groups is the almighty dollar even as they try to quote scripture.
Let's get back to a sensible and intelligent debate or a Woodstock like affair and stop the nonsense.

For the Heck of It

Have a good Woodstock weekend. It was a weekend that really changed a lot of things for the better.
“The New York State Thruway is closed., man. Isn't that far out.” Arlo Guthrie at Woodstock.

August 26th National Dog Day.

Fall Vegetable Gardens, let me know what you think, comments.

Blogs I like to read and recommend:

Vincent di Fondi- Vincent just published his first novel, Blessed Abduction, available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Check his blog to learn more about the novel and his new home in Costa Rica.

On Your Way to the Top – Kathleen always has good insights

New York's Southern Tier – A travel destination in nearby New York by Richardson

Urban Veggie Blog – Dan is located in nearby Ontario and is a good gardener.

Other articles I have written for Helium can be found by clicking the title; others can be found below in the box at HubPages.

more »
HubPages

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Fall Vegetable Garden: More Healthy Produce

Keep on Planting Vegetables

Fall vegetable and herb gardens help to prolong the home garden produce season. August and September, in many northern climates, are ideal months to continue planting vegetables.
Fall vegetable crops can help to save money and provide fresh and healthy produce for eating. There is still plenty of time to plant lettuce, swiss chard, spinach and peas; cole crops like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage do good in the cooler temperatures of fall. Root crops will also provide a good harvest, sometimes even under the snow. Red beets, turnips, kohlrabi and even carrots. If a gardener hurries, beans can planted in August will also mature before the killing frost.
Some of the herbs which can be planted in a fall vegetable garden are basil (a fast grower), cilantro, which will often reseed itself, dill, and parsley.
Keep on planting this fall. A vegetable garden is worth the time and effort.

Consumer-Home Note: Another good reason to plant Basil in the fall, besides eating, is the herb is a natural fly repellent. If started in pots, it can be grown in the house. Flies can be bad all year, but seem worse in late summer and fall. Basil is easily grown in containers as shown in photo.

Plant and Plan the Pollinator Patch

August and September are great months to move and divide perennials. Perennial seeds can also be started for next year. A pollinator garden near or in the vegetable and herb garden is a good practice. The pollinator garden will attract a lot of bees and other beneficial insects. Properly planned the pollinator garden will add a lot of vibrant colors; something relaxing to look at when pulling weeds. Okay, Morgan?

Think Garlic

Garlic is a healthy addition to any garden. It should be planted in September or October in most northern regions. Garlic is easy to grow and is not bothered by insects and other pests. And yes Vincent, garlic does keep the vampires away.

My Garlic Experiment – My garlic beds will be re-planted as soon as the garlic is harvested. This year it will be buckwheat. Buckwheat ( and thanks to BW for the seed and Christopher K. with the digging, photo) is a good cover crop which helps to prevent weeds and adds nitrogen to the soil. Hopefully, it will be mature before the snow gets here so garlic can be replanted in the beds. Backyard buckwheat could be something different and I have been reading about how to harvest it. Another fun project on the horizon.

Grange

The contest winners from the Family Activities Program were selected last week. Here are some first place winners who will advance to state finals in October. It is a long list so this will be staggered over a couple posts. From Vernon grange, Carolyn Zahora, chocolate chip muffins(sounds awful good); from Rundells Grange, Pat Roncaglione several contests in sewing and table decorations; also from Rundells Grange, Dorothy Porter for Christmas Ornaments (yike that's coming too)
Hospital Dolls – During the contest, Grange members donated twenty homemade dolls for children to be used by hospitals and ambulance services. Good work.
The Grange is a good family organization to join and membership is open to everyone regardless of location or age.

For the Heck of It
Just found this out myself. What does Zip Code stand for? Zoning Improvement Plan. Now you know.
Be nice to the dog on August 26th. It is National Dog Day.

Blogs I like to read and recommend:

Vincent di Fondi- Vincent just published his first novel, Blessed Abduction, available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Check his blog to learn more about the novel and his new home in Costa Rica.

On Your Way to the Top – Kathleen always has good insights

New York's Southern Tier – A travel destination in nearby New York by Richardson

Urban Veggie Blog – Dan is located in nearby Ontario and is a good gardener.

Other articles I have written for Helium can be found by clicking the title; others can be found below in the box at HubPages.

more »
HubPages

SEARCH BOC CODE FOR GOOGLE

Thanks

When to Harvest Garlic:Tips, How to Cure and Store

Harvest Garlic

When to harvest garlic depends on a number of things. Garlic was ready for harvest here within the last several days. It has been a cool and rainy growing season and it seems the garlic harvest is later than usual this year, at least in the garden here.

The trick of when to harvest garlic, which was planted last October, is to watch the leaves. When about half of the leaves on the garlic have turned brown, it is ready to dig, cure and store. If the garlic is harvested too early, it won't store well, and if the garlic is harvested too late (when all the leaves have turned brown), the cloves fall apart and will not keep well. I think the taste isn't quite as good either.

Knowing when to harvest garlic is part of the story, only the first step. There are more tricks to remember to keep healthy garlic throughout the winter: cure the garlic, storage for winter use, and re-planting in late September or October. Following the general tips of when to harvest garlic, how to cure and storage will save money, provides more nutritional and health benefits and good home cooked meals.

Harvest Garlic: Dig Garlic

A good shovel or spade is important to have for the garlic harvest. Garlic bulbs don't pull out of the ground very easily. To harvest garlic requires some patience with the shovel since it is easy to slice through a clove. And once the garlic is out of the ground, even more patience is needed. Garlic can bruise very easily at this stage and it needs to be carefully placed in the shade as soon as possible. Garlic will get sunburned if left in the direct sun and it will spoil.

The two beds of hard neck garlic I plant have about 500 garlic bulbs each and one smaller one with about 100. The harvest is staged over several days. Once the garlic has been harvested and, if the weather cooperates, it is next hung on the clothesline in the shade. The dirt dries easily and can be brushed off. It only takes a couple hours; quicker with a breeze.

Harvest Garlic: Curing the Garlic

Then the garlic bulbs are hung in the tool shed to cure for several weeks. I keep the stems and roots on during this stage and trim them after a month or so. Then, they are placed inside in a dark, cool closet, a cellar in a cool spot would be great. Garlic is best stored at about 50 degrees F.

Consumer Note: The garlic purchased at the supermarket is stored at 32 F because of federal regulations. This is one reason why it sprouts soon after it purchased. When the garlic is placed on the shelves in the supermarket, the temperature is much warmer and the garlic want to begin it's growth cycle. If garlic is purchased, it will last much longer if it is not placed in a refrigerator.

Harvest Garlic: Big Garlic Bulbs and Smaller Garlic Bulbs

During the garlic harvest, separate the largest bulbs. These are the seed stock to be planted late next month. The largest cloves, after the bulbs are separated, produce the larger bulbs when it comes time to harvest garlic.

This year, the smaller bulbs are going to be dried in the dehydrator for homemade garlic powder. Never tried before so this will be an experiment. But I am betting it will be far more superior to store boughten garlic powder.

The smaller cloves can also be pickled. There are some good recipes for this. I usually add some really hot peppers to the jar (maybe my own creation but I like it). The larger bulbs, the ones not used for replanting are stored, for winter culinary experiments.

For the Heck of It.

A new study about rooks, birds once called crows, finds they are actually very intelligent and proves one of Aesop's fables fairly accurate.

Blogs I like to read:

Vincent di Fondi - Vincent just published his first novel, Blessed Abduction, available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. See his blog for good reading and more information on the novel.

On Your Way to the Top – Kathleen Richardson is a fellow writer at Helium. She is also a pretty good poet. The link is a good poem about the death of a parent.

New York's Southern Tier – A travel destination Blog also written by Richardson. If you are going to be in that area, check out what to do and see.

Urban Veggie Blog – Dan's been cooking up a storm with his vegetable garden.

Some of the articles I have written are at HubPages below. Others at Helium can be found clicking the title.

more »
HubPages

Obedient Plants and Sphinx Show

Obedient Plant

About five years ago, I planted six obedient plants in a small wet patch of ground next to the vegetable garden. Normally, it was just a place where the cattails grew along with some jewel weed.

I have been amazed ever since. Obedient plants are members of the mint family, so they like to wander. Some would call them invasive but I had a spot where that would be perfectly alright. And spread they did.

An obedient plant, technically Physostegia virginiana, is listed as a native flower of Pennsylvania. There are several reasons why this is a good wildflower.

Deer don't bother it and it can grow on wet, almost marshy ground (rain garden possibility). It attracts bees... lots of them, and numerous butterflies. It is common to see hummingbirds feasting on the flowers which opened this week, the first week of August. That seem a little early but I have never kept records.

They are called “obedient” because you can turn or bend the the flower stock and that is the way it remains ( kids sort of like this). It is a good choice if you want some action close to the garden and something besides golden rods and cattails, as nice as they are, to look at when taking a break pulling weeds.

The Great Sunflower Project

The Great Sunflower Project seems like it is in high gear. The project is sponsored by the University of San Fransisco. They send thousands of free packages of Lemon Queen Sunflowers to participants who will count the number of bees in a ten minute period several times a month. The backyard data is them sent to the university.

Some of the early results, from an email I received the other day from the project, indicated that most people saw their first bees within 2.6 minutes and five bees in 9.6 minutes. I'd be counting but my Lemon Queen sunflowers have not opened just yet. I suspect, however, they will bloom next week; they have some nice swelling lowers buds on them.

The Lemon Queens are planted along the back fence of the veggie garden where the pole beans are desperately trying to grow despite the cold and rainy summer. I have never planted this variety before so this experiment will be interesting.

Bees, Butterflies and the Hummers

The obedient plants, according to my “scientific” observations have plenty of bumblebees. I counted eight within the space of a minute (at 5pm on a semi-cloudy day). The top photograph captures one busy at work. If you haven't tried, it is a challenge to get a picture of a hungry bee.

Shortly afterwards, I checked for the honey bees. In the middle of the garden and scattered here and there are borage plants. In less than a minute I counted six honey bees on the borage (also called the bee plant) in just one patch.

While I saw no butterflies or hummingbirds today, I did watch two Sphinx moths on the obedient flowers (okay go ahead and laugh). They are also called Hummingbird Moths because, well, they look like hummingbirds. The moths are just amazing but harder than a bee when it comes to taking a photograph. I know I have two dead batteries tying.

The vegetable garden here is alive and well. No ripe tomatoes just yet, and no blight (fingers crossed) but plenty of green and ripening tomatoes and peppers. All the little creatures flying around the native wild flowers are helping the vegetable garden out more than the weather.

For the Heck of It: Started to dig the garlic yesterday. It's hanging on the clothesline to dry out in the shade. (top photo) Fresh dug garlic can get sunburned. More on this project coming.

Blogs I like to read and recommend:

Vincent di Fondi- Vincent just published his first novel, Blessed Abduction, available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Check his blog to learn more about the novel and his new home in Costa Rica.

On Your Way to the Top – Kathleen Richardson is a fellow Helium writer, she is trying desperately to watch her weight but did enjoy a good lunch the other day. Never says what she ate though! She also has some thoughts on the economy.

New York's Southern Tier – Kathleen above also writes a travel destination blog for the Southern Tier of New York. So if your in the area or planning a trip that way, stop by her blog and see what is happening.

Urban Veggie Blog – Dan gardens in nearby Ontario and periodically write how he uses his garden produce in his kitchen. It is informative with plenty of ideas and plans for your own homestead.

Other articles I have written for Helium can be found by clicking the title; others can be found below in the box at HubPages.

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Jalapeno Kitchen Tip: When It's Hot, It's Hot

Jalapeño
I often wondered about this. Now, maybe be an answer. Ever buy Jalapeños and when you get home, some are hot, while others have little flavor and very little heat? It seems that the older the Jalapeño the more heat and flavor, according to one blog I was reading. And this tip seems to work.

Look for white streaks on the pepper and those turning red. They have more heat. Naturally, the seeds and the inner membrane are where the heat is concentrated but the hotter ones, even the green ones, have the white streaks on the outer skin.

I tried this. It works. I purchased two Jalapeños the other day. One was an appetizing green, the other a duller green with the streaks. The streaked one won in my kitchen taste test. It was hotter.

My garden Jalapeños are doing okay this year but like most vegetables, the Jalapeños are late. I blame the cold wet weather this region has had since the beginning of the season. The average temps, from the airport some thirty miles away on the more temperate lake shore, was 65 degrees F. Inland areas were worse than that, according to my unscientific observations with upwards of a foot of rain in July.

Late Tomato and Potato Blight Update

Late blight is continuing it's fatal march across much of eastern north America. A google news search on the subject is something of an eye-opener. There are reports of the blight in counties in some Pennsylvania counties, nearby Ohio and New York. No reports as of yet in the northwestern areas of the state.

However, the blight travels quickly with the wind, so I would think it is likely to make it's nasty appearance. For some photos and more information and links on the blight, what to look for and do, click here. I have a few questions in to local ag extension offices which I will share when they respond. The blight is not dangerous to human health or peppers like jalapenos.

To learn more about precautions and what to to do, click here.


Grange

Judging for Grange Family Activities contest will be held at the Hayfield Grange Thursday, August 5th beginning at 7 pm. The contest involves quilts, sewing and embroidery and baking. First place winner will move on to state Grange competition in October. I don't think they have a jalapeno chili cook-off but a lot of good pies and cakes.

Hospital dolls should also be brought to the grange hall the same evening. This is a great program where volunteers make dolls which are used by the local emergency volunteer people and medical centers and given to injured children. This is a terrific program for kids and means a lot to them,

Grange membership is open to anyone and there are a lot of activities and fun things for the entire family. More information, just leave an comment here and it will be forwarded or contact any local grange hall. It is a great organization.

Union City Art Project

Everyone, all ages, even the non-artists, are invited to help construct a mosaic tile bench in downtown. The bench was built by Union City High School students with material donated by a local manufacturer, MFG. Times are, beginning August 12th, from 9:30 am to noon and again on Fridays from 1pm to 5:30 pm. For more information, contact abbebiebel@aol.com

For the Heck of It:

This is really scary – as of today August 4th, only 49 days till Autumn. Ughhhh. And to reader BW, I haven't seen any chupacabra in the woods yet but did see a game commission vehicle on the road yesterday. Buy some Jalapenos and give a holler if the tip works for you.

Blogs that are good and well worth reading:

Vincent di Fondi Vincent just published his first novel, Blessed Abduction, be sure to check it out. Available at Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. Read more on his blog.

On Your Way to the Top

New York's Southern Tier

Urban Veggie Garden

I have other articles, mainly gardening, at Helium, just click on the title above, and HubPages below.

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