Confessions of a Free Spirited Gardener

I love the outdoors. I would rather be outdoors than almost anywhere except my kitchen. I especially appreciate trees…. so much, that when I lived in Seattle (before I knew there was such a thing as shades that lowered from the top of the window down) I hung my shades about one-third of the way from the top of the window so I could always see the trees.

I bring this creative spirit to my cooking…for example putting peanut butter in an omelet (it’s delicious, I will share the quick recipe below)…and to my gardening.

I came to gardening later in my life. I grew up with a mother whose green thumb grew amazing tomatoes good enough to eat like apples, trees that produced unlimited amounts of perfect lemons, gorgeous roses and the list goes on. The best part is she was a weekend gardener like me so I learned that a beautiful garden is possible even if one does not have time every day to tend to it.

My first real garden was definitely trial and error. I purchased a darling little house in an old neighborhood in Seattle with a backyard filled with weeds as tall as me. I slowly started in the front planting here and there and putting flowers in pots when winter came and the ground froze. I walked the neighborhood with a friend and learned the names of local plants and flowers and I eventually had a lovely front and back yard; however I learned something about selecting plants for my garden…think about the climate when you select your plants. I hand selected a dozen rose bushes for an area of my garden not realizing that a rose garden is not the best choice for a damp climate; the roses were beautiful but required a lot of maintenance.  I was constantly fighting powdery mildew and black spot.

The point here is that for me gardening is trial and error. I am okay with learning along the way what works and what doesn’t though I am learning more and more to pick plants that are suited to the climate, amount of sun, and space that I am in. I still plant things that strike my fancy…like the Japanese Anemone that I saw and fell in love with in Cambria, California. However, I learned they like to spread so mine is in a pot in my garden (I will show photos when it blooms) – still lovely and contained. I love Lavender and have a couple of different varieties and in my garden they get quite large…so I accidentally found out that this is a great way to hide the box with the sprinkler controls. 

Within the last couple of years, I pulled out my front lawn and decided to plant more of a cottage garden. My neighbors were concerned when I pulled out my lawn.... and I really had no idea how it would turn out but to all of our delight it worked and I have had a lot of fun with it – though my penchant for flowers creates more work, to me it is worth it…I have to deadhead the spent flowers to keep the new blooms coming in.  Lately I have pulled out some of the plants that got so big they were taking over and started planting some California Native plants (especially some local to my area) that I get from Ventura Native Plant and Seed Company (http://venturanatives.com/). The result is delightful; 

I am so happy to have a garden that is a pleasure to walk through and even to sit and pull weeds.... surrounded by different varieties of birds including lots of hummingbirds, bees that pollinate the flowers, butterflies, and wonderful scents.

I will leave you with a tip; when I purchase plants, I buy them from local suppliers so that I can ask which area of my garden might be the best place for a specific plant (for example, the amount of sun or shade it needs). Later if any problems arise they are my first resource for natural solutions or suggestions, as I prefer to avoid using chemicals. For example I learned from Greg at Ventura Native Plant and Seed Company to use a mixture of vinegar and dish soap on weeds – this really works, just be careful to only spray the weed. I use one cup white vinegar in a spray bottle with 1 teaspoon of liquid castile soap and gently swirl to mix (so it does not get sudsy), and spray. Within one day or less the weeds start turning brown.

Enjoy the pictures of my garden and the recipe below.

Peanut Butter Omelet  (one serving)

If you like Peanut Butter as much as I do this will make your mouth smile.

Ingredients: 1 large egg, 1 Tablespoon peanut butter (creamy works best but you may use crunchy if you prefer), ¼ teaspoon vanilla, 1-teaspoon local honey or your favorite jam if desired.

Crack the egg into a small bowl and beat with a fork until the yolk and white are blended.

Add the vanilla and beat until that is blended in.

Heat a pat of butter in a small frying pan (non-stick works best) just until it is melted and starting to bubble.  Medium heat works best.

Add the egg and swirl the pan a little to let it coat the bottom. Cover and cook for 1 to 3 minutes just until you start to see the egg set when you lift up the lid (no longer runny).  Put the peanut butter in the center and let cook a couple minutes more so the peanut better gets a little melted; spread it out a little in the middle. Take your spatula and push from one side to the other, roll once and then roll again and you should have a rolled up omelet that resembles a crepe. Slide onto a plate and eat just like it is or enjoy with a little honey or jam on top. 

So much fun to make and kids love it, but even grown-ups are surprised at how good it tastes!!

Until next time… may you find enjoyment in food and nature,

Marla