Quote of the day: If a person feels he can't communicate, the least he can do is shut up about it.—Tom Lehrer When I stopped in at Iovine Brothers at the Reading Terminal Market the other day, there was a woman who was going through all the packs of scallions, picking them up one by … Continue reading This, That, and the Other
Garden
You Say Tomato
The tomatoes that I grew in my tiny backyard are very red and very small. And that would be OK except the skins are tough, and I hate tough skins on tomatoes. Moreover, the flavor is not really any better than what I can get from the tomatoes I buy on 9th Street. So why … Continue reading You Say Tomato
I Never Expected…
Back when I planted the tomato plants, I never expected them to grow as tall as they have. Certainly not as quickly as they did. As I walk around the neighborhood and see other tomato plants that folks are trying to grow, none of them are nearly as high as the ones in my back … Continue reading I Never Expected…
Number Nine
On Saturday I relocated squirrel number nine. Number nine, number nine, number nine… It’s been awhile since I relocated any squirrels. The birds had started eating the bait. …number nine, number nine, number nine… And then the heat waves began, and I didn’t feel like carting the squirrels to a park in 90+ degree heat, … Continue reading Number Nine
Checking on the Tomato Plants
I’m finding I have to water those tomato plants three times a day now and spray them with water to keep them hydrated. That little postage stamp of a yard really heats up in the Philadelphia summer as the sun beats down relentlessly, there’s no place for the heat to go. Even with the frequent … Continue reading Checking on the Tomato Plants
Nineteen Days
I’m trying again this year to grow tomatoes in my tiny back yard. The idea is that the squirrels are under control, so with any luck they won’t be nibbling on any tomatoes when they appear. I was surprised at how fast the plants zoomed up. These were just little starter plants in small containers … Continue reading Nineteen Days
Saving Rosemary
I’ve had herbs growing in my postage stamp backyard all summer long, and the rosemary bush was still going strong as the temperature finally dropped below the freezing mark. I had decided to bring it inside to see if it would like it indoors over the winter and I could continue to harvest its delectable … Continue reading Saving Rosemary
A Simple Lunch
Sometimes the simple meals are the most satisfying. I made a spaghetti sauce by sautéing some onions with an Italian sausage, then added some Rao’s Marinara Sauce and parsley from my herb garden. A side of asparagus from the Garden State and a salad of an avocado drizzled with lime juice.
Garden Update 2023-05-22
The little herb garden in my postage stamp back yard is coming along nicely. I’ve added some rosemary, thyme, and oregano, and I’ve even been able to harvest some herbs already.
JT, How Does Your Garden Grow?
With basil and parsley, sort of in a row. Sprinkled with cayenne pepper to try to keep the squirrels away. I’ve found that herbs are about the only thing I can grow that the squirrels don’t eventually find a way to destroy.