Knee High by the Fourth of July

I thought it was time for an up-date on my summer gardening activity. It is our national holiday and corn should be knee high at this time. Not that I have anyone standing in the corn to verify visually BUT this corn is more than knee high. It's up to my waist.

The corn on the east end are not quite knee high but almost.

After clearing and pulling the stalks of corn from last year I used them as ground cover to protect the soil. They only covered the middle third of the plot and I think that is the reason for better growth by the corn in the middle.

I was thinking of adding some Strawberry plants in the "flower pot" and when I read Ray's story on preparing strawberries on his blog it became a done deal.

There are only five plants but I choose the starters with runners already there in hopes of these five little plants taking over the space in a few short years.

I also planted a few Petunias to be with my Italian Torpedo Onions.

The onions in the "flower pot" are starting to look good despite my fear of lack of sunlight.

My big plot of Italian Torpedo Onions in the common garden plots are not progressing as fast as I had hoped for. I'm thinking they spent too much time in the delivery box waiting for the plot to be prepared for planting. We'll see sometime in September if they are going to be ready for harvest. If not this year I will winter them over and they will likely be great in the spring.

Compare this picture with the one I took on planting day.

Gardening at Colterra Food and Wine

I am a member of the staff at Colterra Food and Wine. Visit the web site to learn why this garden is important to everyone that becomes involved with the restaurant.

The garden is an on going project with plantings trying to keep up with consumption.

Starter plants are everywhere waiting to be grounded.

These Rhubarb plants look a little spare because over the last weekend the kitchen made a wonderful Strawberry and Rhubarb Galette. We sold every one.

Someone's been trimming the Chives.

Greens used in our salads.

One should be so lucky to be seated on this table for six on the outdoor patio next to the garden under the shaded protection of hundred year old trees.

This house is called the "Gables" and is used for larger private parties. It is one of two historic houses that are occupied by the restaurant.

Behind the Gables is an area that will be covered this winter to allow greens to be grown year round.

These beds were just planted with tomatoes. Nothing like August tomatoes in Colorado.

Steven preparing an alfresco table for evening service.

Home Gardening

Inspired by a Pete Wells blog in the New York Times Diner's Journal.
To take pictures and post them with stories.

I used to plant in the local Boulder Community Gardens
a number of years ago. The Candy Corn never seemed to make it out of the garden as I ate it raw.

Originally my homeowners association wouldn't let us have gardens on the grounds because of what would happen when the gardeners left, who would take card of the tilled ground.

Well now we have numerous plots located around the grounds.

The following pictures were taken June 5th 2008.

This plot was abandoned by a resident that moved to another part of town. I got in late last year and planted Candy Corn on the 15th of June. When I prepared the soil for planting it was hard and appeared sterile, there were no worms. Catherine must have had some results the year before as some volunteers came back. I ended up getting seven ears of corn.

Just a close up of my little babies.

So this is a little close up of a planting of Italian Torpedo Onions in the "Flower Pot" at the entrance to our condo circle.

Last year I planted some Italian Red Torpedo Onions in some small plots at my mother's house across town. I had heard about them in the restaurant business and researched them enough to want to plant some. The classic presentation is to slice them length ways and grill them. Even a little heat made them almost too mild to appreciate. What I didn't sell to the local restaurants went raw into salads or other yummy items.

It just seemed like a perfect place to plant some of the onions. I'm not sure about the amount of sunshine in this plot but it keeps the cats out.

A close up of my "official" garden plot. It's all onions and the other gardeners are curious about my intentions. I sell them to the local restaurants. Actually I take trade at the restaurants, barter is good for both sides.

Look for a lonely Petunia in the future.

The plot right next to mine was used by Ian last year but he moved. This lettuce is a volunteer from last year and will soon be requisitioned for Colterra Food and Wine, the restaurant where I work for a living.

Some more of Ian's volunteers.

Mike, one of the residents that likes to help others keep an eye on their plots.

Here's Mike overlooking his plot. Those radishes are getting big.

I printed this picture and titled it "Garden Gnome" and hung it on the back yard fence.

In the yard

Just one week ago these three Maples dominated the corner. Now the leaves are on the lawn creating a different take on red. Notice the Sumac in the background against the side of the house, they're just getting a good start.

Black Walnuts

A few things about this magnificent Black Walnut tree just across the street from the original farm house. It used to provide lots of fruit. Hard to get into and very messy but the reward was one of my favorite treats. To this day my favorite ice cream is Black Walnut. The leaves you see are the only ones left, not because the others dropped but because the tree is dying. By this time next year it will have been taken out. What a sad story. The Black Walnut trees in Boulder are being attacked by a beetle and more than 200 will be taken down within a few months. A full story is written in the Boulder Camera with a link to a PDF map showing all tree locations. Hey, it's a good map of Boulder with the neighborhoods named and shaded different colors.

This is getting good

This Oak on Glenwood is really getting its colors right. Last week it was just starting to get going. This picture should be with the post One Week Later but it can stand on its own.

One Week Later

The Oak just on the other side of the Blue Spruce has changed a lot. Of course the blue sky and 70 degree temperatures add to the picture. I stood a little closer last week.
The tree across from my Mom's house is dropping all its leaves and making the yard a golden yellow. See how full the tree was only a week ago.
This is a beautiful Oak one block over from where I grew up. It was the edge of town then. I remember the ditch for the utilities down the middle of the street was so so so deep for a little kid. Years later while serving in the USAF and stationed in France our base golf course considered the old trenches from WWI to be the hazards. I think they were even deeper than the ditch down 18th St.
A freshly planted Maple sitting next to the recently re-modeled original farm house. This building sits on the corner and used to have the best Jonathan Apple tree right in the front yard. They were so good when I was growing up. They had to remove the tree but the property looks wonderful and fresh.