We Meet Again

Meg has been a real rock for me this last year and half. And isn't that family - real family? After barely seeing her for the last 30 years, when I really needed a lifeline she has been there (although I don't feel a need to run away with her). Another thing to add to the grateful list. And this time it seemed more like a visit and less like a therapy session.

For our May meeting we went to the beautiful Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach (the heart of Arrested Development country) where the service was without peer and the food was excellent; poached salmon salad with a honey mustard dressing. Nothing new but prepared perfectly. We looked out at the yachts on what was unfortunately a very dreary day in May.

California takes its time getting hot in the spring, but once it does it might stay that way though January. The coast experiences what is called June (and May) Gloom which is a fairly constant overcast or foggy condition really throughout spring. By July it usually lifts and by November you are praying for clouds to alleviate the unrelenting sun.


Always ready to rise to the occasion, I dressed like the babushka I am and headed out. Actually, a funny thing happened. As I was sitting in my car the other day the driver's window just sunk into the door frame and I haven't had time to fix it. So, since the day was cool and I had an 80 mile highway drive ahead of me, I donned my all purpose scarf and took off. It will join the list of those outfits I wear when I do not want anyone to approach me. Below is a picture I took of myself when I arrived at the restaurant. Fear not, I took it off, fluffed my hair, added makeup and stepped out of my car a whole new person. But should I ever be a refugee, I have the clothes for it.

Ugh!

That's fine, you say, but what of the garden? Ah, I thought you would never ask. My beans have been a challenge but after several nights in a row of snail hunting and some TLC in the way of nutrients via fish emulsion, epsom salts and ground up Cal/Mag pills, they are coming around.

Not only are they starting to green up, they have blossoms on them!
(probably from stress - will spit out 2 beans and die)

The Early Girl tomatoes are true to their name and starting to get me excited. Jean reminded me that at the end of the season last time I did veggies I swore I would never get Early Girl again. Obviously, I forgot.

Above is the herb box. There are basil, garlic, dill, cilantro/coriander, ginger, parsley, bunching onions and in the center, in it's own container since it doesn't play well with others, mint

The strawberry tower. You can't see it but over the fencing is bird netting. I am determined to get a strawberry before birds and dogs get to it.


I thought I would try a bed with "the three sisters": corn, pole beans and squash. The squash is just zucchini - I can't wait to see how much space it ends up taking. The beans are growing a tad faster than I had anticipated. I was hoping the corn would support the beans. We shall see. I counted 22 stalks of corn in there - I love fresh corn!

The greatest delight is the now established but still a work in progress cottage-ish garden. And, to top it off, I have cheated and gotten a mat of butterfly/hummingbird flowers and have postponed one of the vegetable raised beds to feed my soul. My body gets more than enough but my soul is begging for morsels.

As you can see, Layla does not respect my boundaries. My priority purchase was going to be that nice cheap white wire fencing, but when I went to get some - they were out!

Beautiful blue plumbago - very prolific!

One of the new yellow roses

Valya's garden. All planted from cuttings.
I love the display of Russian tea things in the window.

This poor hydrangea has been through hell. It is in a neglected area where the water was
off for way too long and it was completely overtaken by weeds and
I never thought it would live, much less bloom. I love it and it looks great.