Spring Harvest

Here's the deal, I have always envisioned myself as having a bit of a black thumb. Everything I plant dies. This year as we started from scratch in the front and back yards, I wanted (okay, DEMANDED) that we produce some food in the gardens.

There is no way it's cheaper. Not when you factor in the water we pay for to grow the stuff. And don't even factor in the hours it takes of tending it day after day. The simple fact is it tastes better. WAY BETTER.

But there I am with my black thumb begging Lyle to plant something because he has such a handsome green thumb.

This year, I seized my opportunity. Fresh yard, fresh year, fresh thumb. Or so I hoped. As a caution against being disappointed, I assume that everything I plant will die. Imagine my delight when only half die. Or this year, imagine my delight when only about 25% do poorly! Yes, contrary to what I could have you believe, not all I sink into the land turns gold. But since I assumed so much would fail, I have greatly over planted to compensate. Hence my joy in bringing you these lovely photos.

Two weeks ago the garden surrounding the fountain in the front yard.

Today, the garden around the fountain in the front yard! (pre-harvest)

When I was in Arizona visiting Mickey Utendale, she made an amazing salad of tomatoes layered with peeled oranges, sweet onions, chopped basil and then drizzled with balsamic vinegar. (more details on request, if you need them) The beauty of the recipe is that besides the onion, I have everything else growing in my yard!

Oranges and tomatoes from the back yard. I commented to our horticulturist friend, Brad, that the tomatoes didn't look ripe, but they were falling off the vine. He told me perhaps they were a different variety that didn't turn red on the outside. He's right!
So for dinner tonight we had the tomato/orange salad, rotisserie chicken, fresh garden green salad with duck confit (planned over from Christmas) and for dessert Lyle made tiramisu. Ugh, I need to go to the gym...