Thing to Do Around Here in April

VP posted another You Ask We Answer (YAWA) edition on things to do around her neck of the woods. As a YAWA A.P.E. Texas Branch correspondent I feel the responsibility to tell you of a couple of things we can do around here at this time of year.

First I hope to see some of you this Saturday at the Kaufman County Master Gardeners' Spring Seminar at the First Assembly Church of God Church at 3401 S Houston St Corner of State Hwy 34 and FM 1388] in Kaufman, Texas. 8am registration. Program begins at 9 am. No attendance fee/ pre registration is not required. Seminar will include a Master Gardener plant sale, as well as the sale of Orchids and Earth Kind Roses, a silent auction, refreshments, informational booths and a photography contest [2 -8x10 photos per entrant. Photos must be submitted during registration between 8-9 am]. Speakers will be Lynn Ackerman, Master Gardener: Gardening with Cactus and Succulents; Dotty Woodson Ed D Extension Program Specialist- Water Resources Texas AgriLife Extension Texas A & M System: Home Irrigation Systems; Pat Abramson, Master Gardener: Gardening with Herbs. If additional information is needed, please call 972-932-9069. I will be the crazy lady selling plants.

The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival will run 4/17-19. I am planning on attending on Friday and hope to get a bunch of other north Texas garden bloggers to meet up with me there.

Finally, Dallas Blooms will run through 4/12 at the Dallas Arboretum.

I Think I Survived April Fools Day or They Just Can't Find Me

I hid out all day at the library. Right now, it is 20 minutes until midnight on April fools day. So far, they have not got me. I took preemptive action and poked myself in the eye with my garden journal last night to get sympathy and avoid April fools shenanigans. I think they are all asleep. Just to be safe I am staying up until midnight. If I don't post tomorrow, somebody come find me. They are evil pranksters and cannot be trusted. I am not paranoid. Seriously.

Google Translate Makes Garden Blog Reading Even More Fun

A few weeks ago, I took an advanced google search class for my job at the library. I had used it before, but was reintroduced to google translate. We have many Spanish speaking patrons and this little tool makes asking questions a little easier. No magic bullet just one more resource.

How does this apply to garden blogging? Well, I love the photography on the blog Garden Life . His English is very good. My Japanese, not so much, er, at all. Now I just highlight his text, copy, move it over to google translate and boom, I can read what he is writing. Now I can enjoy the thoughts and words as well as the photos.

There are more blogs on Blotanical written in languages other than English. Now I am off to enjoy their blogs without the language barrier.

Give it a try.

Crimes Against Onions

 
 

Some monkey or another pulled up a bunch of half grown onions and threw them on the front lawn. This crime has Baby Monkey written all over it. He is going to eat those onions.

So tell me internet, what is the appropriate punishment for crimes against onions?

Middle Monkey's Favorite Greens

Middle Monkey asked for greens tonight. Here is how we do it.

Greens - Swiss chard and collards today, a bunch, more that you think you need. This stuff reduces down to nothing.
1 clove minced garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Saute the garlic in the olive oil over medium heat. While the garlic is sauteing, remove the stalks and chop the greens. Add the greens to the oil and garlic and wilt. Add the chicken broth to the pot and reduce. When almost all of the liquid is gone, remove the greens from the heat and add the vinegar. Watch as Middle Monkey eats it all and doesn't share.

Greens cutting technique - Cut out the stalks. Roll the leaves up all together. Slice the rolled up greens the long way, don't let go. Now cut the greens the short way across the length of the rolled up greens. Ta-da, Perfectly cut up greens very fast. Hope this made some sort of sense. I'm tired. Never mind, I went and had Baby Monkey take some pictures that will show you. Sorry about that last picture.

 
 
 
 

Earth Hour with the Monkeys

A sampling of things I had to yell during Earth Hour.

"That's not fair. Your arms are twice a long as his."
"HEY! MY COUCH"
"Stop jumping around with candles"
"You may not catch anything on fire."
"Do not throw shoes."
"You have to pee in the dark"
"HEY, THOSE ARE MY PILLOWS."
"You need to take that stink outside."
"I don't want to learn how to play chess."
"NONONONONO, put the helmets down."
"DO NOT THROW SOCKS."
Seriously, somebody help me.

They initiated me into some secret club by candle light, wandered the house with an open cell phone, had a paper wad fight and declared Earth Hour the most fun ever.

Very Exciting Day at the Library

Today was a very interesting day at the library. Though I don't often post about it, I have a greenhouse. It is set up at a dear friend's place about five minutes from here. We keep it there because she has more space and an excellent rainwater harvesting system. I don't have any plants in it this year so my greenhouse partner is enjoying some peace and quiet without daily visits from me and the Monkeys. She called me just after we opened the library this morning asking for a little advice. Seems like the kerosene heater acted up and there is soot everywhere. The walls, ceiling, tables, and plants are all covered in "black snow." The only thing I could think of was to mix up a mild solution of liquid dish soap and wash everything down. We had quite a laugh at this new hiccup in greenhouse management.

Later in the afternoon, Paul, from the Texas Triffid Ranch brought me pitcher plants for our bog garden at the Outdoor Education Center. Right there at the library counter, we enjoyed a short, inpromptu lecture on pitcher plants and trigger plants complete with live plants to examine. Very exciting. Hope the Best Boss Ever is tolerant of plants taking over the library for just a little.

After we closed the library down, Paul and I took a trip to the OEC. We stopped by my house to pick up the camera on the way. Paul graciously explained pitcher plants and trigger plants to Middle Monkey. He also advised my son not to put his finger in the pitcher plant traps because of a possible nasty reaction to a chemical they secrete. (I have repeated "Do not put your finger in the pitcher plants' traps" about 400 times since the plants came home. Somebody help me, seriously).

At the OEC we examined the bog garden and took a tour of the rest of the plots. He was very complimentary and gave me great advise on how to grow the pitcher plants. Now this guy knows his stuff. I hope I can pull all the information he passed on back out of my brain when the time comes to use it. If not, I am afraid I will become his special needs client.

After leaving the OEC, we then had a nice lunch and a lively conversation at the Cotton Gin Restaurant. I wanted to buy all the plants he brought, but I had a $100 budget for plants this time around. I am asking for more next time.
 Paul at the bog garden at our KCMG Outdoor Education Center. Very near to where the pitcher plants will call home.

I've got to run now and get a few things together for our Earth Hour event. What did you do or not do during Earth Hour?

Ps: The cat thinks the pitcher plants are candy and has been licking them. Durn, now I have to wait and see if she has some sort of reaction.