New Modock Potatoes

New Modock potatoes

The other night, when the pasta water was billowing up salty steam, it suddenly occurred to me that there might be new potatoes in the garden.  So, I grabbed my trusty trowel and went digging in our new potato bed (the old mint bed).  Sure enough, I found some.  I washed them up and threw them in the pasta water for six minutes.
I added butter, salt, pepper and a smattering of chopped parsley to the tender potatoes.  The new potatoes tasted delicate and slightly sweet as we took turns savoring bites.  Absolutely delicious.  Then we proceeded on with making our Pappardelle with Arugula and Prosciutto.      

My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with.  -Oprah Winfrey

Inspiration and The 9th Annual ANLD Designers Garden Tour

I love taking road trips with My Pirate.  We open the windows to let the wind blow through our hair, turn the radio off, hold hands, and let the scenery unfold around us.  Sometimes, I even tell him stories about the people and towns that we see. It’s our thing.  Or rather it was our thing, until we adopted, Barnaby, our fifty pound, four month old Great Dane puppy.

So on Saturday, I pretended that we were on a small road trip adventure as we visited seven different gardens on the 9^th Annual ANLD’s Designers Garden Tour.  This was my very first garden tour and it lived up to my anticipation.  I won the tickets from Ricki Grady’s blog, Sprig to Twig. Thanks, Ricki!  

I was looking for inspiration and new doable ideas for my garden. And I met a couple of new furry friends along the way. The day was sunny and bright, so please forgive the poor quality of the pictures.

Vern Nelson's cat (Eddie?) kept cool beside some pots that lined the grape arbor.

Vern Nelson's column, The Hungry Gardener, in the Oregonian has inspired me for the past 17 years. I was thrilled to attend one of his classes with the OSU Master Gardeners, seven years ago.  His advice about using green fir boards in the garden inspired the design of My Victory Garden.  The minute that I stepped into his garden, I felt at home.  I only wished that I had a mug of coffee in my hand as I strolled through his garden.

My Pirate took this iPhone shot of Vern's patio made from reclaimed materials.

His garden was overflowing with edibles.  I loved his use of recycled materials and how he didn't overbuild his structures.  His grape arbor was simply constructed and strung with wire.  My Pirate took note.

I enjoyed eavesdropping on other visitors that were astounded by the dinosaur kale and other veggies.  I watched a lady fondle the cilantro while cooing, "I love cilantro so much...I could just bathe in it!"

And I turned away with a swallowed laugh, because I think that cilantro tastes so soapy, that you could bathe in it.  Note:  to avoid the soapy flavor of cilantro, just cook with the cilantro stems like I do.

Vern Nelson's grape arbor

Vern's new raised beds married sides of poured concrete and wood. The design allowed for a table and chairs in the center of his edible garden.  Not applicable to my yard, but still, very cool.

And after walking through his garden, I feel the urge to add blueberry bushes throughout my garden. (But, I won't.) 

Chaos greeted us at the Floramagoria garden and asked for a bite of cookie... 

right before I discovered the inspiration for next summer's big project!  I fell in love with their vegetable garden setup.  I'm going to add this to the side yard that we share with our neighbors.  This will work great over all the underground electrical lines.

I also saw a similar design in the Plant Passion Garden.

And I'll hang concrete wire above the troughs.  

We saw concrete wire used in multiple gardens and we loved it!

Floramagoria Garden, view from the back patio window

  The Floramagoria Garden was a stunning collection of plants, art, and hardscape put together in a cohesive and engaging manner.  I experienced the garden as a playground for a plant collector with a fun sense of humor.  I saw garden art from two artists that I've only seen in books and magazines.  It was fantastic.

Floramagoria Garden, side entrance

Beetle rain chain by Experienced Materials

The Floramagoria garden was filled with Experienced Materials custom artistic touches.  I've been debating between Gina Nash's gingko rain chain and the beetle rain chain.   My Pirate and I agreed that we are definitely going with the beetle rain chain for the water feature on our pergola. 

At the Pequeno Paraiso Garden, I was impressed by the eye hook and wire that  they had run under the eaves of the house for the clematis vine to grow on.  I will be adding this little project to our home soon. 

When we climbed into our truck after the last garden, My Pirate turned to me and said, "I feel so inspired.  We need to do this (take a garden tour) at least once a year."

Ricki, thank you so much for the free tickets.  I'm looking forward to many more garden tours in the future.  Woo-hoo!  I feel reinvigorated and ready to tackle the rest of our garden projects.

Now, I only showed you the projects and ideas that I picked from the garden tour for my garden.  To get a better view of each garden, please visit Sprig to Twig, Danger Garden, Rhone Street Garden, and Just a Girl With a Hammer.  

Tickled Pink

One of the perks of growing vegetables in my front yard is that I get to talk to other vegetable gardeners.  I learn new things from more experienced gardeners and I get to share with beginning gardeners who are overflowing with enthusiasm.   I know when a gardener is at my door because they knock instead of ringing the doorbell.  And a soft knock is usually a question regarding a plants name or seeds and a firm rhythmic knock is a question about vegetable gardening or the lawn.

This season, our substitute mailman brought me three tomato plants that he started.  And on Tuesday,  a neighbor who now has three raised beds in front of his house, brought me a beautiful lily to add to my garden.  And I was tickled pink.  Isn't it beautiful?!?  It arrived just in time to be added to the front bed where we ripped out the sick rhododendron.

Without Pain

These past few months are the first time that I’ve gardened and cooked without pain. It feels amazing.

When I eighteen years old, I was injured in a car accident and despite medical care, didn’t heal properly.  After a decade of doctor visits, casts, injections, exercises and surgeries--I gave up and accepted the pain as permanent.  

But then, three years ago, late season blight hit my twenty six tomato plants in My Victory Garden.  I was devastated and even the grade school counselor walking by couldn’t console me.  I had to take a season off from growing tomatoes in my own garden, so I signed up for a community garden plot at Haagen Park.

That summer, I walked loops around the park after I worked in the plot and my back spasms wouldn’t stop.  So, I went to go see My Pirate’s physical therapist, Kelly, and she correctly diagnosed the problem and had a solution.  She was the first person to validate my nineteen years of pain, numbness and frustration.  And I sobbed with relief on the drive home.

You see, my body had healed wrong after the accident and over the years, layer upon layer of scar tissue had built over the original injury until my body twisted and the scar tissue had hardened like body armor.   And it’s taken two years of physical therapy, deep tissue massage, a PRP injection, exercise, and lots of ice to heal.  Through it all, Kelly and Marlena have given me hope, encouragement, entertaining stories, and laughter.  

In August, I’m turning 40 years old and I’ve never felt better.  While my friends complain about getting older, I feel like I have a strong new body and I’m moving into a new era filled with possibilities.   Even running.  Life is only getting better and I no longer plan my day around my pain tolerance.  I am free. And grateful. 

If you are in pain, I highly recommend scheduling an appointment with Kelly at Lifestyles Physical Therapy. They book quickly, so don't delay.  Plus, you can go plant shopping at Xera Plants Retail Store afterwards.

  

Lifestyles Physical Therapy

916 SE Hawthorn Blvd.

(503) 235-3386

Barnaby's First Plant Attack

 Well, it finally happened.

  I knew it would.  I've been bracing myself against the inevitability of Barnaby munching on some of my prized plant foliage.  

After helping me remove sod all afternoon...he walked in front of the wheelbarrow and chewed on the wooden handles when I stopped.  He got grumpy and settled into a new planting of variegated Japanese Forest Grass (I only paid 75 cents per plant!) and grazed on it like a discontent cow.

I grabbed my camera to capture the moment.  He wasn't very impressed.  And thankfully, he still prefers bacon.