Victory Garden Menus

I have a new blog, Victory Garden Menus, with the online Columbian Newspaper.  I will blog about how to grow vegetables and herbs and most importantly, how to cook with them. We will have fun feasting on our fresh produce.  What do you love to cook out of your garden?  Are you looking for a new recipe to use up some zucchini?  Let me know!  And we'll figure it out together.  

radish blossom at dawn

Here's the link to my latest post, My Victory Garden. 

The Victory Garden in the evening light

Barnaby Puts the Aww in Awkward

sleepy Barnaby

Barnaby is busy taking a nap right now.

hungry Barnaby

But, I know that at any minute he's going to wake up and deliver his food dish to me, again.  He's either sleeping, eating or asking to be fed, or has the puppy crazies.  There is very little middle ground with him, lately.  

Last week, he took offense to my new toenail polish when I painted my nails.  So he sat on my lap, all fifty plus pounds of him, and barked at my toes until I finished laughing and put on some socks.  

baby Barnaby

Remember this little cutie back in April?  Oh, how he has grown!  This afternoon, I called out to him in the yard and he came running with his jowls drooling, ears flopping, and his legs flailing.  My poor flummoxed camera kept trying to focus on the hosta flowers; sorry about that.   

 Doesn't he put the aww in awkward?  

Would you like a Pineapple Mint Wine Spritzer with Raspberries?

Pineapple Mint and Raspberry Wine Spritzer

My Kid always chose pineapple mint, Mentha suaveolens 'Variegata', as his plant in the garden.  Whenever I see it in the garden I think of him and smile.  I always imagine him at 6 years old, playing outside in his yellow rubber boots with his pockets filled with his garage sale treasures of old watches and rings of old keys;  never as the successful young man that he has become.  

Pineapple mint is beautiful, fragrant, and I love to use it in iced tea and cocktails because it plays a subtle supporting role.   I usually cook the pineapple mint down in a simple syrup.  But this time, I simply rubbed the leaves between my fingers and added them to a tumbler glass filled with ice, raspberries and Red Moscato ($5) wine.  Then I added a slosh of ginger-ale to add some bubbles.

I served it to My Pirate on our back patio.  We kicked up our feet, watched the dogs chew on their sticks, and savored our quiet time together in our garden.  


Pineapple Mint Wine Spritzer with Raspberries 

If you don't have pineapple mint, I recommend using apple mint or pineapple sage instead.

Red Moscato, chilled--we used Barefoot or you could substitute Rose
ice cubes
fresh raspberries
pineapple mint leaves, muddle with your fingers before adding to the glass
(optional) splash of ginger-ale or lemon lime soda for fizz


Fill a glass or pitcher with ice.  Add the mint leaves, raspberries, soda, and wine.  Enjoy.

Gobbo Di Nizzia Cardoon is my favorite plant in the garden, this week...

I've noticed a shift in the comments from pedestrians about The Victory Garden.  This week I've heard:

• "Your plants look so healthy!"
• "Your garden is really filling in."
• "I can't believe how big your plants get out here."
• "Can you take me through your jungle..."
• "I didn't even notice you in the garden.  What's the group that sang Welcome to the Jungle?"

A theme is emerging...all I did this season was scratch in some Dr. Earth fertilizer and add some compost into the beds.  This jungle theme was unintentional, except for the tetrapanax.  That was my own humorous jab.  

Gobbo Di Nizzia Cardoon

A couple of weeks ago, I showed you how the tetrapanax and Japanese Coltsfoot are filling in around the poetry post.  Well, the Gobbo Di Nizzia Cardoon decided to join the party and pushed up seven foot tall flower spikes that haven't opened yet.  I love it's beautiful silvery soft leaves and the drama that it brings to the vegetable garden.  I plan on blanching it this fall and adding it to potato and cardoon soup.  

So, I'm calling the Gobbo Di Nizzia Cardoon out as my favorite plant in the garden this week.  Loree at Danger Garden has started a weekly meme showing her favorite plant in the garden and other garden bloggers have joined her.  I love this meme!   Although, I've been spending more money on plants as a result.  I'll show you my new darlings soon.  

Happy Humming Borage

Four years ago, I bought one borage plant and slipped it into the Victory Garden.  It proceeded to tip over and die and I shrugged at its loss.  But then, the following season it returned and was beautiful.  So, I allowed it a place in the garden. 

This year, the borage has developed world domination issues.  It’s over five feet tall and covered in blue blossoms that are humming with happy bees.  Yes, the garden is humming right now.  But, here’s the thing, borage leaves tastes like fishy cucumber to me and the flowers just taste like fish.  Yuck. 

I think it’s time to say good-bye.  What do you think?