It's the Circle of Life...

[Cue Disney music] Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba.  Sithi uhm ingonyama...

In case you ever wondered, those Zulu words translated from the Disney song mean "Here comes a lion, Father.  Oh yes, it's a lion."  While this is not a tale of a lion, it is about one of the moments when my sweet and precious poodle, Atticus, becomes a hunter.

This past weekend, Atticus' killer instincts kicked in, and he caught (and ate) one of the white-tailed doves in the yard.  As an avid bird-watcher, it broke my heart a little bit when I saw the damage Atticus had done.  I can only hope the bird was already injured or sick, making it easier for Atticus to catch the dove.  However, I know Atticus does have some skill catching little creatures, so I wouldn't put it past him to catch a completely healthy bird.  

Normally, I would try to stop the incident and discourage my dog from attacking the birds (why couldn't he catch one of the rats or even a squirrel instead?), but by the time I realized what had happened, I knew the bird was already dying, and I didn't want him to completely go to waste.  So, I let Atticus eat the bird.  Thankfully, the bird was not wasted.  Only a few feathers were left as evidence of what took place.  I can only hope this attack improved Atticus' skill to catch vermin, and didn't leave him with a hankering for more poultry.

Since this story is a bit depressing, I thought it would be good to close with some beautiful things in the garden recently, and a nice zinnia bouquet to honor the fallen feathered friend.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - July 2014

Today I'm joining Carol over at May Dreams Garden for the monthly showing of what is blooming in my garden.  Unfortunately, I don't have too much to show and tell about this month.  Being away from the house for over a week, not planting enough mid-late summer bloomers, and a low to zero amount of rainfall the past few weeks have contributed to the shortage of blooms this month.  However, there are still a few tough performers that managed to get by...

 Plumbago - a reliable bloomer in the mid-summer Texas heat!

I love all the surprise sunflowers that are planted by the birds.  I only have one dahlia currently growing in the garden - this white variety.  I definitely need to plant more next year - this is such a beautiful plant, and makes a gorgeous cut flower!

The dill didn't grow very well in the container this year, except for this one stalk and bloom.  I'm planning to plant both dill and fennel in the ground next season to attract more caterpillars and butterflies.

The canna lilies are in full bloom, but are wilted in the hot, nearly-100 degree afternoons.  The Black-Eyed Susans have seen better days, but I'll include them anyways, since they are pushing through the hot Texas summer heat.

The zinnias that were planted from seed in the veggie beds in early spring have been the best performers all year long.  They are constantly blooming, creating great cut-flowers, as well as a constant source of delicious nectar for the hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.

Finally, the marigolds have been a great constant bloomer all summer long, needing no maintenance other than the sprinkling of water they get from the soaker hose from time to time.

What's blooming in your garden?

Homemade Tomato Sauce and Eggplant Rollatini

I love having all the garden fresh vegetables in my kitchen to use in delicious homemade recipes.  The food always tastes so much better with organic, garden ripe vegetables.  I can actually FEEL the extra nutrients I'm consuming from my healthy garden produce.  The fun thing about growing my own veggies as well, is that I'm constantly trying out new recipes to use up all my fresh produce.

Most recently, I had an abundance of tomatoes and eggplant.  I had A LOT of tomatoes, so I decided to try my hand at making my very first batch of homemade tomato sauce.  With the eggplant, I made my favorite dish, eggplant rollatini - a dish I've made several times before, but always enjoy more with garden fresh eggplant.

EASY FRESH TOMATO BASIL SAUCE

I didn't have a lot of time available to go through the process of pealing the tomato skins off, so I opted for a simpler recipe that kept the tomato skins on.  I used the below recipe from here.  However, I ended up only using about 6 pounds of tomatoes.  I also added a few sprigs of oregano, from the garden.

Prep Time:  20 min
Cook Time:  2 hrs
Serves:  6

Ingredients
8 pounds tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 large onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

 Tomatoes - seeded and diced.  The juice and seeds was used in some veggie juices later on.

Directions
1. In a large saucepan, cook tomatoes and basil over medium-low heat until tomatoes are soft.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until onions are translucent.
3. Add onion mixture to tomato mixture and add salt and pepper.  Let simmer on low heat for 2 hours or until thick.

EGGPLANT ROLLATINI

This is my absolute favorite dish to eat.  It was made extra delicious by my garden fresh eggplant and homemade tomato sauce.  I got the recipe from here, and also posted below. I always make a double batch, so that I can eat it all throughout the week, and also have some to freeze for later, too.

Prep:  15 minutes
Cook:  30 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 eggplant, peeled and cut lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup ricotta cheese

• 10 slices prosciutto
• 1 (14 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 pound angel hair pasta

Directions

1. Dip the eggplant slices in egg, then coat with bread crumbs. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the eggplant on each side until golden brown. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Spread a thin layer of ricotta cheese onto each slice of eggplant. Place a slice of prosciutto onto each one. Roll up tightly, and place seam side down in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour spaghetti sauce over the rolls, and top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
4. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
5. While the eggplant rolls are baking, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the angel hair pasta, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until tender. Drain. Serve eggplant rolls and sauce over pasta.

Today's Harvest: After a Week Away

I was on a business trip to Malaysia this past week, and my husband was visiting family in Minnesota, so there was a lot waiting to be harvested in the garden on my return.  The eggplant, okra and cucumbers are the biggest producers right now.  The peppers and green beans are still producing, but not at their earlier summer rates.

Harvest Totals (since April)

• 5 lbs Cherry Bell Radishes

• 3 lbs Giant Fordhook Swiss Chard

• 3 lb 5.5 oz Pic-N-Pic Summer Squash (5 squash)

• 5 lbs 6.3 oz Black Beauty Zucchini (3 squash)

• 13.7 oz Mammoth Melting Sugar Peas

• 11.6 oz Mucho Nacho Jumbo Jalapeno (13)
• 9.7 oz Jalapeno

• 2 lb 2.4 oz Bush Blue Lake 274 Green Beans

• 1 lb 0.1 oz Gypsy Sweet Peppers (6)

• 1 lb 11.8 oz Sweet 100 Cherry Tomato

• 2 lb 7.5 oz Juliet Roma Grape Tomato

• 3 lb 12.0 oz Early Girl Tomato (12)
• 1 lb 10.4 oz Big Boy Tomato (3)
• 1 lb 7.3 oz oz Bradley Heirloom Tomato (4)
• 2 lb 2.3 oz Roma Tomato (22)
• 3 lb 15.5 oz Long Eggplant (15)
• 4 lb 15.5 oz Black Beauty Eggplant (4)
• 6.6 oz Pablano Pepper (3)
• 1 lb 2.0 oz Acorn Squash (1)
• 1 lb 1.0 oz Butternut Squash (1)
• 1 lb 6.6 oz Spaghetti Squash (1)
• 13.6 oz Green Bell Sweet Pepper (4)
• 1.1 oz Cayenne Pepper (3)
• 6 lb 10.4 oz Marketmore 76 Cucumbers (4)
• 1 lb 15.9 oz Okra (40)

Wildlife Wednesday July 2014

I love being outdoors, I love plants, I love animals, I love nature and all the wildlife it brings.  That's a big reason why I love gardening so much.  It gives you a chance to take a moment from the business of life and appreciate nature.  Gardens also attract so much more wildlife to the yard.  That's why I'm excited for Tina's Wildlife Wednesday over at My Gardener Says...

Here are some critters that have stopped by my Round Rock, TX garden recently.

Feathered Friends

Tuffed Titmouse

Lesser Goldfinch

House Finch


Hummingbird (not sure what kind)


That tiny spec on top of the wire is a hummingbird.

Furry Friends

I'm pretty sure this is a fox squirrel...if not, then a gray squirrel.  He's pretty happy about the old walnuts and pecans I put out for him.



Creepy Critters

Swallowtail caterpillar...I think it is an Eastern Black Swallowtail.

Green Anole - he loves hanging in the shade of the courtyard, blending in with the wisteria vine.

Texas Spiny Lizard, hanging out on a piece of firewood.

End of Month View: June 2014

I can't believe tomorrow will be JULY already.  It seems like we just flew through June!  But alas, the end of the month is here, and with it, the End of the Month View, hosted by Helen at the Patient Gardener.  The end of the month is bittersweet.  It is sad to think how quickly time passed, but exciting to look at how much the garden has grown in the last 30 days.  Let's take a look.

Veggie Beds

The veggie beds are doing quite well.  Every couple of days I harvest several pounds of fresh vegetables that make for some delicious recipes.  The decent rainfall this summer has made my summer veggie bed the best it has ever been in the past three years that I've been working on it.  I've been most impressed with the tomatoes, which currently are topping out close to eight feet tall!  Thankfully I have my sturdy tomato cages to help keep them propped up.  I've harvested the bulk of the early summer tomatoes.  Since I've never had tomato plants last this far into the season, I'm kind of at a loss for how much they will continue to produce the rest of the summer and into early fall.  I figure I will keep them going as long as the plants look green and healthy.

While the squash was a flop, AGAIN, after the squash vine borer infestation, I'm having another success in my cucumber patch.  I used some extra concrete rebar from my tomato cage project for my trellises - which the cukes are loving.  I think the extra rain this year has really done wonders for this plant.

Baby cucumbers and pretty okra flowers fill Veggie Bed #3 (above).  Veggie Bed #4 (closest bed below) could use a little TLC.  The green beans in the bed continue to produce well... I think green beans will be a staple in my veggie beds from now on.  They have been very low maintenance and decent producers.  The rest of the bed is looking a bit sad.  I tried some spring planted chard, spinach and collards, but none have taken off this season.  I'll turn a good portion of this bed soon for a few summer seed plantings.

Backyard Beds

The butterfly garden is being overrun with lantana and giant zinnias.  The butterflies and hummingbirds seem to love it, so I do too.

One of the sunflowers planted by the birds finally blossomed, adding an extra cheery flare to this part of the garden.  I didn't get around to planting sunflowers in my beds this year, so I'm glad the birds had my back.

Yet another garden bed that needs some TLC (a.k.a. weeding).  The wildflower mix planted in this bed is doing well, despite my dogs continually trampling over them in attempt to catch vermin.  At least they actually do catch some every once-in-awhile.  I could really use a barn cat, or maybe an owl or two to keep the rodent population down in my little ecosystem.  But, I guess my poodles will have to do for now.

In the bulb bed, you'll see the continuing theme...some weeding is a bit overdue.  The Black-Eyed Susans are still going strong, while the gladiolas and one dahlia are nearing the end of their bloom season. 

Front Yard

The plants in the front of the house, in the most recent landscaping project, are filling out well in the summer heat.  My favorite are the prickly pears and black and blue salvias.  I have a couple sparse spots in the bed closest to the street.  What do you, reader, suggest I plant that is drought/heat tolerant, deer "resistant" and would have some fall or winter blooms to add some color a season or two from now?

Thanks for stopping by for my end of the month view!

Today's Harvest: First Cucumbers and Okra

The summer veggies keep rolling in.  A couple days ago I harvested my first cucumbers EVER and yesterday and today I harvested the first okra of the season.  I keep planting okra because it is so easy to grow, loves the heat, can take drought, and produces like crazy.  The only problem is, I haven't found an okra recipe yet that I really love.  I don't eat much fried food, but I hear that might be the way to go with okra.  Do you have any okra recipes you love?  If so, I'm all ears!

6/22 Harvest

6/28 Harvest

6/29 Harvest

Harvest Totals (since April)

• 5 lbs Cherry Bell Radishes

• 3 lbs Giant Fordhook Swiss Chard

• 3 lb 5.5 oz Pic-N-Pic Summer Squash (5 squash)

• 5 lbs 6.3 oz Black Beauty Zucchini (3 squash)

• 13.7 oz Mammoth Melting Sugar Peas

• 9.4 oz Mucho Nacho Jumbo Jalapeno (11)
• 9.7 oz Jalapeno

• 1 lb 10.6 oz Bush Blue Lake 274 Green Beans

• 1 lb 0.1 oz Gypsy Sweet Peppers (6)

• 1 lb 11.8 oz Sweet 100 Cherry Tomato

• 2 lb 7.5 oz Juliet Roma Grape Tomato

• 3 lb 12.0 oz Early Girl Tomato (12)
• 1 lb 10.4 oz Big Boy Tomato (3)
• 1 lb 7.3 oz oz Bradley Heirloom Tomato (4)
• 2 lb 2.3 oz Roma Tomato (22)
• 2 lb 1.4 oz Long Eggplant (7)
• 3 lb 10.8 oz Black Beauty Eggplant (3)
• 6.6 oz Pablano Pepper (3)
• 1 lb 2.0 oz Acorn Squash (1)
• 1 lb 1.0 oz Butternut Squash (1)
• 1 lb 6.6 oz Spaghetti Squash (1)
• 13.6 oz Green Bell Sweet Pepper (4)
• 1.1 oz Cayenne Pepper (3)
• 3 lb 0.7 oz Marketmore 76 Cucumbers (4)
• 7.5 oz Okra (9)