Friday, January 8, 2010

All Quiet on the Garden Front


As we glide into another winter weekend, one may think of January as a month with no garden chores. And although it can seem the quietest of the garden calendar, there is still much to do in this season of planning and preparation.

With extreme cold temperatures predicted in New England this weekend, we should be happy for the snow protecting our fragile plants. We should also get cranking on our vegetable orders. Even if you don’t have your entire list sorted out, there are a few items you should reserve now. Onions sets, seed potatoes and garlic heads to name a few are typically in limited supply. If you wait too long, you may be buying these particular veggies at the store rather than having the pleasure of growing them in your own garden.

This weekend is a perfect time to peruse your seed and plant catalogs. If you aren’t already on a mailing list, get on one. The inspirational thought for the day is by Hal Borland. "There are two seasonal diversions that can ease the bite of any winter. One is the January thaw. The other is the seed catalogues."

P.S. Annie also thinks January is a great month to cook. Here is an easy pesto recipe for those that stashed some away for the winter months. It is from Mark Bittman, ‘How to Cook Everything.’ Two simple ingredients required.

Cook one cup of rice (the standard recipe). Once rice is done, gently fold in a ¼ cup of pesto. Recipe complete; unless of course you would like some grated Romano cheese. You can even drizzle a little bit of extra virgin olive oil to give it a fruity flavor. Do not fold in the olive oil. Garnish when served on plate. It is a wonderful accompaniment to anything cooked on the grill. Real gardeners grill all year. Have a great weekend. Annie
(Image of a Gardener's Calendar from the internet)
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About Me

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My gardening influence starts with my Italian grandmother and mother. Their passion for gardening and fresh food has led me to my love for the earth. My Dad taught me my appreciation for nature and my border collies keep me grounded, staying in contact with it daily, whether I want to or not. My husband, Greg's passion for agriculture, horticulture, naturalistic landscape designs and travel have kept us busy in our time together. It's hard to work with and live with your husband but we manage to do it and still find laughter. I think it is because we love food, gardening and nature.

© 2009

© 2009 Ann St. Jean-Bilowz/Bilowz Associates Inc. (including all photographs, unless otherwise noted in Annie's Gardening Corner are the property of Bilowz Associates Inc. and shall not be reproduced in any manner nor are they to be assigned to any third party without the expressed written permission and consent of Bilowz Associates Inc.)