Jill and the Giant Sunflower Stalk

It's a volunteer from dropped seeds from last year. Its parents were not like this, but that's that's genetics for you... nine feet and counting.

 

The Return of My Salad Days

 Over the years I have grown many varieties of lettuces, with greater and lesser success, depending on the weather, the watering plan, the seeds, the voracious caterpillars and just dumb luck. In the past while though, I really haven't saved room for lettuces  - the outcomes were so questionable that it didn't seem worth the effort. And, after 40+ years of daily salads, my tastebuds were simply bored.

Nonetheless, this winter I gave it one more try with Gustav's Salad from Baker Creek Seeds. The little seedlings which were started inside in late January survived dramatic downpours, a month of no rain, two separate heatwaves and stupid digging squirrels. I can't say that lettuce will always be in the garden, but if there is lettuce out back, it will be Gustav's.

My Lovely Neighbors

Two houses up from us live these wonderful people who help raise and protect monarch butterflies. This means that on our block and in the surrounding neighborhood, there are monarchs. Nearly year-round. Like I just said, wonderful people.

Monarch on Heliotrope, April 10th, 2026

I am not so wonderful. (True confessions here: I don't really like to grow milkweed plants in my garden. Those non-native orange aphids just creep me out.) 

I prefer to grow plants that feed the adult butterflies, who then go on to make new baby butterflies. A different "circle of life". After a few years of observation, I have found that there are two plants that 1) I love; 2) the butterflies and other insect-types love; 3) are easy to grow and bloom year-round (especially the heliotrope); and 4) don't need gallons of water to thrive.

They are Heliotrope, especially the white version (Heliotropium arborescens 'Alba') and Verbena Bonariensis. Now one entirely valid criticism of both these plants is that they are non-natives. True. So am I a non-native. But they do the job, probably better than I could ever do. 

Early Spring

I planted these crocuses in 1988. Or by now, maybe it was their ancestors that I planted way back then. It doesn't matter. They still are wonderful.

Homework

First it was the new heat pump. Now it's the hardwood floors. What to do when there are strange people working in your home, making a racket and causing the furniture to be rearranged?

You hide. No more, no less, you hide and hope it all ends soon.

Thank you, Rancho Gordo

I occasionally buy beans from Rancho Gordo, even though I grow plenty of beans here. I buy them because I want to first try them, to see how we like them. Then, if we do like them, I plant some to grow here. So buy a pound, save out a few ounces, just in case, and enjoy the rest!

So far, the two that have made it into the garden are heirloom runner beans from Oaxaca - Ayocote blanco and Ayocote morado (the Ayocote negro was just too "beany" for me). Both varieties are pole type beans, producing masses of flowers, and requiring (and attracting) pollinators to produce beans. 

Ayocote blanco beans have white flowers and white beans (like, duh!); morados have scarlet flowers and reddish-purple beans. I prefer the flavor of the blancos, although they are very sloo-ow to produce. Even here in mild Oakland you almost run out of season before they are ready to harvest.  

The morados get on with life in a more timely fashion. And they are so, so pretty. They also need to cook, and then cook some more, before settling into soft goodness. 

Ayocote Morado Beans

Autumn Colors

We went to the San Francisco Botanical Garden on Tuesday, expecting to see some fall colors. And there was one predominant color - green. Nonetheless, it was an engaging afternoon.

However, the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland had a few spectacular examples of trees changing color. No, no, not the redwoods, but the Chinese pistachio trees were in their full glory.

No Kings

Laura Andrillon/AFP via Getty Images

We, along with our friend Elizabeth, helped complete the "S" of "YES". We picked that spot because of the ocean views. Obviously, we weren't alone; an estimated 5,500 other friendly people were there, too.

I doubt that it will make much of a so-called real difference - yet - but it was a very fun morning. Highly recommended!

Really? That Can't Be True...

Yup, the Big Guy is turning one of those red-letter birthdays, and boy oh boy, is it a big one. Funny how the party napkins match the cat's Bird-Be-Safe collar. May we all be safe and happy these days!

One Plus One Equals Peperonata

 Finally, finally, finally. The San Marzanos are finally ripening, right along side of the peppers. 

San Marzano Tomatoes

Mountaineer Peppers

So it's peperonata (I don't exactly use the recipe from Joyce Goldstein's Enoteca, but I do look at it) almost every night. And I haven't heard any complaining. 

Buon Appetito!