Great Performances: Shintokiwa Cucumbers

I'm not really that fond of cucumbers, but have found Shintokiwa cucumbers to be the best. In fact, I even like 'em. And because they are so prolific, I can like 'em and still have plenty to share. Last year after I had picked 80 cukes, I stopped counting. And this was from only three plants.

I grow them from seed - I doubt that you can find baby starter plants at the local nursery, although I've never really looked. It's pretty easy and since they are open-pollinated, you really only have to buy seeds once and then save some for the following year(s).

August Fun: Community Mosaic Mural

I completed the "H" and began the "O"

Willard Middle School Mural

If you can spare a few hours on any of the remaining weekends in August, and don't mind wearing old clothes and getting a little dusty, then the Willard Middle School Community Mosaic in Berkeley would welcome you.

Not only will you be helping out, but you also get the chance to practice your tiling and mosaic skills. Rachel Rodi is heading up the effort, and the team is doing a fabulous job. When I was there this past Sunday, there was a large crew of parents, teachers, friends and students (boy, had I forgotten what young teen chatter was like. Somehow I doubt that it has changed much over the past forty-plus years) just working away.

And if your backside gets tired from sitting on an overturned bucket, it's OK to wander off for a cup of coffee or a snack.

To sign-up, click here.

Willard Middle School
2425 Stuart Street
Berkeley

Dreaming of Egypt

Not Completely Tiled

Covered in Grout

Last year, we seriously considered visiting the pyramids in Egypt - hardly anyone else was going, so we wouldn't have to worry about the crowds, right? But somehow we just weren't comfortable with the level of security required for the trip. It's not that we were scared for our own safety as much as I really didn't want to be escorted by armed guards and protected behind metal detectors while on vacation. As well, knowing that this insecurity is what the Egyptian people face every single day, sometimes even from their own government, well, somehow we just didn't go.

Grout Mostly Removed

Instead, I went out to the garage.

It's not that I consciously intended to imitate an Egyptian-esque design; sometimes these things just build themselves. I wasn't even too aware of how it was shaping up until the project was underway. I think it's the colors mostly, that suggest desert sands and starry skies. But as I was working on this piece, I did have time to consider ancient glories and clouded futures.

Ready to be Sealed

Jane and Zinnia Sitting in a Tree...

Benary's Giant Wine Zinnia

My baby sister kisses zinnias. She claims they kiss her back. 

I might just have to find out for myself.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANE!

How to Make a Trellis: Part II

Western Bluebird

Now a trellis, any trellis, serves well as a natural hangout for many of your local non-human friends, especially those with feathers.

These little fluffy visitors inspired me to finish off the top of the trellis with a flock of mine own. On each of the eight uprights (three at both ends, two in the middle) there now perches a handmade ceramic bird of a no-name little brown jobbie-ish type (aka LBJ or LBB).

Most people don't notice this small flock. In fact, most people don't even notice that there are dinner ingredients within arm's reach. And, for me, that's a very good thing.

How to (And How NOT to) Make a Trellis: Part I

Bad Idea

Over the past while, I have constructed quite a number of trellises to support big viny plants, such as peas, pole beans, squash, cucumbers and gourds. With advice, trial and error, error, and more error, I now have a system that, although not quite bulletproof, may actually withstand the next earthquake.

First lesson: do not use bamboo stakes if you want the trellis to last longer than part of one season. Not one entire season, just part of one season. No matter how well, deep or meaningfully those stakes are anchored, and regardless of the rebar reinforcement, they will fail. You see, when that first big wolfish wind comes along, (think Three Little Pigs), your growing plants act like a giant sail, and take down the entire ship.

The solution - 1/2" electrical metal conduit (EMT). It is inexpensive, readily available, sturdy and not completely ugly. And a 2' piece of rebar inserted up one leg at each side means additional security.

Second lesson: use three support posts at each end. Now you may remember from eighth grade geometry class that three points define a plane. You may not. But it sure makes for a much more solid and grounded base. And since you are paying less $3 per 10 ft. length of EMT, it's a small splurge.

Hose clamps

The support posts are linked together with a metal hose clamp. The cross piece is then tied in with a separate smaller hose clamp. The only issue I have encountered with hose clamps is that someone has been cheating on their length. So buy the next larger size if you have any doubts about the diameter of the pipes to be tied together.

Third lesson: work with a friend. It's more fun to argue with someone else than just yourself. And once you're done, it's definitely a lot more fun to sit down, have a beer and admire your handiwork with someone else.

Fourth lesson: Tie up your own netting. I start at the top, anchoring the string at the bottom with a a bamboo pole (finally, it has a use!), about 6"- 8" apart. The horizontal rows are also spaced at approximately 6"- 8" wide.

It takes less than an hour to string up an 8' x 10' mesh, lasts for one year (a winter season of peas and a summer season of cukes and pole beans), and if using cotton string, can be tossed in the compost bin along with the green waste.

The Completed Trellis w/o the Netting

Epilogue: After the first summer of Fortex pole beans, two more posts were added to the middle of the 10' expanse for additional support. I would never have guessed that the bean vines could be so heavy as to cause that much sag...

Total cost for the trellis: under $40.00

Kinetic Heroics

Atomic Funguys

In Oakland over Memorial Day, a whole lot of people were not really thinking about barbecues and sunshine. Nah, they were much more wrapped up in whether the Warriors were going to make it into the finals.

But at the Kinetic Grand Championship 2016 in Eureka/Arcata, many others had their fingers crossed to see how well the Kinetic Kootie, along with all the other entries, could make it into the water.

Regardless, I recommend that you: Go with friends. Enjoy the sunshine. Applaud loudly.

Kinetic Kootie

I would like to note that, as an Oakland resident and occasional crankypants, since 1971, the Golden State Warriors are in O-A-K-L-A-N-D.

Botanical Wonders Made Easy

I had never heard about the American Horticultural Society (AHS), but when it came to my attention, I quickly signed up.

An AHS membership entitles one (or more, depending on the level of membership) to free entry to an amazing number of botanical gardens, arboretums, public and private(ish) gardens throughout the country. In the west, the variety of gardens is astonishing, as is the dedication of the staff and volunteers who keep these organizations and their collections alive.

Over the past months, I've been burning up that membership card. Often I've dragged along some poor soul who I hope has a slight interest in the botanical. So far, no one has complained, or at least not loudly. But I know better than to press my luck and ask if they want to go birdwatching too.

Day of the Dead
Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, AZ

Oh, Go Ahead and Vote

Photo Courtesy of Sari Kulberg

As seen on the walkway on my block. Question is: which less-than-responsible person is still not cleaning up after his/her pet? And, if I may comment, we all know that poop is a natural function. May we say the same about Mr. Trump?

This does remind me of a series of incidents in Germany in 2005 or so, where little flags were left behind in the left behinds of the local pet population. Each flag sported the image of George W. Bush. Apparently, there were thousands of them. Local police were baffled; I was shocked that all those reputedly neat and tidy Germans failed to perform their civic duty and clean up after their pets.

So if you live in California, remember your civic duty and go vote on June 7th. Actually, you don't even have to go - request a vote-by-mail ballot online by May 31st, and you can vote at home in your jammies.

Plant Splurge #3: Brugmansia 'Little Angel'

This one my mom talked me into. But she didn't have to talk very hard - years ago, when I first saw a Brugmansia (common name: angel's trumpet), it was love at first sight. And sniff.

They are powerfully fragrant at night, and beautiful at any hour. But the plant is big, think small tree, which my little yard cannot easily accommodate.

New hybrids have become available, including this dwarf, Little Angel. It's supposed to stay under five feet in all directions, but we shall see... I hear that brugmansias take pruning well.

It does like regular water, and yes, I know the drought is still on-going. But this is one of those bread and roses things, so for now, I'm OK with the water bucket in the shower.