Lena’s Orchid

With the garden settling in for winter rest, it’s time for the harvest of one of the desert’s sweetest fruits. A few years ago, two trees came up voluntarily in the flower bed by our front door. They were planted by the birds no doubt, so I had my son help me transplant them to…

Hands down, the most beautiful plant in the garden is purple cabbage, and mine is doing so well for June this year! I credit the great compost pile in the corner of the garden. I haven’t had cabbage this full and healthy this late in the season since I had sheep to raise and little…

Looking out the window today, it feels like winter. I have on two shirts, wool socks, and can’t wait to build a fire in the wood-stove. I was anxious to sit down in the bay window and write today, but as soon as I got my computer set up, the sun went behind gray clouds…

I love winter in our desert. It is the best time of year with the blue skies, red rocks, and especially the mild temperatures. But for every gardener, the lack of dirt under the fingernails can cause withdrawals. My solution is to start some vegetable seeds indoors. I would love to have a greenhouse someday,…

I’m so excited today to have baby chicks again! It’s been a few years. We used to buy 25 at a time, and then let the mama’s brood every year so we always had chicks in the Spring. I got up early and went to the feed store so I wouldn’t miss the good picks….