Here in Highland Park » gardening

Summer Basil

Leora — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:00:16 +0000

I discovered this photo of basil I had photographed in September 2009 – now isn’t that a warm image to share on a cold January 2012 evening?

For more photos straight out of the camera:

Here’s a recipe for basil pesto and a recipe for basil meatloaf. What do you with your summer basil?

Nature Notes: Snapdragon Leaves

Leora — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:58:46 +0000

snapdragon leaves in late December 2011 with drops of water

It’s been a while since I’ve done Nature Notes – I could blame both my work load and the gloom of early December darkness, cold and brown. Today it was a tad warmer, and I went outside to photograph some burnt red bald cypress leaves – instead, I found this snapdragon plant with bright green leaves and drops of rain water.

I have an idea for next week’s Nature Notes, but I need your help. Can you tell me which of Michelle’s many topics were your favorite(s) in the past year? Shh… don’t tell Michelle. Oh, is she reading this? Well, anyway, your comments on Best Rambling Woods Nature Topics are requested.

Nature Notes: Heron and Seedlings

Leora — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:01:10 +0000

I finally got to see a heron while visiting my in-laws who live near the Jersey Shore. Wouldn’t you know it, I only had my little phone camera with me. My daughter called the heron a “gray flamingo.”

In more mundane news, the parsley seeds I planted in August have germinated. No sign of the kale seeds germinating. I plan to plant whatever I get in my little front yard so I have greenery in the late fall and possibly through winter (not counting when there is snow on top, but the kale has survives through the snow).

Update: I went outside to check on my few germinated seedlings, and an animal had eaten them. Or maybe they died of “damping off” – too much wet. Sigh. I moved them to our front yard, where we’ve had fewer animal problems, and the sun hits the area.

For more Nature Notes:

Nasturtium Leaf with Water Drop

Leora — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:44:59 +0000

nasturtium leaf with a drop of water

On Sunday it rained and rained, and I had the pleasure of photographing my nasturtium with a big dollop of rain water sitting on the edible green round leaf.

For more watery photos, visit:

Tomato Plants Contraption

Leora — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:02:00 +0000

I’m not posting these photos for their beauty – too much light and exposure. More to talk about the state of desperation for today’s home gardeners, at least those in our area. The deer and the groundhogs roam and eat. Will the quickly wrapping of wire that I did in the heat on Sunday keep out the varmints? Stay tuned. The square tomato holders are from Burpee. I have green metal posts that I am supposed to hammer into the ground that I bought at Home Depot in June, but it’s been too hot ever since to set up the garden in that manner.

We caught two groundhogs this week in our Have-a-Heart trap. My husband drives them to Johnson Park in Piscataway (where they meet up with their cousins, that is, all the other groundhogs that have been driven there).

In other news, I wrote a proposal for a website along with a new contact that I met last night at a networking meeting – we shall see. My regular clients are keeping me busy, too, so I might just show up on the blog here in bits and pieces.

Upcoming: How to Make Pickled Tomatoes
Remind Me: When it’s not so hot, I’ll post How to Bake Pita Bread. I have the photos already, but it doesn’t seem like an August or July kind of project.

Nature Notes: Catbirds + Gardens

Leora — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:06:38 +0000

My flowers-instead-of-grass front ~~lawn~~ meadow is doing nicely. I believe the last time my husband mowed the front lawn was two years ago? Three?

In our backyard, the raspberries are beginning to appear. This makes our yard even more inviting for the birds.

About two weeks ago the catbirds showed up again in our backyard. They seem to love resting on my tomato plant holders.

Do catbirds like hydrangea? I like this white flowering shrub, even if they don’t notice.

Unlike other birds, such as the cardinals in the winter, the catbirds don’t seem to mind when I get up close with my camera.

I think this catbird is about to take off. They make such endearing sounds, like a meowing kitten.

For more Nature Notes:

Portulaca Late October – SOOC

Leora — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 01:31:44 +0000

I planted portulaca (also called moss rose) from seed late this year (late means June), so I only got a few blossoms. Here is one that was still alive in October. These flowers are delicate, open only in late morning and die when it starts to get cold. Sometimes they reseed – hopes for next summer.

For more photos Straight Out of the Camera:

Thursday Challenge: Messy

Leora — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 01:01:46 +0000

My compost heap: every now and then I do cover it with dirt.

Thursday Challenge theme is MESSY (Children, Rooms, Garage, Yard, Disorganized, Hair,…). Next week is CRAFTS (Supplies, Knitting, Crocheting, Woodworking, Pottery, Painting,…).

Strawberry Against Blue

Leora — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:38:15 +0000

Last week I featured a radish; this week here are homegrown strawberries. Can you guess what the bright blue background is?

For more photos with red, visit Ruby Tuesday:

How to Grow a Radish

Leora — Mon, 31 May 2010 14:22:45 +0000

Red radish grown in my garden, May 2010

You need: 1 pack of radish seeds, some small plot of land or a pot of potting soil, water and tender loving care.

Prepare your soil. Dig it up a few times and mix in some organic matter such as compost or an organic mix-in available at a plant nursery or Home Depot. Either plant your seeds 3 inches apart or be sure to pull out seedlings that are too close together when they germinate. Put some compost on top of the germinated seedling about a week or two after germinating. Watch until a red ball appears in the ground, and then pull out your pretty red radish. Photograph the radish for Mary’s Ruby Tuesday meme.

For more photos with a little or a lot of red, visit:

Learn how to make delicious pickled radishes (made with umeboshi paste).