Author Archives: zack

Confessions of a Bean Doula

I’ll admit it: I can’t help but assist the beans as they emerge from the soil, and sometimes I even help them by removing their little seed coats so that they can stretch their new leaves.  I’ll bet you do … Continue reading

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Nelson’s Hairstreak

This particular plant is covered with these beauties.  I gave identification a shot, but realized quickly that I’m not very good at butterfly ID, so I wrote to fellow MG Kathy, who is a butterfly enthusiast and expert.  She identified … Continue reading

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Garlic Scapes – Update

A few days ago, I wrote In Praise of Scapes.  Well, here’s a garlic scape, ready for harvest.  When they curl over like this, they’re still tender and perfect for picking.  Each garlic plant produces a single scape.     … Continue reading

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Substantial Gopher Snake

I’ve been walking barefoot to the mailbox every day, a ‘summer feet’ development effort. Today, I encountered a big ol’ Pacific Gopher Snake, Pituophis catenifer.  I initially thought it was a small rattlesnake, but upon closer inspection, it didn’t have … Continue reading

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Sweet and Sour

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is incredibly, almost unbelievably sweet.  One little nibble and all you taste is sweet for a long time.  It grows quite well in my garden, dying back all the way to the ground in the winter and … Continue reading

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In Praise of Scapes

Look closely, and you’ll see a scape just starting to grow from the center of this garlic plant. Garlic scapes – flower stalks – are a wonderful spring treat.  Sautéed in butter or olive oil, with just salt and pepper, … Continue reading

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Unplanned Companion Planting

Nearly any little piece of potato left in the ground after harvest will grow the following spring.  Such is the case with this volunteer I noticed today in the garlic patch.  I’m inclined to cheer for volunteers – sunflowers especially, … Continue reading

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Just Look at this Tiny Rose!

As previously mentioned, there are lots of these little native California wild roses around the place, and they produce wonderful little flowers.  This particular one grows in the vaccinium patch in pretty heavy shade, and during the summer (which hasn’t … Continue reading

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Apologies to the Ants

Poking around the garden just now, I moved a particular rusted cooking pan… I don’t know much about ant architecture, but apparently this minimalist shelter was the perfect spot for an ant nursery, piled high with the kind of juicy pupae … Continue reading

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Potatoes Believe in Climate Change

I just checked the 10 day forecast – rain, thunderstorms, partly cloudy skies, then more rain.  About the only spring/summer annual vegetables that are really enjoying this weather are the potatoes, which around these parts are planted in early early … Continue reading

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