October 27, 2024-the scary time is coming

October is almost done. It is getting to be the big scary time. Unfortunately I do not mean Halloween.  

I will try to think other thoughts.

We had actual rain this week. Thursday night there was thunder and lighting. There was a weather alert on the TV. It rained almost an inch. This went a long way to lifting a gardener's spirit. So did the fact that yesterday was a gorgeous day.

In addition there is no frost in the 10 day forcast. For the moment a number of plants can stay outside.

And there is still still color.

Maggie and I raked leaves yesterday. It was a pretty day. It is always pleasant to have someone garden with you. 

The secret to raking is not to do too much. The leaves will still be there tomorrow. We then sorted and graded amaryllis bulbs. They were dry enough now (after two weeks) to be put into dry peat moss for the winter. For the moment the boxes of bulbs can live out in the outside garage. I will bring them inside when the temperature dips below 30. 

I am learning the indoor watering schedule. Unfortunately sometimes I learn the hard way. Several crotons let me know that I had been reglecting them. I really will have to create a room by room schedule and then write down when the deed is done for that room.

I do like the schedule for the clivia. Winter care consists of putting them in some out of the way place, and then leaving them along until February.

A good watering schedule is hard for hoyas because of the size differential between plants. Some are little 5 inch pots. Others are much bigger, perhaps 12-15 inches.

Orchids really need a weekly schedule. This strange orchid is called a castasetum orchid. The plant grows these fat stalks, out of which comes the spike. It then hings down. The spike from the second stalk just showed up. Between the two the plant should bloom for well over a month.

Here is an early but reliable dendrobian.

Here is more color from outside

The oprnamental kale is progressing. I think the cooler weather has sent the cabbage worms someplace else. 

Some hosta retain their color until a real freeze.

Others change colors but are still interesting.

This is a leaf from Confused Angel.

The rhododendron has set its buds for next spring.

Speaking of buds, look at this little jade plant cutting.

Jade plants rarely bloom for me. I will write more about this wonderful plant next week.

A few caladium have stayed interesting.

Good old toad lilies.

I always pay attention to our trees. 

The buckeye has no leaves now.

The Sycamore and the Linden have leaves.

Julia's recipe

Salmon with miso and vegetables

I ran across this recipe for salmon with miso butter on the NYT recipe website. I liked the idea of cooking salmon with hearty vegetables. Everything cooked in one skillet on the stove. Flavorful, fast and a little bit different. 

The ingredients:

about 3/4 lb. salmon;

4 cups chopped green cabbage;

1/2 - 1 cup sliced carrots;

1 cup sliced onions;

1 package enoki mushrooms (optional);

1/4 cup white (tan) miso;

2 tablespoons soft butter;

2 teaspoons sugar;

1 tablespoon oil;

1/4 cup dry sherry (or dry sake if you have that); and

salt and pepper.

I started by prepping the vegetables. I peeled and cut the carrot into rounds. I am not a big fan of cooked carrots. If you are, make it more like 1 to 2 cups of sliced carrots. I cut the cabbage into square pieces about 1-1/2" squares. I cut the onion into 1/2" half moons. 

I bought enoki mushrooms (as the recipe suggested), which were all connected at the root end, which I cut off. 

I did not find the enoki mushrooms brought much to the party. I think next time I will use 1 or 1-1/2 cup of cremini mushrooms cut in halves or quarters. 

The bowl in the foreground is full of peach bits. I made peach shortcake for dessert, taking advantage of an especially flavorful peach crop this summer and early fall. 

After the vegetables were prepped, I mixed the miso, butter, and sugar in a little bowl.  

The miso butter all mixed up. 

I took the salmon out of the packaging, patted it dry and removed the bones. 

Then I put it on a plate and put a dollop of miso butter on each piece. There was miso butter left over, and that was fine. 

I used a table knife to spread the miso butter all over the salmon. 

Next, I poured the tablespoon of oil into a big skillet and added all of the vegetables. I sprinkled the vegetables with maybe 1/2 teaspoon each of slt and pepper.  

I cooked the vegetables over medium heat for 5 or 6 or 7 minutes until they began to go limp - especially the onions and cabbage. 

Then I stirred the vegetables and flattened them a bit and put the salmon, skin side down, on top. 

I dolloped the rest of the miso butter all around the vegetables and poured the sherry over all and put a lid on the skillet. 

When the liquid simmered, I turned the heat down (so there was nothing more vigorous than a simmer) and let it cook for about 10 minutes. When the fish flaked, the dish was done. 

If I had any scallions, I would have chopped one or two up for garnish. But I didn't.

Because I had two small pieces of salmon, I plated the meal in the kitchen: one dollop of rice (to mix with the vegetables), one piece of salmon, one pile of cooked vegetables. 

With sweet corn and salad and later on peach shortcake. 

The good news is this recipe can be made in the winter as well. 

Odds and Ends

Let me start with this little bit of amusement.

I need to get some rocks. Sometimes when I repot something it might be top heavy.  Without support it can fall over. I can help with a brick for large plants. But for plants like orchids the repotted plant might want to come right out of the new medium.

So you can cover some or all of the surfact with rocks. When roots have grown you remove the rocks.

I heard rocks were available from of all places Amazon. So I looked up rocks for sale. I have not gotten to the funny part. I ordered 20 pounds of rocks.

While checking out the webcite asked me if I wanted to pay an extra $3 for a protection plan. I laughed out loud.

So now it is time to close. It is still dark out. I sometimes ask you to pray for peace, or reconciliation.

So all I can say now is please let Kamala Harris win. There are so many reason. The Ukraine, personal privacy, medicaid, Obamacare, gay rights and the environment. Mostly I pray for the children and grandchildren everywhere.

And then there is, of course, the fact that the buffoon is CRAZY. We should not want that person in charge of anything. 

Do what you can in this last 9 days. We have already voted. 

Philip