The not so unlimited salad

 

The Winter salads are coming to an end. The lettuce is bolting and becoming bitter. I have some Arugula that is still growing, however most of the space in the garden has been cleared for Mater planting time.

Cyclamen add bright color to a winter garden

During the dreary days of winter, I love to see some pop of color in my garden. Cyclamen is a wonderful winter annual that provides color with beautiful blooms and heart shaped leaves.

They look spectacular sprinkled throughout the garden or planted in groups. My intention when planting them is to make the planting look organic as possible. As if they decided to spring up all on their own.

With so many different variety of colors available, it is hard to buy just one. Their beauty and cold hardiness in TX winters makes them one of my favorite winter annuals.

Foliage Follow-Up January 2012

It was a beautiful day to get out in garden and snap some photos for Foliage Follow-Up hosted by Pam Penick at Digging. We haven't started landscaping yet, so this will give me a good idea of needs to stay in the garden and what might have to go. 

These Crinum Lilies have been in this garden for 30 years plus. They were a pass along from my Grandmother. These have such sentimental value to me so these are definitely staying. 

This is another pass along from my Grandmother. I love the delicate white flowers on it. I don't have an ID on it, so If anyone knows the name I would love to know it. Here is another picture of it.

I have a ton of Four o'clocks coming up from seed. They seem to love the cooler weather. They are starting to take over so some of them might have to go.

The impatiens I planted in a container this past summer are also loving this cooler weather. They seem to be doing well with neglect.

I planted this coral vine this past summer. I love the heart shaped leaves on it. 

Also planted this past summer was a bottle brush bush. There haven't been any blooms, but I still love the foliage. It kinda reminds me of an olive tree.

The diamond frost is still going after a long, hot summer. Here it is peeking through a spider lily.

I love this firecracker plant/bush. It is huge!! No blooms this past summer, but I love the fern like look of it.

This plant was difficult to get established, but now it seems very happy where it is.  Unfortunately, some of it might have to go. Here is a wide shot of it.

Gotta love annuals for some color. I love the gray and pink color on this kale.

Thanks for joining me in a walk around my garden. We have a lot of work to do this spring.

Texas Chili

 For some reason I associate chili with cooler weather. Maybe chilly = chili?? For a while, I used the pre-made  chili starter, you know, the one that comes in a box with all the spices, but I noticed it was missing something. I realized that I had never made chili from scratch, so I decided to give it a try. I came up with my version of Texas chili. How long has it been since you've had a big, steaming bowl of Texas chili? Well, that's too long! - Sorry, you knew I had to go there.

Texas Chili:

1 1/2 pounds, grass feed ground beef, (I used the 90%)

1 can kidney beans, (you can make this sans the beans if you like)

2 cans tomato sauce

1/2 onion, finely diced or microplaned

2 cloves garlic, finely diced or microplaned

2 1/2 cups beef broth

4 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon mexican oregano

2 tablespoons olive oil 

1/4 cup beer  

1 teaspoons brown sugar

1/4 cup masa incorporated into 1/4 cup warm water

salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large soup pot, add ground beef. Cook until meat has browned (3-5 minutes). Add finely minced onion and garlic. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes. Add spices, tomato sauce, sugar and beef broth. Bring to a boil. Cook for 30 minutes on simmer. Add beer and beans and cook 10 more minutes. Mix masa and hot water in a small cup, add to chili. Top with shredded cheddar and diced onion.

Finch Fest Part 2

The finch fest is still in full swing, except now the American Goldfinches have decided to join in. There are usually around seven to eight birds on the feeder at one time. I normally refill the feeder every week, but lately it has been more like every couple of days.

 

I've also had the pleasure of watching a female Rufous hummer at the hummingbird feeder. Normally, I take my feeder down, but there is a woodpecker that is a sugar addict and can't get enough of the sugar water. I first spotted the Rufous on December 11th. I think there might even be a second Rufous  visiting the feeder. Could this be a sign that we are in for a very mild winter in South Texas?