Garden Update

Containers in the front and garden plot in the back. All doing well in the heat and beginning of summer.

What Spring Means to Me: Strawberries, Rhubarb, and Asparagus

I love the spring. Farmers markets are starting back up and/or extending their hours. The days are longer. The semester is nearing its end. And you can eat strawberries, rhubarb, and asparagus.

Here is a wonderful recipe from my roommate's family arsenal.

Rhubarb and Strawberry Cake with Pie Crumb Topping

What You Need
- 1 egg
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups rhubarb, chopped
- 1-2 cups strawberries, chopped
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- dash cinnamon
- small dash nutmeg

What You Do
1. Pre-heat oven to 350.
2. Mix together egg, yogurt, sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Fold in rhubarb and strawberries.
4. Pour mixture into a greased and floured pan.
5. Mix together remaining flour, oatmeal, brown sugar, and butter.
6. Add dash of cinnamon and nutmeg.
7. Sprinkle topping over the cake.
8. Bake for 50 minutes.

Yum. Celebrate the spring.

Mother's Day Weekend Gardening

I've heard from master gardeners that Mother's Day is the right day to start gardening in this area.  So, I took this weekend to get my garden cleaned up at home and transplant some plants from our collection at UMD that are itching for a home since our beds aren't ready at the Public Health Garden. The garden is a good collection of containers and my little plot from last year. I've also expanded with two make-shift raised beds for potatoes and sweet onions (not shown because I put the onions in today). Here are some photos:

Here is a list of what you see pictured:

• Kale and collards from last year (still going!)
• Broccoli
• Rhubarb
• Tomato plants
• Eggplant
• Green beans
• Peas
• Lettuce (container)
• Herb mix (container)
• Container tomato
• Container eggplant (I have a lot of eggplant, we'll see how they do)
• Potatoes
• Sweet onions

In the front yard, we have containers of the following:

• Strawberries
• Rosemary and more herbs

I also have seeds starting for cukes, melons, peppers, and okra. 

It is going to be a delicious season.  I hope you got started with some plants this weekend too... containers and otherwise!