Sandwich Bread. 7.2.22

 Today I broke in the new electric range, baking a loaf of sandwich bread.

The flour must have been more moist than usual - by the time I kneaded in enough for the right  consistency, there was enough for an extra mini-loaf.

I didn't know if I would like electric.   The bread loaf baked more evenly and a little faster than the gas oven.  I think it cane out perfect.  Cookies (gingersnaps) baked the same as with gas, but again, about a minute faster.  

I'm not sold yet on having a glass cooktop, but at least it should stay cleaner.  Pots seem to boil faster, but I can't use cast iron so will have to adapt.

Cleome Seedlings. 7.2.22

 Today I planted the cleome seedlings into the meditation garden.  They were small, so not root bound.

Cleome is a warm weather plant, so I had waited until recently to start them.  There were about nine usable seedlings, which is plenty.  

I started these seeds May 23rd.  The germination was slow and uneven, so the plant sizes are variable.  

Potato Flowers. 7.1.22

 Elba potatoes are blooming nicely.  These are a "late potato" but apparently bloom earlier and better than my other varieties.

Bird Deterrent For Raspberries. 7.1.22

 The raspberries are doing great.  Barely beginning to pink up.  Next to them is a redcurrant that birds stripped of every berry.  I didn't get to taste even one.

Strips of holographic tape usually deter birds, so I was generous in how much I tied to the raspberries and to the fence above them.

Here's a video.  I tie it lime a kite tail, so every slight breeze whips the strips around.  It can be noisy and in the sun, the flashes of light are almost blinding.  I added some to one of the fig trees, too.

First Garlic Harvest. 7.1.22

 These are the first of the "Music" variety garlic, that I planted last fall.  I've grown them through many garlic generations here, so they are very well adapted.  The cloves are very large, and strongly flavored.

These are not ready to dig for storage.  The paper-like covering needs to be dried out first.  I think they will be ready in a few more weeks.  Meanwhile, we have fresh garlic from the garden.