My first post in half a year...I was having computer issues and didn't take the time to fix them.  But, now we are up and running again!

This is the first bloom from my new fall blooming camilla. Reminds me of the one in my uncle's garden when I was a kid.  It's a winner!

Golly, my last post was in October!

Since the October post below pictured my pumpkins, Galeux d'eysines, I will resume my writing with them as my  opening subject.  These are heirloom, open pollinated winter squash.  They are really very, very tasty.  We had them as pie, soup, roasted with red peppers, garlic, rosemary and Parmesan cheese,  sauteed with olive oil, garlic and parsley, simply baked pieces with a tad of butter, ginger and sugar, and probably some other ways, too.  I shared pieces with my co-workers, too.

I saved seeds from the best two of the four I harvested. One set of dried seeds I put in a jar.  They got moldy.  The second set I left out, and they we looking perfect for planting. But then a while back without noticing the seeds in the container, I put a potted plant on top of them and they got slimy from being so wet!  Really paying such close attention, aren't I?

Well, I prepared the bed for them anyway and planted three spots.  I divided the seeds so that seven or eight seeds, both  moldy and slimy, were in each hole.  Lo and behold!  Oh, how happy! Almost all the seeds have sprouted. I guess pumpkins seeds are tough and just want to grow. After they get their true leaves well full out and the seedlings have made it past the insect mow-down season I will cull to three plants, one in each hole. Seeds at (Rare seeds)

I picked up a "Sugar Baby" watermelon start at the Farmer's Market last week. I put it near the pumpkins. It is a hot spot in the garden.  Both the watermelon and the pumpkins vines run far and wide so I will let them  all run together.  They will surely take over that part of the garden. So far cantaloupe type melons haven't done well.  We shall see... Sugar Baby watermelons at Seeds of Change

Autumn!

Of course!  That's it!  Time seems to be moving rather swiftly and once again it is two weeks since my last post.  But of course, mon cherie, there is less light everyday so there are fewer hours to be out in the garden.

Last week I planted my first few short rows of winter foodstuffs.  I put in a hardly lettuce from Seeds of Change, www.seedsofchange.com , Winter Density lettuce, Detroit red beets, Renee's Gardens, www.reneesgarden.com , yellow and orange Sunshine Mix carrots, and Tyee spinach.  There really isn't a lot of available space in the garden beds yet as summer veggies are still producing.

Saturday! and that means today is gardening day.  I need to move a few shrubs and perennials that aren't happy in their current spots.  It is hot here in summer and too wet in winter so autumn is a fine time for replanting. It is almost like winter is early spring here as the hills all turn a lush velvet green.

I have cut open the first Galeux d'eysines winter squash.  the thickest part of the flesh is almost three inches thick!

It is a wonderfully delicious squash and has a great texture, almost no strings and lots of plump seeds. It is a softer squash and cooks much faster than other winter squash.  I have roasted it, cut in cubes tossed with olive oil, red bell peppers, garlic, rosemary and Parmesan. This usually takes about 40 minutes to bake but the squash was really soft when I took it out of the oven.  Still delicious, just roasted past perfection.

My second cooking was a simple risotto. The ingredients were the rice, chicken stock, onions, the squash and a bit of fresh oregano. I put the squash in too early,  and when the risotto was done the pieces had "dissolved" but oh what a beautiful color and wonderful taste! YUM!

This second photo doesn't do justice to the overall size of the squash but I love the shadow...Halloween is coming!