A Pizza The Good Life

All good things come to those who wait and now we're in a month that was definitely worth waiting for, National Pizza Month. And while we can't grow mozzarella, pepperoni, ham or sausage in our gardens(sigh), we can grow herbs and veggies that make a homemade pizza all the more special because they add fresh flavors that can only be found in produce that was harvested just a few minutes ago.

So go ahead and grow basil and tomatoes. Make that homemade pizza sauce. Shred yellow summer squash or zucchini. Drain them, squeeze out the excess liquid and sprinkle them  generously over your creation. Put on some young tender spinach. Add homegrown onions and peppers if you like, raw or sauteed. And you can even include roasted homegrown garlic if you have a mind to.

The variations of pizza are endless. And you'll need far more than one month to explore them. So get started now and enjoy! Mangia! Mangia!

Herbs For The Catch Of The Day

National Hunting and Fishing Day is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of every September. And while I've never been a fan of gunpowder and loud noises, I have had the pleasure of enjoying the relaxing activity of fishing. And as it turns out, there are several herbs that are relatively easy to grow in the garden that greatly enhance the flavor of fish.

• As many of you may have already guessed, basil is at the top of the list. I have found that lemon basil pairs well with many different types of fish and I've even used it to enhance the flavor of my crock pot fish chowder.
• Chives are another herb that add a nice accent to fish dishes whether they are sprinkled on top after the fish is done or cooked along with it.
• Rosemary is a wonderful herb for fish whether it's fresh or dried. But be aware that fresh rosemary has stronger citrus notes than its dry form.
• Sage also goes well with fish. However, its use requires care and a light hand as its intensity increases with cooking or if it is frozen before being used in dishes.
• And although many Americans don't grow it, French tarragon, which is well suited for even a windowsill garden, adds a light, delicate flavor to fish dishes. 

So there you have it, a short list of flavor enhancers for your next fish dish. Give them each a try and see which one(s) suit your fancy.

Just Hanging Around

Less than 10% of the plastic thrown away in the U.S. each year is recycled. Before you toss out that plastic beverage container, you might consider letting it hang around for a while, literally, as a home for some of your herbs like this lemon basil plant. The people of the Earth and the Earth itself will thank you.

Keeping Mosquitos At Bay

If you have no idea what yellow fever is, you can thank Dr. Walter Reed who was born 166 years ago on this day and discovered in 1901 that this deadly disease was carried by mosquitoes. As a result of his work and the brave volunteers who worked with him, what had been a scourge for generations was eliminated. And if you'd like to keep mosquitoes away from your house and the area around it, Mother Nature has provided a variety of plants which mosquitoes don't like that can easily be grown in containers or in the ground.

Rosemary, basil and lavender all have scents that keep mosquitoes away. And even catnip can be an effective deterrent. Although since it is a mint, it might be best to grow it only in a container since it can be very invasive.

Groundhog Wars- Part Deux

In the never ending struggle to thwart the ever present woodchucks, my best friends have become large, discarded, plastic trash receptacles and discarded plastic storage bins. When combined, they make great high rise containers that keep the fruits of my labor beyond the reach of the relatives of Punxsutawney Phil. In the photographs above pepper plants, basil and a container tomato plant have found a happy home.

Of course, I can't do this with all of my  plants, but every little bit helps.

Crated Basil

A quartet of lettuce leaf basil plants is doing quite well in this planter made from a re-purposed milk crate and a plastic trash bag. Pesto anyone?

A Lot From One Pot

If you're interested in growing basil, but don't have much room. Try the lettuce leaf variety. As you can see from the photo, you can get a lot from just one leaf. And even a modest sized pot provides enough room for a plant with an abundance of leaves such as these. Just make sure to harvest the leaves regularly so the plant won't flower and go to seed.

All Hail The Queen!

Before anyone gets the wrong idea, this is not an entry about the present monarch of the U.K. or about the Thai princess that may soon ascend to the throne. This queen reigns in the kingdom of basil and is as exotic as the land from which she originates. You're not likely to see any other herbs adorned with such eye catching blossoms. Nor are you going to find other basils that blend their basic flavor with notes of licorice and provide a perfect complement to many Asian dishes. I've heard that there are some gardeners that grow this herb purely for ornamental purposes. Who can blame them? It's almost too pretty to eat.

Going Herbal

My friend Rosemary gave me some sage advice and told me to try growing herbs, but I replied, "I don't have the thyme". O.K., enough with the attempts at botanical humor. This is my first year trying to grow herbs and so far so good. The sweet basil plant pictured above is doing quite well in a discarded Xtreme Gulp mug that has been re-purposed as a planter. The aroma of the plant is outstanding. I hope the flavor it adds to food will be too. But if I don't like this particular variety of basil, there are over 60 more to choose from. So I could be exploring the joys of basil for quite a few summers.