Zinnias, My New Favorite Flowers

For years I'd picked up packets of zinnia and marigold seeds at the end of the season when they'd go on sale for half price or more and I had quite a collection in my seed tin. I never seemed to get them planted, probably because my flower beds are all in shade.

This year, with the addition of bees to my property I decided to add flowers to the vegetable garden area where there is a lot of sun.  I added a couple of perennials to a round bed where my kitty Nico is buried - plants that are attractive to bees.  By July 1 I thought the bed looked OK, but there were little patches of open spaces so I decided to plant those old packets of zinnia and marigold seeds.  The ground was well prepared from the perennial bed so I just sprinkled the seeds on the top of the ground and covered them with some soiless mix heavy in peat moss.  Within a week lots of little sprouts appeared.  I didn't pay much attention to them for a while and then all of a sudden I had masses of three foot high flowers!

I had expected flowers about 12 to 18 inches tall.  I guess generous amendments of well rotted cow manure was a good thing.  The zinnia took over! They are wonderful cut flowers, lasting over a week. I've been cutting them and giving away bouquets. I'll not forget these wonderful old flowers next year!

The power of well rotted cow manure.

Cherry Tomatoes and Chicken Recipe

I hate to say it but by this time of year I'm a little over the fresh tomatoes from the garden. In another week or so it will frost and I'll try to hold on to the plants a little longer, but my craze to eat fresh from the garden tomatoes every day has passed.

One of the volunteers at the museum brought in bags of cherry tomatoes yesterday, hoping to give them away to the staff and his fellow volunteers.  Any one who grows cherry tomatoes knows that they can become overwhelming this time of year.  They aren't really something you freeze or can. But here's a tasty recipe from  my sister-in-law, Debbie.  It's very good and it uses cherry tomatoes!

Chicken Breast with Tomato Basil Sauce

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast seasoned with salt and paper. 
1/4 cup flour
4 tablespoon butter, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 shallot, chopped
2 cloves of garlic smashed
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup chicken broth
18 halved grape tomatoes
1/4 cup fresh chopped basil.

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Wash the chicken under cold water and pat it dry. Dredge in flour. In a large heavy skillet melt one tablespoon butter in the olive oil. Brown the chicken in the butter and olive oil on all sides, about 3  or 4 minutes per side over medium heat. Place the chicken in an oven proof dish in the oven.

Meanwhile saute the garlic and shallot in the skillet you just used to brown the chicken, scraping up any brown bits as you go for a minute or two to soften the shallots and garlic. Add the balsamic vinegar and the chicken broth  and the tomato halves.  Saute for a few minutes over medium heat until reduced by half. Add 3 tablespoons of butter and the fresh basil leaves. Return the chicken to the pan and simmer a few minutes longer to combine the flavors.

In Praise of Old Favorites

I have a small round perennial bed at the edge of my vegetable garden dedicated to bee and butterfly plants. It surrounds the grave of my sweet little kitty, Nico who was killed by coyotes two years ago.

By July 1 I had planted a new butterfly bush to replace the one I killed with too much pruning last winter, three blue salvias, a beard's tongue and an anise hyssop all to attract bees and butterflies.
These joined the Stella Dora lilies I'd planted two years ago.

There was little bits of open space so I dug out all my out-of-date marigold and zinnia seeds and sprinkled them around. Every year at the end of the season I buy marigold and zinnia seeds thinking I'll plant them and never do. The seeds were old so I didn't expect much but I thought I might get a few flowers.

In the picture below you can see a little bit of the lilies in the front and the butterfly bush on the right but everything else has been covered by tall zinnias.

Such a pretty display all summer and now holding their own as well in the fall.

When I planted the zinnias I had no idea they would grow that tall.  I think the packages said 12 to 18 inches.  I amended the soil with well rotted cow manure and covered the seeds with potting soil to help them sprout easily, but otherwise nothing special.  This is also a well drained area, so they got plenty of moisture but were not soggy. I've been so pleased with the display and they have been great for cut flower arrangements. I won't forget to plant these old favorites again next year.

At the same time I had a nine pack of little marigolds. I planted them at the end of this bed of mint and other herbs. Most of the time the mint takes over, but these little guys held them back. .