Minted Eggplant

I found three ripe eggplant this morning. I've grown eggplant before, but my plants never did that well. At this location they seem to do well. I think they are getting the heat and humidity they need to thrive. Eggplant is one of those vegetables that takes on the flavors you add to it. Most people have heard about Eggplant Parmesan, but have you heard of Minted Eggplant? Well, here's the quick and easy recipe, perfect for a hot summer day.

2-3 large eggplant
4 tablespoons of minced garlic
1 cup very finely chopped mint leaves
juice from 5 limes

Slice eggplant about half an inch thick,
leaving the skins on. Steam eggplant
in a vegetable steamer till just tender,
but not falling apart. About 12 minutes.
Quickly remove eggplant and immerse
in an ice water bath to stop cooking process.
Drain eggplant well. Put one layer of
eggplant in the bottom of a casserole dish,
layer with minced garlic and finely chopped
mint leaves, making sure you get some mint
and garlic on each eggplant slice.
Continue with another layer until
you run out of eggplant.
Drizzle with fresh lime juice
over the entire casserole.
Let marinate for about two hours.
Serve room temperature or slightly chilled.
Very refreshing.

Floral Arrangement From Our Gardens . . . Bee Balm, Black Dahlia & Shasta Daisy

I finally got some wet floral foam yesterday, so I could take advantage of some of the flowers blooming in the garden and a few floral arrangements. Here you see a footed round milk glass vase arranged with Bee Balm, Black Dahlia and Shasta Daisy. I used Modesto Ash for greenery. All of these items are growing in the gardens here. As soon as I am caught up, I plan on having a floral arranging demonstration and class here in the gardens. If you are interested, please give me call. Happy Fourth of July weekend to you all.

Blooms in July

Rudbeckia hirta 'Autumn Colors', Brown-Eyed Susan

Achillea millefolium 'Paprika', Yarrow
Kniphofia uvaria, Red Hot Poker or Torch Lily
Hypericum androsaemum 'Aubury Purple', St. John's-wort
Gallardia 'Torchlight', Blanket Flower
Leucanthemum 'Agalia', Shasta Daisy (fringed)
Echinacea 'Primadonna Rose', Purple Cone Flower

Moorpark Apricot & Red Haven Peach

My Moorpark Apricots and Red Haven Peaches are ripe at the same time this year. Since I don't use any pesticides, they may have a few blemishes, but isn't a small spot worth being able to eat a fresh piece of fruit right off the tree without the worry of wondering what residual chemical is left on the fruit.

I can't say enough about the Red Haven peach. These peaches are a very early variety; it's almost the end of June and they are all just about ready to pick. The Red Haven is a yellow freestone with wonderful color, thin skin, and little fuzz. Peaches are rich in Vitamin A, C, E, Potassium, Calcium and Iron. Once you have had one of these peaches you never want another variety of peach again.


The Moorpark Apricots are smaller than you might get in the grocery store, but are much tastier. They ripen quickly and should be picked when a little firm since just a half a day in the house they are more than ripe. Apricots are rich in Vitamin A, B and C, Calcium, Copper, Iron, and Phosphorus and are very good for you.

I'll be sending out my newsletter, letting you know the fruit is ripe. Hurry the apricots and peaches sell out quickly.

Dahlias Speak For Themselves ...

Dahlias speak for themselves, so enjoy the photos. I don't need to say any more. I've never grown dahlias before and now I don't know why. If there ever was a perfectly formed flower, it's a dahlia. Unfortunately, the tags faded and I can't read the names of the dahlias I am growing, but it doesn't seem to matter, because they are just as beautiful to look at either way. So without further adieu here are some photos for you.Some time ago I posted about my dahlias having some leaf damage. Well I found out grasshoppers like dahlias. Now my dahlias are over two feet tall and starting to bloom prolifically. I'm glad they didn't have some type of virus. The leaves are somewhat deformed, but the flowers more than make up for it.

Okra Doesn't Have To Be Slimy!

Okra, I like it fried, pickled and fresh. I'm learning lots of wonderful things about okra this year. Okra, also know as Lady's Fingers, originated from West Africa, is in the mallow family, and loves the heat. If you plant it too early in the season the seed will rot. So wait till the soil warms up and plant your okra seed. The roots don't like to be disturbed so if you purchase a plant already started carefully place it in the soil. The plant grows almost 6 feet tall and produces edible pods rich in Vitamins A, C, B complex, iron, calcium and fiber.

Pick okra when it is about 4 to 5 inches long, any longer and okra becomes very tough and fibrous. The largest pod above is too long and is very tough. Okra is related to the kenaf plant. Rope and paper can be made with the fibers of the plant. You can reduce the sliminess of okra by washing just before cooking and not cutting the okra too many times. The more you cut it the more slimy it becomes. I have been steaming the tender pods and eating them as a snack, boy are they good. Fried okra is a favorite food in the South, breaded with cornmeal. Okra is also added to gumbo to thicken the broth, that's when the sliminess is welcome.

I'm finding okra easy to grow. My four plants are producing edible pods every day and my plants are only a about a foot and a half tall. I had four plants and I have put in 4 more, so I may have an overabundance of okra soon. If you're looking to try fresh okra, stop in for a visit, and I'll pick you some okra right off the plant.

FREE BUNCH OF LAVENDER !!!

Our lavender is finally mature this year after being in the ground almost 4 years and our harvest is plentiful. So we are offering a free bunch of lavender with each purchase in our gallery, Blue Starr Gallery, or our garden gift shop, Springville Lavender Gardens, while supplies last and limited to the supplies on hand each day. Limit one per customer per day please. That means when we run out of bunches each day, you'll have to wait till we pick more the next day, because lavender does best picked in the morning rather than in the hot sun. I do better, too, Ha!

Our gallery is located in our garden gift shop and we have ceramic art, mosaics, photographic gift cards, and mixed media collage on display for sale all made by yours truly. Each piece of art is an original design and is handmade. Our garden gift shop carries fresh and dried flowers, soaps, lotions, bath salts, potpourri, sachets, and much more. Our hours are posted on our message machine and under News and Events on our garden website. Hope to see you soon.