Weeds, Sprouts & Flowers

The recent rains have kept things well watered on the farm.  The newly planted crops are starting to sprout, but so are the weeds.  Russ & I tag team on weeding every single day.  Yesterday Russ asked, "Dad, when are the weeds going to stop growing?"  The correct answer to that question is "Never."  Weeding is never done.  There is a tremendous bank of weed seed in the soil and weed seed that is blown by the wind or dispersed by birds.  All you can do is try to stay ahead of it.


Weed eradication on a row of turnips

In a couple days, I'll know for sure what type of "stand" I have on the fall/winter crop that we planted.  Some seeds germinate more quickly than others.  Below is a picture of some broccoli that is sprouting up nicely.  In the next few days I'll try to take some pictures of the different plants that are jumping out of the ground right now.  I always plant a little thicker than called for.  Once they get a few inches high you are supposed to thin them out.  I generally dig them up by the roots very carefully and re-plant in another area in the garden. 

Broccoli Sprouts

We're hoping that they grow up to look like these from last winter's crop.  Fresh broccoli is the best.  We normally harvest and eat all we can.  We steam a lot of it with some butter.  We make chicken and broccoli quiche.  We also like to make cream of broccoli soup with the fresh cow cream.  Talk about good!  We'll blanch Ziploc bag after Ziploc bag to enjoy over the spring, summer and fall until the new crop comes in.  We are completely out right now.


Just a few dew-kissed broccoli heads from last year's crop

I tried to get a good picture of a magnolia that is currently blooming in the yard.  Here is one flower about to open.

Magnolia bloom in the process of opening

Here is another magnolia flower that has opened and is a little past its peak.  I wish I could've gotten a shot a little earlier to show you.  There is quite possibly not a fragrance on the planet that is more crisp and clean and refreshing than a magnolia blossom.  Actually the magnolia blossom is the state flower of Louisiana.

In doing a little research on the magnolia, I stumbled across the following and found it funny:
http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/flowers/la_magnolia.htm

The flower of the magnolia tree was approved by the Louisiana General Assembly as the state flower of Louisiana on July 12, 1900.  In 1941, the Mary Swords DeBaillon Louisiana Native Iris Society was formed by a group of Louisiana iris enthusiasts. The Society, its membership having grown to about 185 members, proposed legislation in 1950 to replace the magnolia blossom with the Louisiana iris. In an effort to appease the magnolia supporters, legislation was also proposed to make the magnolia the official state tree.

The debate between the iris lovers and the magnolia supporters sometimes grew heated. The iris was referred to as a plant that grows in swamps and one magnolia supporter offered, "Lots of people already think that everyone in Louisiana lives in houses on stilts in swamplands and keeps an alligator as a watchdog." Iris supporters contended that the Louisiana iris can be grown everywhere and that the magnolia, grown throughout the south, is not unique to Louisiana.

The iris lovers were not to prevail however and the beautiful magnolia blossom remains Louisiana's state flower to this day. So it's been for over 100 years.  It should be noted that the Louisiana iris was adopted as the state's wildflower in 1990.

I would hate to be caught in the middle of the heated debate between the Iris Society and the Magnolia Supporters at the local garden club meeting.  That sounds like the Hatfields and McCoys and a melee could easily ensue at this otherwise genteel gathering.  Why, you might even get a pimento sandwich with the crusts cut off thrown at you by the recipient of the Yard of the Month Award!

Speaking of pimento cheese, now that is a southern delicacy, I'll tell you right now.  I remember my grandmother would make up a batch of pimento cheese sandwiches for us, especially when we would go on family vacations.  She would always make a goody bag for us that Mom would keep in the front seat of our Oldsmobile station wagon with the simulated would grain on the side.  It was a brilliant idea that kept us from complaining and wondering when we were ever going to get to our destination and generally irritating our parents to no end.

She would pack a bag with pimento cheese sandwiches, fruit, homemade rice Krispie treats, animal crackers and various word-find puzzles and games to keep us occupied in the car.  Mom would dole out the items to the occupants of the back seat at pre-set intervals to keep us looking forward to the next "offering" from Bumby's (my grandmother's) Bag of Surprises.  Ingenious, I tell you.  Yes, that was the before iPods, in-car DVDs, DS games, iPhones, texting etc. arrived on the scene to occupy our attention.  Progress?  Bumby's Bag 'o Fun begs to differ!


A white rose with a spider on top