Herbs...and Miss V's Tomato Plant

I don't know what happened or where time has gone this spring.  I usually have an herb garden growing by now.  The only thing I picked up a while back was a basil plant.  It is cheaper to but the plant than those over priced little packets at the grocery store.

I do have a Rosemary bush...yes bush!  It is was getting so big that I had my husband trim it this weekend.

Before (May 4, 2011)

Today

A few years ago I planted the Rosemary, Oregano and a few other herbs.  We found out that Oregano is an invasive species and it took over from one end of the pool cage to the middle where the Rosemary is.  So we had to rip it all out.  Nasty stuff!  From now on it stays in pots!!!

Speaking of my basil, this year I didn't repot it.  Every time I do I forget to water it or I let it go so long and it starts to flower.

I did have a funny surpise on Sunday morning.  We headed out the front door and what did I see in one of my pots.....Basil from last year.  See...I forgot to water it and it dried out so I just pulled the dead plant out and put it in the yard waste barrel.

Miss V wanted a BIG tomato plant this year and to keep it on the lanai.  Every year she gets a plant and we put it out back and either rabbits or squirels eat it.  So far we have already picked one tomato.  Now it is LOADED with tomatoes.  It also is so big that we put a couple of plant stands around it to keep it up off the ground.

I am so excited!  We planted a Dwarf Myer Lemon (I think) tree a few years ago and it doesn't set fruit for the first few years.  Anyway, I noticed that it has 4 little lemons starting.  Yikes!  I better read up on them to see if they need any special care.

Are you growing and fruit, veggies or herbs this year?  If so what???

Grilled Chicken Breasts

We have been having a lot of grilled chicken lately. I like chicken on the bone for grilling, it keeps it moist.

I have done this many times in the past and for dinner tonight.

3 or 4 split chicken breast with skin on, you can do more to suit your family
Fresh herbs

Since Victoria is growing basil, lemon basil, sage and oregano I like to use them.

I picked off some basil, lots of lemon basil and sage leaves. Gently lift the skin off the breast and layer some of the herb leaves and a small pat of butter. Put the skin back down to cover the breast meat.

Grill until the juices run clear.

Very yummy!!

UPDATE: forgot to say I also salt and pepper the skin and use a bit of cooking spray to get the skin really crispy

It's a jungle out there

This morning I was walking by the living room slider and saw white flowers on Victoria's string bean plants!! I told her and she went to check them out and noticed how many pepper buds there are too!!



Pepper plant

String Bean Plant with flowers!

Close up of the flowers

Look!! Peppers are starting!

More flowers on her string bean plant

Garden update

Victoria's container garden is growing well! Look at her tomato plant, it now has 6 or 7 flowers and she is very excited!

Her herb pot is doing very well also. Last week when I made a roast chicken I snipped off a bunch of sage leaves and some lemon basil leaves to tuck under the skin. Mmm it was goooood!

Her bell pepper pot and string bean pot are growing too!

Container Gardening

Victoria wants to have a container garden, so today at Home Depot she picked out a few plants. She picked string beans, bell peppers, common sage, greek oregano, sweet basil and lemon basil. So here is the beginning of her container garden.

You might be asking why a container garden? Well last year she tried to plant summer squash, cantaloupe, and strawberries, but we quickly found out that the neighborhood rabbit ate everything! Poor Victoria was heartbroken and really MAD! So this year we are trying containers, wish her luck!

Topsy Turvy

Topsy Turvy...

We spotted these at Home Depot on Friday night and we had to get one. The problem was we can't hang it outside because the darn rabbit eats everything. Last year Victoria planted tomatoes, squash and strawberries and the rabbit ate everything.

So we looked row after row and finally we found an adjustable plant hanger.

Now I wonder if the plant will grow???