The heat has returned. Could this be the last hurrah for the summer? We are but a couple of weeks away from the official end of summer and that means the calendar will be pointing to fall, but doesn’t always mean that the weather will follow. You should still check on your plants to make sure they are well watered and continue to harvest all those wonderful vegetables. In fact we have a couple of stories in this week’s show that will help you prepare some of your tomatoes to eat now and to save for later.
Don’t forget we are just a week away from the Fall GardenPalooza event at Fir Point Farms. Join us on the 21st from 9-4 for plants, art, beer and wine, and a bunch of fun! Check out the GardenPalooza website for all the details.
This week we featured...
Japanese Stone Paths
Having a path through your garden is like a trail into a secret place. That is how we felt when we took a tour through the Portland Japanese Garden (503-223-1321) with Sadafumi Uchiyama the garden curator. ‘Sada’ is an expert in all the different styles of paths in the garden and each style serves a different purpose. He took us to the Tea Garden to show us how different paths can help people appreciate the garden more. The entrance to the Tea Garden has a nice smooth, broad path. This is to allow visitors to enter the Tea Garden freely and at a normal pace. Quickly though, the path becomes narrower and eventually turns into a stepping stone path. This forces a person to slow down and pay attention to where they step and what is around them. This sets the tone for entering the Tea House and the relaxing atmosphere they will find there. Sada also showed us how these paths are used for different settings. Some are built to handle the heavy traffic of the garden, others have moss on them and are pieces of a complex landscape.
Next we traveled to an area outside the garden to see where they keep all the raw materials for their paths. This area has many different types of stone depending on where it is used. He showed us how they reinforce the heavily traveled paths so they can take a beating. Then he showed us a demonstration pad where they show students and visitors how to build a path. We were fascinated with the fact that there are no 90 degree angles to any of their stones. They look to recreate a natural look as you would see in nature. If you are interested in learning more about the paths, or to possibly attend a class where you can get some hands on experience, be sure to contact the Portland Japanese Garden office. They have on-site classes at various times during the year and are even offering some classes at off-site locations as well. You will not be disappointed!
Tomato and Salsa Fest
How do you think your salsa shapes up against the competition. Well, now you have a way to find out. We paid a visit to Timeless Gardens (541-258-7693) near Lebanon, Oregon in the valley to preview their annual Tomato and Salsa event happening on September 14th from 11am to 4pm. We met with Trudie to get one of the award winning salsas and to also learn more about the event. The Fest is a benefit to raise funds and awareness of Hannah’s House. Hannah’s House is a shelter and rehab facility for troubled women and their children. A big chunk of the proceeds will go to help this great organization.
The salsa fest allows anyone to bring their best fresh salsa (not canned) to the garden center between 10:30 and noon on the 14th of September. There are 3 categories and people can stop by and have a taste, then vote for their favorite in any of the 3 categories. There are lots of other things going on as well. There are kids activities, a ‘biggest’ tomato contest, and all types of tomato foods to try. If you would like to learn more about entering, or just need directions, check out their website. Should be a great time for everyone.
Night Interest Plants
With people working longer hours, it is hard to enjoy that garden you have worked so hard to create. Enjoyment of your summer garden can extend into the twilight hours and longer if you design a garden with a group of special plants. Certain plants have characteristics that make them perfect for night time gardens. Leonard from Dancing Oaks Nursery (503-838-6058) took us on a tour of their garden where he has plants that show off in the late evening. For an evening garden you want to look at plants that are white, silver or variegated. There are also plants that bloom in the evening or become fragrant later in the day. Leonard showed off some of the plants he has chosen to include in the display garden at the nursery. Two of the plants he wanted to show us were right next to each other. The first one was Nicotiana sylvestra or ‘Flowering Tobacco’. This one has long white flowers that also have a fragrance in the evening. The blooms face downward in the daylight, but turn slightly upward in the cooler evening. There is also another variety called Nicotiana alata which has slightly larger blooms. These plants are pollinated by the Sphinx Moth in our area, but can also be pollinated by bats. The next plant we looked at was the Cestrum parqui or ‘Night Jessamine’. This one has clusters of tiny golden blooms that smell, according to Leonard, like a sweet Easter candy smell. There are also the Brugmansia Plants (known as Angel’s Trumpet). These are striking in the garden and especially at night. Another flower that you can look for in your garden center are the ‘Four o’clocks’, because they start to open for the evening at 4 o’clock. If you are looking for some night bloom plants you can check out the ones that they carry at Dancing Oaks during their annual Moonlight in the Garden event happening on the 18th of September this year. There will be finger food, wine tasting and harp music in the garden as you watch the sun set and the flowers start to bloom. You will need to get a ticket by the 10th so call now. If you are interested in bringing night blooming plants to your garden and you can’t make it to Dancing Oaks, you can find many of them at your local independent garden center.
Roasted Tomatoes
Everything is getting ripe in the garden and one of the vegetables that seem to ripen all at once are tomatoes. Once they start to produce they can really overwhelm you! To learn how to save some of the harvest we stopped by Smith Berry Barn (503-628-2172). First Joelle showed us how you can freeze the whole, ripe tomato. In one method you just wash the tomato and core out the center and just place it in a plastic freezer bag. Once they are frozen you can just pull out the tomato and remove the skin before or during cooking. You can also place them on a cookie sheet and freeze them before transferring them to a freezer bag. You can also blanch the tomato first. Place the tomatoes in a bath of boiling water for about a minute and then transfer them to an ice bath for 3-4 minutes. This will allow the skin to come off easily and then you can freeze the whole tomato until you need it. You will want to use them within 9-12 months.
Another way of quickly preserving your tomatoes is to roast them. Wash them, core them and cut them in half. Place them on a cookie sheet that has been pre-greased with olive oil. Once the sheet is full then sprinkle more olive oil over the top. Add garlic and herbs if you like and place it in a 325 degree oven for 2 hours, or until the skins are brown and crispy. Once the tomatoes are done roasting you can scoop them into a food mill and work out the puree or you can just peel the skins of the tomatoes in the pan and hand mash them. Take the puree and place in glass canning jars, leaving at least a ½ inch to an inch of space at the top and place the jars in the freezer. The extra room you leave at the top of the jar allows for the expansion of the frozen puree. You should also use these jars within a year after you freeze them. If you are looking for more tips of preserving the harvest, see some of the equipment or are a little short on tomatoes you can stop by Smith Berry Barn. They carry a wide selection of tomato varieties that will help you carry the flavors of the season through the next year!
