What would you call this breakfast?

"Pilaf", "porridge", or "mash"... whatever you'd call it, I find it tasty, satisfying, and nutritious.

A friend who visited me recently requested my breakfast "mash" recipe. Recall I'd posted about it some time ago, though I see I'd not given recipe details in the earlier post. Here they are:

• Total cooking time is 30 minutes (plus the time to bring water to boil.)
• Begin with a 3-quart saucepan approximately half full of boiling water. See notes.
• Then, slowly add 1-1/3 cups of steel cut oats. Bring again to a boil, being careful it doesn't boil over!
• Reduce heat to simmer.
• While continuing to stir, have kettle full of boiling water at the ready.
• After 10 minutes, add 1-1/3 cups of bulgur wheat.
• Adding more boiling water as needed, continue stirring.
• After another 5 to 10 minutes, add 1-1/3 cups of wheat bran.
• Adding more boiling water as needed, continue stirring. (At this point, usually I bring the water level to within 1 inch or less of the top of the pan.)
• Finally, I mix together about 1 cup of flax meal with ground cinnamon and ground ginger (to taste.) I like these spices, so I'm a bit heavy-handed with them!... a teaspoon or more of ginger, half again as much of cinnamon.
• Then, approximately 5 minutes before the timer goes off, I add the flax meal mixture, continuing to stir!

Notes:

1) If your pan size differs, just adjust quantities accordingly. It is essentially 1 part oats, 1 part bulgur wheat, 1 part wheat bran, 3/4s of a part flax-spice mixture.

2) Once fully cooked, I let the breakfast pilaf rest, covered for about five minutes.

3) Leftovers, when cool, may be stored in containers in the refrigerator. With additional moisture from berries and/or applesauce, it is easy to reheat a portion at a time in the microwave oven.

Above is a photo of the summertime version. Mix ins: thawed, frozen raspberries and a couple of tablespoons each of applesauce and raisins. Toppings: a sliced fresh peach, walnuts, pecans or sliced almonds, and plain non-fat yogurt. Generally, sweet enough as is for me. My visitor enjoyed a sprinkle of brown sugar with hers. Allow myself a drizzle of maple syrup or agave nectar for a special treat. When stone fruits are not in season, I add blueberries to the mix ins. This is a healthful, hearty breakfast to send me out for a day of gardening. Yum!

When the going gets tough... the not so tough...

... well, sit down on a rock and have a couple of pictures taken!

This day and place exemplify my penchant for taking "wrong turns" or going the "wrong direction", and finding something even better. In January, my sister, Faith, and I went on a lovely hike at a place different than where we originally headed, and the exact opposite direction from where we were "supposed to be." (Hmm... says who?)

By chance, last month we ended up at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa, a National Park Service property located in Newbury Park, California. During a brief hike in which we got just a little "lost", magically, a Park Ranger appeared to give us guidance at just the right moment. Later, we spent some time at the Visitor's Center. While I spent quite a bit of time looking around the small but diverse native plant garden outside, Faith, a teacher, was keen to go inside and browse the children's literature. Her third grade class was to begin a section studying local Native American people the very next school day! We both were satisfied with a productive time of study, following exhilarating exercise in the fresh air. Below are a few photos of plants in the garden, with signs giving their common and botanical names as well as descriptions of their uses by Chumash people:

The interpretive area at Satwiwa ("the bluffs") includes this replica of a traditional Chumash tribal or communal home, called an 'ap, with the top portion of the layered tule mat siding omitted to expose the support structure:

This type of siding (when complete, of course) provides natural water repellency during rain. Tule made of rush or wiregrass, such as Juncus effusus (Soft Rush), expands when wet. When dry it contracts, allowing ventilation.

After enjoying our January visit to Satwiwa, and having learned of a short hike to a waterfall, we decided to return soon, figuring we'd get the best view of the falls during the wet season. Were we wrong, or what?!

This morning, we initially followed my hunch and headed down a very narrow, slippery, muddy trail... obviously not the right path to the waterfall. We turned back and made our way to the Visitor Center to ask directions. The Ranger set us on the right path, and agreed that we should have a good time to see the falls.

Well, this is as far as I got...

The trail appearing behind me over my right shoulder in the above photo, fairly disappeared into the rushing stream. The crossing would have been too wet and cold for this slightly timid soul!

Faith made it about thirty feet further along, and snapped the pictures of me sitting down. I told her I would not come to her rescue, so she decided not to attempt the crossing either.

On this perfect day, we saw many lovely views...

And, we witnessed the courtship and mating of a pair of White-tailed Kites (Elanus leucurus.) Privacy puh-lease, sorry, no photos!

Stay tuned for our continuing adventures at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa... We have an excuse, now, to try another visit next month, hoping finally to see the alleged waterfall!

It isn’t too late… until the chain saws have whined…

Was off line on Friday attending to some personal matters, and then late evening learned of a blogger solidarity day, working to save “Arcadia Woodlands.”

“Arcadia Woodlands” is the informal name used to refer to an approximately 11-acre parcel of public land within the jurisdiction of the County of Los Angeles. I understand it is located within the City of Arcadia. Today it is habitat for some 179 native oak trees (many estimated to be over 100 years old) and other native flora and fauna. Unless the current moratorium is extended, as early as Wednesday, January 12, it will be cleared and it will become a dumping ground for sediment from the Big Santa Anita Dam and other dams.

Here I am, late to the keyboard and this blog post, doing a very small part to raise awareness for this issue. Having no firsthand knowledge, I defer to local colleagues who have been actively engaged. In particular, for more information see several recent posts in Barbara Eisenstein’s blog, linked here.

On Barbara’s blog post of Friday, titled “30-Day Moratorium Ends” (here), she links the sites of others blogging in support.

And, a recent article from The Arcadia Patch:

http://arcadia.patch.com/articles/dam-safety-and-water-storage-concerns-trump-trees-county-report-says

I believe it isn’t a matter of just saving a beautiful place with pretty trees, although far too few places like this remain in our increasingly urban environment. I believe it is linked to sustaining the right balance of natural resources so this planet can continue to sustain life as we know it. Here are a few intriguing bits of information Bob Perry, Professor Emeritus -- Cal Poly Pomona shared in his lecture titled “The Alchemy of Native Plants”:

Life sustaining benefits of (trees):

1) One pound of bio-mass produced stores ½ lb. of carbon

2) One pound of bio-mass produced releases 1 lb. of oxygen

3) One pound of bio-mass produced contains enough energy to sustain one person for one day

Conversely:

1) One gallon of gasoline releases 6 and ½ lbs. of carbon into the atmosphere

2) One gallon of gasoline consumes 13 lbs. of oxygen

3) One gallon of gasoline (only) provides transportation for an average range of 18 to 28 miles

Think about this for a moment… Gasoline may be necessary to sustain one’s lifestyle. Only trees (and other plants) can sustain one’s life. Save a tree, save a life.

If you are in the County of Los Angeles, I urge you to call Supervisor Mike Antonovich requesting to put the “Santa Anita Dam Sediment Project” on the Supplemental Agenda for Tuesday’s Board of Supervisor’s meeting. It may be the last chance to save these trees.

Christmas read and green...?

Form and colors of larger, non-native "distant cousin", Marina Strawberry Tree, echoed by native cultivar, Louis Edmonds Manzanita.

Some of my neighbors and family members probably think I am Ms. Scrooge. No plastic boughs adorn my mantle, no tinsel hangs from a tree cut down in its youth, no exotic Euphorbia pulcherrima grace my garden walk or hearth, and no strings of lights glow from roof's edge.

Yet, in our own way, my garden and I are perhaps as Christmas "read and green" as we can be. Ours is a more subdued celebration. And so this blog post is a part of that celebration, maybe even tooting my own flute as if I am allowed.

Reflecting on what in 2010 held my interest most, three things stand out:

• learning about use of native plants in the landscape
• learning to design and install drip irrigation systems, especially for gardening with edibles
• re-learning to play my flute, which I am sharing with my faith community during the holidays

Over the past year, I have attended more than 28 classes or lectures on sustainable landscape design and maintenance, including over 10 classes devoted to California native plants. I have been engaged as a speaker one time for a presentation titled "Enduring Beauty in the Garden: Sustainable Practices." I also tabled at one Earth Day event, sharing a display of native plants and books about how to care for them.

Each day as the Christmas season nears I read even little snippets from the prophets or scriptures to prepare my heart for the approaching, blessed Christmas season. Mindful of the journey of the Israelites, I continue my own journey of faith, following a path where I feel led, hoping to continue learning and sharing lessons of sustainable living. Tomorrow, I will participate in worship services and an afternoon concert, playing my flute publicly, something I had not done in over thirty years.

You see, I am becoming "read" and "green" in and out of the garden. My garden, by the way, sports quite a bit of red (read: pink, burgundy, and rust) and green (read: blue-green, grey-green, even a little true green.)

Who needs to decorate with shades of red and green not likely found in nature, when in one's garden, nature has done this...

And, this...

Even the garden next door, in which I planted over fifteen species of native plants this year, proves lawn-less is more green...

Both gardens no longer require power tools for routine maintenance. Neither mowing, nor blowing, nor hedge-trimming are employed. And, when established, most of the plants in both gardens will use much less water than a typical suburban landscape.

As 2010 draws to a close, I am thankful for all I have learned and grown. Looking forward in the years ahead to help more people find peace and satisfaction in their gardens, nurture native plants, and become true "locavores" by growing some of their own food. And, when winter rains subside and weather warms with advancing spring, I hope my neighbors won't mind too much the sound of a flute wafting through an open window.

Who’s tailing whom? ...

Decided to delay my herb garden post because this was just too funny not to share… And, having spent too much time following this little guy around my house, I still have work to do! Well anyway, I think it is funny. Others might be ready to send in those in white coats.

Sunday morning, I went to check on my herb garden, and to see whether I had any more Persian cucumbers to harvest. I found a small lizard on the back patio next to the herb garden. For the longest time, (s)he just stayed in one place. Walking back and forth, being perhaps not quite awake, I kept stopping myself from kicking it off the patio! In my peripheral view, it looked like a little twig.

Finally, I went into the house, got my camera and an old matchbook from a favorite neighborhood restaurant, and took this photo.

Eventually, the lizard disappeared back to the garden, or so I thought…

Wednesday, I was walking through the front room, and this lizard (same one???) went skittering across the floor in front of me.

It slip-slid into the kitchen. I grabbed a piece of cardboard, and tried to herd it out the side door. Instead, it crawled into an opening between the wall and nearby cupboard. So, I said, “okay, hang out and eat some bugs or something. Make yourself useful.”

Today, I again found it in the living room. This time, it was perched on the ledge of the picture window. Camera was nearby, so I snapped this photo.

Thinking about getting a better photo, realizing I haven’t washed my front window in awhile… (Excuse is garden construction bringing copious quantities of dust, truth is, procrastination… Won’t say how long!)… Grabbed a towel to wipe the window in the process scaring off the lizard.

Later, I found it in the bathroom on the floor behind the toilet, not very well hidden against the white tile. Rustling through a cupboard, I retrieved a jar I use for catching flies and returning them outside. Tried to scoop it into the jar. Had it once, but the tail was draped over the lip. When I touched it with the lid, startled, it fairly flew out of the jar, landing on the floor. Shocked, it ran back behind the toilet. Not having any fresh bugs, I tried baiting it with a piece of kale. Guess it is not an herbivore! In the end, it disappeared into a space under the bathroom cabinet.

Having a very small house, this visitor has managed to occupy every room but the bedrooms. So, I’ll be waiting to see if "Lee Lizard" awakens me tomorrow morning! Now I have a small cloth bag, ready to try to catch it, like those who catch snakes. Honestly, I have let lizards remain in my house – usually under the refrigerator – for much longer. Lee, though, seems to be saying, "out now." (Maybe I am a lizard whisperer? More likely from Lee's perspective a monster!)

Anyway, good thing no one was around to make a video. Too funny to see a grown woman trying to herd a lizard, let alone giving it instructions for being a proper house guest!

Blogging natives...

Shamed back into the blogging saddle...

A few weeks ago, Barbara Eisenstein gave my blog an unsolicited plug during her lecture on Parkway Gardens. (Thank you, Barbara.) Still, I procrastinated in getting back to the keyboard. And, now this...

Here is a new blog from Nopalito Nursery. Well, never mind the plants, the Nopalito guys must have learned to clone themselves! They already run a labor-intense, sustainable, start-up business, offer an educational, often entertaining lecture series, and support other sustainable ventures in their community. Now, as they approach the end of year one, they find time to blog! Whew! Nopalito rocks!

Well, it might be nice to be a quarter of a century younger! In my fourth or fifth career, and probably my third childhood, I may not have the stamina of three guys running a native plants nursery, but I can do my little part to spread the word.

Below is a mostly native garden really beginning to grow in after only a few short months. Planted (at the "wrong" time) in late spring, early summer, I think this garden benefitted by luck and our rather cool summer weather. Still a work in progress, neighbors are loving the look -- a huge improvement over the broken fence and dead lawn it replaced!

Pictured are seedheads of Muhlenbergia rigens (Deer Grass) in front of Salvia apiana (White Sage). In the background is Salvia 'Pozo Blue' (Grey Musk Sage), with a row of Festuca californica (California Fescue), a bunch grass, along the sidewalk. Irrigation is by on-line drip tubing, covered by mulch, with an occasional wash-off of foliage by hose-end spray.

Fall planting season is just around the corner, my fellow Angelenos! Rather than worry about odd/even, Monday/Tuesday (how many minutes can my sprinklers run?), check out Nopalito Nursery in Ventura for water-wise, climate-compatible plants. To learn more, follow their new blog. Seriously, let’s quit watering the street, cap off or at least repair those errant sprinklers, and do like the Nopalito Nursery slogan says! Native plants, especially those local to your community, are compatible with soil in which they exist in nature. Free (hopefully) from chemical fertilizers and pesticides in wild lands, they won't need chemicals in your garden either. Certainly, the ocean does not need fertilizer and pesticides, contributed by lawn irrigation run-off. (Thank you on behalf of “Sponge Bob” and friends!)

For more information about effective ways to replace lawn and other water-guzzling plants with appropriate native species, check out these blog posts for more information:

On sheet-mulching: Native Sanctuary

On parkway gardening: WildSuburbia

If you're on the other side of town or you don't fancy a trip to cool, coastal, Ventura to get away from September heat, you can also find lots of great native plants and information at Theodore Payne Foundation in Sun Valley, celebrating its 50^th year.

In my next post, I'll talk about herb gardening, something really fun to do with kids!

Leave leaves, and other reduced maintenance gardening tips...

On Barbara Eisenstein’s blog “WeedingWildSuburbia”, in her post today titled “But is it really low-maintenance?” in regard to native (lawn replacement) gardening she invited other native gardeners to share their thoughts on creating a low-maintenance garden. Here are a few of mine:

Embrace seedheads! Many, like buckwheat and sages add interest, even soft colors when there isn't a lot else going on in the garden. (Less work if you don't cut them right off, and seeds are probably food for somebody!)

(Seedheads of Salvia clevelandii 'Allen Chickering' at Theodore Payne Foundation.)

Space plants far enough apart so they can grow to full size. Most natives don't need a lot of pruning, shearing, and shaping -- some don't tolerate it.

Drip tubing for native plant establishment: now you see it...

Now you don't...

(Recently installed mostly native garden – THEME: “Woodland meets Sage Scrub”)

Create interest, even drama, with foliage contrasts, interesting plant combinations, rock and other features. When the whole picture is engaging, who cares about a few untidy bits?

(Salvia mellifera 'Green Carpet' with Artemisia californica at Theodore Payne Foundation.)

To me, the naturally occurring litter is not so objectionable as are piles of grass-clippings and hedge trimmings. Much less sweeping and raking to do when you leave leaves!