True Epicure Says » Uncategorized

Peeling Paint and Crumbling Walls

trueepicure — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 01:19:27 +0000

My apologies to anyone who has tried to use the “Contact Me” page. I haven’t logged into the account linked to my contact form in a while, and it was temporarily suspended. I suppose I should look into a self-hosted form, but at least for now, I need to remember to repaint the room (i.e. administer the blog) once in a while.

Here be Dragon(flie)s

trueepicure — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:26:28 +0000

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like there are a lot more dragonflies this year. I’m being dive bombed at home and at work. Fewer pesticides? Better breeding conditions this year versus last year? I suppose I don’t care, as long as they are beautiful.

Is anyone else noticing the same thing?

Foliage Friday: What on Earth?

trueepicure — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:00:05 +0000

JMack found these on a walk we took in April.

Of course, I had to take a picture. I posted this picture on Twitter, earlier today, hoping that I would find out what it is. I haven’t heard anything, so I thought I would post it here as well. I’d like to know what kind of tree it is, and what the heck the pink growths are. Any help is appreciated.

Check out Black Swamp Girl’s blog for more information on Foliage Friday.

Strawberries

trueepicure — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:00:28 +0000

When I signed up for the Seed GROW Project, Renee’s Garden generously offered us seeds for the project and a special gift of a new kind of double Cosmos called ‘Bon Bon’. Renee’s Garden also offered Seed GROW participants the opportunity to try out additional seeds. I selected Alpine strawberries ‘Minionette’ as one of my additional seed packets.

Alpine strawberries (Fragaria vesca) have been on my wishlist for ages. I love strawberries, and I’ve always wanted to try growing them. Last year, I was offered a taste of an Alpine strawberry from a local gardener’s garden. I was amazed at how big the flavor of this tiny berry was, and I decided then and there that I must grow this plant.

I’m really happy with progress so far. The picture below was taken on Sunday, almost exactly two months after sowing the seeds. This particular plant is actually about three inches across – the largest of the four plants I currently have. Supposedly it is possible for the plant to bear fruit the first summer. I’ll be shocked if that happens this summer, but I’ll be happy whenever I get berries.

The Joke Is On Me

trueepicure — Sun, 09 May 2010 20:58:09 +0000

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been very excited about the Marigold seedlings that popped up in my garden this year. As I was out in the yard watering early this morning, crowing over the multitude of little baby Marigolds, I noticed that the seedlings looked a little weird.

I squatted down on the ground and took a closer look…. Hmmmm… definitely odd. Let me rub the leaves… Sniff, sniff… HOLY CRAP! All those cherry tomatoes that dropped on the ground last year? Yep, I have about eleventy thousand TOMATO seedlings and not a single Marigold in sight! Anyone want some Sun Gold cherry tomato seedlings (or possibly Gold Rush currant tomatoes)?

Magnolia

trueepicure — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:52:16 +0000

I’m always amazed at what kind of pictures I can (sometimes) get with my iPhone:

Futzing

trueepicure — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:07:33 +0000

I futzed around with Folia today. Added the seeds I started on Sunday and updated my seed stash. I upgraded to a supporter account, so I have some additional features, which is nice. How much I use those features remains to be seen.

Out With the Old…

trueepicure — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:48:00 +0000

…and in with the new.

Remember this? Well, here are the fruits of my labor.

Green Thumb Sunday: Alaska in Virginia

trueepicure — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:51:04 +0000

An Alaska Mix Nasturtium. Taken today, edited slightly to sharpen up the iPhone blur.

Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

Confusion!

trueepicure — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:57:52 +0000

I think my plants are confused by the weather. It’s almost November and they are blooming again.

1. IMGP2364, 2. IMGP2362, 3. IMGP2357, 4. IMGP2361, 5. IMGP2363, 6. IMGP2360, 7. IMGP2365, 8. IMGP2358, 9. IMGP2359