Sunday, August 18, 2019

Discover new flavors and tastes of fruits and veggies at your local Farmers' Market #GardenCuizine #GroundCherries

Ground Cherries 
Strawberry Husk Tomatoes

Have you ever tasted Ground Cherries, Physalis pruinosa (Strawberry Husk Tomatoes)? I came across them yesterday in our local NJ Farmers' Market in the Burlington County Agriculture Center. I remember hearing about them when I was a writer for Dave's Garden.

The vendor described them as yellow tomatoes. I noticed that they had a papery looking husk, similar to a tomatillo, and asked her, "How could they be tomatoes?" She picked out one from the container and pinched the paper covering at the bottom. A small yellow tomato emerged; she let me taste it. 

Wow! The sweet, pleasant flavor surprised me. I can't really describe it other than it was good! Some describe the taste as a tropical blend of mango and pineapple. The yellow-looking tomato was small, about the same size as a Petit Moineau currant tomato.

Harry thought the skins were thick and chewy. I ate the whole fruit, and so did Mom, who is a picky eater. I guess you would just have to taste them for yourself and see what you think. I would buy them again. 

I may save some seeds to try and grow them next season. If you want to buy seeds, they are readily available from heirloom seed companies.
 

Ground Cherries get a thumbs up from me and Mom! I'm sure they would taste great in baked goods, jams, jellies and sauces.

Enjoy Discovering New Fruits and Vegetables!

GardenCuizine Nutrition Data Ground Cherries: 1 ounce (28g, about 14 or 1 handful): 15 calories, 3 mg Vitamin C (5% DV), 202 IU Vitamin A (4%DV), Niacin 3.8 mg (4% DV), only 3g total carbohydrates

Related Links
Grandma Ott's Ground Cherry Jam
Freezing Ground Cherries

Blog post and photo Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Sunday, August 11, 2019

More birds and blooms! #gardening #naturephotography

Backyard Birds and Blooms!

Shown above sits a magnificent Ruby-throated hummingbird; she let me take her portrait yesterday. Female hummingbirds feature a beautiful iridescent back; they don't have a ruby red-colored throat like males do. 

Birds love perching on tomato stakes! We have red cannas planted along our garden border that attracts hummingbirds.
swallowtails galore on our peanut butter shrub blooms
We've been having a daily parade of butterflies in our gardens lately. And, we're seeing a high showing of monarchs too! Yay! I'm thinking that Harry's native garden meadow has been a major attraction since it features common milkweed - a monarch favorite.
All pollinators especially love Joe Pye Weed!
Bee Happy!
Bluejays love peanuts!
To make a garden for wildlife in your yard, simply add bird feeders, fresh water sources, nesting areas and native plants. If you're like us, you will really enjoy watching the many kinds of songbirds and wildlife that your gardens will attract.

Happy Gardening!


Related links
Garden for Wildlife

photographs and blog post Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.