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Christmas Cactus

Christmas cactus

Christmas cactus can be grown outdoors in Sunnyvale. Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) and Thanksgiving cactus are popular, fall- and winter-flowering houseplants native to Brazil, and are available in a wide variety of colors including red, rose, purple, lavender, peach, orange, cream, and white. These Schlumbergera species grow as epiphytes among tree branches in shady rain forests, and their pendulous stems …

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Caprese Salad

Caprese salad

Caprese salad (Italian: Insalata Caprese, meaning “Salad of Capri”) is a simple salad, made of sliced fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil, seasoned with salt, and olive oil. Balsamic vinegar is a nice addition. It was made to resemble the colors of the Italian flag: red, white, and green. In Italy, it is usually served as an antipasto (starter), not a …

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American Crow

Crows

The Crow is a very common bird in the neighborhood but rarely appears in my backyard. The most likely reason is that the crow has decided there is not enough room to evaluate threats and escape. We often see crows in the cypress trees in a neighbor’s yard. American Crows are familiar over much of the continent: large, intelligent, all-black …

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Long Ridge Open Space Preserve

Long Ridge OSP is a scenic section of the Bay Rim Trail system. From its grass-covered hills, you can see the Pacific Ocean beyond the deep canyon that holds Portola State Park. On the way there, you pass through two miles of forest with Douglas Fir, Redwood, Madrone, and several species of oak and tanbark. From the south: Park at …

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Chile – Padron

Padrón peppers (Spanish: pimientos de Padrón) are a variety of peppers (Capsicum annuum) from the municipality of Padrón in the province of La Coruña, northwestern Spain. These are small peppers, with a color ranging from bright green to yellowish green. Their peculiarity lies on the fact that, while their taste is usually mild, a minority (10-25%) are particularly hot. Whether …

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Fried Padron Peppers

padron pepper, chile

Padron peppers are usually eaten fried in olive oil and with a sprinkle of coarse salt that not only enhances their flavor, but adds a nice crunch. No need for any other garnish, simplicity and quality food at its best. There’s a Spanish saying: Pimientos de Padrón, unos pican y otros no (Padron peppers, some are hot and some are …

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Cilantro

Cilantro plant

Coriander/cilantro is a fast-growing, aromatic herb that grows in the cooler weather of spring and fall. This herb is used to flavor many recipes and the entire plant is edible. The leaves are called cilantro and the seeds are called coriander. A common problem with cilantro is its fast growing cycle. When the weather warms up, many herbs want to …

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Pico de Gallo

pico de gallo, tomato, onion, chile, , cilantro,

Pico de gallo is used to describe a wide variety of Mexican regional salsas, which are always made with fresh cubed fruit and/or vegetables. The most common version is made with any red tomato, white onion and green chiles and is sometimes called “salsa mexicana” or “salsa bandera,” because the colors in the salsa represent the Mexican flag. Read more …

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Chile – Jalapeno

It’s easy to grow jalapenos in Sunnyvale. Plant them in April and you will have a continuous harvest from June on. The jalapeño (Castilian Spanish pronunciation: [xalaˈpeɲo], Mexican Spanish pronunciation: [halaˈpeɲo]) is a medium to large size chile which is prized for its warm, burning sensation when eaten. When ripe, the jalapeño can be 2–3½ inches (5–9 cm) long. It …

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Scrub Jay

Wester Scrub Jay, Blue Jay

The type of blue jay we see in Sunnyvale are the Western Scrub Jay. Robin-sized, but large strong bill and long tail make it appear larger. Head, wings, and tail blue (conspicuous when it glides in a long, undulating flight). Their back is dull brown; underparts light gray. No crest; dusky face mask. White throat offset by incomplete blue necklace. …

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