New for 2020 in our Sunnyvale garden is Alyogyne hakeifolia, an Australian desert shrub with hibiscus-like flowers and needle-like leaves. I purchased it from Yamagami Nursery. I am growing it in a 7 gallon pot. A.hakeifolia is normally an upright, much-branched, rapidly growing small to medium shrub reaching to 3 m (10′). The leaves are dark green, glabrous, comprised of …

Dungeness crab:These large crabs are prized for their sweet, tender meat. They’re named for Dungeness, Washington, where they were first harvested commercially, but they are caught in the Pacific Ocean all the way from Alaska to Mexico. This recipe is from epicurious.com. I used an orange from the garden. YIELD Makes 2 servings INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter1/4 cup …

Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum) will bring vivid colors to your landscape and craft projects alike. Strawflowers resemble daisies in form, but unlike daisies, the petals are stiff and papery. In fact, they aren’t true petals at all, but modified leaves called bracts. New to our Sunnyvale garden in 2020. Purchased from Yamagami Nursery. This red cultivar is Dreamtime Jumbo Red Ember. Strawflowers were …

Easy, Delicious and Heart Healthy Mediterranean Pasta dish with sardines, capers, and a light lemon olive sauce. From toriavey.com Serves: 4 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time for sauce: 10 minutes Ingredients 8 oz angel hair (capellini) or spaghetti pasta6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil1/4 cup shallots minced2 tsp lemon zest1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes spicy – use more or less to taste1/2 tsp salt or more to taste1 package Sardines drained 4.375 oz3 tbsp capers rinsed5 tbsp lemon juice or more …

Salvia ‘Amistad’ (Sage) is a bushy, upright perennial with large, rich royal purple flowers adorned with nearly black calyces. Blooming constantly from early summer until frost, the flowers are a magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds. They rise well above the aromatic foliage of glossy, bright green, slender leaves, which remain evergreen in frost free locations. Recipient of the Award of …

Expand your geranium horizons with the cool-season member of the family: Martha Washington geranium (Pelargonium x domesticum). Also known as regal geraniums, this group of geraniums features richly colored blooms with petals that resemble velvet. Petals have a lovely ruffled effect that enhances the plants’ luxurious feel. The edges are often toothed, and leaves release a citrus fragrance when crushed. The …

Rich and wonderful persimmon pudding cake, made with hachiya persimmon pulp, eggs, butter, milk, vanilla, sugar, spices, chopped nuts, and raisons. Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 50 minutes Yield: Serves 8 INGREDIENTS 2 cups of ripe Hachiya persimmon pulp1/2 cup sugar4 eggs1/2 cup butter (1 stick) melted3/4 cup milk1 teaspoon vanilla1 1/2 cups flour1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon baking …

Celosias, also known as cockscomb, feathered amaranth, woolflower and red fox, are warm-weather flowering plants that thrive in hot, humid Mediterranean areas. They are commonly grown as annuals but can survive winters in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. Plant height is generally between 6 inches and 3 feet. Celosias in the “Childsii” and “Cristata” groups …

New for 2019 in our Sunnyvale garden: Sugar Baby melons. They are round “picnic” or “icebox” watermelons perfect for small families and as the name suggests, small enough to fit into the icebox. They weigh in at between 7 to 10 pounds and are 7-8 inches across. They have either a dark green with slight dark veins or medium green …

Stokesia laevis, commonly known as Stokes’ aster, is native to wetlands, bottomlands, wet pinewoods, savannas and ditches in the southeastern US. It is an evergreen perennial. This flower is new to our Sunnyvale garden for 2019. Purchased from the Annie’s Annual collection at Yamagami Garden Nursery in Cupertino. This particular cultivar, ‘Omega Skyrocket’, features fluffy, cornflower-like, violet blue flowers (3-4 …