A bit of summer in winter, thanks to Lars

annie1992

14 years ago

I'm a bit late on this, but I got a box from California last week, from Lars. I wondered what could be in it, but not for long, because I couldn't wait to tear it open. Here's what I found:

Our winter has been surprisingly mild, the second mildest on record so far, and so there were no freezing temperatures to hurt the fruit, they arrived in perfect condition.

I promptly decided to make lime pie. Lars was so kind as to send me a recipe, but the store was closed and I had the ingredients for this one, so I made it for Sunday dinner because the kids were coming over. Not a bite was left:

amanda was also appreciative of the lemons, since she and I both like water with a wedge of lemon for flavor. I shared so she happily took 3 lemons home with her while I'm using up the rest.

Lars also sent lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves and some unidentified hot chilies, which Elery promptly claimed.

Thanks you, my dear, I greatly enjoyed every bit of your gift, as they are all things that I cannot grow here in Michigan, especially in February, and I shared them with people I love, so it makes it just that much better.

Ashley says to tell you she still remembers your movie too!

Annie

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (18)

lsr2002
14 years ago
What a wonderful box of California sunshine. There is nothing better than recently picked citrus, and how nice of Lars to send them to you.
doucanoe
14 years ago
I agree....that is truly a box of California sunshine!

Lars, you are so thoughtful and generous! Annie, that pie looks divine!

Linda
Related Discussions
volunteer squash, winter or summer
Q
Comments (1)
1. Summer squashes have been selected from the same species of Cucurbita as many of our winter squash -- C. pepo. The horticultural distinction between the two is that summer squash are "bush-type" and most winter squash are vining (a few, newer cultivars are "bush"). 2. Summer squash, when allowed to mature fully, develop an orange hard rind, pumpkin-like seeds, and dense-starchy interior. 3. Winter squash can be picked early, without a hard rind or orangey (or other) color and lighter interior texture. 4. Volunteers in the garden are often hybrids of any of a number of Cucurbitas, including between summer squash and winter squash and exhibit intermediate characteristics. Joe
...See More
Summer and winter
Q
Comments (19)
Thyme - The bamboo is a clumping bamboo, not a running bamboo, so I didn't plant it in anything to contain it since it's not needed with this type of bamboo. I planned this bed to be low maintenance, so I wouldn't want a runner that needed close watching. Because it's at the northern extreme of its hardiness range, it has gotten no bigger since I put it in. At the end of some winters it looks worse than others. It is a Fargesia rufa which I found at Cole Gardens in Concord 3 falls ago. According to the tag, it is supposed to be tolerant of wind (which fits with my experience,) wants part shade (probably not important this far north - mine is in pretty much full sun, though in moist, well-drained soil and well-mulched) and should reach 8 feet (it hasn't exceeded 4 feet for me in the two growing seasons I've had it.) I did buy the Stewartia at their end-of-season sale. It's in the first photo . . . you can see the white tag and a few branches to the left of the dark green arborvitae at the far end of the bed. Tree Oracle - Thanks for the feedback on the Fat Alberts. I guess they will be coming out again in 15 years or so since there are solar panels to the north of this bed a ways that I don't want shaded. But 15 years of that lovely color will have been worthwhile. Defrost - Consider starting a new thread with photos of your area along with a description of the conditions and see what suggestions you get.
...See More
My progress through Summer and Fall (and hopefully winter)
Q
Comments (8)
You may actually have two different cultivars of Arachnoideum there. I think the larger pinkish one is also one of many, many different Arachnoideum hybrids. Some are webbier than others. If you don't have the label that came with it, it's likely impossible even for an expert to make an ID. But that matters little, you have a fine start to what will soon be a lovely, full carpet semps. Actually, they tend to mound up so you might end up with a mountain instead of a carpet. Don't be afraid to remove and toss any bits that get too congested. You'll soon find out what I mean. I think they would all benefit from additional light from grow lights. If you could grow them next to a window combined with lights, that would be the best. Personally, I would try to get by with just window light and see how it goes. Besides the expense, lights are a whole production that you would like to avoid if you can. But they can be very useful, not to mention you can keep them on for long hours and they never get obscured by clouds.
...See More
Do you change your decor from summer to winter?
Q
Comments (30)
Nice subject. Our fireplace insert is an EPA-approved furnace that can put out tremendous heat, so in winter the decor on the (fireproof) mantle is changed out to fireproof. A large antique platter in warm colors replaces an oil landscape in pastels, etc. We have too many windows to be able to afford to change out curtains (14 108" panels in the LRM alone), which I'd love to do (they need to come down for cleaning anyway!). Someday, though, I'll sew up some winter curtains for the kitchen, which is almost as bad. The room is in cream/very pale yellow with pine flooring, colors chosen specifically as background for changing out colors as desired, So just switching out the tablecloth, pillows in the window niche, and decor on the hood shelf over the stove from summer colors to winter, emphasis red, is easy and makes a real difference.
...See More
sally2_gw
14 years ago
Yeah, what a nice gift! And that pie looks great.

Sally
jessyf
14 years ago
What another thoughtful gift. Can't wait to see what comes westwards, grin!
Solsthumper
14 years ago
Lars, for governor of California.

AB, you got a heck of a sunny haul. Enjoy!

Sol
annie1992
Original Author
14 years ago
Jessica, a quart of maple syrup had already gone to Lars, I was hoping to make it to his place before he left for Texas at Christmas but I don't know if I succeeded. People are catching on to the grade B thing too, because he got some ungraded syrup from a local sugarbush, but when I poured mine, it was clear it was grade A.

So he gets my local maple syrup and I get his local citrus. Yum, what a delicious friendship!

Annie
Lars
14 years ago
Annie, I think the chilies are "pequin", but I forgot to label them. I planted all my chilies last spring, and it took until January for them to produce very much. Right now I have a lot of ripe Anaheim chilies that are very mild, and I use them sort of like red bell pepper.

That lime pie is a family favorite - I see that you added food coloring to it! I usually do that also. I guess Elery will be using the lemongrass and Kaffir leaves, but you can make a nice tea from the lemongrass leaves. I haven't cooked with them yet, as I just got them last month. They grow fairly quickly, however. The lime leaves will keep in the freezer indefinitely. I didn't send many because they are intense, and are a somewhat acquired taste, I think.

Nice to hear that the package did not get frostbite! It seems like everyone has had a mild winter this year, especially in Texas, where it has been warmer than here.

I'm glad Ashley remembered the movie and is enjoying the lemons with you!

Lars
Lars
14 years ago
I think we did get the maple syrup before Christmas, and I remember posting a message about it, but I may not have been able to get a photo to go with it. Last week-end I made waffles for Saturday and Sunday, and the syrup was fantastic with them. The new batch of syrup seems thicker than before, and the flavor is heavenly!

Thanks again for sending us that - we love it!

Lars
annie1992
Original Author
14 years ago
I'm glad you like it, I've grown up with real maple syrup and cannot imagine having to use a substitute.

Actually, I've been holding on to a shrimp recipe that calls for lemongrass in the marinade, along with honey, sesame oil, ginger and soy, so I've got plans for some of it right away. I didn't think about tea, though, that sounds very nice. It's been mild here but is supposed to get down to 15F tonight, we'll have a bit of cold now i guess. Hot tea will be just the thing, so thanks again.

Pequin chilies? Those are very hot, I think?

Annie
ynnej
14 years ago
That looks fantastic. My father in law always brings fruits and vegetables when he comes to visit- best gifts ever!
wizardnm
14 years ago
Annie, you are so lucky, nice goodies from Lars.
jessicavanderhoff
14 years ago
Oh Annie, you are a lucky duck. I've been jealous of a lot of gardenweb surcies, but never so much as this one!!
Gina_W
14 years ago
Very nice! My citrus trees are all babies so we haven't had much to show. Ate the handful of Satsumas, the potted Meyer lemons are sour - maybe not in a sunny enough spot. My neighbor told us to pick his oranges and lemons but they are not ready yet.
compumom
14 years ago
Delish! On Saturday I took a short demonstration cooking class about lemons! She made a delicious cucumber lemon salsa with a bit of chili diced in. No oil, just lemon, a hit of allspice, salt, sugar to taste and an English cuke.
The chef taught me how to supreme citrus to work around the membranes. I recreated it with some shrimp for Sunday's dinner. Definitely a keeper!
Lars
14 years ago
Ellen, I do that with grapefruit for a fruit salad, but I haven't done it with other citrus, except tangerines when I had a tangerine tree. Those were easy because they had a loose skin.

That lemon salsa sounds Middle Eastern - possibly Lebanese or Persian.

Annie, the Pequin chilies are fairly hot, but they are also small and do not have more total heat than two Serrano chilies. I would recommend wearing gloves when chopping them, however. They also do not have many seeds. If I grow them again, I will probably make a hot sauce with them, to make it easier to distribute the heat. The plant I have now did not make all that many chilies, but it has produced as many as I could use as they got ripe, however!

Lars
jakkom
14 years ago
How nice of Lars! I also send some of my lemons to friends, as we have too much to use even though I freeze a lot of juice.

It's funny how we always think of citrus, and especially lemons, as summertime indulgences. They're winter fruits, the heaviest harvest is...right....now.

The oldest and biggest of our three Meyers:
{{gwi:768693}}

The second:
{{gwi:768695}}

The third - I had to prune off a third of the tree as it was leaning too far into the walkway, so I lost some of what would have been harvested:
{{gwi:768699}}

Every Meyer, properly fed and watered, will give from between 50-100 lbs. of fruit, especially if the weather cooperates.

One of the newer contributors to the Citrus forum is Johnmerr of Guatemala, who is attempting to develop a high quality production orchard of Meyers for export. You can see the first fruits of his efforts at the link below, if you're interested.

Here is a link that might be useful: Johnmerr's Meyer Lemons for the Show
Rusty
14 years ago
What a wonderful surprise!
Lars, you are certainly a generous soul!

That pie looks delicious, Annie.
I'm about to start licking the monitor.

I'm a little confused about the peppers, though.
Are they in that baggie?
Here in Texas, Chili Pequins grow wild,
The peppers themselves are small & roundish.
Usually not more than a half inch long.
Sometimes used while green,
But usually not picked until red.

Maybe there are different kinds of "Pequin" ?

Rusty
annie1992
Original Author
14 years ago
No, rusty, the lemongrass is in the pllastic bag. the two white envelopes you see contain the lime leaves and the chilies.

And yes, I certainly am lucky. I'm lucky to get delicious citrus, but I'm even luckier to have Lars as a friend.

Annie

A bit of summer in winter, thanks to Lars

Comments (18)

lsr2002

doucanoe

Related Discussions

sally2_gw

jessyf

Solsthumper

annie1992
Original Author

Lars

Lars

annie1992
Original Author

ynnej

wizardnm

jessicavanderhoff

Gina_W

compumom

Lars

jakkom

Rusty

annie1992
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

A bit of summer in winter, thanks to Lars

Comments (18)

Related Discussions

annie1992Original Author

annie1992Original Author

annie1992Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

annie1992
Original Author

annie1992
Original Author

annie1992
Original Author