From the Garden


			Fava beans with their buttery texture and nutty taste have a long tradition of cultivation in Old World agriculture. Also known as Broad beans, these nutrition superheroes are high in fiber, iron and protein while being low in sodium and fat. In addition to their culinary contribution, these legumes are often grown as a cover crop as they fix nitrogen in the soil. Boiled and mashed with extra virgin olive oil, they make a great spread on crostini or added to stews and soups for a nutritious and hardy meal.

“My winter boots crunch the frosted soil on the way past the compost pile, where I linger a bit for its steaming warmth. In the orchard a stiff icy breeze rustles the young cover crop. It doesn't seem to mind, growing steadily despite so little sun. Nearby several birds cling to the last of the persimmons — feasting on the bright orange pulp. The fruit are changing to mush right on the tree but I keep them for morale, the last spot of winter color until the tangerines turn. Besides, the pruning can wait until everyone has had their fill.”

~ Degge Hays, Head Gardener

Beets	Chioggia, Detroit Dark Red, Pronto, Red Ace
Broccoli	Marathon, Arcadia, Calabrese, De Cicco
Bunching Onions	Parade, White Lisbon
Cabbage	Red Acre, Farao
Carrot	Scarlett Nantes, Nelson, Napoli, Chantenay
Cauliflower	Snowball
Cauliflower Romanesco	Veronica
Chicory	Grumolo Verde, Variegata di Castel Franco
Citrus	Bearss Lime, Darcy Tangerine, Blood Orange, Minneola Tangelo, Meyer Lemon
Fava Beans	Broad Windsor
Garlic	California Late, Silver Rose, Korean Red Hot, Purple Italian Easy-Peel, Russian Giant
Kale	Lacinato
Kohlrabi	White Winner, Korridor
Leeks	Lancelot
Lettuce	Optima, Divina, Pablo, Emerald Oak, Red Tide
Onions	Red Torpedo, Stockton Yellow, Solano White, Crimson Red
Peas	Sugar Snap
Radicchio	Chioggia Preco #1
Salad Greens	Arugula, Mizuna, Red Mustard, Tatsoi, Mixed Baby Leaf Lettuces
Shallots	French Red
Spinach	Tyee, Winter Bloomsdale, America
Swiss Chard	Fordhook Giant, Rainbow Mix, Golden

• Mulch garden beds to help prevent erosion from heavy rains.
• Keep your onion, garlic, and leek beds weeded
• Seed spring vegetables in greenhouse
• Seed long-season summer crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants in greenhouse
• Harvest winter crops planted in late summer
• Prune fruit trees and roses
• Spray citrus with kelp foliar feed
• Spray dormant oils on deciduous fruit for aphid control
• Spray peaches with Bordeaux mix or copper to prevent peach leaf curl
• Cover citrus trees to protect against the frost

Degge Mulching
Mulching the garden

Degge pruning fruit trees

Protecting citrus trees

Flowers not only provide a splash of color and charm, they encourage beneficial insects to your garden habitat. In our gardens, you'll see any combinations of sunflowers, borage, sweet peas, nasturitium, cosmos, Echinacea, sweet peas, Yarrow, coreopsis, Alyssum, to name a few ... Flowers

Bulbs We wait with anticipation
for our fall planted bulbs
to emerge - tulips,
daffodils, muscari

Sunflower These big, cheerful blossoms
"volunteer" from seeds and
past harvests to bring
sunshine into our garden.
They provide pollen for
beneficial insects as well.

Herbs... evocative of Tuscany & Provence enrich the soup as well
as the soul! Stroll our gardens and you'll find...

"Gigante d'Italia" Parsley
This old Northern Italian variety boasts big, deep-green, shiny leaves with sweet, mellow flavors. Vigorous and robust, the "Gigante" can be harvested liberally throughout the season.

"Bronze" Fennel
This variety is prized for its beautiful coppery-bronze fronds and its sweet, yet soft, anise flavors. Try toasting the seeds and sprinkling on homemade breads or use the lacy leaves in your salads or over grilled fish. A favorite of butterflies, too!

"Russian" Sage
A little bit of fresh sage really enhances tomato and eggplant dishes. More traditionally we'll put it in our holiday poultry stuffings; but "Sage Brown Butter Sauce" over tortellini really reveals this herb's true essence!

Rosemary
No garden should be without a rosemary bush! This evergreen has a reputation for strengthening memory, enhancing fidelity, and can be enjoyed year-round in milder climates. Rosemary grilled chicken or lamb is a perfect pairing with our Zinfandel!

"Genova" Basil
This Italian variety is a favorite for pesto due to its intense, perfumed flavor. A vigorous producer, the "Genova" can be harvested in abundance throughout a long growing season. Great added to soups and casseroles. We plant ours among the tomato vines.

"French" Thyme
This Provencal variety makes a pretty shrub with cascading stems of tiny leaves. Legend has it that "French Thyme" provides a secret home for garden fairies! But we find that it adds something special to our soups, stews, and grilled foods.

Lavender "Grosso"
The most widely grown lavender in Provence is named for its French breeder, M. Pierre Grosso. Bigger, more colorful, and more fragrant than most other lavenders, these cultivars have both culinary and cosmetic uses. Stash some in your drawers or sprinkle of tops of desserts.