In My San Diego Garden and Kitchen

It is the season of firsts and lasts in my garden. As the apricots finish the apples begin. Last week we relished the last artichoke and savored the first zucchini. The calendulas departed the vegetable garden and the lavender is in full bloom with the perennials. These are the rhythms of the garden in coastal Southern California.

I am enchanted by the occasional coincidence of fruit and flowers in the garden. Yesterday, as I gathered apples, I remembered the second flush of bloom on the ‘Hot Cocoa’ rose. I had a thumbnail composition for this post.

Our apricot crop totaled 120 pounds—40 pounds above last year. Scads were shared with neighbors and family. Our favorite way to preserve them is as a compote stored in the freezer. We enjoy the June goodness through to the next season.

I made one batch of apricot jam last week. My sisters are especially fond of it, recalling the apricot trees at our family home and my mother’s jam. We like it too.

Apricot desserts last week included ice cream, recipe from The Perfect Scoop, and an apricot crostata. We’re holding some apricots in the fridge so I’ll be consulting my apricot recipe folder for more seasonal goodness.

With the early apples of this first crop of ‘Dorsett Golden’ apples I made applesauce and pureed it to mix with an equal amount of apricot puree. That became a new favorite way to preserve both crops as they converge.

The zucchini is the first of the summer garden harvests. Likely, we’ll soon be overwhelmed with the bounty of two plants but for now we welcome the arrival of a new vegetable.

Calendulas from the winter garden give a final hurrah and provide a few more petals for salads and plating. I’m planning lavender lemonade, lavender shortbread cookies, lavender sugar and other delights.

My art is ephemeral but I’m heartened when others can enjoy the floral abundance as with this bouquet.

See what I’ve planted in my summer vegetable garden recently. What I’m Planting Now. Then head over to see what other garden bloggers around the world harvested last week at Harvest Monday hosted by Dave at Happy Acres blog.

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