River Otters and A Sitting Duck

October, 23, 2010.

At least 5 mature river otters were spotted in the our creek this afternoon,

three of them are captured in the pictures.

They were very playful, look cute, and fun to watch, but apparently won't make good pets.

They are very curious, have powerful jaws, and as they are related

to weasels, minks, and skunks, they smell bad.

One of our hen mallard duck has been sitting on her eggs

in the front yard under the big ole oak tree.

She has about 16 eggs and hopefully they'll all hatch.

© Burke's Garden, 2010.

Wagon Rides & Mums

October 22, 2010.

One of four carriage wagons that passing by the road this morning.

A tractor tire planter at the corner of the fence

is topped with yellow mums.

Yellow mums and a small cluster of purple aster

in the tractor tire planter.

© Burke's Garden, 2010.

The Moon & Black Walnut

September 22, 2010.

Today is the last day of summer 2010. Fall is here and this is the harvest moon.

© Burke's Garden, 2010.

Pear Bread

September, 10, 2010.

Pear bread with pear and fresh eggs from the farm.

© Burke's Garden, 2010.

Pear

September 6, 2010.

The pear tree has the same story as apple trees and these are this year's fruits. Some are ready to be picked.

Pear

Our favorite pear desserts, Pear Terrine,

with caramel and star anise. Good with vanilla ice cream.

© Burke's Garden, 2010.

Mint Jelly

June 27, 2010.

Jars of homemade mint jelly

with a bird's nest blown by wind gust.

It's a mixed between spearmint and peppermint.

The mint plants with sunflowers

on the background.

© Burke's Garden, 2010.

Lily and Four O'Clock

June 27, 2010.

One muggy morning in June.

Asian Lily and Four O'Clock in the tractor tire planter.

Four O'Clock flowing down the tire planter.

© Burke's Garden, 2010.

Apple

June 21, 2010.

After being abandoned for years and pruned and fertilized these past 2-3 years, the two apple trees in the front yards finally bear fruits and they are loaded. They are cooking type of apple, too sour to be eaten raw. Squirrels love them so we have to race against them. They made good apple pie and apple tarts.

The cooking apples.

A squirrel bite on an apple.

One of the apple trees dotted with apples

with a rose bush on the foreground

earlier in the month.

© Burke's Garden, 2010.

Coriander Seeds

June 8, 2010.

We're behind on getting rid of the coriander plants' flower buds, so then they flower and made seeds and went dry. I collected the dried seeds, roast them on a pan (without oil) and then ground them in a pestle and mortar to make roast coriander powder for cooking. It was perfect!

Dry coriander seeds.

© Burke's Garden, 2010.

Coneflowers

June, 2010

© Burke's Garden, 2010