5/14 - 15/22 Planted Marigold and Rhubarb

 5/14/22 Very busy day. So only planted Lemon Gem Marigold in west patio garden in between the orange hat tomato plants. 

Then ended up planting under lights at about 9pm at night some rhubarb that a friend gave us. Split one overgrown plant into multiple plants. This soil on the northwest end of our house is very hard clay with fine rocks mixed in. Basically just weeds grow here and it's a pain to mow with the rocks. Sedums grow well most places and rhubarb can have a nice taproot along with looking decorative. I put a handful of compost in each hole and on top around the plants to give them a boost. Later the next day I put down newspapers and wood chips. Running soaker hose. Some of the plants with shallow roots suffered but may recover. Worms are showing up under the newspapers and chips of the sedums planted earlier.

It's tarter than the rhubarb planted in SW corner garden.  Jer and I like to eat rhubarb raw, or sliced up in soup. It imparts an interesting flavor. This rhubarb tasted good dipped raw in salt rather than in sugar. Made a batch of Rhubarb sauce using salt. Didn't have lemons so didn't add any in. It got thick even without the lemon skins and seeds. Don't be put off with the dark appearance. That's what gives it the yummy flavor.

ref: https://katsrecipes.blogspot.com/2020/10/freezer-rhubarb-sauce-jam-made-in.html

Rhubarb Sauce - cooked overnight on high in crockpot - made a generous pint.

• 8-10 c. sliced rhubarb (I just measure loosely.)
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 t. salt

5/15/22 Planted some sunflowers and Tithonia in the strawberries and sedumes along east driveway fence but not near neighbor's house. He has a bird problem where they like to live in his gutters. Strawberries are spreading good.

Sweeter rhubarb from Grandpa growing well in southwest garden. He told me he has tons of Rhubarb and I need to come pick it. Then I'll give him some Rhubarb sauce.

Got real dark and looked like it was going to rain but it never did.