Pelargoniums
There have been some additions to the scented geranium collection this spring.  New arrivals include the heavenly 'Attar of Roses', the variegated 'Lady Plymouth', and the citrus scented 'Bitter Lemon', 'Prince of Orange' and 'Crispum Lemon'.  A special addition is 'Old Fashioned Rose', obtained at a seminar conducted by Madalene Hill and Gwen Barclay.  All of Ann Marie's pelargoniums were harshly pruned in April and are growing back thick and full of fragrance.  'Snowflake' and 'Rober's Lemon Rose' plants that were left in the ground during the winter have come back from the roots.  While all the pelargoniums do well when shaded from the scorching afternoon sun, the large leaf rose forms seem to be able to tolerate a full day of direct sun.  This year, all pelargoniums are being grown in plastic pots or planted directly in the ground to lower water requirements.  The next project will be to attempt to grow the 'Coconut' variety from seed.

Veggies
The summer garden is planted.  Thanks to a generous neighbor with a greenhouse there are a rainbow of bell pepper types - red, orange, green, white and brown!  Habanero, Jalapeno and Mulatto peppers have also been planted and a new sweet pepper called 'Fruit Basket' is being tried in hanging containers along the pool.  Pole forms of green and lima beans are quickly climbing rebar teepees and some of the tomatoes have fruit that is approaching maturity.  Okra ''Cajun Delight' and the melon 'Gallicum Hybrid' have recently sprouted.  Basil is still being directly seeded into the garden.  It must be sprinkled lightly  each day and is planted inside copper rings to protect it from munching snails.  The lettuce and other greens have succumbed to warm weather and the brussel sprouts were a crop failure - only pea sized sprouts developed, perhaps due to the lack of cold weather this year????

Book Review
Epitaph for a Peach by David Mas Masumoto is subtitled "Four Seasons on my Family Farm".  The author is an organic peach and grape grower in California and the book is a free flowing account of life and decisions on the farm in the year it appeared that the market would no longer support the flavorful 'Sun Crest' peaches.  A poor shipping peach, the farmer had to either find new markets or replant with a modern variety.  This is an emotion filled account of that decision and other dilemmas the farmer faced.  In explaining his philosophy of farming and ties to nature, the author gives insight into why farmers continue in a risky business that has a total reliance on nature and a sometimes fickle consumer.  The reader grows to appreciate the dedication, inventiveness and hard work of the those who toil to supply the rest of us with food.  Overall, this is a charming and thought provoking book - and as a bonus the reader learns the interesting process of turning grapes into raisins!

Use Your Herbs
Surprise Pudding
   an apparently vanilla pudding revels an unexpected flavor

2 cups milk
1 large handful of chocolate mint
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten

Heat milk to lukewarm, bruise mint slightly and add to milk.  Let infuse 30-60 minutes, then remove mint.  Combine sugar and cornstarch in a 2 quart saucepan.  Combine egg yolks and milk.  Add 1/4 cup of the milk mixture to the saucepan and whisk until smooth.  Add remaining milk mixture and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils.  Continue stirring and boil 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and pour into dessert dishes.