August in Sonoma County

COVID-19 Update

We are not currently accepting walk-ins or specimen drop offs at our Master Gardener Information Desk at the UCCE Sonoma office. Please complete this Questionnaire and attach photos if you have them. "Saving" the form will forward it to one of our Information Desk experts who will get back to you.

Master Gardeners In The News

Growing and Sewing for the Community, one Sonoma Master Gardener's response to Covid-19

---

Sundays with Sue

By SCMG Sue Lovelace
August 2, 2020

There’s an icon in our midst. It’s the legendary Gravenstein Apple! When we first moved to Sonoma County fifteen years ago, it did not take long to see the reverence the local people had for this apple. There was the Gravenstein Highway, the Gravenstein Apple Fair and local businesses and farmers markets touted their arrival in late summer. From a bit of research, I learned that the apples were first brought here by Russian fur traders around 1811. Loving apples and wanting to plant fruit trees in our new garden, I had to plant a Gravenstein! We planted it three terraces up from the main yard (What were we thinking?!). Even though the tree receives the best exposure in this location, it’s pretty tricky to prune and pick apples especially since my knees are not as strong as they used to be. Usually one of our sons helps out with these tasks. However, the apples were ready, the tree was loaded and with a bit of trepidation, I picked the apples!

It’s sometimes hard to tell when the apples are ready to pick as they can still have plenty of green making them look unripe. I figured when the apple came off so easily in my hand, it was time. Smelling the beautiful aroma and tasting the incomparably crisp, sweet, tart flavor, the decision to pick was spot on.

Honestly, I’m in awe of this unique, unpretentious apple and understand why supporters and preservationists like Slow Food Russian River want to protect it as a valued heirloom. In my slowed down pace, I decided to seek new recipes. I first turned to Slow Food’s published recipes and made an apple crumble and a really good applesauce that uses Gravenstein apple juice for sweetness and moisture. Cutting the apples in half, taking out the seeds and then cooking in liquid with cinnamon made light work. Once the apples were cooked, I ran it all through a food mill.

I was thrilled to see that my favorite local cookbook, Season, which features recipes, wine pairings and incredible pictures involving the immense food gardens grown at Kendall Jackson winery, had a recipe for Gravenstein Apple cobbler. While looking at the cookbook, I found several other simple recipes for using fresh produce from the garden. There is nothing like creating with ones own fruits and vegetables!

We waited and waited for the poblano peppers to get large enough to stuff for Chili Rellenos. We were very lucky to have had personal, authentically taught, instructions by our daughter in law and her mother years ago. Our rendition was a bit less than perfect, but fresh, meaty peppers with a tinge of heat, directly from the garden, stuffed with fresh mozzarella were topped with a quickly made tomato sauce; “perfect” was not needed! 

Other peppers like the sweet ‘Jimmy Nardello’ Italian sautéing pepper and red, yellow and orange ‘Sweetie’ bells are ripening. I noticed that a little creature decided to nibble the bottom of “Jimmy”; grrrrrrrr! I’m willing to share, just not my “Jimmies.”

Many different milkweeds (Asclepsias), native and exotic, are emerging in the yard, seemingly waiting to welcome the much endangered Monarch butterfly. As I’ve been noting, there are plenty of nectar rich flowers in the pollinator gardens for the beloved butterfly’s return. According to Jim Lovett of the Monarch Watch Association, Western counts are expected to be down again this year. However, creating a habitat of flowering plants and host plants like milkweed is something we can all do to accommodate the butterfly as well as other helpful insects. Considering what such gardens do to heighten our gardens and our morale, there really isn’t a downside to this practice. Even small pots of flowers can achieve an impact. Butterflies love plants they can land on to to sip nectar. Verbena, zinnias, echinacea, buddleja, asters, marigolds, and sedum, are only a few of the flowers that can provide nectar for butterflies.

I’m hoping your garden, or someone else’s gives you much joy this week!

“Considered one of the best all-around apples, the Gravenstein has a crisp, slightly acidy, tart-sweet flavor and is juicy with a full apple aroma. The Gravenstein—which has been in cultivation for at least 350 years—just might be the perfect embodiment of a delicious “old-fashioned” apple.” Steve Albert, Harvest to Table