We loaded up the Deanna Greens and Garden Art van with perennials, a few houseplants, and loads of tomato and herb plants the Friday night before the opening of the outdoor market for this growing season. And it was the first at the Lake Saint Louis Farmers’ and Artists’ Market. We knew the forecast, and it was pretty accurate. As I drove down the highway about 6:40am Saturday morning I approached “midnight”. The darkness was lit up with lightning, and the wind terrific. I prayed “Please God no tornadoes!” God heard my plea and had mercy on me! Dean & I were soaked putting up our new tent and unloading our green inventory. But our plants loved the rain when sheltered somewhat from the gusts of wind as neighboring tents went up. Not quite like the greenhouse! But the tent, their temporary home, held up through the wind and rain. Our featured garden art were handmade pottery from my sister-in-law, Joan Bates and my sister’s photo cards. We managed to keep them dry. And the people came with umbrellas and ponchos! Amazing how a community can get so excited about a farmers’ market! St. Louis news media showed up to capture the event despite our bad hair day! Look for Deanna Greens and Garden Art on Show Me St. Louis. Airing time to be posted later. It was a good market day for us! Check out more details of the LSL Farmers’ and Artists’ Market: http://www.lakestlouisfarmersandartistsmarket.com/
Tag Archives: green
Happy Harvest Day of My Arugula
Have you ever tried arugula? I highly encourage partaking in this green, grown organically, of course. It has a peppery flavor and is used as an herb, vegetable, or salad green. Arugula is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid, manganese, calcium, and magnesium; a very good source of riboflavin, potassium, copper, and iron; and a good source of zinc. It is an awesome herb, vegetable, and salad green. I planted a flat of seeds, and love the fragance it permeated throughout the greenhouse as it grew this month of March. This leafy green eluded to a fresh salad sometime soon. Well, today I had my first arugula salad for this spring season. Sliced a boiled egg, sprinkled some shredded cheddar, and lightly tossed with a simple buttermilk dressing. Yummy!!! And baby arugula is mighty tasty on a pizza or in pasta. Plans are made already for this weekend’s menu in this culinaire’s kitchen.
Unusual To Some
Spring is officially here! Though the signs of spring have been around for a few days now! (Take a look at my previous post!) Gorgeous blooms, whipping winds, green grass, and gardens popping with new growth. Farm friends of Dean & I’s are growing hops in their garden. They started their local organic beer crop last year, and it has returned. What may seem unusual to some is this grain comes from a vine that grows very tall. These recycled utility poles will hold twine which the hops vine grows on. Best of everything to the LaBeaume Chateau!
March Into Spring
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”
– Charles Dickens
March has such turbulent weather conditions, storms, tornados, and floods. Yet there is a knowing of what is to come after the ruckus. Baby birds chirping, wild violets showing purple, green grass glowing after the rains, and a rainbow’s promise of that pot of gold. For me the pot of gold is garden growth, showy dogwood blooms, the birth of a new thought, the memories of my child laughing in a swing, capturing a walk in the middle of my day … “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” – Hal Borland . March into spring …
Slow Is Simple
A child’s life moves in slow motion though they run and play with full speed. My granddaughter Ella wants to experience life to the fullest, yet slows down to view upclose a green frog hopping in the garden. Life is simple as a child. Slow is simple. Simply said …
Green frog in the garden, a child’s bauble, maybe prince charming, a fairy tale in the making …
Leafy Green Cravings
So I am salivating while planting a micro green mix and red sails leaf lettuce seeds at the greenhouse … I think viewing this July vacation photo of a salad made by my longtime Minnesota friend, Tamie Jensen started it! 
Is it not a palette to behold?! I am craving leafy greens … like fresh spinach, pac choy, arugula, leaf lettuce, borage, you name it! Some of these items can be purchased at most local grocery stores, and fewer even have the organic variety. And how far did these items have to travel to my local Schnucks or Dierbergs? And how much did that price tag say??? I am not willing to pay $5.99 for a pound “fresh” spinach that was grown 2,000 miles away! I have become “spoiled” or a better word “selective” in my grocery purchases after farming with EarthDance Farms this past year. Organic and local are the way to go for optimum health. I froze several bags of spinach, swiss chard, and kale from my field labors this past growing season. I just want fresh right now! Deanna Greens and Garden Art recently bought this 1300 square foot greenhouse full of houseplants and flowering plants. And it now makes way for my leafy greens! Not quite the same as spring or autumn sunshine… but it is organically grown, local, and cost pennies to those dollars! In 4 – 6 weeks I will be satisfied when a few of our nasturium blossoms and leaves are married with Deanna Greens and Garden Art’s very own leafy greens …
Living Green Things
I want to be in my greenhouse today, but instead I need to be at my office. I have a few green things growing near my desk. They are green reminders of the living earth opposingly different than the fax, copier, laptop, printer, and phone system made of hard plastic and metal screws. My co-worker dubs each of our plants with a name characterized by who gave it. I have a beautiful arrowhead philodenren named “Brian” after my ex library co-worker who give this to me 8 years ago. Three out of 5 ladies enjoy the living green things in the office. Yesterday I welcomed a red-leaf philodenren we named “Peggy” after the lady Dean & I bought the greenhouse from. I need the oxygen my plants provide and the pleasures of seeing living green things 24/7. Friends forever …


