Wisconsin Vacation

        For our anniversary trip this year, we decided to fly to Madison, Wisc. to see our dear friends, Dean and Cindy. While this was the main reason for going out, the subplot quickly became a Brewery and Brew pub tour of the area. I will do follow up posts about all the great pubs we visited but this first post will be about another event we went to. Alot of you,(OK most everyone), would not want to visit a farmers market but we are a strange couple and find farmers markets fascinating. So when I read that the Madison farmers market was one of the, (if not THE), biggest in the country. and then Dean mentioned they hadn't been in years, well our Saturday morning was set. Hi ho, hi ho its off to market we go.

      We parked at the world famous Monona Terrace.originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1938 and finally opened in 1997 (just goes to show the workings of government hasn't changed much in the last 70 years). This is a beautiful convention center situated right on Lake Monona. From the upper deck, there is a terrific view of the capitol building. Here are a few pics of Monona Terrace, the capitol and the street we walked to get to the market;

     The market wends it way ALL the way around capitol square. We were told there were over 300 vendors and I believe it. Some of the sights, (too bad we don't have smell-o-vision, the smells were incredible), we saw;

     After walking around for what seems like hours and all four of us having bags FULL of fresh produce (and a nice anniversary present, if I do say so myself), we decided to take a short cut through the capitol on our way back to the car. I don't know about the rest of you but all capitols look the same to me, (it may just be me, I feel the same way about babies). So here are a few shots of Madison's fine, (if generic), capitol building;

      We left with bags full and legs weary. Dropping off our goodies at the house,we then proceeded to have a light (HA) lunch at Tofflers and then a tour of the New Glarus Brewery (posts coming for both). Then, back to the house where we all crashed (except Dean who made us an incredible supper, Thanks again Dean and Cindy for the incredible hospitality). To finish this post here are a few pictures of the flowers and critters around their house, including (if I do say so myself) my best picture, so far, of a bird in flight (Man do I have problems with them). Enjoy !

Container Gardening

      Or as I like to put it, fresh herbs and vegetables, NO WEEDING! For a few years we did the giant vegetable garden, but when our little slave , oops daughter, flew the coop, it came down to Wifey or I to weed. As neither of us list this as one of our favorite outdoor activities, the garden had to go. Off it went to return as a beautiful flower garden,( see previous posts for pics of this years blooms).  And since flowers are strictly the domain of the wife (I get to help plant BUT only where I am told to plant), the weeding falls out of my jurisdiction, WOO HOO. What I am in charge of are the containers on the deck, every year these hold a variety of fresh herbs, hot peppers and what ever else catches my eye on our annual plant shopping trip.

     This year has been a bumper crop for tomatoes , ( seriously we had three ripe ones already, which is three more than last year). a new pepper crop called Caribbean red hots, ( not a lie, had the first on Saturday, wooo hoo a bit spicy ), basil is nice, Rosie is doing great, ( year round rosemary plant, we bring her in every winter), mint has exploded (this has to be a weed, I grow good weeds). Lemon grass (what?? sounded like a good idea at the time) and fennel are both doing great (OK ,seriously, anyone know how to tell when the fennel bulb is ripe and ready to pick?) . Not doing so good, serrano's, (plant died), habaneros, I JUST got flowers, we may never see peppers,  jalapenos are OK but very small crop, only 3-4 this year.

 A look at this years crops;

                                                   Jalepenos

Caribbean red Hots

Mint,and two basils

Rosemary

      All in all not a bad crop. Update, Wifey decided that the fennel must be ripe (it wasn't) So now we will never see if we can grow fennel to bulb size (at least until next year). And I still have to figure out what I am going to do with the lemongrass, but it looks cool. Finally a few more late summer blooms;

                                                       Balloon Flower

Day Lily

Cosmos

Hydrangea

      Until, next time happy gardening.