Despite our valiant efforts, the poisonous Arizona summer sun has destroyed most of our vegetable garden. In its previous location where the chickens, ducks, and turkeys now dwell, we had installed shade cloth and misters to prevent this; but, as our new garden is just south of the kitchen and is visible from the house, we decided doing this again would not be aesthetically pleasing. Well, guess what? A bunch of dead squash and melon plants aren’t very pretty either.
The stalwart living exceptions are the hot pepper plants. Originally sown in an unsuccessful attempt to dissuade predators from the pumpkin and melon plants with which they shared the beds, they alone have survived. Lovely and colorful, they serve as the only decoration among the dead vines and pack a very hot punch in the kitchen.
The Thai peppers are the loveliest, the flowers of the garden. I wouldn’t suggest getting a big whiff though.
Don’t try to smell the habaneros either. They are one of the hottest out there.
Though considered spicy by some, the jalapenos are the mildest of the hot. Despite this, don’t rub your eyes after chopping them. Experience is a great teacher; it taught me this quite well, thank you.
The peppers that we cannot use fresh are being strung up and dried for our very first homemade chili powder, Rancho Laurena Something. I’d love some name suggestions from you clever people out there.
While I was photographing the peppers, Zorro took a dirt bath and then leisurely sunned his wing. He appreciated the dry soil the dead garden afforded him. I appreciated the empty shoulder break.
And just outside stood the main reason the pepper plants were planted in the first place, waiting in vain for new greenery to munch. I guess I owe him a thank you.
Hot peppers love the heat, that's for sure. I've enjoyed growing them out here in the past. What about Rancho Lorena's Survive-the-Heat Chile Powder! Strangely enough, birds LOVE chili peppers. Guess because they are high in vitamins.
Posted by: Karalyn | July 02, 2007 at 09:30 AM
Oh, that's too easy! It's got to be Rancho Laurena Hot Mama Chili Powder. (I'm sure Hunky Husband David will agree. :-)
Posted by: Michelle | July 02, 2007 at 11:04 AM
Your peppers are gorgeous! And is it my imagination, or has Zorro grown a size and a half since the last photos? How big will he get anyway?
Watch out! If birds love peppers, and Zorro qualifies as a bird, you could be in big trouble. Imagine a turkey with habanero breath!
Posted by: PixelPi | July 02, 2007 at 04:55 PM