Pierce, Medrano, Geller for Council - Clayton Pioneer

Page 24 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com November 7, 2008
Saunter on over to Apple Hill this fall
JEANNA ROSS
Clayton Pioneer
Autumn in California is
always a tenuous thing – 90
degree Indian summer suddenly
gives way to near-freezing, rainy
winter days and we’re left muttering,
“What happened to fall?”
It is, therefore, important to
include traditions and excursions
to demarcate this vague
line. This year, incorporate a
family trip to Apple Hill into the
activity repertoire.
Apple Hill is just north of
Placerville, 60 miles south of
Lake Tahoe along Highway 50.
The Grower’s Association lists
54 orchards, wineries, farms and
ranches and there are many
more tucked away, just waiting
for the seasonal tourists.
There are four exits designated
as Apple Hill entrances,
with Schnell School and Pollack
Pines forming the boundaries.
It’s best to print the map off the
Website (www.applehill.com)
before going, if only to help
keep your bearings among the
winding country roads.
October and early
November are the best times to
catch the largest number of
farms open to the public, and
oh, what a show they put on for
Garden, from page 22
from the ground by digging
around the circumference and
lifting out. Shake off excess soil.
Remove dead leaves and stems,
cleaning up the clump.
Now it’s time to separate the
plants. Sometimes you can get
away with pulling chunks apart
using your hands; other times
you may need to use garden
forks or even a sharp knife. Work
from the outer edges, around the
clump. Old perennials often will
have lots of weak, dead wood
toward the center of the clump.
If that is the case, discard the
woody center. You will still have
the offshoots to enjoy.
PENDING PENDING
PENDING PENDING
Transplant your divisions
into prepared garden soil.
Replant the sections at the original
depth. Do not overbury.
Remember to label your new
plants, so you know where they
are if they run dormant. Water
all transplants thoroughly.
If you have too many divisions
to install in your garden,
gift them to friends and neighbors.
Shifting plants from containers
to the ground should also be
done this time of the year. Many
times our container plants
become overgrown. Kangaroo
paws get tight, lavenders over-
their guests!
At some point, a farmer
must have started giving buggy
rides and when he got all the
tourists, everyone followed suit,
because these orchards seem
determined to outdo each other.
Nearly every farm has a bake
grow, and citrus gets too large.
Now is the time to put those
good plants into the ground.
Often our greatest garden plants
were our former container
plants. Emptying out those containers
will give the gardener a
chance to create a new combination.
Transplanting trees and
shrubs, dividing perennials and
shifting plants from containers
to the ground are all important
parts of gardening. But work like
this does not need to be done
every fall, just as needed.
Nicole is the Garden Girl at
R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and
Garden Contact her with questions,
comments or suggestions at
gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com
shop offering a delicious assortment
of apple pies, fritters,
turnovers and strudel.
That, however, is just the
beginning. Wine, cheesecake,
fudge, beer, cider – these people
are serious about their fruit.
And not just apples – pears,
pumpkins, peaches, cherries.
Now, there’s only so much
one can eat before other amusements
must be found. So, to
keep visitors on-site until their
next culinary decision, most
locales offer entertainment. The
Jack Russell Farm Brewing Co.
has live music on the lawn on
Friday nights. Denver Dan’s and
Plubell’s provide free petting
zoos. Plubell’s also features
inexpensive face painting and an
awesome tree swing. The
Hillside Tree Farm showcases
pony rides, El Dorado Orchards
visitors love the train ride
around their cider spring, and
Abel’s Apples has created a
maze from bales of hay.
During the week, there are
cooking and craft classes at
many sites. Most of the activities
are designed to entertain the
shorter members of the family,
but there are plenty of craft
stalls and shops to please the
adults.
The gift stores allow visitors
to enjoy the benefits of homegrown
goodness year-round.
Many of the orchards include
homemade jams, jellies, butters,
syrups and fruit-themed merchandise
available for purchase.
Most have pumpkin patches for
Halloween, and seven tree farms
will open for business the week
before Thanksgiving. At the
very least, pick up an Apple Hill
cookbook and a bushel of “upick”
apples.
A brief warning: “Real”
food is scarce in Apple Hill. A
few growers serve lunch on-site,
Trust your home to
GEORGE VUJNOVICH, Broker
Helping friends, neighbors
and newcomers buy
and sell their homes since 1979
CONCORD!
DANVILLE SOUTH DUET!
WC/CONCORD BORDER!
Photo by Tamara Steiner/ Clayton Pioneer
End of Court Location! 4 bedrooms, 2.5
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kitchen features slab granite counters, “Euro” style
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Charming Single Story Rancher! 4 bedrooms,
2 baths, approx. 1,387 sf, 2 car garage with laundry
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12 years of school, shopping, dining & transportation.
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usually barbecue items like hamburgers
or tri-tip, and there are a
few restaurants along Cable
Road. But for the most part, it’s
a dessert-lovers paradise.
Support for this fantastic site
is even more important this
year. Coupled with strained economic
times, a spring frost in
the Camino area killed up to 80
percent of some crops. Pat
Martin, the owner of Denver
Dan’s, has been using a neighbor’s
apples to keep her incredibly
busy bakeshop running
Jeanna Ross/Clayton Pioneer
At $4.50 a slice (with or without
ice cream) the Apple Pantry
Farm had no wait for their
yummy Dutch Apple Pie.
through the autumn rush.
However, some of the independent
growers have not been
so lucky. The main roads are littered
with “For Sale” signs and
auction notices. Other farms
have had to close their doors
early for the season because the
fruit has long since been picked.
Don’t forget to wear comfortable
shoes and don’t bother
clean the car before leaving –
farms are dusty places with little
pavement.
ALAMO!
Tel: (925) 672-4433
6160 Center Street, Suite E,
Clayton 94517
Clayton Market Update provided by
George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty
Bananas,
from page 23
BANANAS IN COCONUT MILK
¼ c. sesame seeds, toasted
4 ripe bananas, peeled
½-1 tsp. grated ginger, to
taste
1 can coconut milk
1 c. water
½ c. sugar
Pinch of salt
3 T. small tapioca pearls
(rinsed in cold water, drained)
Slice bananas in half lengthwise,
then cut each piece into
thirds (24 pieces).
Combine coconut milk,
water, sugar and salt in a
saucepan and cook over medium
heat, stirring often, until the
sugar dissolves. Add the
bananas, ginger and tapioca
pearls. Cover and cook over low
heat, stirring often, for 5-7 minutes,
or until the tapioca pearls
become tender.
Serve warm or chilled in
individual dessert bowls sprinkled
with some of the toasted
sesame seeds.
QUICK DESSERT SMOOTHIE
1 c. orange juice
1 c. milk
1 pint orange sherbet
2 frozen bananas
Process the ingredients in a
blender until smooth. Makes 2-
4 servings.
Oh, yes, the joke from my
misspent youth?
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange you glad I didn’t say
banana?
Linda Wyner, a local attorney and
foodie, owns Pans on Fire, a gourmet
cookware store and cooking school in
Pleasanton.
Direct your suggestions or questions
to lwyner@claytonpioneer.com
Each Office Is Independently
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ADDRESS PRICE SALE DATE SF BED/BATH
1276 Shell Circle $412,500 10/24/08 1145 2/2
1411 Greystone Ln $385,000 10/23/08 1105 2/2
108 La Encinal Ct $759,500 10/15/08 2390 4/2.5
4008 Hummingbird Way $695,000 10/10/08 2481 5/3
5017 Raven Way $653,000 10/10/08 2467 4/3
3141 Morgan Territory Rd $900,000 10/2/08 1500 3/2
222 Mountaire Cir $725,000 9/26/08 2141 4/2.5
107 Crow Place $566,000 9/26/08 1877 3/2.5
222 Mountaire Circle $725,000 9/26/08 2141 4/2.5
5108 Keller Ridge Drive $595,000 9/19/08 1877 3/2.5
410 Hummingbird Pl $557,000 9/18/08 2313 4/2.5
1206 Bridlewood Court $830,000 9/12/08 2805 4/3.5