Siouxland Magazine - Volume 3 Issue 4
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>Siouxland</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | EXPLORE /50<br />
Home Grown Expressions<br />
By Pam Mickelson<br />
Expressions of beauty, love, and community<br />
are readily available in our gardens.<br />
BEAUTY<br />
We are very fortunate to live on an acreage where<br />
we don’t have to look far to find beauty. One<br />
especially beautiful native flower in our garden<br />
is the columbine. We started with one plant and<br />
a bag of wildflower seeds. The columbine has<br />
naturally spread over a shady area next to our<br />
garage. I planted it because it was marked to attract<br />
butterflies and hummingbirds, and my husband<br />
bought the seed packet for me. That was more than<br />
15 years ago, and pretty early in my understanding<br />
of pollinator plants, which are plants that attract<br />
insects to pollinate flowers to produce fruit and<br />
vegetables. I even plant annuals like marigolds<br />
and zinnias by the vegetables, so the bees don’t<br />
have far to go when feeding on the cucumbers and<br />
squash. You can find many other native plants – and<br />
be aware of how they express themselves in your<br />
garden as well as the beauty they bring. When the<br />
hummingbirds aren’t feeding on the columbine<br />
and other flowers and bugs, we have a feeder for<br />
them to enjoy. Follow this recipe for the health of<br />
the hummers.<br />
Cucumber salad.<br />
Columbine mix.<br />
LOVE<br />
We love summer produce. In July, garlic, new potatoes,<br />
green onions, and early cucumbers are ready to enjoy.<br />
While we anxiously await the tomatoes, the corn should<br />
be knee-high by the 4th of July, as my father-in-law would<br />
say. The taste of a fresh tomato sandwich or the charred<br />
sweetness of a grilled onion is perfect for a summer<br />
meal. My Grandma Luebke always had a big batch of<br />
freshly pickled cucumbers. The tangy vinegar and sugar<br />
mixture is my favorite dressing, while my husband loves<br />
cucumbers mixed with onions and ranch dressing. We<br />
each have our garden favorites. I loved my Grandma’s<br />
Cucumbers and hoped you do too. Every time I slice<br />
the cucumbers and laugh, I think of her remembering<br />
how my dad would drink the juice. It makes me pucker<br />
up just thinking about it. Here is her recipe. I hope you<br />
make a batch soon.<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
While July may be filled with long-overdue reunions,<br />
music festivals, vacations, and summer sports, we can<br />
also celebrate the community our gardens can hold. I<br />
enjoy fresh produce and talking to fellow gardeners<br />
on the best ways to battle the summer bugs and water<br />
needs. I also know that many <strong>Siouxland</strong> residents live<br />
in a food desert – where it is not easy for them to get
Change language