Flag Day 2011

Today – June 14 – is Flag Day in the U.S.

It’s sandwiched in between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July and is not an official federal holiday. This date goes largely without fanfare, except in Pennsylvania, which became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day starting in 1937. It’s also a holiday in American Samoa.

While not an official holiday, Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the U.S., which happened on that day by resolution of the 2nd Continental Congress in 1777.

Here are the some basics on displaying  the American flag:

• The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset.
• Raise the flag briskly in the a.m.; at sunset, lower it slowly. .
• Do not fly the the flag at night without a light on it.
• The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather.
• After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at  “half staff” on land ,and “half mast” at sea – for 30 days.
• When flown vertically on a pole, the stars and blue field , or “union,” is at the top and at the end of the pole (away from your house).
• The American flag is always flown at the top of the pole; state flag and other flags fly below it.
• The union is always on top. When displayed in print, the stars and blue field are always on the left.
• Never let your flag touch the ground, never...period.
• Fold the flag when storing.
• When the flag is old and has seen  better days, burn or bury it. Do not throw it in the trash.

Spicy BBQ Shrimp and Rice

This recipe is from the Taste of Summer Cookbook (South Beach Diet cookbook). We’re not specifically following the SB plan, but eating lots of fish, chicken, grains, veggies and fruit. We have the books and often check out recipes, many of which we’ve tried – and liked.

This meal was great for summertime dining. We enjoyed it with a side salad and glass of iced tea.

Spicy BBQ Shrimp and Rice

Notes: The recipe below serves 4 (according to the book), so we halved it. Also it called for quick-cooking brown rice, but we use the “regular” cook 50-min variety.

Rice

• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 scallions, white and green parts sliced thin and separated
• 1 medium green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 C whole grain brown rice
• 1-3/4 C water

Shrimp

• 1 lbs. large shrimp, peeled & deveined
• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 3/4 C tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp granular sugar substitute OR regular sugar
• 2 tbsp hot pepper (taste test for “hotness”

1. Cook rice in saucepan; then 15-20 minutes before it’s done: Heat oil over medium heat. Add scallion whites and pepper; cook 5 minutes stirring until vegetables begin to soften. Add to rice, cover and finish cooking.
2. Start cooking shrimp: heat olive oil over medium heat in large nonstick skillet. Add paprika, garlic powder, and thyme; cook about 1 minute.
3. Stir in scallions, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, sugar substitute, hot pepper sauce; cook 1 minute.
4. Add shrimp and toss to coat with sauce; cover and cook 2-3 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Remove from heat and keep warm.
5. Serve over rice; add scallion greens on top.

WHOOPS – NO photos – we forgot to take any of the prepping, cooking or finished dish – TRUST us – it was delicious.

Going Buggy!

Do you find yourself bugged some days?

So do we. Only it’s not human annoyances, but insects. Here’s a sample of some we’ve seen lately in the gardens.

No, this is not a Texas-sized mosquito, like mosquitoes, it’s a fly – a crane fly that can grow up to 2-1/2 inches long, with a wingspan of 3 inches. They are brown and slender with long, super-thin legs that are usually about twice as long as their bodies.

Crane fly larvae eat decaying plants, dead leaves, fungi, or roots of plants. Adult crane flies do not eat and have short lives (sometimes only days). So what do they do? Mate and lay eggs.They have many predators. Adults are eaten by birds and bats. 
They lose their legs easily, and often escape a bird by losing a leg or two.There was a gathering of honey bees (or honeybees) in the oregano, which bolted early and is now flowering. More has been written about honeybees than any other species of insect. Don’t get a female honey bee mad because she’s the one that can sting. Male honey bees (drones)  have no stinger and only live about eight weeks. 

Their sole function is to perform their bee-ly duty and mate with a new queen, if one is produced in a given year. A drone's eyes are very large which helps them to spot the queens when they are on their nuptial flight (really).  Any drones left at the end of the season have outlived their usefulness and are driven from the hive and left to die – they are used and abused.This oregano reseeds itself and is in its third or fourth year. Last week, I picked some and it’s hanging in the barn drying. More on that in another post.

Bumble bees (or bumblebee) are large, hairy social insects with a lazy buzz and clumsy, bumbling flight. Many are black and yellow, and with ladybirds and butterflies they are a popular insect. Queen and worker bumblebees can sting because they are all female.
Bumble bees usually nest in the ground in a deserted mouse nest or bird nest. Occasionally they nest in cavities within a wall or even in the clothes drier vent – good reason to check it in summer months. Certain plants are better pollinated by bumble bees because of their long tongues.
Bumble bees were in the wildflower gardens on cornflowers . . .And coneflowers . . .
And especially on coreopsis . . .
This lynx spider was also in the oregano. These hunting spiders spend their lives on plants, flowers and shrubs and are among the major predators of insects in low shrubs and grasses. Lynx spiders are nimble jumpers, relying on keen eyesight to stalk, chase or ambush prey.

Six of their eight eyes are arranged in a hexagon-like pattern, a characteristic that identifies them as members of the family Oxyopidae. Lynx Spiders have a very distinct eye arrangement: four on the "face", two looking sideways, and two on top of the head; they also have and have spiny legs.
But, their usefulness in the control of insect pests is counteracted by their habit of preying also on beneficial insects, like honey bees.

This immature grasshopper found a home on a coneflower. Grasshoppers are insects that can hop, walk, and fly. Many male grasshoppers make noise by rubbing their back legs together. There are about 10,000 different species of grasshoppers. Grasshoppers eat plants. Their predators include birds, beetles, rodents, reptiles, and spiders, so they are adept at camouflage.

This is an unknown bug also hanging in the oregano. Anyone know its name?The skipper or skipper butterfly is named because of its quick, darting flight habits. There are more than 3500 recognized species of skippers worldwide. Unlike butterflies, skippers have antennae clubs hooked backward like a crochet hook; true butterflies' antennae are clubbed together with bulbous ends. Skippers have feathered antennae similar to moths. Skippers have thicker hairy bodies and larger compound eyes unlike true butterflies.When at rest, skippers keep their wings angled upwards or spread out, and rarely fold them up completely.
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail s a species of swallowtail butterfly native to North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern U.S. Adults feed on the nectar of many species of flowers. This butterfly has many bird predators.

The End

Friday Funnies

At a time when many folks (myself included) are trying to shed some weight, I wondered . . .

Is this a FAT joke ?

F&P Wildlife

While outdoors working in the Frog & PenguINN gardens the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen the usual steady stream of bird visitors. But, other visitor have been coming as well.

Mr. Squirrel  usually hangs out near the barn enjoying a pecan snack which is very close by. that’s the leaves in the background. Other times he scampers into the nearby pine tree with a nut.
Here’s our resident bunny that comes around in the early mornings or evening to munch on the selection of white clover in our yard. As long as we don’t scare him off, he will stay around for awhile. When not dining out, Mr. Bunny resides in one of the wildflower gardens and scampers out as soon as the morning watering starts.

The END — in more ways than one

Mulch Ado About Some Things

Our apologies to the Bard for rephrasing the title of his comedy which features Beatrice as one of the characters, although she is paired with Benedick — not Grenville.

Here at The Frog & PenguiNN, Beatrice and Grenville (that’s US) have (hard to believe) had less time for posting, compared to some weeks days. We figured it was time for garden updates.

WHY?
Three words: Mulching, Planting,Weeding — repeat often.

This was my mulching project last week. Grenville trimmed branches from the Leland Cypress trees (upper left) and the clippings were cut up bottom left & center) and spread into a wildflower gardens (lower right).Grenville planted all the veggies and the gardens are doing well. But, the VA eastern shore has a serious lack of rainfall; Grenville has been out watering daily in the early a.m. If any fellow bloggers can send a few cups LOTS of rain, it would be much appreciated.

And, for anyone interested, Grenville will be offering classes in gardening. His curriculum includes weed pulling, mulching, grass cutting, weeding, and summer harvesting.

The veggies have been planted in alpha order (NOT really): beans, beets, butternut squash, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, onions, peppers, scallions, spinach, tomatoes, yellow squash,  zucchini. Later, Grenville’s putting in the Great Pumpkin Patch.

Here’s lettuce and corn. Grenville used some leftover seeds to see if any would take; looks we might have some corn-on-the cob by July.

Scallions are ready to pick; the beans, peppers and zucchini aren’t ready to produce anything yet.

Several tomato plants are sporting yellow flowers.

The wildflower gardens are starting to bloom as seen in the collage below. This collage is an overview of 3 gardens in the backyard and a day lily garden (lower right) in the front yard.

The backyard wildflower meadow that Grenville put in this spring is treating us to new blooms daily — before and current photos, more to come as the flowers emerge.

 

Best news is that plants are coming UP and local gas prices are going DOWN. Here’s the current price at most area stations . . .

Have gas prices lowered in your area too ?

Banana-Nut Muffins

Weekend breakfast at the Frog & PenguINN is a favorite cause we usually enjoy Grenville’s specialty pancakes or omelets – but not this past weekend.

We had some overripe bananas and  lots of shelled pecans from last fall’s harvest in the freezer. This recipe was adapted from a recent addition to our
cookbook collection – my “prize” at a book swap this past spring. One never have TOO many cookbooks – right?
This recipe was one of the best we’ve tried for fresh muffins.

Banana-Nut Muffins
This recipe uses a basic muffin recipe – see recipe changes below.

• 1 tbsp canola oil or melted butter
• 2 C all-purpose flour
• 1/4 C sugar or honey or maple syrup
• 3 tbsp baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla (optional)
• 1 C milk (more if needed)  - see below*

* Recipe changes for banana-nut muffins . . .

• Add 1 C mashed banana for 3/4 C of the milk.
• Add 1/2 C roughly chopped walnuts, pecans or cashews to dry ingredients.

Preheat over to 400°; grease (2) 6-cup muffin tins or (1) 12-cup tin.

1. Mix together dry ingredients.
2. Beat together egg, milk and oil (or butter). Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in.
3. Use a large wooden spoon or rubber spatula to quickly mix ingredients, stopping when dry ingredients are moistened. The batter should be lumpy, not smooth and thin. Add more milk if needed.
4. Spoon batter into muffin tins, filling about two-thirds full. If you want larger muffins fill the cup almost to the top, then add 1/4 C water into any empty cups.
5. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon on top (optional).
6. Bake 20-30 minutes until muffins are browned and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes before removing from tin.

Serve with butter, jam or Grenville’s favorite, cream cheese. We also enjoyed a glass of cold milk and bowl of fresh fruit.

And, while tempted, we didn’t eat all the muffins this weekend. Some went into the freezer for another a.m. treat.

Worlds Largest Seagrass Restoration

As Beatrice told you, i just spent two days as a member of the ES Master Naturalists working with The Nature Conservancy and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science harvesting Eel Grass, or Zostera marina, as part of the Worlds Largest Seagrass Restoration.

In a nutshell, we go out to an area called South Bay about half way between high and low tide when the water is about 3 ft deep. Put on wet suits (unless the water is warm and the wind is calm like yesterday), face masks and snorkels. Then spend 5 or 6 hours floating around looking for the reproductive shoots of the Eelgrass. We pick them, take them back and put them in tanks, wait for the seeds to fall out of the shoots, collect the seeds, and then re-distribute the seeds to areas where we want seagrass to grow.

Sounds simple doesn’t it. BUT if, like today, the wind  picks up the bottom gets stirred up and you can hardly see anything. If the temperature drops it can be very uncomfortable. If a storm rolls in you are almost 30 minutes from any protected land. AND if the temp goes into the 90’s (yes we have had those temps already) there is little or no shade out there.

So why are we doing all this. If you followed the links above you know some of this so i will give you the short version. Zostera marina is a cold water, flowering grass, much like the grass in your yard except it grows underwater. At one time, long ago, it grew along the East Coast bays from Maine to North Carolina. In the 1930’s a slime mold, which caused a wasting disease, was accidentally introduced. This disease spread to the entire east coast. Eelgrass needs lots of sunlight, and this slime mold reduced the light putting lots of stress on the Eelgrass. In Virginia the next blow came in 1933 in the form of a hurricane.  The hurricane delivered a double punch first by ripping up much of the grass in the shallow bays, and next stirring up the bottom so even more sunlight was cut off. Within a few years the Eelgrass in the Virginia seaside bays was gone.

About ten years ago scientists at Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) tried harvesting Eelgrass from the Chesapeake Bay and planting it on the seaside. Starting with just a few acres we now have planted over 400 acres and that Eelgrass has self seeded almost 4000 acres.

So what's so important about seagrass of any kind???? If you are a new born sea critter like a little fish or crab or crustation, you need someplace to hide so you don’t become someone else's lunch. If you are a bivalve like a nice juicy scallop you need someplace to hide so the crabs don’t eat you. On the physical side, seagrass helps hold sediment in place, cleans the water, and helps keep navigation channels from shoaling in and requiring dredging (which really fouls the whole eco-system).
This years harvest ended today. If you would like to help with next years harvest contact Jennifer Dalke at jdalke@tnc.org. She will put you on ‘the list’ for next year’s harvest. The timing is set in May but is subject to weather, water temperature, wind, and how fast the seeds are ripening. Usually we harvest the last week of May and the first week of June. Mark your calendar and if you decide to help let us (Beatrice and i) know what days you will be on the Eastern Shore so we can try to meet you.

Grenville