Ramps, The Other Onion

Unless you've got evergreen green onions, the next onions you'll probably be getting are ramps in your garden.  At least in the south you can get these as early as mid to late winter.

They are one of the more flavorful varieties of onion, you can use the tops, bottoms, or both.  As with all of the onion family the entire plant is edible.  They do die back as the temperatures warm up and go to seed.  Not a very fancy flower but recognizable as being in the onion family.

You can sometimes find these plants in the woods around where you live as they like rich soil and partial shade.

Free Chocolate (Science Fiction Book)

It's ready for pre-order!

In the far future, chocolate is Earth’s only unique commodity one that everyone else in the galaxy is willing to kill to get their hands, paws and tentacles on 

Pre-order now and join us at the book launch being planned for the Dallas area!

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/free-chocolate-amber-royer/1127085418

https://www.amazon.com/Free-Chocolate-Amber-Royer/dp/0857667505

Upcoming Japan Trip

Although it won't be cherry blossom season when we go our trip to Japan should still be pretty nice.  The fall colors should be in full swing and the weather promises to be lovely, with the occasional shower burst.
We'll be able to visit with new friends and practice our Japanese. The kids we're going to be practicing with already seem to have better English skills, hopefully they won't be too disappointed with our Japanese skills.  We'll visit a garden or two while there so I should have some nice pictures to put up soon.  The one here was taken last spring during the blossoming time.  Just couldn't swing it then...

Cacao seedlings

Another attempt at getting cacao to grow here in DFW.  Probably not the best time to attempt this since I'll be away from work for a few days (really don't want to go back up just to tend and water it) but you can't be choosy when to plant these fragile seeds.  They're already breaking the surface of the soil so at least I know they're growing.