The new chickens are 9 weeks old today and can still squeeze through a 2” x 4” opening in the fence. Those that make it into the great wide world get put into chickie jail for the day. Chickie jail is a 2’ x 4’ cage that is full of the most delectable and desired chickie treats- the plan being to fatten them up so they can’t fit through the damn tiny hole any more. It’s always the same 7 little escapees, so hopefully a few more days of constant eating will widen them.

Today I planted 2 seed flats- 1 entire flat of Zinnias. The other is a hodge-podge of Celosia, Basil, Summer Savory, Chives, Cardoon, Jicama, and Thai Red Roselle. Thai Red Roselle, the flower found in Latino stores here in L.A., is the main ingredient in the drink “Jamaica”. The great and wonderful Lulu makes this often in the summer- very refreshing. This is what Baker Creek (my seed source) says about it:

Thai Red Roselle
(Hibiscus sabdariffa) A valuable plant for making cranberry-flavored bright red beverages, jelly, pie and tea. Much grown in Asia and the mid-east as the flavor is wonderful. A tasty sauce can be made by boiling and sweetening the fleshy calyxes, the leaves are also used to make a drink. The entire plant of this Hibiscus is red and very beautiful. Start early, unless you live in the far-south. Citrus-flavored flowers are delicious on frozen deserts. This plant has too many uses to name here. Collected in Thailand.

Tomorrow I will plant the “three sisters” in the front yard. According to Iroquois legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters that support each other in several ways. The beans climb the corn and are light feeders next to the hungry corn. The squash rambles over the ground, shading it from the hottest sun and helping the soil retain water.

Planting food plants in the front yard is tricky. Authors Kelly Coyne and Eric Knutzen ( L.A. residents) address this subject in their interesting book The Urban Homestead. They recommend planting either unfamiliar plants (weird greens) or super abundant plants (cherry tomatoes) in the front yard. The unusual ones won’t get stolen and the abundant ones are fun to share. I will plant a Hickory King flint corn- multicolored and intended for corn meal. The beans will be Scarlet Runner beans- beautiful flowers and not a familiar shape. The third sister will be Musquee de Provence pumpkins and Australian Butter squash. I hope these three sisters are unusual enough for a safe front yard planting.