I excitedly opened my package from Zebrairis.com (Zebra Gardens) last night and was exceptionally pleased with the healthy-looking rhizomes and extras that Brad and Kathie sent me. Great packaging too, and their nursery inspection sticker gave me additional satisfaction that I shopped with them. Unfortunately, it looked like they omitted 1 out of 2 Zzzanzibars that I had ordered. I emailed the Kaspereks this morning about them. Anywho, the bonuses I received: 1 Doe Z Doe and 2 Alpha Gnus. The Alpha Gnus, Blueberry Fillies, and Zzzanzibar went straight into the middle flowerbed; Doe Z Doe went into the side yard. I can’t wait to see these irises next year.
A few sites to feast your eyes on
(An old post that I dug up for reposting here.)
After reading an online article in the Star Telegram site about Noka Chocolate, I found myself reviewing the expose on them on DallasFood.org. Apparently this “anonymous” blog drew some publicity for their incisive look at Noka, drawing some attention from media outlets across the nation.
Now, I’m no stranger to DallasFood.org, having perused their dining reviews on occasion over the last year. But I am rather curious about the site and its operators. While their passion for food is plainly obvious, the identities and motivations behind DallasFood are secret…I’ve combed their site looking for answers and found nothing that tells me who or what these people are. Is this some form of viral marketing site? The reviews seem too personal to me.
Still, there is something about the delivery of the food porn here that makes you keep coming back for more. They have a decent catalog of informational locak links, and I am getting a kick out of reading their odyssey in search of the best DFW barbecue. It was here that I found Tex’s Texas Bar-B-Que Web Page, another collection of reviews that grades the best in Texas BBQ.
In search of brisket grilling tips
I don’t know that I have the patience, energy or time to slow-cook a brisket Texas bbq style. I’m not sure I even have the right tools, but I’m going to give a run this weekend with the help of some internet sources.
Gas Grilling a Brisket at Txbeef.org
The Brisket Faq at BarbecueBible.com
Brisket 101 The Basics with Photos at Cookshack.com
The last link has some very good illustrations on cuts of meat, grill positioning, and finished product. I’m so hungry right now!
Lucky me, I purchased the fattier cut of brisket, the point cut, at Albertson’s last week, roughly 4-5 lbs of meat. I can’t wait to fire up the oven/grill and give it a go! Roast brisket vs. bbq brisket…showdown at the Pirkle household!
Bulb manic
After yesterday’s Iris purchase, I’m shopping again. Two internet stores that I’m currently reviewing are ColorBlends.com and Bloomingbulb.com, both highly recommended shops at Dave’s Garden Watchdog. Of particular interest are their southern recommended collections and bulbs.
This morning, I started digging up the stray mini lilies populating the middle bed and moving them to a corner location. I had the opportunity to divide 1 bulb that I found, and the rest were bulblets which had sent up greenery, but no flowers this year. Hopefully they will flourish in their new homes.
Flowers of a different stripe
Broken color irises. They’re eye-catching, they’re unique. I love their splashy looks…and I hope to enjoy them in my 2008 garden. I’ve discovered an internet purveyor of striped irises at ZebraIris.com and I’m browsing their library of dazzling bearded irises for specimens to go into my white-and-blue flower bed. It’s about planting time for the iris rhizomes…and with the Texas weather so mild this week, I can’t wait to do some digging.
In my shopping cart:
Z Z Zanzibar – I. Variegata species, 25″ rebloomer (x2)
Blueberry Filly – intermediate bearded, 23″ early bloomer (x2)
My iris show this year included the very early (Feb/Mar) dwarf irises (reticulata and danfordiae mix) and the April-blooming, 24″ Dutch Eye of the Tiger. (Here’s a basic explanation of the differences between the bulb and rhizome types.) There’s a strong need to fill in the months between February and April with color. Hopefully some irises and white daffodils will fill that gap.
