Better to plant late, than not at all

We're off to a late start here at the Blake Garden. We lost last weekend due to a bad cold that hit both my husband and me. So today, we were busy catching up, planting beans, and stuff that we just hadn't got around to planting, like broccoli plants and red onion sets.
I planted parsley a few weeks ago, but it didn't come up. The spinach, Swiss chard, kale and green onions are coming along nicely.
Our asparagus and rhubarb have made their annual return and are producing well. I still haven't made rhubarb pie, but I gathered all the other ingredients from the grocery store. The recipe is on a recent post.
We have an excessive amount of volunteer cilantro growing in the raised bed garden. I guess I will dry it and save it for salsa season.
 We probably could have planted tomatoes and peppers today, but we always wait until Memorial weekend, even though I think it's warm enough at night now.

Oakland Schools Technical Campuses host plant sales

• 44th annual Garden Center Sale is open during class hours, 8-9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. through June 8 at Oakland Schools Technical Campus Southwest, 1000 Beck Road, Wixom: Open plus weekend sale, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 21-22, 248-668-5634.
• Spring Plant Sale at Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northwest, 8211 Big Lake Road, Clarkston: Open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. May 18-May 25, annuals, perennials and vegetables.

Farmers markets are opening

 Here's the list of farmers markets open or opening soon in Oakland County:

• Birmingham Farmers Market, 660 N. Old Woodward Ave., Parking Lot No. 6 N., Birmingham: Open 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Sundays, May 1-Oct. 23, 248-530-1200, www.birminghamfarmersmarket.org.

• Clawson Farmers Market, 1080 N. Custer Ave., Clawson: Flower day is May 22, regular market is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays, starting June 5, 248-435-6500, www.cityofclawson.com.

• Davisburg-Springfield Farmers Market, 12000 Davisburg Road, Davisburg: Open May 15 for plant day, and then 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays, June 5-Oct. 2, 248-249-1592, springfieldfarmersmarket.wordpress.com.

• Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market, at Walter E. Sundquist Pavilion, 33113 Grand River Ave., at Grove St., Farmington: Open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays May 14-Nov.5. Call 248-473-7276 ext. 13, www.downtownfarmington.org/AbouttheDowntown/FarmersMarket.html.

• Franklin Farmers Market on the Green at Franklin Community Park in Franklin: Open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays, May 1 through season.

• Downtown Holly Farm & Flea Market, 202 S. Saginaw St., Holly: Open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays and 4-8 p.m. Thursdays, May 7-Oct. 29, 248-735-0500, www.HollyFarmandFlea.com.

• Huron Valley Farmers Market at 300 W. Livingston, Highland: Open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, May 7-Oct. 1, www.hvs.org.

• Milford Farmers Market, Liberty Street between South Main and Union streets: Open 3-8 p.m., Thursdays, May 5-Oct.13, www.milfordfarmersmarket.org.

• Northville Farmers Market at Northville Downs Track, Seven Mile and Sheldon, Northville: Open 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursdays, May 5 to Oct. 27, Flower sale is May 27-28, 248-349-7640, www.northville.org.

• Oakland County Farmers Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Township: Open 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, May-December. Spring Flower Day Sale is May 22, 248-858-5495, www.destinationoakland.com/countymarket.

• Oxford Open Air Market at Centennial Park, Oxford: Open 2-7 p.m. Thursdays (hours during Concerts in the Park are 4-9 p.m. Thursdays, June 16-Aug. 25) and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, May 5-Oct. 1, 248-693-7067, www.oxfordopenairmarket.com.

• Rochester Farmers Market, East Third and Water Street, Rochester: Open 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, May 7-Oct. 29, 248-656-0060, www.DowntownRochesterMI.com.

• Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile, Royal Oak: Open 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays, May-December and 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays year round, 248-246-3276, www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us/farmersmkt/index.html.

• South Lyon Farmers Market, at Pontiac Trail and Liberty St., South Lyon: Open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, May 7-Oct. 29, 248-437-1735, www.southlyonmi.org.

• Walled Lake Farmers Market, 1499 E. W. Maple, Walled Lake: Open 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays, May-Oct., 248-624-4847.

• 44th annual Garden Center Sale is May 2-June 8 at Oakland Schools Technical Campus Southwest, 1000 Beck Road, Wixom: Open during class hours, 8-9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. plus weekend sale, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 21-22, 248-668-5634.

• Spring Plant Sale at Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northwest, 8211 Big Lake Road, Clarkston: Open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. May 18-May 25, annuals, perennials and vegetables.

Old reliable rhubarb brings a springtime treat

Every year, the perennial rhubarb plants shoot up out of the Earth and quickly become the first taste of spring at our house. Below are our family's favorite rhubarb recipes. I saw a rhubarb pudding pie recipe somewhere that sounded interesting and I've always wanted to make a standard rhubarb pie, but can't get past these two delicious recipes.
My Mother, Genny, gave me the "Rhubarb Bars" recipe and my Mother-in-law, Minnie, sent the "Rhubarb Cheesecake" recipe.

Rhubarb Bars
3 cups rhubarb, chopped
1 ½ cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ¼ cup water
3 Tablespoons corn starch
1 ½ cup rolled oats
1 ½ cup rolled flour
1 cup brown sugar
½ tsp. baking soda
1 cup butter
½ cup nuts
Combine rhubarb, sugar, vanilla, cornstarch and water. Cook on stove until thick, cool slightly. Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, soda, butter and nuts. Mix until crumbly. Put ¾ of mixture into 15 1/3 x 10 ½ jelly roll pan. Spread rhubarb mixture on top. Cover with remaining crumbs. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

Rhubarb Cheesecake
¼ cup corn starch
1 cup sugar
½ tsp salt
½ cup water
2-1/2 cups rhubarb, cut in ½ inch pieces
1 unbaked pie crust, regular or graham cracker

Topping
1 package 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
In a saucepan, combine first 3 ingredients, then the water and rhubarb. Bring to boil, stirring often until mixture thickens. Pour into pie shell and bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Protect edges of crust with aluminum foil. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Turn oven down to 325 degrees.
Meanwhile beat topping ingredients until smooth. Pour on top of pie. Bake for 35 minutes in 325 oven or until set. Chill and garnish with whipped cream, and sliced almonds or strawberries.

When to plant annuals

It may be too early for most annuals, but it's not too early to plant pansies outside.
There's a fund-raiser plant sale for Habitat for Humanity, May 6-7 at Culvers in Lake Orion, where you will likely find pansies and other flowers.
For most annuals, if you can't cover them, keep them inside until Memorial Weekend. That seems to be the best time for Southeast Michigan. always wait until then to plant tomatoes and peppers because they grow slower when it gets too cold at night. Besides I'm lazy about covering them at night, when there's a frost advisory.
All is not lost if it does frost. If you have plants or flowering trees that are frost sensitive and you didn't get them covered before a frost, go outside before the sun shines on the plants and spray water on them, rinsing off the frost. This works for a light to moderate frost, but not for a hard frost or freeze.

Plants that deer and rabbits can resist

If hungry enough, deer will eat nearly anything growing in your yard. But planting things they don't like so much, can help them be strong and resist grazing in your yard.
The plants that have the best chance of surviving the foraging of deer, are flowers and plants that have a pungent scent; fuzzy, coarse or spiny leaves or an unpleasant or bitter taste. Deer don't usually eat herbs because of their pungent scent.

Flowers that are usually left alone by deer, most of these are perennials
Alyssum - annual
Amaranth - annual
Black-eyed Susan
Butterfly bush
Butterfly weed
Calendula
Carnation
Catmint
Columbine
Cone flower
Cosmos - annual
Delphinium
Echinacea
Evening primrose
Forget-Me-Knot
Four O' Clock
Geraniums
Heliotrope
Hen and chicks
Hibiscus
Lavender
Lupine
Marigold - annual
Morning Glory
Nasturtium
Peony
Poppy
Salvia - annual
Snapdragon - annual
Statice
Trillium
Zinnia - annual

Deer resistant herbs
Marjoram, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Spearmint and Thyme

Deer resistant vegetables
I have found that deer will eat jalapenos when hungry enough, but that's not their first choice. They don't usually eat onion, potato, squash and tomato plants or parsley or other herbs.

Renee's Garden.com has a list of deer resistant plant varieties, Also check with the Michigan State County Extension office

Deer love hostas, green beans, Swiss chard, spinach, lettuce, carrots, peas and broccoli, beets and other greens. Rabbits like most of those too.
Rabbits are attracted to most of the same things as deer. One of their favorites is young tulip shoots. In the winter, rabbits nibble on landscape plants, roses, raspberries, apple, cherry and plum trees.

Deer leave torn leaves with jagged edges, while rabbits and other rodents will make a clean cut, often at an angle. Sometimes you can see deer or rabbit tracks, or rabbit excrement to pinpoint the perpetrator.
Deterring small and large (deer) rodents is not easy. We have a joke about deer bathing with Irish Spring soap at our house, but it seems to keep the bunnies away if I cut it in pieces and spread around the plants. I planted marigolds around the perimenter of our garden and that helped throw rodents off the scent of our vegetables. Our garden which is also fenced, was not disturbed by rodents that year. There are also products available to repel deer, called "Deer Away" and "Hinder." I haven't tried them.

Upcoming gardening events in Oakland County

• Sylvan Lake Garden Club is hosting a workshop to learn about rain barrels, 7 p.m. April 21 at Sylvan Lake Community Center, 2456 Pontiac Drive, Sylvan Lake, free, for information, call Barb Ash at 248-682-0209.


• “Heritage Peonies: Beautiful Then, Glorious Now” is 10-11:30 a.m. April 22 at Meadow Brook Hall, 480 South Adams Road, Rochester, 248-364-6210, www.meadowbrookhall.org, $5 nonmember donation.


• Michigan Orchid Show with hundreds of orchids on display and for sale is 11 a.m.-5 p.m. April 23 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 24 at United Food Workers Building, 876 Horace Brown Drive, Madison Heights, miorchids.com, free event, educational talks on both days. Families are welcome, free parking, for information, contact Joe Peterson at 248-528-1453 or jandjandabbey@aol.com.