I hoped that the first harvest of the ‘Monet’s Garden’ mesclun would coincide with my son’s birthday last week. It’s one of those decade changing birthdays, complicated by Covid with no gatherings outside your household per public health orders in Southern California.

Last week we drove two hours north to LA to deliver birthday and Christmas presents and garden gifts in a brief distanced handoff. Tim does love salads. He previously had a rooftop garden at his Downtown LA loft. See the post Roots in Downtown LA—2014. Here’s what we delivered.

The Dark Red Lollo Rossa lettuce is one of my favorites and does well in the warmer shoulder seasons. I grew plenty from seed so I’m growing it in several of the raised beds.

Good thing Tim likes arugula as much as I do. There was lots to share. It rebounds quickly from a cutting.

There were bits of this and that to pass along as well: baby leaf kale, ‘Red Streaks’ mustard, parsley, French sorrel and yellow cherry tomatoes.

I harvested the first of the ‘Black Magic’ kale for him It’s a very tender and mild variety.

The first of the ‘Golden Sweet’ snow peas were ready for his birthday.

Tangerines, jam, canned apricots and applesauce were the base layer for bags and containers of garden veggies. And a small bouquet of gomphrena. It was a pleasant but quick handoff. Things will be different at his next birthday, we all hope.

If you usually post in Harvest Monday, leave a comment for me with your blog link. I’d love to see what you are gathering in while our host, Dave takes a winter break.

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