tomato names and concrete music

[lolaraincoat]

So Fishwhistle and I went to hear this concert last Sunday because really who can resist music about modernist architecture? Plus also a really good excuse to visit the Polish Combatants Hall, which was both swampy and glorious. But the second act - Allen Bloor, a.k.a. Knurl - turned out to consist of extremely well-amplified concrete blocks being thumped against each other or scraped against a table, and it was indescribably, unimaginably, unbearably loud. No, louder than that. NO, SERIOUSLY, LOUDER. We lasted through about three-quarters of it, then fled. It was sublime (no, it was!) but wow, it was too much for me.

Also in the category of Art Experiences I Have Not Been Able to Tolerate Lately: we rented Eastern Promises, and the first two scenes just did me in. It was gorgeous and interesting and I couldn't watch any more.

And ... I have been in trying to work up a good segue here, but I got nothing, so, whatever. Mean to say, garden news:

More plants that never bloomed before are getting ready to bloom now: poppies! wisteria! this is so exciting that it inspired me to dig up another huge section of the front lawn this weekend. Now the dying hydrangas in the back are no longer strangled and hidden in darkness, but they might die anyway of tranplantation shock. I will water them diligently, and hope.

Also I have planted more types of tomatoes, due to greediness. Now we will have Black Krim and Purple Cherokee and German Gold and Rainbow and Zapotec Pink and Glamour and Lemon Boy and Green Zebra and Green Cherokee and Purple Zebra and Feuerwerke and Yellow Pear and probably some others that I forgot. If all these tomatoes could sing and dance they could form a Village People tribute band, with names like those.

...

Comments

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

What are your favorite tasting tomatoes? I remember my disappointment when I discovered that heirloom tomatoes don't all taste very interesting just because they're beautiful. When I found those little yellow pear tomatoes, I was so unhappy to find they were bland and that I liked plain old grape tomatoes better. So which heirloom tomatoes have real zing?

[lolaraincoat.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm ... I think a lot depends on where you grow them and how long you wait to eat them. I like the yellow pear tomatoes pretty well as long as they're still warm from the sun - any longer than ten minutes off the vine, though, and yeah, they're bland. And they take a lot of fertilizing (sheep manure is favorite.) Oh, and they have to picked at just the right moment because if you wait too long they turn to oatmeal, mushy as well as bland. On the other hand industrial tomatoes (non-heirloom that is) are much less fussy about how they're grown and hold their flavor better, because that's what they're designed to do.

So anyway, for flavor and texture when eaten raw, I like Oxheart, Purple Zebra, and Black Pear. But most of the varieties I'm growing this year are new to me, so I'll keep you posted!

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Oxheart have texture all right, but I think they've now bred all the flavour out of them. Back when I was young and not repulsive we grew a variety called Manalucie down on the rock.

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

I had no idea tomatoes came with such flamboyant names. I'm totally tempted to adopt a male dog now, and name him Lemon Boy.

Keeping my fingers crossed for the hydrangea. They're such fragile drama queens, but I've seen a couple of real basket cases bounce back in the 11th hour.

[amelia-eve.livejournal.com]

Dogs? Heck, I am already outlining a plot for my next fanfic about Lemon Boy and Purple Cherokee.

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

OMG! I was totally thinking the same thing! I'd totally set it at a commune. Black Krim's comfortable, loving relationship with Pink Zapotec would be threatened when they both fall for the charismatic new member, Purple Cherokee. Lemon Boy would be the character who'd provide comic relief.

OOOO! I have Lemon Boy too!

[elphaba-of-oz.livejournal.com]

I thought I was a little nuts planting 5 different varieties. You win the nuts contest.

Have you tried Mr. Stripey? Yummy heirloom tomato with actual stripes! I liked it so much last year I'm having it back for a return engagement.

The various Purples sound intruiging. Will you please post photos and tasting notes once you get fruit?

Re: OOOO! I have Lemon Boy too!

[lolaraincoat.livejournal.com]

Haven't seen Mr Stripey around here (and based on your rec, I looked!) but I love Green Zebra, and that's striped too. And I expect Black Zebra will be as well, but I haven't grown it before. I probably won't post photos, because of my little problem with laziness, but I'll post descriptions.

Just remember - tomatoes love sheep poo!