ANOTHER GLORIOUS MORNING!  TIME TO REST, RELAX, REPEAT.

Side by side, under a Palo Verde

How often do you hear at this time of the year…"Isn't this why we make it through the summer…to live here now."  The chill of the morning, the songs of the twitter pated birds, the brilliant blue skies, the peace and quiet.  To be outside.  To be in Nature.  To be here now.  To be.

Penstemon greet the Sunrise

A hammock under the shade of the tree doesn't get any better does it?!

At the end of a day the evenings are just delicious for strolling, sipping, grilling  quiet contemplating or jolly laughter.

While we at Tre Soli love growing fruits, flowers, veggies and herbs we also love inviting friends and family to join us here for food, fun and just 'laxin'.  Our down time is never enough and always treasured.  Ever aware of how very blessed we are to have this retreat!

Are you spending enough time with friends, and family just 'laxin'?

Are you looking for a way to accommodate more people at your gathering?  Is your outdoor space feeling drab or just not you any more?  Is your favorite space in need of a bit of spiffing up?  A Hummingbird feeder?  A new pot for your new plant…or your old plant?    Inspirational words to plant in the garden or hang on a wall?  An outdoor rocker for that new grand baby?!  We know just the place for you to find what you need and some things you don't!  Head to our friends at Southwest Gardener for an introduction to their new outdoor furniture line Fermob.  They are having their "Patios with Personality" introductory 10% off sale.

http://southwestgardener.com/fermob-outdoor-furniture-event/

Fermob is from Europe but it is soo Arizona!

We were tickled to see Southwest Gardener is carrying Fermob.  A fabulous nursery that we go to when in Omaha carries this line.  We can't tell you how many times we've thought of driving some furniture back to AZ.  We always leave for AZ jealous that Omaha has Fermob and we don't!  Now we, and you, don't have to be jelly.  The Fermob line has unique, bright outdoor furniture with contemporary and European flair that fits in with all styles.  If you like a traditional look then a bistro table may be just what you're looking for.  Love a rocker but you are sunny yellow and don't want the weight of so many rockers?  Fermob has one for you.   All about your intimate balcony in your contemporary loft?  Fermob has what you want too.  See you there today?

Rest. Relax. Repeat.

YES, VIRGINIA, 

THERE REALLY IS SPRING IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN!

And this is what it looks like

Peach Blossoms 

Scenting the Gardens at Tre Soli

&

Attracting the Bees

 +

Bees

Doin' Their Bee Thing

=

Peaches

And What Does Any Farmer Worth Their Salt Do Now?

Peaches

+

Brown Sugar, Butter, Oats, Almonds & Cinnamon

=

Make Peach Crisp!

So this is what we're looking forward to.  Peaches and Nectarines are in bloom.  The apples, apricots, plums and  figs will be coming along soon.  But while we wait for all of that luscious fruit we already have sweet juicy Oranges, Tangerines, Grapefruit and Tangelos.  Please stop by our Front Door Honor Market this weekend for you fresh squeezed juice supplies, aka citrus.  The CRR, Chief Rose Rangler was preparing for the sidewalk sale in Old Town Scottsdale at Savale Antiques and Flowers https://www.facebook.com/SavaleFlowersAntiques 

tomorrow but has a seasonal upper respiratory infection and we don't want to share it with you.  

Sorry we're stingy that way.

So all of the fruit picked for tomorrow's event will be available at the Tre Soli Front Door Honor Market.  Sorry no chatting, tours or custom orders this weekend.

BUT

Savale is a charming store 1 block East of Scottsdale Road on 1st Ave.  The front courtyard is planted in lavender, white roses and rosemary!  You will love it!  The shop is full of antiques, art work and elegant lavender pillows and sachets made right there.  

Savale specializes in Annie Sloan chalk paints and tomorrow, in our gorgeous sun, they will be demonstrating the magic their paints can work on any of your furniture.  We've even seen what they've done painting signs on burlap, door mats and newspaper!  

And what they can do with flowers!   

They also have made beautiful loose weave hearts, wreathes and chandeliers from our grapevines.  

Gifts from Savale are tied with the loveliest fabric ribbons in town.  

Do yourself a favor and go meet the women at Savale.  They can guide you to a gift for your loved one, someone you want to celebrate or yourself!

https://www.facebook.com/SavaleFlowersAntiques

FAMILY TREES and FATHER UNKNOWN

So we have mentioned grafting a scion onto a rootstock and learning how to do that was so cool.  Here are some photos of the two that we grafted on January 30th.  There are five scions grafted on two root stocks.  All of the scion were from a beautiful old bush here on the farm,  We hope to give it more life.  Under each band of tape is a tiny bud from our scion rose.  It is to receive East Sun and be kept moist.  We were told that the strong buds will push through the tape and in four weeks be able to be planted in the ground!  Really?!  Stay tuned and watch us grow!  We'll post photos weekly .

Now a related topic near and dear to our hearts.  (no pun intended) Adoption!  At Tre Soli we are in the business of nurturing…nurturing our soil, our plants, our bees, our butterflies, our birds, and all those who receive the fruits of the Ranglers hand work.  Scions get adopted by the rootstock and in adoption families and individuals are the roots and the scions given an opportunity to add to the life of all by adding roots and branches.

If you've been touched by adoption, are a member of the adoption constellation, or just love a good flick or enjoy supporting creative independent film makers then you'll enjoy going to see "Father Unknown".  If you love a mystery, travel, love stories, surprises and happy endings then you too will enjoy "Father Unknown".  Did you love the movie "Philomena"?  Well this too is about a post adoption search.  Only you are right along for the ride, filmed in real time with the real people, no actors.  And you can't stream it or view it on line so don't wait for that.

Please reserve tickets to see  "FATHER UNKNOWN''.  This movie is all of these over the course of two centuries, two continents and one ocean.  Enough tickets must be reserved in advance, before Monday, February 8th, in order for the theater to screen the film.  You are not billed until it is a go.  But there are only 5 more days to make these reservations for the Scottsdale showing on February 15.  They need your help to make this event happen.  Spread the love by spreading the word.

https://www.tugg.com/events/81927

WHAT'S UP?  COZY UP!

Last of the 2015 Roses 

Is this Winter?…YES!

Is this Spring?…YES!

Or as some of our young folk used to call it this is Wintspring!  The shoulder season as Winter wraps up and Spring begins is where we find ourselves now.  We still have 1- 2 weeks until the average date that most danger of frost is gone so until then it's still Wintspring!  As photos from this morning show we had ice here at Tre Soli. some of the Rose Ranglers actually slipped on the ice on the wood mulch paths.

Ice - On the tips of tiny garlic chive seeds in a rose bed you can see the frozen dew drops.

Ice - In this bird bath the baby doves will have to wait for their drinks and baths.  

Did you know that a little bit of ice on a plant can protect it from even colder more harmful temperatures?  True.

Unfortunately for these first tiny sprigs of asparagus the ice did freeze them to the core so they will not grow any more.  Not to worry, they made a tasty nibble for Rose Ranglers lucky enough to spy them.  There'll be plenty more shoots come Spring.  I can't imagine a panda's bamboo shoots being as lovely as the first Spring asparagus shoots we enjoy.  But then have you seen their teeth?!  Meant for bamboo.

Great News!  The fruit tree buds seem unharmed.  The trees are still loaded.  

Peach trees where baby hummingbirds have been seen this morning, males squeaking to females.

Peach Blossoms where baby bees were seen yesterday afternoon.

But we questioned the viability of buds like the large peach bud below.  It was soaking wet where it connects to the branch.  We don't know the impact on buds like this.   

Rose Ranglers will watch it as the day warms up. 

And we'll do some research to see what the "experts" have to say.  Speaking of experts we're not but the folks at U of A Maricopa County Extension are and so are the good people at UC Davis.  When Tre Soli Rose Ranglers have questions these are two of our top go to wells of knowledge.

"Lifelong Learner" on loan from the one of the sons of Tre Soli.

We're planning classes and events here at the farm as well as out in the community.  To stay in touch and up to dat drop us an email to let us know you want to be on our list.  Side walk sale at Savale Antiques and Flowers on February 13,  March 12 is the Ral Gardens for Real People tour of gardens, flower sale third weekend in March at Sweet Salvage, Art in the Garden at Berridge Nursery, And

 you can buy our citrus from Maya at her farmers markets.

SWEET SALVAGE GREEN ACRES

January 21, 2016

Windmill at Tre Soli

Favorite purchase from Sweet Salvage 2015

As those of you who've been with us for a time you know we've been antiquing since our mothers dragged us with them as children.  Dark dusty allergy inducing places.  We just didn't look forward to it.  But not any more.  Thanks in part to light bright fun places like Sweet Salvage.
http://sweetsalvage.net/event-calendar/ check them out.
Their objects, staged in vignettes, are beautiful, funky, nostalgic, unique, others not as much but will add to your large collection of whatnot.  The staff though is what makes this 4 days a month warehouse sale so different from the others.  They are friendly, fun and always ready to assist your wants and needs.   And of course what goes better with growing food and flowers that eating food and flowers.  They have garden pieces and dining pieces.  And!  They have food!  The best chocolate chip cookies ever!!! So if you see us there this month say "Hi!"  Don't be disappointed if we seem in a hurry; we have an agenda since we spotted something we've been yearning for for years.  Check this video out; it's s hoot:
http://sweetsalvage.net/2016/01/07/green-acres-returns-vip-contest/

Winter in Our Classroom

Hasn't this been a great start to a new year?!  We've had over 2'' of rain at Tre Soli!  All of it gentle and soaking into the soil.  Also this year we've had plenty of chill hours for our low chill fruits!  Yippee we are expecting beautiful delicious fruit come Spring.

Spring Peaches & Apricots

It is so sad to have the Autumn rose season over.  This may have been the best year ever for our large blousey blooms.  Some of the blooms were large enough to hide our cupped hands.  Those of you who bought ours or grow some yourself know just what we mean.  

Roses Big and Blousey

Roses also last longer in the vase during the winter.  We love to compete with ourselves to see how long we can keep them after cutting.  This year we had some that made it to three weeks!  We suspect that the secret is to put the roses to bed outside at night when no one is around to appreciate them. They love the cool moist air of our desert nights and they only traveled a short distance from our farm to your vase which also adds to their longevity.

Deep Crimson in Deep Winter

We are committed to taking more photos such as the ones we're providing today.  We want you to see what we are growing, offering for sale and what you too can grow!  Unfortunately the photos impede our sending emails so we'll be posting most of photos here on our blog

Larkspur & Roses

Right now we have juicy tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit.  For those of you who are not lucky enough to have these in your yard, neighborhood or family let us share with you our fruit grown without any pesticides or herbicides.  

Front Door Honor Market will be open tomorrow: 

Tuesday, January 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Exclusively citrus : 

Oranges 3/$1, Tangerines 4/$1, Grapefruit 2/$1

Picking these Sweet & Juicy Fruits for You Tomorrow

We also have mints, lemon grass and rosemary available.  

Let us know and we'll pick just for you.

Outside the Rose Ranglers are busy pruning roses and fruit trees as well as planting some new of each.  Inside we're planning seasonal classes and hands on workshops.    Most classes will be limited to 8 participants and two hour length with refreshments at some.  So many topics it is hard to narrow it down.  You can help us determine which classes to offer by taking a moment to reply to azgardenfresh@gmail.com with what you'd like to learn in our outdoor classroom pictured below.  

Winter to Spring

 Spring

Summer

 Autumn

A basic list of class proposals is provided below.  Feel free to send us your suggestions!  

Rose pruning

Rose selection

Rose planting

Fruit tree pruning

Fruit tree selection

Preserving your fruit

Composting

Grape vine crafting

Farmers Market Shopping

Pick your own fruit

  "      "       "    rose

Olives from pick to press to preserve

Wild flower gardens

Pollinator gardens

Pest control in the garden

Pollinator in our Gardens

Predator in our Gardens

Some of you have asked to "have the place to yourself"  and bring just your group.  We've done that and would love the opportunity to welcome you and your group for a private class or party.  Drop us a note at azgardenfresh@gmail.com so we can work on your proposal.

Garden Club Annual Luncheon & Class in our Gardens

See You in the Gardens and at the Market?!

If you grow citrus or are thinking of planting a citrus tree this is your once a year chance to get scientifically based information from real experts on the what, when, how and what's next of growing citrus fruit.  There will be tables with dozens of samples to see, smell and taste!  Just in time because it's about time to fertilize existing trees and plant new ones.  There will also be lots of fresh picked citrus and fresh squeezed juice for purchase.  Weather is expected to be chilly at the start but 738 for a day time high so dress in layers.  See you there?

You Are Invited!
Master Gardener Citrus Clinic

Master Gardener Citrus Clinic

Saturday, January 23, 2016
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Greenfield Citrus Nursery
2558 E. Lehi Rd.
Mesa, AZ

Gate opens at 8:30 a.m.

Buy Tickets Now

In person at:
Greenfield Nursery
2558 E. Lehi Rd.
Mesa, AZ

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
4341 E. Broadway Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85040

At the Gate on January 23rd.

Online

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payment gateway. 
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Online ticket sales available through Thursday, January 21st.

Reflections On Lives Well Lived

It's that time of the year again.  Beautiful blue skies, crisp cold air, and yes Virginia even rain.  

Rejoice!  

Tre Soli made it through another summer.

The Glory of Autumn

It brings exquisite color along with it's relief from the heat and refreshment of gentle rains.  But it is also a time of memories of the past year.  Of the fruits of what we planted, tended, and harvested.  And it is the time to sew the hopes of the next season.  The chill and the rain allow us the luxury to indulge in fireplaces that glow in the same colors of our fruit trees while cuddled up with seed catalogues after rose catalogues.  And this is THE best time for the roses in the desert.  The cooler temperatures allow the roses to grow larger and larger and Larger.  The cooler temperatures also allow the oils to be retained until they are cut and brought indoors to the slightly warmer air.  That's when they release their glorious fragrance.  Autumn is our favorite time to ooo and laahh laahh over these ruffled, silken, sweet fragranced girls.

Not all of Autumn is colorful.  Some of it is just quiet, peaceful.  As fruit trees around change color the herb and veggie beds are resting while being reinvigorated for the Spring plantings.  So many urban farmers are providing clean food for our community that this year we are considering planting more flower seeds than vegetables.

The gazebo in the shelter of the fruit tree allele experiences the changes of Autumn.   The Northern trees are already bare and sleeping.  While the Southern Trees are still undergoing their color changes as they nod off to their brief respite before Spring.  Soon this old teak table that has served as door in an earlier life will bask in the sun before it again is the site of celebrations, classes, meals, teas, refreshment, planning and creating.  We can't wait to invite you and hope that you'll be joining us!

And of course reflections include the traditional assessing what to be grateful for as well as what goals to aspire to in the coming year.  No doubt this has been a difficult year with too many losses of dear ones.  Yet it has also been a wonderful year of new relationships for which we are thankful.  The most thrilling being that of adding a new family member in the form of a bouncing baby boy!

We all have choices to make as to how we will celebrate this life we've been given, found and forged.  

For us, we choose to celebrate the Autumns as well as the Springs.

Here's to the Best Year Ever for Yours, Mine and Ours!