Rocky Mountain Bee Weed

The bees love this stuff!
Last year we had a single flowering weed, which bloomed late in the summer.  The weed was huge, maybe 7' tall.  It was allowed to remain established because it appeared overnight and was covered with bees--they loved it!   The plant put out seeds in pods--must be a legume, also good for the soil.  There might have been 2000 tiny seeds in each pod. 
I knew as soon as I saw the bees went for it that we needed this plant.  In the spring it came up everywhere--it was easy to tell that this was my plant.  I thinned some out, but left a large bank of what I now know to be "Rocky Mountain Bee Weed". 
Wikipedia informs reader Cleome serrulata is used in the southwestern U.S. as a food, medicine, or dye. It is called waa’ in the Navajo language.  The National Wildlife Refuge Rocky Mountain Arsenal web page tells that bees and insects are attracted to the rich nectar from the blossoms of this native plant, and that the seeds are often consumed by morning doves. Among other uses, the site recommends boiling the leaves as greens, eating the seeds or making them into flour.    I just want all bee-keepers to let some of these grow in their alleys.  If there's any rain at all, you probably won't need to water.

 

Eat what you like and freeze the rest

Before August has faded away I will add a garden update for two catbirds, or just to log that we're still doin' it, despite the odds.  On the weekend I made some tomato sauce and froze some corn.  The corn has been magnificent--especially the SUGAR PEARL variety.   
Here's my technique:

1. Pick corn.
2. Shuck corn.  Deposit husks immediately into compost.
3. Wash corn and use the little brush that's made for the strings.  They really work!
4. Having a good work space is important, although it can be small.  Having a clean work space is important too.  For me this means sweeping the floor and eliminating whatever the contamination of the hour is.
5. Here's my set up: a banking sheet with a small cutting board to slice the corn off the cob.
6. Dump the corn in a bowl as needed.  
7. Freeze in bags, preferably heavy-duty ziploc gallon-sized freezer bags.  Skimping on the plastic can age the corn faster.  Don't forget to label the bags first with date and variety of contents.
8. Give the cobs to the chickens or the worms.  They'll love you forever.
9. When it's time to cook, just put whatever amount of corn you want in boiling water enough to heat.  Welcome August all winter long.  

I did an experiment with spreading the corn on a cookie sheet to flash freeze it separately before putting in the bag, but it didn't seem worth the trouble.  If the corn is sticking together, just chisel or gently break off the piece you want from the bag.