The Prickly Pear Queens Guide to Gardening

Welcome to our new blog mostly about the adventures and misadventures of gardening outside the box. All of us self-proclaimed queens and domestic goddesses owe at least a debt of gratitude to the mother of all Queens, “The Sweet Potato Queen” who taught us how to have fun.

Now you may be asking yourself “Who in the world are the Prickly Pear Queens?” and “Why in the world would anyone want to be a Prickly Pear Queen?”

I am here to tell you that we are not Prickly Pear Queens because we are Prickly (most of the time unless unduly provoked - in which case a little sugar solves that problem) and we are certainly not pear-shaped (more like those little yellow tomatoes some of you grow that are just a little bigger on the bottom) but we are most definitely Queens and since we both have deeeeep roots to the Southwest and a love for all growing things – what an honor to be known as “The Prickly Pear Queens”.

We will be growing our court by adding new queens. We urge you to share with us your unique and creative adventures in gardening. So ….. if you wish to become a part of this august body, you might want to pick your favorite fruit or veggie to be Queen of now while the picking is good. You know something like “The Hot Tomato Queen”.

Each month we will hold a ceremony on-line and award a prize for the funniest adventure in gardening.

Not to say that this is not going to be a site that values serious gardening and gives (mostly) good advice and tips. Just not in a serious way. All of us know that for every hot, sweaty way to accomplish something in our garden there is a hilarious alternative.

As my wonderful ole Granny used to say, “There’s more than one way to skin a Chipmunk.”

(And since they are the sworn enemies of mountain gardeners, I’ve tried most of them.)

Now, let me show you what I mean about funny stories that contain useful information:

The Rock Garden

Half of my gardening life is spent at 9000 feet. Here the soil is 90% rock and the growing season is the blink of a gnat’s eye. Ten years ago I got my heart set on a rock garden on the hillside opposite our home. To say this is a work in progress is an understatement. It is now 50 feet long. That’s 5 feet a year. Do you know what it takes to dig a hole for a 5 gallon shrub in a hillside that’s 90% rock?

OH NO YOU DON’T!!

Like all gardeners, I can’t resist the end of the season sales. 75% off! My heart races – my mind goes numb. That is until I get the 14-5 gallon shrubs home. My numb mind comes back with a thud. It’s late October and I have about an hour and a half to plant them all before it freezes. So, armed with a rock breaker, a hammer, my husband’s new screwdriver set and a spade, I embark. Twenty minutes later I have a 6 oz. cup size hole. Three days and many “Son of ……..” later, the pieces of the screwdriver set are buried under a pile of rocks my husband will never notice ad I’m stumped and pissed. “Think you bit off more than you can chew?” from my husband was the last straw.

Then it came to me!! I ran to the garage and grabbed the high pressure nozzle and 50 foot of hose. Then, still dressed in my go to town clothes, I let it fly! Whoa Gussie, it was a sight. Red clay, mud, and rock of all sizes were flying everywhere. No telling how many chipmunks packed up and left for good that day.

I can say in retrospect, this is probably better done in a “Hazmat” suit with a visor. Never had so much fun gardening. 14 holes in six hours!! That’s a record in this part of the country. If you’re my kind of gardener you have a hundred of these stories.

. It grows in the desert regions of North America. The fruits are used for the juice and the pads are used as a vegetable.

OK, Enough of that.

And, I want to share the official Prickly Pear Cactus Jelly Recipe with you:

1 ½ cup Prickly Pear Juice
3 Tablespoons of lemon or lice juice
1 Package Powdered Pectin
3 ½ cups of Sugar

How to get that juice – first you pick a quart of the prickly pear fruit and that should make 2 ½ cups of juice. Which brings about another problem – How to pick the fruit. Use a pair of long-handled tongs, or a fork, or for the more brave at heart, you can try leather gloves.

Wash the fruit under running water, then use a brush to clean (any spines left on the fruit will soften during cooking and should come off after the fruit is strained (notice that word ”should”), if they don’t you will need to use your tongs or a fork to get them out.

Steam the fruit until it is tender and soft. Mash and strain it using a jelly bag or a fine sieve. Do not add water. Set aside to allow juice to settle. For clear jelly, do not use the portion containing sediment.

In a saucepan, measure out 1 ½ cups of juice, add 1 package of powdered pectin and bring mixture to a fast boil, stirring constantly. Add lemon or lime juice and sugar. Bring to a hard boil (one that cannot be stirred down with a spoon) and let bowl for 3 more minutes. The timing is very important to get the mixture to set up properly.

Remove from the heat, skim off the foam on top, and pour into hot canning jars, leaving ¼ inch space per jar. Wipe jar rims and put on flats and rings.

Process for 10 minutes in boiling water bath.

This makes 6 one-half pints of jelly.

Now that your jelly is setting on the counter and looking so pretty, it’s time for a little break for you!

Prickly Pear Margaritas

1 oz. Tequila
¾ oz fresh lime juice
¼ oz fresh orange juice
½ oz Prickly Pear juice
¼ oz Cointreau
1 hot chili pepper – fresh or dried
Ice and Kosher Salt

The pepper for this recipe should be seeded and diced, then combined with the other ingredients in a shaker. Once combined, allow the ingredients to sit for 15 minutes, then add ice and strain out the pepper and the ice before serving. Moisten glass rims with lime juice and dip in kosher salt. Pour into margarita glass, garnish with lime slice and enjoy!

Until next time, warm days and starry nights to you –

The Prickly Pear Queens