.: evil jungle prince :.

It has been deliciously warm today, with mid-afternoon temperatures in the mid-80s and no wind at all. For the first time this year, I opened all the doors of the house, welcoming in not only the fresh air but the sounds of singing birds, all seemingly as happy as I am about the warm temperatures.

My garden is likewise coming alive now. While the herbs were the first to really spring to life, they are now being following by the cacti, agaves, and chili pepper plants.

Last year my Korean gochu chili pepper plant (고추) fruited for the first time. It produced about 20 gochus, long and crispy. Taste-wise they are a rough equivalent of shishito peppers, with barely any heat noticeable to the tongue. I made kimchi with those that were harvested. I was curious though to see how long it would take the remaining peppers to turn that incredible lipstick-red color, so I left a few on the vine. To my surprise, it took three months of winter for them to achieve this.

The hue of this red just gives me goosebumps. Glad I have the camera to capture it!

Today I noticed that the plant is also producing its first new crop of gochus. Can't wait to try some new ways of preparing them, besides kimchi. Perhaps lightly grilled with some bonito flakes on top?

My aloe vera plant is also breaking out in color. A few days ago it shot out this long, flowering shoot. It's no wonder there are so many hummingbirds around, as they absolutely love when the agaves begin to flower -- the buds are ready-made them. (By the way, the broad leaves in the background belong my new avocado tree. It is also flowering so I'm crossing my fingers for at least an avocado or two this summer.)

My aloe plant actually came with the house when I bought it, so to speak. Though very little of the former owner's flora/landscaping exists now, this plant was found growing from beneath a wall that separates my house from the neighbor's property. It was oddly healthy for where I found it, so I placed it into a container where it has been growing happily for the past four years.