FOR THE LOVE OF GARDENING

AND YOUR SPECIAL SOME-BUD-Y

BY FAITH LEWIS

You know how a home cooked meal has that little made-with-love, makes-it-better, something extra? Any gardener will say the same goes for flowers. This year, offer your Valentine a homegrown bouquet with a little je-ne-sais-quoi.

Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinth are all February bloomers that make great bouquets. And don’t forget to collect some greenery to add color and texture.

Never made a bouquet before? It’s hard to go wrong with fresh cut flowers, just make sure you cut the stems at an angle and be sure to remove any leaves below the water level. But if you want to take your bouquet to the next level, keep these tips in mind and you’re sure to end up with a bouquet worthy of your Valentine.

STEP BY STEP

1. When selecting flowers, have a color scheme in mind. Select blooms with complimentary colors or stick to a monochromatic color palette 2. Choose blooms that are just about to open, rather than those that already fully bloomed so that the bouquet lasts longer. 3. Start with the largest bloom and add the rest of your flowers in successive rings around it to make a symmetrical, round bouquet. 4. Add greenery where needed for height and texture.

START YOUR SEEDS FOR SPRING Don’t let that chill fool you. You can get your veggies started now for splendid spring and summer bounties.

While tomatoes are sensitive to cold conditions, seeds can be started inside up to six weeks before the last frost. In San Joaquin County, where the last frost of the season is typically early or mid-March, that means February is the perfect time for your tomato seeds to get their grow on. Peppers and cucumbers like it even warmer, so start your seeds indoors toward the end of the month and move them outside six to eight week later when the sun has had a head start warming the soil.

Biodegradable pots offer an easy option for starting seeds since the whole pot can be planted in the ground, just be sure not to start too many seeds in one pot. Plant your seeds with a seed-starting mix (which doesn’t actually contain dirt, but provides the needed nutrients and drainage to get your seedling ready to grow) and keep them in a warm, well-lit place. Keep soil moist, but be careful not to oversaturate them.

Unlike our delicate summer favorites, carrots and radishes aren’t bothered by the cold and should be planted directly outside. •Get annual flowers like cosmos, marigolds, and sweet peas in the ground.

•Keep an eye on your citrus trees and harvest when the fruit ripens.

•Plant herbs in a sunny, sheltered area. Resow seeds every few weeks throughout the spring and summer to ensure a constant supply of readyto-harvest leaves once they get up and going.

•Keep an eye out for native California plants like Frikart’s aster, California lilac, and California poppies that will have your yard buzzing with bees, butterflies, and other important pollinators.

•Plant artichokes.

•Check your irrigation for any leaks that might have developed over the frosty winter.

FEBRUARY GARDEN CHECKLIST

wine &dine

RESTAURANTS | WINE | DRINKS | SWEETS

CRAVINGS

We Just Love Red!

BIG, BOLD WINES ARE CENTERSTAGE AT METTLER FAMILY VINEYARDS

BY NORA HESTON TARTE / D DAN HOOD

When Valentine’s Day hits and you’re looking to romance someone special, it’s hard to look past the sparkling wineries in Lodi’s backyard. With plenty to choose from, we’re highlighting one option for big, bold reds that match the winter season, and the gorgeous red hues we’re all donning to celebrate love. At Mettler Family Vineyards, the tasting room is open to visitors Thursday through Monday, giving you plenty of opportunity to taste—including on V-Day itself.

But while you’re in, what are you going to drink? While there are options for those that enjoy a white or lighter red, we’re focused on the bigger sips that can really stand up to any meal you pair them with. Read on for our picks of some of the best wines to impress your date with this Valentine’s Day, whether you’re sipping on site or grabbing a bottle to uncork with your home-cooked meal.

2018 LODI ‘EPICENTER’ OLD VINE ZIN

This Mettler staple is one of the most popular wines to come out of the tasting room with every vintage. The 2018 bottle is no exception. Boasting grapes from one of the oldest zinfandel vineyards in the Mettler Family collection, nestled into the Mokelumne River sub-appellation—the epicenter of the OVZ district—the vines date back more than 50 years while also following sustainable winegrowing protocols as set forth by Lodi Rules.

Deep and inky in color, this blend is earthy and smoky on the nose, with notes of blackberry, vanilla, and plum. On the palate, you’ll taste the ripe berries as well as hints of licorice, herbs, and black pepper. Not a sweet zinfandel, but rather a complex combination of flavors with softly integrated tannins, this wine has no trouble standing up to the robust flavors in stews or grilled meats. 2018 LODI ESTATE GROWN CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Wines from three vineyards are combined to create this popular cabernet. The fruit comes from the family’s Jahant, Clements Hills, and Mokelumne River vineyards, combining grapes from three contrasting regions.

Deep garnet in color, tasters will first notice dark cherry, toast, cedar, and nutmeg on the nose. The dark cherries and plums will be most prominent on the palate, with whispers of vanilla. Mid-palate, the velvety texture of the wine shines through, leading to moderate tannins and some acidity. Grab a bottle to crack open now or save for a few years. In the right conditions, this cab is expected to age nicely in the bottle.

Petite Sirah thrives in the Mediterranean climate offered in the Lodi AVA. Delta breezes blow in to cool off the vines after high daytime temperatures, creating an ideal growing climate for this particular grape type.

Dark purple as it pours, this estate-grown wine hits the nose first with dark berry and plum notes. Upon tasting, flavors of pepper and honey may be distinguishable. Using both French Oak (20 percent) and Neutral Oak (80 percent) to create the unique flavor profile, the tannins are well-integrated while the wine remains bold and lush with a lingering finish.

If you’re taking advantage of the luxurious and modern bar for your drinking line-up, we recommend accompanying any bottle, glass, or tasting with a charcuterie board. Each is prepared with three different cheeses, which rotate as the team sees fit. “We always like to change it up, so it is something new, but we normally serve cheddar, gouda, or manchego,” says Nick Stefan of Mettler Family Vineyards. The third cheese is typically a chevre served with seasonal jam, likely cranberry this time of year. To round it out, a selection of crackers and chocolate-covered almonds decorate the board. For an extra special touch—and one that makes all the more sense this time of year— salami is served in the shape of a rose.

METTLER FAMILY VINEYARDS

7889 E. Harney Ln., Lodi (209) 369-3045 MettlerWine.com