Something old, Something new

Clematis- 'Henryi'

                               
       " A flower's appeal is in its contradictions -
                                          so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance,
                                                  so small in size yet big in beauty,
                                                       so short in life yet long on effect."
                           
                                                                         - Adabella Radici
                
                              
    Sometimes, no matter how hard we try and how much tlc we give out plants we lose some. This year was a particularly bad one for me, as I believe it was for many people.

    I lost several Rose's, my Corkscrew Hazel, which made me very sad, my Japanese Maple, which made me even sadder since I only put it in last year, my beautiful Butterfly Bush, Lavender  and a few other small plants.

    As disappointed as I was it also gave me the chance to purchase some new ones, not that I really need an excuse.  I bought a new Butterfly Bush in a different color, a couple of new Rose Bushes and of course one more stab at a Japanese Maple, a different variety this time 'Tiger Rose'.

My dead Japanese Maple

Tiger Rose Japanese Maple

     I decided to leave my Corkscrew Hazel just where it was and decorated it with tiny solar lights. I love the way it looks at night and one of the reasons I like Corkscrews is for the way it looks without it's leaves. Now it serve's as a piece of 'Art' in my garden.

'Pinky Winky' Hydrangea

 

My dead Corkscrew Hazel

    I purchased a Hydrangea tree 'Pinky Winky' to replace my Rose tree and I am so happy with it. The colour is amazing and the flowers are great dried.

    I also purchased a couple of new roses, a Hybrid Tea Rose 'Tiffany' and a Grandiflora Rose 'Melody Parfumee' both have a beautiful fragrance. Which for me if I'm going to plant roses I want some fragrance as well.
    I like to sit a small vase on the kitchen windowsill and enjoy it's fragrance as it lightly scents a room. Such a small bloom with great impact.

Grandiflora 'Melody Parfumee'

Hybrid Tea Rose - ' Tiffany'

     I discovered a few new plants to fill in my now empty spaces, one is a Coneflower called 'Now Cheesier' which I love for it's vibrant orange colour and it's great name, both remind me of Kraft dinner.  A variegated Masterwort caught my eye for it's small delicate flower and soft pink colour. I also found a lovely Clematis 'Henryi' which has large white blooms along with a few other little gems.

 Coneflower 'Now Cheesier'

Variegated Masterwort

                
    Funny enough plants such as my Nasturtium and Borage which don't usually come back survived the winter in my garden. I was really pleased about the Borage since I usually have a difficult time finding it each year. 

Borage

Nasturtium

     So don't despair when you lose a plant or two. Think of it as renewal for your garden, a chance to try something new or buy the same plant in a different colour. Either way it changes things up and gives you a chance to play. 
      Also, don't forget as you put your garden to bed it is also time to plant your bulbs. Another chance to try something new.
  Happy Gardening!!
   
          

My feathered friends

Wren looking for a home

                 'Poor indeed is the garden 
                         in which birds find no homes'
                                                 -Abram L. Urban

Sparrows making a home

Baby sparrows

    One of the best parts of having a yard to me is the wildlife it attracts. 

So every year I try to entice more birds with new birdhouses, birdbaths, flowers and of course food. Over the years I have tried many different seeds, Niger seed being the one I thought would bring the Gold finches and Chickadees and it did for a bit.

 It turns out though that Niger is not the favorite. It has a few downfalls, it goes bad quite quickly which I didn't realize and it also does not fair well in the rain. It is imported so depending on how long it took to ship and how long it has been sitting in the store, it has a short life span. Which in turn makes for an expensive and wasteful feed.

Chickadee

So I was on a quest to find a new feed and have been very successful.  Wild Birds Unlimited in Burlington always seemed to have a flock of birds at it's feeder outside it's store. So I inquired as to what they were feeding them. Turns out they love shelled Sunflower seeds. I bought two squirrel 'proof' (is there really such a thing!!) bird feeders, a large bag of the shelled Sunflower seeds and now I 

have a constant parade of birds in my yard.

    They line up on the wires taking turns morning and night. I have had an abundance of Goldfinches, Sparrows, two very faithful Cardinals, Woodpeckers and Chickadees.  My Doves have finally come back and peck at the seed on the ground so it seems everyone is happy, especially me. 

  For the most part the Squirrel can't get at the feed, so all is good. And without the shell there is very little mess.

Gold Finch

Woodpecker

Gold Finches

Female Cardinal basking in the sun.

   One thing to remember though is if you are going to attract wildlife to your yard don't forget the basics, food, water and shelter. Try to have a birdbath or basin and don't forget to clean the water on a regular basis. If you can have at least one tree, large or small it will provide shade and shelter. Plants and flowers also provide shade as well as food. A birdhouse or two will ensure safety for the birds and give them a reason to come to your yard. Once they know that it is there they will come back year after year.  I have had three sets of baby sparrows in my one bird house so far this year. 

Robin having a bath

Baby sparrow having a bath

                                                  
                                                         
                                                                       










  





         'Spring would not be spring
                without bird songs.'
            Francis M. Chapman

    And then of course there is the Hummingbird which over the past couple of years I have been trying desperately to lure to my yard. I might see one once a year since trying but this year I have had several visits. I keep adding plants that they like and it seems to be working. I do put out food for them but rarely does it go to it. It prefers my plants.
    They also remember one year to the next where the food is so keep your plants healthy and keep adding if you can and they will keep coming.

Hummingbird on Bee balm

     My next goal is the Oriole, which I have been working at but without luck so far.
 I will keep on trying.
    So if you want birds in your yard give them a reason to come, then sit back and enjoy your feathered friends.
    Happy Gardening!!

Hummingbird on Monkshood

Hummingbird on Penstemon

For the love of Lavender

Lavender drying

                                                      "The air was fragrant with a
                                                               thousand trodden aromatic herbs,
                                                         with fields of Lavender, and with the 
                                                               brightest roses blushing in tufts 
                                                          all over the meadows....."
                                                                                              -William Cullen Bryant
                                                     
                                                              
                                                                                         

Lavender drying

          Depending on where you live, it is time to harvest your Lavender, if that is your plan.
    I like to harvest at least 3/4 of my Lavender but I also like to make sure that I have enough left that I can enjoy it's scent for weeks to come.
      I think Lavender if one of those scents that you either love or hate. I love the scent of Lavender and have placed it in a garden attached to the deck so I can enjoy it as much as possible.
   My dog even likes the scent and will stick her nose in it a give it a gentle shake, releasing it's perfume. Of course she likes to stick her nose in anywhere that smells like food, like the mint, chives and her favorite the tomatoes.

Luna enjoying the Lavender

        It is best to cut the Lavender stalks first thing in the morning after the dew has gone or in the evening after the heat of the day. Cut the stalks just before the flowers open.
       I gather them in bunches and tie an elastic around the base and then wrap the last few loops of the elastic around a hanger making it easy for hanging. Hang it in a cool dry place for a week or two and then remove the flowers storing them in a jar or other tightly sealed container.

Dried Lavender buds

    "As Rosemary is to the spirit,
          so Lavender is to the soul."
                                   -Anonymous

My jar of dried Lavender

   Now that you have dried Lavender flowers you can use it as potpourri or bake with it.
 You can make little bags of potpourri or little potpourri pillows. These are great for scenting powder rooms or tucked in a drawer or closet.
  I like to bake with mine. In the past I have made Lavender cupcakes with Lavender icing and Lavender shortbread cookies. Last year I infused honey with Lavender. I was happy with all of them and as far as flavor goes the honey was my favorite.
  Like the scent of Lavender, the taste is definitely an acquired taste. I personally love the floral
perfumy taste and infuse the milk with Lavender before using it in my baking.
  

Blueberry Lavender Muffins

   This year I decided to make Blueberry Lavender Muffins.  As usual I infused the milk and then discarded the buds before using. Although I liked the way these turned out I like a strong Lavender taste and would therefore leave the buds in the milk next time.
  The taste of these muffins was a very subtle Lavender so if you are not sure if it is something you will like, try it without the buds first. You can use any muffin recipe that uses milk or buttermilk and if it calls for vanilla or other flavoring omit that, otherwise it will overpower the Lavender.

Blueberry Lavender Muffins

    Most of the Lavender has finished but I planted three new plants this year among my roses (my two favorite scents together) and they are just starting to bloom. I also replaced a plant that I lost over the winter and it has not bloomed yet so I may have a bit more Lavender to harvest before the season is over.
    If you dead head your Lavender you might get lucky and get a second yield. It hasn't always worked for me but I have had some success with that.
    Lavender likes a fairly dry, sandy soil and it is important to let the soil dry out before watering again. I actually forget about watering mine sometimes since it is separate from the rest of my gardens and it seems to thrive from the neglect. Now that's a plant I love.

   So treat yourself and plant some Lavender. Wether you decide to bake with, make potpourri or just enjoy it in your garden I don't think you will be disappointed.

  Enjoy! and Happy Gardening!!
  

Hostas

An array of Hostas in my shade garden

'There is no spot of ground, however arid, bare or ugly, 

that cannot be tamed into such a state as to give an impression

of beauty and delight.'

                                                                -Gertrude Jekyll



     We all have that space in our garden where nothing seems to grow.  Under a tree where the sun never seems to get in or where the soil is dry, sandy or clay like. Spots where we have tried just about everything and nothing seems to survive.

Chartreuse colored Hostas and Mouse ear Hosta 

  I don't know about you but I am always going for the maximum impact, I want the flowers, the color, the scent.

Welcome to the Hosta.

Potted Hosta

Praying hands Hosta (tall) and Lemon lime Hosta

     This to me is a plant that is not given enough credit. I mean the Hosta really has it all. It comes in hundreds of different varieties and I don't know how many shades of green. It flowers, some have scent and it grows almost anywhere.

Flowering Hosta

      I can actually say that I have not found a spot in my garden where Hostas won't grow.  It can be used in containers, boarders or as an accent plant. It can be grown in shade or sun and just about any soil condition.

Elongated leaf Hosta

     Even though I love a garden full of flowers you still need texture and greenery to add interest to your garden, what better plant than the Hosta. One of the great things about the Hosta is that it adds both texture and color not to mention they are almost maintenance free. Besides having to cut the dead flowers after they bloom they will maintain their shape and color all season needing little attention otherwise.

Cup leaved Hosta

  Then there is the size, they come in so many different sizes and shapes that you can tuck them in almost anywhere. They are quite drought tolerant thus surviving in poor soil conditions. Their leaves can be the size of a dinner plate or as small as a silver dollar. There are elongated leaved Hostas and curly, ruffled leaved ones leaving you with unlimited options. 

Large leaved Hosta

  Before you start, think about sun or shade, size and color.  Different shades of green will enhance different plants,  so choose what works for you and fill in the little areas of your garden. Just remember the larger versions take up a lot of space but can easily be divided to maintain the size you want.

   Also think of using them in containers, they can be used alone or in combination with other plants again depending on the size of Hosta you choose. Also, depending on the container, it can overwinter which makes for one less task come springtime.

 So before you right off an area of your garden as unable to grow anything you might want to give the Hosta a try. With a little research you will find which Hostas work for you. Plant, then sit back and watch your garden grow.

Happy Gardening!!

Flowering Hosta

                                                    



  Everything has it's beauty,   
               But not everyone sees it.  
                                             
                               -The Wisdom of Confucius
                                                                                                

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue

   "And Spring arose on the garden fair,
             Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
     And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast,
             Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."

                                    -Percy Bysshe Shelly

Violets at the base of my Clematis

    Even though spring seemed to take forever to show itself when it finally did I was happy to see that most of my flowers survived the long hard winter.

    Among those flowers I count the lovely Violets that grow wild in many gardens. I know most people consider them weeds, they seem to pop up everywhere in places we don't want them and weave themselves through our lawns. They also seem to multiple at great speeds and are difficult to control and even more difficult to get rid of.

  So, my solution is to embrace them. They are after all a really pretty flower and its bright violet color pops against it's green foliage. They are perfect as ground covers and for plants like the Clematis with its delicate roots, they provide shade and keep things cool when planted at their base. And they are one of the first flowers to greet us in the spring, brightening our day.

Violets

   The flowers are edible. They can be sugared and look beautiful crowned on top of cakes and pastries. You can toss them in salads or scatter them on top of fruit or ice cream. And... you can also make Violet Jelly. If you have children this is a fun thing to do with them, just make sure that the flowers you choose have not been sprayed and give them a gentle wash before using.

    Pick about two to three cups of flowers, no stems.  After washing them place them in a large mason jar and cover with 2 1/2 cups of boiling water. Now this is where the fun starts, almost immediately after you pour the water over the flowers their color starts to drain, producing a deep dark purple/blue. I was amazed at how quickly this happens and the intensity of the color.

Violets in hot water

Violet water

  


 Put the lid on your jar and leave it for 24 hours. Then drain the liquid into another clear jar. You can drain it into a pot, ready for cooking but using a jar you get to see it once again change color. Squeeze the juice of one large lemon and add it to the violet water. This color change happens in seconds so if you are doing this with children make sure they are watching. And there you have it, pink water.

After adding the lemon juice

  Pour your liquid into a pot and add your pectin (one pouch) boil for 1 minute and then add 3 1/2 cups of sugar. I used a little less so it just depends on how sweet you want it. Then boil for 1 more minute and ladle into your sterilized jars. Process and there you have it, Violet Jelly. 

  I love how pretty this jelly is. It is great on bagels, toast, crumpets etc. You could use it in between chocolate cake layers and top the cake with violets as decoration. It would also be nice with cream cheese or with very old white cheddar.

  I used the recipe from http://thenerdyfarmwife.com and I also have a great book 'Cooking with Flowers' by Miche Bacher, that has a good jelly recipe. If you are interested in learning more about edible flowers and having fun in the kitchen check this book out. It is visually beautiful and has great recipes.

The 'Oh so pretty' Violet Jelly

Jelly and English muffin. Yum!!

  So the next time you come across violets instead of thinking 'weed' think of all the possibilities for your next culinary experiments. And don't forget the beauty they are adding to your spring garden.

  Have fun and Happy Gardening!!

First we Dream.

                                     "Winter, 
                            a lingering season, 
           is a time to gather golden moments,
          embark upon a sentimental journey, 
                     and enjoy every idle hour."

  As we sit in the middle of a deep freeze it is hard to remember warm summer days. If you are anything like me, you will have had enough of winter and long for warm summer days, cicadas piercing the night air with their summer song and the fragrance of flowers softly floating on a gentle breeze and the renewal of all of nature.















  I for one have been thinking a lot about flowers and what I would like to add to my garden this year. I have been scanning magazine's making plans for the different areas of my garden.
  I have also been searching the internet for garden furniture for my new patio and looking at simple water features that I might add.

 "Nothing happens 
       unless first we
          DREAM"
                            -C.Sandburg

  Remember, it is never to early to start planning and it really does help to make these chilly, dreary days go by a little faster.
  We have twenty, yes that is twenty days until spring arrives. Hard to believe I know but never the less it will soon be upon us and if we do a little planning we will be ready for when the cold gives way to warmer days and we can get our hands into the dirt.

   So, I thought I would share with you some pictures taken of my garden over the past few years. I hope it will help inspire you, make you dream of sunny days to come, make you feel the warmth of spring and smell summers fragrant air.

Happy Planning, Happy Gardening!!