Chive Lemon Vinaigrette is a reboot post, brought up from the archives for a new season. It's a bright fresh addition to springtime menus and if your garden is like mine, this is prime time for chives. I hope you enjoy it! Chives are a most agreeable herb to grow. This Chive Lemon Vinaigrette is only one reason you should grow them, and it's a very compelling reason indeed. Plant chives once - enjoy years of delicious flavor and a pretty plant in the bargain. My current plants ... Read More about Chive Lemon Vinaigrette
In the Garden
Gardening all Year with AeroGarden
This is a sponsored post from Kitchen PLAY and Miracle-Gro AeroGarden, but all opinions are my own. In an ordinary year, I would be feeling kind of bummed out about growing anything this time of year. A couple of killing frosts have just about taken out the garden, with the exception of a few cold weather hardy souls like kale and Brussels sprouts. I have a big prostrate rosemary plant that I keep in the kitchen window, and I do sprouts on and off all winter, but for the most part, growing ... Read More about Gardening all Year with AeroGarden
Hyperion
There are so many daylily cultivars these days - something like 60,000 registered flowers, but back in 1925, this beauty was one that everyone wanted. And now, H. 'Hyperion' still shines in July - a lovely clear yellow with a green throat and a very nice scent. No matter what else comes along, it will always have a place in my garden. ... Read More about Hyperion
Battling Late Blight on Tomatoes
I'm going to talk about the gardening side of things today and focus on the idea of preventing late blight on tomatoes. If you aren't a gardener, or never plan on being one, you can just click on the recipe index up above, and I'm sure that you will find something to tickle your fancy for now. I'll be back with something delicious to eat in a day or two, I promise! Late blight is a fungal infection that affects plants in the nightshade family, most often tomatoes, followed by potatoes, and to ... Read More about Battling Late Blight on Tomatoes
Happy 4th America!
This time of year, the garden is putting out it's own version of fire works - like this 'Jacob Cline' Monarda. If you are in the U.S. - Happy Birthday to our country, and if you are in some other part of the world - Happy Day! Oooooh! Aaaaah! ... Read More about Happy 4th America!
Favorite Plant: Crocosmia ‘Distant Planet’
A couple years ago, I added a big extension on my front flower bed and filled it with a bunch of new daylilies, a big pretty hydrangea, some grasses, echinacea and probably some other stuff I'll forget until it blooms again. [it's not unusual for me to find a surprise in my garden that I planted and forgot about, which is way better than looking for something that you can't find, because it died]. I was, and remain, the most excited about one plant in particular - a Crocosmia called "Distant ... Read More about Favorite Plant: Crocosmia ‘Distant Planet’
Favorite Plant: Sedum ‘Angelina’
I am very fond of Sedums in general. Sedum 'Acre' has self sown all over the place here, and I am always glad to see it. It peeks around the sides of paths, and tucks itself into odd corners where it brightens things up. Sedum 'Dragon's Blood' is kind of a foundation plant on a bank where nothing else looks quite as tidy and fitting. I have one from which I lost the tag before I got it in the ground, but I suspect it is Sedum 'grisebachii' - it has beautiful bracts of bright yellow flowers ... Read More about Favorite Plant: Sedum ‘Angelina’
Spring Wake up Tonic for Daylilies
One thing that readers of my old blog were well aware of, was my great affection for daylilies. Certain people, who may have been dragged through a daylily nursery or two against their will, may even say that it is not affection at all, but obsession. Doesn't that almost make it sound like a person can have too many daylilies? Honestly, I have never heard a crazier idea in all my life!And especially when you consider that there are something like 50,000 named varieties, my little collection of ... Read More about Spring Wake up Tonic for Daylilies
Achooo! or One of my favorite flowers: Helenium
I am moving all of my "Favorite Plant" posts over here this week, because it is getting to be time to get some seeds started, and you need to do some planning for that. They appeared on the old blog in their respective growing seasons, and future posts in this series will do the same, but the ones I'm moving over [transplanting!] will be done, as transplanting often is, in a clump. Sneezeweed Such an inelegant name for a plant that is a pleasing work horse backbone in the garden in late ... Read More about Achooo! or One of my favorite flowers: Helenium
A Winter Garden Walk
I am one of those strange people who actually likes winter. Up to a point anyway. I am disappointed if we don't have a white Christmas, and I enjoy knowing that my gardens are all snug under a nice bed of snow in January and February. Here in Upstate NY though, it's not unusual for winter to outstay it's welcome by as much as a month. That I am not so fond of. But this winter garden walk took place while I am still content with a bit of snow. I love how everything looks when it is ... Read More about A Winter Garden Walk
Start Some Garden Seeds – A tutorial, Part 2
This is part two of a series of posts that will help you get started with starting your own seeds. I don't claim to be an expert, but I do know what has worked for us, and I think I can help you avoid some beginner problems, if you are just starting out. You can find the first article here: Start Some Garden Seeds – a tutorial, Part 1 There is nothing wrong with buying already started plants from a local garden center, or even the big box stores if that is what works for you - those plants ... Read More about Start Some Garden Seeds – A tutorial, Part 2
Start Some Garden Seeds – a tutorial, Part 1
I’ve mentioned before that my years working at a greenhouse got me all addicted to gardening and planting a bunch of new stuff every year. Expensive – real expensive. So, I’m trying to stay out of plant nurseries this spring by starting my own seeds. I had tried it on and off over the years, never with much success. My plants were always weak and leggy and often dwindled away long before I could get them in the garden. I’m still no expert, but over the last couple of years, I have figured out ... Read More about Start Some Garden Seeds – a tutorial, Part 1