I feel a sense of gratitude for the gardens that surround my dwelling as they give me comfort and joy. The act of planning and working in the garden to produce seasonal blooms is not only infectious but addictive and contributes to my physical and mental well being. For years, sunlight, the good earth and rain have enabled me to produce unimaginable beauty for myself and others. Playing in the dirt will never get old and I encourage you to create your own personal oasis. Cheers
Wishing you the very best during this Holiday Season and Warm Wishes for the Year ahead. Cheers
Zinnia Boy
It’s always the right time to grill and the holidays are no exception. For several years, come rain or shine I have prepared turkey, chicken, goose or duck on my outdoor grill. There are advantages to grilling your holiday meal, you’ll save space in your oven for additional delightful items on your menu and grilling naturally circulates air around your meat keeping it moist so no basting required. Follow the instructions for your particular grill regarding time and temperature and have an unforgettable holiday. meal.
Our featured flower of the month is a perennial ground cover called “Delosperma”. Delosperma is a member of the Aizoaceae plant family and is also known as the “Mesa Verde Ice Plant’. Flowers are soft and appear to be iridescent with succulent leaves. The ice plant adapts well to our climate in zone 4 and is magnificent when used as a border or draped over walls and boulders. I start my plants in garden loam or gravelly soil for plants that are four inches high and spread out up to 15 inches. Cheers
Floral Gardening
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Holidays are on the horizon and my focus is shifting towards food and festivities. A good meal can compliment any special occasion or gathering. Smoking and grilling are unique cooking styles that offer a distinct taste to food and in zone 4 our weather is conducive to outdoor cooking. Using smoke is considered to be the authentic way to barbecue. True pit masters will say “no food is better than barbecue” and the essential ingredient is smoke. Distinct flavors are derived from the type of wood burned in your smoker or grill. The wood usually comes in chunks or chips and sometimes whole logs of apple and cherry. Hickory is known worldwide for its profound flavor when used to cook pork. Alder and mesquite are my personal favorites. There are numerous choices of woods, rubs and cooking methods. Experiment! Find what works for a unique and scrumptious holiday meal. Enjoy
Fall is here and we have already received a winter blast in zone 4, freezing blooms and putting an end to the growing season. It is one day later, the high is fifty degrees and the next several days we will experience spring like temperatures.
We have experienced low precipitation levels this year, our snowiest months of March and April fell extremely short creating extreme drought conditions leading to a devastating fire season and changing our habitats forever. In my own little corner of zone 4 I have planted drought tolerant species and I can take solace as I consider my environment, the impact I have made and what I can personally do to make a difference when the weather will not cooperate. Cheers
If you’re looking for a drought tolerant annual flower, then try our featured flower of the month the Gazania. Gazania’s are full sun daisy like flowers that thrive in the dry heat of summer. They perform magnificently in sandy soil. Gazania’s take 60-70 days to mature, so if you live in an area with a short growing season you will want to start plants indoors about 8 weeks before the last frost. The blooms are boldly colored, open during the day, and close at night. I experienced great success with Gazania’s using them as border flowers in my garden. Cheers
One of the most alluring plants in my garden is Salvia (Flare), having bushy dark green foliage that grows to heights of 18” – 20”. The red fluorescent spikes appear to illuminate in flower beds or border settings. They performed magnificently this season when I planted them in rich well draining soil. My blooms usually last until late summer extending into the fall season. Cheers
When I plan my garden I include late summer blooms for brightly colored cut floral arrangements. This year’s varieties included Aster for it’s diversity, Zinnias were added for their tenacity and Rudbeckia was included for stability. Enjoy!
