Delectable Form of Defeat

June in the garden is a wonderful month of the year. It's the month that my two favorite varieties of flowers are in bloom. Roses. Lavender. Roses and lavender. Lavender and roses. No matter which way you look at it or let those words roll off your tongue, they speak of beauty and elegance. 

"To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat. ~ Beverly Nichols ~

Garden Greens and Violets

Our menu for supper recently was bean enchiladas, spiced Spanish millet, and a garden green salad. It was the first meal from our garden greens. Oh, they were fresh and so delicious! There were freckled and white violets blooming nearby, so I added them in as well as some fresh curly parsley, Italian parsley, and cilantro from the herb garden. The violets were 'not' picked out of the salad at meal time --- by now my family is used to my ways.

Just think about all the vitamins and minerals in those garden fresh greens!

I used garden scissors to snip the baby greens. Since they were scatter planted, rather than placed in rows, the early harvest by snipping (not pulling) helps to thin them out and yet gives the plants opportunity to sprout new growth from the roots still in the ground.

The spring bush peas are growing, and the Cherokee bush beans have pushed their heart-shaped leaves out of the soil. Walla Walla Sweet onions are growing in two of my garden 'squares' and this week the pickling cukes and regular cucumbers have sprouted leaves through the earth. And, the beet greens are a little behind, but are coming along alright.

There is something about a garden...

June.Garden.Beauty

Boom Bloom

Boom! Bloom! The Rio Samba is always the first of the roses to bud and blossom. This year has been no exception. And look! Can you see the lavender budding out in the background? Spring has taken its own sweet time to get here this year, but it has started to get warmer and the garden is responding.

This miniature rose is one of many tiny blossoms on a plant that has grown quite large in the past few years. It started out as a small potted plant from the florist department at the supermarket. Each year it becomes more and more magnificient, as though it is trying to say "Look at me now!"

The Peace rose is right by the front steps. Its color matches the rocking chair that sits on the porch next to it. Both bring calmness and peace to my heart. Especially when paired with a cup of fragrant tea.

Japanese Iris were transplanted from my mother's garden more than ten years ago. Sis and I wanted them as a token and memory of mom. We planted them along with snowdrops in the tea garden in remembrance. They have become established and are blooming profusely this year.

The temperatures are predicted to be into the 90's by the end of this week. The cool spring appears to be over. And with the warmer temperatures, even more buds will burst into bloom. Anticipation! Bloom, garden, bloom! Boom!

Snowballs in Spring

My snowball tree is filled with an abundance of pristine, white blossoms. They grow in beautiful, clustered orbs. Each branch is heavily laden with snowballs.

My tree was a gift from Karleen. Each spring when it blooms, I think of her and appreciate my tree {and her} even more. Just seeing it reminds me of early childhood memories. My family lived in a barracks that had been converted into an apartment for university married students {like my parents}. Units were small and close, but the back lawns were all connected and all the neighborhood children had a wonderful time playing together outside. When the snowball bushes bloomed, we had wonderful snowball fights with the soft, pristine blossoms. 

The floral snowballs also remind me of real snowballs! The kind that are hard when they hit you and that melt when you try to bring them inside! And they remind me of the quintessential Hostess Snowball. Do you remember them? They were a concoction of chocolate cake covered in marshmallow and rolled in coconut. So tempting in the package at the store, but mother would never buy them {they are "just fluff" she'd say and "not good for growing kids"}. But how pretty they were! Instead we'd use the idea to make homemade truffles at home and sis and I would roll them in unsweetened, flaked coconut until they were as dense and pretty as the blossoms on the snowball tree!

And you can make some too! Here's a recipe I enjoy. Find the coconut and you can roll to your heart's content. The recipe even includes tea!

Basil & Tea Truffles

• 2 cups heavy cream (or SILK soy creamer)
• 1/2 cup packed, fresh basil
• 2 tea bags, Earl Grey tea
• Pinch of salt
• 1 lb. chocolate, bittersweet, chopped
• Crushed cookies (gluten-free if necessary), toasted chopped nuts, shredded coconut or cocoa powder, for rolling.

Bring the cream to a low simmer over medium heat. Then remove from heat and add tea bags and basil leaves. Steep for 15 minutes. Then strain mixture and discard the solids. Return the pan of infused cream to the heat and simmer for five more minutes. Then, stir in chocolate until melted and combined. 

Cover mixture and place in fridge. Cool completely (2 hours or overnight). 

When ready to create truffles, place the topping or toppings of your choice in bowls. Use a spoon to scoop by teaspoonful and make a rounded 1 inch ball. Then roll in one of the toppings listed above. Each truffle should be well coated. 

Store truffles in a covered container in the fridge until ready for use.

Snow. Drop.

The snowdrops are blooming! Drooping, the are white, and dainty. They burst into bloom in late February and grace March with their presence. They are classic in their crisp, simple lines and are a beautiful blend of white and green in clusters that invite you to draw near. Aptly named "snowdrop" because they look like little drops of pure white clusters that are falling to earth and they appear when winter is still here. Snow. Drop. Snow. Flake. Snow.

You can read more about this lovely flower here.

Crocus

The spring crocus has appeared this week. It's wonderful to see some color in the garden again. It wasn't that long ago that snow covered this flower bed. But hidden below the surface were sprouts of green and eager flowers that were just waiting for sunshine! 

This picture was taken at dusk, right after the blossoms closed up for the night. Tomorrow I'll share a daytime picture!

A Walk Around the Yard

There is a chill in the air these days. But the sun shines through mid-day, giving just the right amount of warmth to the day. A walk around the yard is in order while the sun shines! Autumn is here. The plants reflect the affect of the heat of August, but are revived by the coolness present now. The lavender is blooming again, giving one last burst of purple before winter arrives. 

The cone flowers are very weary and tired. They have started producing seeds, but some faded color remains and bursts of cheer show forth.

The roses are less full and not quite so vibrant, but their faces still show of unfolding beauty and charm. I love the soft apricot essence of this blossom.

The hollyhocks just never give up! Beautiful, stunning blooms showcase some parts of the plants.

While other parts are dry stalks of seeds in pods. Each pod contains a spiral of small round discs that fit together perfectly! Every time I pass by them I pluck some of the pods, squeeze them tight, and release the seeds into the soil below. I love hollyhocks and simply want to help nature replenish the supply for next spring and summer!

The lawn is still green and the leaves have not quite turned to gold. But the tired, weariness of foliage and blossom is evident. There is beauty in each stage of every season.

Peace. The result of walking around the yard on a day in Indian summer.

The Herbs of Autumn

Bee Balm

The first October freeze looms near. The air was chilly this morning, reminding me that it won't be long before a killing frost hits the garden and changes my world!

Grape Leaves

By now you probably realize that I love spring and summer because of flowers and the wonderful gifts that nature provides. When October arrives I start taking jaunts through my yard, simply to appreciate the late season blossoms and greenery.

Bay Laurel

Unlike spring, the foliage this time of year is worn and weary. You have to look for the beauty and appreciate what each water spot or tattered leaf represents.

Sage

It's time to harvest and dry the herbs for winter use. Meadow tea is my favorite way to use homegrown herbs. The dried herbs look so pretty mixed together in a gallon jar, just waiting for infusion in a hot cup of water or a seasonal teapot.

Rosemary

More Rosemary

The rosemary did extremely well this year. I also dried a lot of homegrown lavender. It's time to make my own version of "Rosemary Hill" tea. The recipe will be simple: rosemary leaves, lavender buds, and a great quality black tea.

Stevia

The sweet leaf, stevia, makes a delightful addition to meadow tea as well. Just dry, crumble, and add to the other dried herbs in the jar. The sweetness of the leaf enhances any tisane.

Mint

And of course, one cannot forget the mint. It's been plucked, picked, and appreciated all summer long. The last of the leaves are small and not very prolific this time of year, but the flavor they add to anything on a chilly day cannot be beat!

Have you walked through your yard today to check things out? What's growing in your autumn garden?

Tufapot [Not a Teapot]

Make a tufapot! Easy and very lightweight, these pots are attractive in a garden or patio. They can be made in any shape, with our without a plastic pot inside, and can be distressed or decorated to go with your garden decor theme. Molded or free-form, the sky is the limit when creating these inexpensive and interesting flower pots.

Ingredients should be measured by volume. Use whatever size of measuring unit you wish. The size is not crucial, but the same unit of measure should be used for each ingredient.

1 1/2 parts peat moss

1 1/2 parts perlite or vermiculite

1 part Portland cement

Step 1: Placed measured perlite in a mixing tub. Dampen or mist it and then set aside.

Step 2: Select a mold (it can be an old pot, a box, or any container of your choice). Cover the mold with plastic. Then, prepare your work areas with plastic gloves, a mixing bucket, water, a dowel or clothespin, and several plastic garbage bags.

Step 3: Place the measured perlite, peat moss, and Portland cement into your

mixing container. With gloves on, hand-mix the ingredients, adding water a small amount at a time. Use care not to add too much water! Your mixture should not be soupy, but rather stay in a firm "ball" in your hand when your hand is cupped and opened.

If water drips from hand when doing this, your mixture is too wet.

Step 4: Place a small amount of the mixture in your hand and then press it against the mold, starting at the bottom. It is desirable to have at least 1" thickness as you work around all sides of the mold. At the top of the mold, place a piece of heavy cardboard and flatten the top surface (this will be the bottom of your pot). Form a hole in the bottom with your dowel or clothespin. This should be in the center for drainage. Leave the object in place as the mixture dries.

Step 5: Use a piece of plastic (torn garbage bag) to cover your tufapot. Set aside and clean up your work area.

Step 6: After allowing to dry for one or two days, "pop" the mold away from the cement mixture. Pull out the dowel or clothespin. Wash container off with water and use a wire brush to clean off the tufapot. Rinse and rewrap the pot in plastic and allow to cure for two weeks.

Step 7: After the 2 weeks of curing, the pot is ready for

planting. Rinse the inside of pot with water to remove excess lime content. Put a small rock over the drain-hole and add potting mixture. Plant and enjoy!

Tea Delight!

"Somehow, taking tea together encourages an atmosphere of intimacy when you slip off the timepiece in your mind and cast your fate to a delight of tasty tea, tiny foods, and thoughtful conversation."  

Greco

I'm busy hosting the traveling teapot this month. You're invited to stop by the Traveling Teapot blog to read about our adventures. See you there!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day

Today's the day to remember our mother's --- or to appreciate the joy that our own children bring into our lives. I've enjoyed listening to my boys chatter all afternoon about interesting subjects. It brings such contentment to my heart to just hear the happiness in their voices as they converse together.

I took a break to walk around my yard for a few minutes. I couldn't resist the flowers in the garden. The first of my roses are in bloom for this season. I think they mix so nicely with snapdragons, geum, and buttercups. 

The roses are Jackson & Perkins. They are the Rio Samba and the Tahitian Sunset. Once clipped and combined in a vase, they are difficult to tell apart from one another.

Each flower has a face that is so expressive! They seem so cheerful and happy!

Here's wishing you a Mother's Day

That's filled with every pleasure,

And a future that's as happy

As the memories you treasure!

March, the Lion

My mother always said that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. I think that there's a lot of truth to her belief. I am always ready for spring long before spring is ready to be here! A sunny day inspires me to find my garden pruners and wheelbarrow, but the desire is squelched quickly on days like today when rain and wind exchange places, and occasionally both work together to create chaos in the garden! 

How is your garden? Do you have flowers in bloom? Or possibly snow on the ground yet? Are you finding that your seed catalog is the closest you can get to gardening right now?

Sweet Summertime

Sweet summertime! The days may be hot, but the automatic sprinkler system faithfully works every night to water the gardens and lawn. The reward is a lush, green paradise in the midst of tumbleweeds and sagebrush in the fields nearby. This is the time of year that lavender sends forth long stalks of lavender blossoms. Whenever I walk past a lavender plant, I cannot help but brush my hand on the buds and sometimes even squish them between my fingers to release their glorious scent. I know, I am a bit crazy about lavender, but who wouldn't be! While out and about in the yard, I not only see and smell lavender, but I hear the mournful yet soothing sound of the mourning doves. They nest in the pine tree near the corner of the house each summer. At the first dawn they start cooing back and forth, calling to one another in gentle tones. To some this might be bothersome, but it's a sound I enjoy each summer day. "Our" doves have discovered the bird feeder outside of the kitchen window. They fit right in with the sparrows, juncos, black-birds, and goldfinches. The grain from the feeder has made them silky and fat! I think we have the fattest mourning doves in the neighborhood! They are plump and beautiful. Doves and lavender. A delicious cup of chilled tea in the garden. Such simple pleasures that sweet summertime brings. What pleasures do you find in nature during this season?