Garden Clubs of Georgia 2011 convention

The Garden Clubs of Georgia kicked off this year's convention with

 Alan Armitage 

and his insightful stories of garden history. 

Do you know how the Annabelle Hydrangea was discovered?

What about the Nellie Stevens holly?

Interesting that the white & blue Spiderworts blooming now 

were once thought to be an herbal antidote for spider bites...

If you are interested in any of his books, look them up at www.amazon.com

see you
ML

Confession...

I am petrified of driving on I-20. I admit it.

Today, I must journey to Athens, Georgia to be installed as Corresponding Secretary for the Azalea District here in Georgia. I suppose the installation will be good, but hearing & meeting Alan Armitage tonite will be my true reward. Hoping that Mr. Armitage will sign one of my favorite books...Specialty Cut Flowers.

Take a peek at the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers' website. You'll definitely find a treat there.
Report from hotel on Armitage tour & talk...

see you
ML

Herb Week: Mint

Sweet smelling Boutonniere

One usually thinks "invasive" when talking about mint. 

Well, yes, but mint can be grown in containers and perform exceptionally.

 However, if, like me, you don't mind mint rambling all over your garden & popping up here and there, 

keep it in the ground!

 These days, brides are looking for more organic bouquets & requesting unique "flavors" of mint.

 So, while sipping your mint tea, go out and pluck a mint bouquet for the kitchen table!

see you 

ML

Renee W. wins the ticket to see Ryan Gainey at the Augusta Country Club this Wednesday morning at 10:30am. Coffee & conversation with the eclectic Mr. Gainey is sure to be a hit!   Here is Renee's winning comment:






Let's be a realist, I am not the greatest gardener.


In my dreams I am retired and living in Key West with a convertible, plenty of books to read, lots of great wine to drink and the perfect little garden to work in every day. But today I am a frazzled housewife with four kids, a "station wagon", cheap wine and a yard full of weeds. Last year I found an awesome 5 ft grapevine tree that someone had thrown out on McDowell Street. I shoved it in my car and drove home slowly with the back open. Yesterday I finally found the perfect place for it in the yard and planted a beautiful climbing mandevilla that my mother in law gave me for Easter. 


I cannot wait to see it grow! Happy Spring! 


Renee Williamson

Garden to Table

What are you planting in the garden this summer?

ML

Herb Week: Basil

If Rosemary is Queen, then Basil is King of Herbs!

Roasted tomatoes with basil & mozzerella

Basil is the hallmark of summer in the South, begging to be plucked and tucked into a sandwich or blended with olive oil for a creamy pesto. Easy to grow and just as easy to root, Basil serves floral & culinary duties.








Placing long stems of Basil into floral arrangements one curious of the delightfully sweet aroma. Basil has many culinary powers, too. Pick fresh leaves/stems early in the morning or late evening for peak essential oil & flavor.

Fresh Basil on sandwiches & pasta, combined with heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella---divine! You must try making your own pesto this year--read Pesto Presto! for a good starter recipe...


Plant your Basil soon & enjoy the King of Herbs all summer!
see you
ML

Herb Week: Bay

Bay in large container

We know bay because of the leaf used in spaghetti sauce that my mother always told me I would die from if I swallowed it! Bay is a delightful evergreen herb used in soups, stews, and seasoning roasts.  Remember Old Bay seafood seasoning? Yes, it's there, too!

Bay is an impressive filler for bouquets & looks quite distinctive in Christmas wreaths. French chefs gather bay, parsley & thyme into a small bouquet known as bouquet garni.






This grand herb can be trimmed to appear shrub-like or coiffed in to topiary form for a more stately appearance. Remember that most herbs like moderately dry soil, direct sunlight, and adequate drainage.

We will definitely use Bay in our upcoming Herbal Wreath Workshop as a nice dark green filler!

See you
ML

Herb Week: Rosemary

Rosemary roots easily in the kitchen window!

Rosemary is the Queen of Herbs

This evergreen herb provides years of delight in floral arrangements and creative cuisine. 

Always forgiving, rosemary is the perfect starter plant for "brown thumbs" & busy gardeners.  

Abide by the 3 D's

 drainage, direct sunlight, and dry(rather than soaking wet), 

you'll have no problems with this distinctive smelling herb. 

We will be using Rosemary in the Herbal Wreath Workshop next Saturday & the following Monday.

 I can't wait to see your herbal creations!

see you 

ML

Herb Week

David Austin Rose in Courtyard

Did you know that the rose is an herb? Organic roses are used in many different ways. 

Here are just a few:

• Rose flavored water
• Medicinal purposes, clearing bronchial tubes & toxins from the body
• Used for centuries in Middle Eastern & Indian dishes
• Pastry chefs use roses for sweets & cakes

It's advisable to use roses that are pesticide free.

We'll be using sweet roses in our Herb Wreath Workshop next week. There are still a few spots for Monday, May 2nd from 10am to noon...

Email me at mlchgarden@comcast.net for details. 

See you 

ML

Me Bees in the Garden

Charles Phillips, a retired Extension Agent, delivered 2 "nucs" of bees to my house. It was my job to transfer the bees to one of my boxes and return Charles' empty boxes to him. I asked beekeeper Deborah Sasser of Sasserfrass Hill Bee Farm to assist me tonight as I've never made this switch before.

We began without smoking the bees which calms them, but after 4 stings, we decided to crank up the smoker! Deborah and I were able to complete the transfer of home bees to their new box, and I was given a list of items to prepare for honey production. 

They got me!

An exciting evening for me as I learn about these funny little insects who stung the hell out of my inner thighs...I'll be making a trip to Aiken, SC for the whole "bee-get-up"...soon!
See you.
ML

Mystery Garden

Can you identify the location of this garden?
I pull over just about once a week for a glance & a sneak pic!









Blessings from the Garden.
ML

Cheap Thrills

It's Friday! 

Go out & buy yourself a beautiful bunch of tulips

 at Publix, Bi-Lo or Fresh Market.

Trendy monochromatic- all yellow, all purple, all red- bunches are cheap & take no brain cells.

 You can spend less than $20 bucks for two bunches of tulips,

 put them in a fabulous TJ Maxx container and VOILA! 

Off to farm. 

Sunday Report.

ML

Garden Consult

Garden Consult

Garden for Grandkids

I visited another "ML" out in Appling, Ga in March. Acres of beauty surrounded

her timeless home. We walked to the back yard and I was dazzled by her organized

garden space. Ten almost empty plots begging for zinnias, cosmos, celosia, sunflowers
and herbs!

10 tidy beds waiting

Here are my recommendations to ML for her "Grand Garden"...

Those beds in the back are a dream! I would use that as a teaching area for your Grandkids! You can go all out by putting dwarf English Boxwoods at corners of each bed for a more formal look or just plant what you like!

ü  My head was filled with Zinnias, both tall "cut & come again" varieties and the Profusion series which are very low maintenance but will give you color...they come in orange, white and a pink.

ü  Sunflowers...several varieties

ü  Celosia

ü  Cosmos

ü  Echinacea..or Coneflower which has many colors and sizes other than tall purple!

ü  Bronze okra, some corn, bush beans...all easy from seed.

ü  Lambs ear is another herb to consider particularly with children since they are so soft and fuzzy.

ü  Maybe even some tall tuteurs as below for growing vines...

garden tutuer

Blessings
ML

Surprise!

Surprise!

Last year, I had a ridiculously delightful trip to Dallas, TX for my first Garden Writers Symposium. Vendors brought thier products for garden writers to experiment with and report on...

I challenged the rep from David Austin roses in Austin TX to recommend a couple of those wondrous "cabbage roses" that could survive the Georgia heat and humidity. Well, not only did he circle the names in the catalogue, but sent me 2 plants to try! YEAH!

What a treat. No electricity for 2 days and I get an awesome box of roses. I am prepared to report. You decide.

Blessings

ML

Carding Mill

Strawberry Hill

The Beginning

I love our growing season.In the beginning there are herbs, radishes, chard & broccoli.




Growing Herbs for Beginners on Facebook asked me to post tonite's supper recipe.
However, most of our suppers are so simple, they don't require a recipe...












Here it is:

Salad
Lettuce of choice...tonite it was Iceberg, my garden lettuce is wilting & I admittedly love the crunch of Iceberg
Pitted Kalamata olives, chopped tomato, carrot, drizzled with WHITE Balsamic vinegar...much more pleasing to the eye!

Shrimp
Large pink Publix shrimp, smothered in EVOO, and freshly chopped garlic, roast in oven at 500 til all pink

Ground Beef Patties...
Put in large zippy bag, add seasonings, garlic powder, onion, teriaki sauce tonite.
Place on stovetop or grill and let em cook til done...
I add large slices of onion & the swiss chard when burgers almost done



Potatoes(my favorite, but don't eat too many!)
Gourmet(small) new potatoes...from garden. Cut into 1/4's, drizzle with EVOO,
add freshly cut thyme leaves, rosemary leaves, and flat leaf parsley...
Watch the carb cravers come!!!

Thyme co-habitating with perennial sage

A few goodies from the Home Garden

Cross Vine

Working on a list of natives for the Farm Landscape Project, 
 I am reminded of one of our native vines - 



     Cross Vine, Bignonia capreolata. Looks a bit like the more invasive Trumpet Vine, but a bit easier to control.  Hummers and bees LOVE it.  If you need a quick cover for a trellis or arbor, this is a great choice. You'll enjoy bloom in early spring and fall. 
     Cross vine has a mixture of orange, pink, yellow and red, shaped much like a trumpet.  So, if you're looking for a vine that's mostly evergreen, can stand the heat, and has fiery color, consider Cross Vine. 






Blessings from the Garden. 
ML

April Garden To-Do's

Get Busy!

April is really the beginning of gardening season here in Augusta. Masters guests are arriving & "The Garden City" looks like a fairyland. We could still have some cool weather, but warm temps are around the corner. Check posts here daily for garden updates.

Garden To-Do's for April

Veggie Time

okra (seeds are easy)

southern peas- blackeye, pinkeye, cream, crowder, zipper

bell peppers (transplants best)

hot peppers/hot sweet peppers(transplants)

sweet potatoes (mid April) (slips in garden stores now)

tomatoes (heirloom & hybrid transplants in garden stores now)

watermelon (seeds)

canteloupe (seeds)

corn (seeds)

pole, bush & lima beans (seeds)

cucumber (seeds)

eggplant (transplants best & in garden stores now)

Culinary Herbs

basil

rosemary

parsley

chives

mint

fennel 

dill

Tips

keep tall & vertical growing plants toward back of your garden space

buy zinnia seeds & plant...zinnia is National Garden Bureau's flower for 2011

be creative! plant some veggies among your front yard landscape plants

use containers!

Refer to UGA's Vegetable Planting Chart for varieties specific to our area!

Blessings from the Garden. 

ML