Quilt Gardens,Indiana

   Short outings can be a lot of fun.  That is what Linda Rosenberger and girl friends found out last summer when they took a trip to northern Indiana Amish country.  The focus of the trip was to see the quilt gardens.  They were delighted with what they saw.

  So much so, in fact , that Linda wanted to grow her own quilt garden.  This spring she pursued that endeavor by checking with the fellows at ColorWorks Greenhouse east of Brookville.  They were accommodating; Her 10 x 10 ft. square plot  became  a challenge;, the right plants, the right colors and of course, Mother’s Nature’s participation. 
   With the help of a computer they were able to determine how many plants and what kind of plants were most suitable for the project.  Linda worked with the fellows at Colorworks.   Planted in May, it took several weeks for the plot to fill out but the results indicate it was worth the effort.  Thirteen flats of assorted begonias, marigolds, ageratum  and petunias were needed.

  Upkeep means,. pinching back, very little watering and weeding.  Preen and mulch were used at planting time.     Linda is pleased at the success of her quilt garden, especially since this is her first attempt.  Perhaps she will inspire others to have a go at it.
    The quilt gardens of northern Indiana are an annual event. More information about them can be found on the internet by going to Indiana Quilt Gardens, or Elkhart County Quilt Gardens.  This year eighteen gardens and 21 hand painted, quilt themed, super sized murals can be visited on tours of the area around, Goshen, Elkhart and Middlebury.
   I have enjoyed the area several times, there is much to see, especially if you are interested in food. 

Picture taken from a drone

Pickles

   When my neighbor brought me cucumbers, I thought, pickles! Wonderful!  When I
was a child, summer meant crocks of pickles in the kitchen.  Mother loved growing
cucumbers and making pickles.  That was the snack of the day for my cousin and me.  The recipes must have been complicated; days of changing the water and adding vinegar in the crocks
of pickles until they were finally just right.
   Although I no longer have a vegetable garden I am delighted to be on the receiving end of
other people's harvest.  This is an easy recipe for

Refrigerator Pickles

                                                                Refrigerator Pickles
6 cups sliced cukes
1 1/2 cups sliced onions
2 cups sugar
1 cup white vinegar
1 Tablespoon salt
1 Tablespoon celery seed
   Combine sugar, ;vinegar, salt and celery seed, bring to a boil.  Cool and pour over vegetables.  Will keep well in covered jars in refrigerator.

   If you are looking for that old time goodness, and have lots of cucumbers here is a recipe for
                                                              Sweet Pickles

14 medium cucumbers
8 cups sugar
4 cups vinegar
2 Tbsp. pickling spices
5 teaspoons salt
1 Tablespoon alum
1/2 teaspoon turmeric 
   Cover cucumbers with boiling water, let stand over-night. Drain and discard
water.  Cover again with boiling water to which alum has been added.  The next
day drain and discard water.  Cover again with boiling water, let stand over-night.
drain and discard water.  Cut cucumbers in thick rings.  Bring sugar, salt, vinegar and pickling spices to boil  Add 1/2 teaspoon turmeric. Let set for 2 days in syrup, on third day, heat and fill jars.
   Delicious and worth the effort.

   In her later days, mother came up with an easy-peasy recipe for pickles.
                                                  Sweet from Dill Pickles


   Purchase whole or sliced dill pickles in quart or gallon jar.  Recipe will make 1/2 gallon.
Pour off dill juice, cut pickles if desired. Cover with boiling water.  Let stand over-night.  Pour off water and dry on paper towels. Return pickles to jars.  Cover with pickling syrup as follows.

1 cup vinegar
4 cups sugar
1 tsp. pickling spices
Stir to dissolve sugar and bring to boil.  Place a table knife down the side of the jar to prevent breaking the jar as you pour hot syrup over pickles.  Seal the jars.  Let stand 2-3 days before serving.  Keep in refrigerator.(When I did these recently I cut back the sugar to 3 cups, then there wasn't enough syrup to cover the pickles.  Had to make a little more)

  When you are resting from your pickle making, and need something new to think on here are a
few quotations from a little book,"The Gardener's Guide to Life", compiled and Edited by Criswell Freeman.
   "Just living is not enough,"said the butterfly.  "One must have freedom, sunshine and a little flower."  Hans Christian Anderson.
   All my hurts my garden spade can heal.  Ralph Waldo Emerson.
   This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalms 118:24
     There is no great achievement that is not the result of patient working and waiting.  J.G. ;Holland.
   If a a tree dies, plant another in its place. Linnaeus.
   Man is a tool-using animal.  Without tools he is nothing.  With tools he is all.  Thomas Carlyle.
   We think birds are valuable and keep three birdbaths on our front and side lawns.  The birds no doubt destroy many of the harmful insects.  Edwin Way Teale.