Where Is the Fun in Summer Gardening?

      All is not sweetness and light in my garden.  In fact I am at war.  The adversaries are Japanese Beetles and Canadian Thistle.  The battle has been going on for years and I am loosing.
   My defense for the beetles was to scrape them into a sudsy container early in the morning before they could fly.  Then I read that garlic planted near by was a deterrent.  This spring I used the systemic on the roses (should have started the process earlier and used more).  Besides still mutilating the rose they have invaded nearby hibiscus and far-away basil.   My beautiful basil in the herb pot.  Well, it was once beautiful.
   Canadian Thistle.  We have been fighting for years.  And loosing. Pulling, or hoeing  is a no-no.  Round-up is futile.   Nobody seems to have an answer.
   My hope is that someone, private or general can help.  Won’t someone please rescue me.?
   Thankfully there is some peace  in my garden world.

Container pot with impatiens, coleus and the white stuff

       

Begonias in flower box, one of the best plants this year.

A real beauty.Hydrangea Tree. 

Oxford Farmers Market Uptown

 
   Oxford, Ohio is a jewel and a treasure.  Thanks in many  ways to Miami University.
   One of the less well known benefits is the Oxford Farmers Market Uptown.   It is a Growers Only Market featuring bakers, artists, plantsmen and farmers.
   When you talk with the people selling the bread and the toddler’s dresses you will find they did the kneading of the bread and the sewing.

   Locally grown sugar corn and peaches the 1st of July?  Who would have thought it.  The fellow at the Burwinkel Farms stand said they would have locally grown peaches until fall. They have 300 trees.

   The “in” thing is to buy locally, eliminate excessive transportation, the middle--man.  From the news I learned that most of the cut flowers sold in this country come from South America.  What a shame.
   When my flower garden had little to show “Crystal Creek Garden” had buckets of FRESH  cut flowers for sale, by the bunch or stem.

   Don Isaacs, a grower from Liberty sold me a  tiny mum for $3.  He told me to put it in the ground where it would root and remain viable next year.  That would be different.
   Local honey was available from several vendors.  Eating it will help relieve your allergies.  Lettuces, squash, beautiful radishes were plentiful.

   Beautiful yarns piled high.
   And the baked goods!  Gluten free is popular now and some of the bakers have mastered those techniques.  Sheri’s chocolate cake is to die for.
   Sally Henson of Abbott Ridge Farm  had a display of breads that appeared to arrive straight from a European bakery;  artisan bread, focaccia, a flat bread, all beautiful.

  Sadly, the live music usually in evidence on Saturday morning did not make it this time.  Maybe next Saturday.  What fun for the children to stand so close to watch the musicians..


 

Herbs, ;Normal Day

      It is wonderful having a big pot of herbs jut outside the kitchen door.

It has just been the last 10 years or so that I have been interested in herbs.  But better late than never.
   It is easy to make an herb pot.  I had a 16 inch across plastic pot, a cut-off plastic liter bottle, potting soil , gravel and the plants.  If you are cooking for 1 or 2 this will do you all summer.  If you make pesto better  plant in the garden.
  The big pot will have drainage holes. If you want to spray paint the pot, that’s fine.   Fill the pot with soil, putting the cut-off liter bottle filled with gravel in the middle of the big pot. The soda bottle needs the bottom cut off and holes punched all around the sides.   I like to use a time release fertilizer (Osmocote) when potting out things.  I planted 2 basil, 1 rosemary and 1 parsley and sowed a little dill  on the side.  The trick is watering in the gravel.  My pot has holes cut in the sides, originally I planted herbs in those holes, also.
   But I wouldn’t advise it.  When watering, even in the gravel the water would shoot out those side holes. I use the same pot but covered the  holes with rocks.
   When herbs are that available, you remember to put them in everything.
If you are putting them in a cooked food, add them to the pot just before taking it up.  The flavor dissipates with cooking.
    Now, what to cook with those fresh herbs.

                     Pasta with Tomatoes and Herbs
1 cup uncooked penne pasta
¼ cup olive oil
1 cup fresh herbs, finely chopped will make about ½ cup. Use a combination of what you like.
1 large ripe tomato, peeled, seeded and chopped
Prepare tomato and herbs in large bowl. Add a dash of salt and pepper.
Cook pasta, (it doesn’t take long) Drain, keep hot.
Heat the olive oil, pour over tomato and herbs.
Add hot pasta and stir.

So good and so easy.
                   
                          Food For The Soul                                                                
                                           Normal Day
Let me be aware of the treasure you are.  Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.  Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.  Let me hold you while I may.
                              Anon
                                                 

Metamora and Strawberries

   Metamora has fallen on hard times.  This historical tourist attraction sports a gristmill, canal, working train,  and an aqueduct.  But where are the tourists?.  When family came visiting we wanted to show them our local events.  We don’t have Disney type sights between the cornfields so  Metamora was as close to an attraction as we’ve got.
 
  Unless you want to go boating or fishing at Brookville Lake our favorite restaurants are about it.
   But Metamora for some 30 or 40 years has been a good place to go.  You can walk the dog, push the babies in a stroller, or ride a bike. The shops are flush with goodies; ice cream, fudge .  In the fall when the festival is going on, there are barbecue  grills going; the smell of pork and onions wafts in the air.  
    At one time I had some favorite shops to watch for.  But they are gone,  the turn-over is great.  Some shops are boarded up.  I remember when Rose Hyde’s shop, Rosebud, was a gift shop  of renown.  It’s long gone.
    The tiny historical village; , once a hub of transportation is subject to change,  as are other urban centers, large and small.
   The canal once ran over the creek by way of a wooden bridge. Part of the canal has water, but .  the canal boat is dejected.
   Let’s give credit where credit is due.  We watched and listened to  a wonderful Memorial Day Service-  veterans, more flags than I could count, music and speeches.  At the end of the service children tossed flowers onto the water at the bridge.  A nice tribute to the fallen servicemen.
   Last 4th of July we spent a wonderful evening watching fireworks and people at Metamora.  On the north side of Rt. 52 new buildings and a large meadow were perfect for parking and lounging in chairs and on blankets.  There were lots of people, but it wasn’t crowded. .  Uniformed officers were evident, so it was peaceful.  Country music  performers entertained us while we waited for darkness.
  Perhaps even Metamora is adjusting.

   The first of June can not roll by without mention of strawberries.  I’m a novice grower, so appreciate even the small ones.  One thing I did right was to plant both ever bearing and June bearing.  Also thankful I spread straw over them in the fall.  It makes picking in the spring easier.

   Here is my take on that wonderful and easy Strawberry Pie.

                                   Dorothy’s Strawberry Pie
1 baked 9 inch pie shell
1  cup sugar
2 Tbsp. corn starch
3 Tbsp. strawberry jello
1 cup water
Halved strawberries
Combine sugar, corn starch and jello in heavy pan.  Add water, stirring well, \Cook on low ,boiling for 1 minute, stirring as it cooks.  Remove from heat and chill  well.   Arrange halved berries in cold pie shell, Top with glaze, top with Cool Whip.  

   Enjoy!

Touch of Class

                        Touch Of Class

                      A Touch Of Class

    It was “A Touch of Class.”   An Afternoon Tea with Ivy Tech was a fundraising event  for the school that our club ladies delighted in.
   High Tea at the Savoy in London, no; this was better.  No travel expenses, a table of friends and all the service and food delicacies you could imagine.
   Round tables for eight were elaborately decorated by those at that table.  They brought their centerpiece , china and all the decorations.

   Some of the ladies  wore stylish hats; fit to be seen at the Derby.
   Waiters were notables from the area, the city mayor, the county sheriff, a retired pastor,  the campus president, bankers and attorneys.  They were handsome in white shirts and bow ties. They had done this service before and they were capable servers.  .

   A harpist provided soothing background music.
   The piece de resistance was, of course, the food.  The tea was hot.   My words can hardly do it justice.
  The centerpieces   were outstanding.  Experienced and talented women had spent time and energy with these accomplishments.
   Reluctantly we came home; wondering, what’s for dinner?  What do I have for a centerpiece for my humble kitchen table?

Having Fun

                                 Having Fun
   How we have fun is different for each of us.  You may find riding a motorcycle fun, but it would scare me to death.  Watching an old movie I saw Tom Cruse and Carmen Diaz on a motorcycle run with the bulls.
That was fun.
   But what I enjoy most is having friends in; serving them tea with something I’ve baked.   This week I did just that.

   The conversation was mostly light. The tea was from Savannah; I baked the French macaroons; and we had fun.
   The macaroons were more than I bargained for.  The recipe came from King Arthur Flour, and I doubt if I ever bake them again.
  The highlight of the outing came when I gave each of the ladies a bouquet to take home.  One said she was going to share hers with a sick friend.  The other was pleased that  the closed buds of iris would last for days.
   To be able to share my flowers was fun.
   Today I planted a row of zinnias and cosmos.  In September when bouquets may be scarce, hopefully I’ll have something to share.  My row garden space has gotten smaller and smaller.  But there was room for a row of zinnias
   I hope you can find a spot for a row of flowers that will bring you joy in sharing.  Sharing is so much fun.
   .

Peonies

                                        Peonies
            Sales have been high for liniment at the Bath Store.  Folks were saying the garden club girls needed it after pattin’ themselves on the back with the success of their big plant sale.
   The women might have been happy but the husbands complained they bought and brought home more stuff than they took.
   The object of the plant sale for the ladies is to thin out and get rid of perennials you don’t need, but there is always something else that you do need.  (Me included.)

   Which reminds me of the coral peony blooming now.  A few years ago  I saw a picture of it in a garden catalog and knew I needed it.  Peonies are one of my favorites. Grandpa used to call them pinys.  But he knew how to grow them.

   There was a time when we grew them to have them bloom for Decoration Day (Memorial Day).  It was the custom to take fresh cut flowers from your garden to decorate the graves of loved ones.  Some folk put the flowers in water in mason jars.  Others covered coffee cans with aluminum foil for their container.  The flowers didn’t last long, kinda like life.
   But the climate has changed.  Peonies and maybe iris are long-gone by Memorial Day.   One is left to scrounge round for roses  or lilies to take to the cemetery.
   Give me the live ones any day over plastic flowers. I know it’s a matter of preference.  But doesn’t everyone love a peony?