The Garden Thread - September, 2024

September 1, 2024 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[MomwithHope]

husbands and weedwhackers, I’ve got many stories.

[Qiviut]

I just ordered the Floret Farms “Cut Flower” book for mom’s birthday .... maybe it will inspire her. I am also going to see if we can visit my niece on Saturday the 14th & ‘tour’ her garden. She’s got metal raised beds with fabulous flowers this year & I want to see how she’s got her dahlias spaced & what other flowers she’s growing. If mom sees that, it might also encourage her & give her ideas for next spring.

For dinner on the 14th, there is a historical inn (goes back to 1931) just down the road (literally) & they have 2 restaurants ... one looks perfect (no reservation needed, prices are ‘ok’, & menu has options we like) so I think that is where we will be. She’s excited - the inn has memories from decades ago with dad.

I am going to see if I can convince her to let me go back to the house this afternoon/evening - there is a load I can take in the PU bed. I want to finish the flower bed project before she gets up there - will have to work like a fiend Sat/Sun ... come back either Sun evening or early Monday. We have to be back there Tuesday for the furniture delivery in the early evening. It will be a hectic time through next weekend.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Progress! That all sounds wonderful. Busy, but GOOD busy. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I haven’t grown Sweet Annie in years! The fragrance is heavenly and the flower dries nicely for fall-ish arrangements. :)

[MomwithHope]

I’ve never grown it but the ladies in our town’s garden club always have some for sale in their booth at our fall festival.

[FamiliarFace]

Exciting and fun but super busy! I will have you and your mom in my thoughts and prayers for the next week! Ok, y’all are always in my thoughts, but I think a few prayers for things to go smoothly are in order.

As a side, I can’t say exactly what’s going on on in my life, but I could use a few prayers myself. A friend and I are having a hard time. We meet on Tuesday to see if we can manage to iron out the wrinkles. It’s really up to her. She has misunderstood a few things, and I hope she’s willing to hear what the truth is. She likes to be right, so I’m not sure how it will go. Pray for peace.

[Qiviut]

🙏 🕊

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You’ve got it! I had to ‘break up’ with a dear SIL, a friend of 20+ years, due to her drinking. It wasn’t easy, but it needed to be done. I think I may have been her last friend; he sister wouldn’t even have anything to do with her. Still makes me sad. I hope she got it together, but I expect I would’ve head from her if she had. Those were the parameters I set. Get sober? Then, call me! :(

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Is it too early to be dreaming of Everything Pumpkin Spice?

41 degrees this morning! No wonder my hanging basket of Wave Petunias isn't happy. The soybean fields are a brilliant yellow; the Goldenrod is in full bloom and the wild Asters are blooming. Maple trees and Burning Bush shrubs are starting to color up a bit. Fall is in the air.

Today I am doing a lot of baking for Beau to take back up to Bear Camp - which starts FOR REALS this next week. Zucchini Bread, Black Bottom Cupcakes and Apple Pie. All but two puppies should be gone to new homes by tomorrow. I'll miss them, but I also WON'T miss them. ;)

[Pollard]

Just put away the warm weather seeds including, Pumpkin Spice Jalapeno, a U of NM invention.

50 here this morning and will be 40 tomorrow morning. The leaves on a few of the early foliage trees are turning color.

First two seed trays sprouted 2-3 of days ago. Already trying to get leggy so I’m putting them outside under the shade cloth today. No wind and high of 71.

[Liz]

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup
Fragrant spices of nutmeg, ginger, and cloves waft together in this robust-flavored syrup and it’s got real pumpkin in it. Easy to make and tastes amazing. To a latte add whipped cream, maybe some drizzles of caramel sauce and pinches of cinnamon for some sweet decoration skills. If you use the best spices, you get more fragrant flavors.

Ing ⅓ cup pumpkin puree fresh or canned 1 cup sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla 1 ¼ cups water 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp nutmeg ¼ teaspoon cloves ¼ teaspoon ginger

Steps Combine all ing; bring to boil. Cook over med, stir occasionally to keep from burning. Let cook til begins to coat spoon (10-15 min), then remove offheat. Refrigerate in heat-proof container; will thicken a bit in fridge, but will become syrup again when heated.

How To Make Pumpkin Spice Latte Heat 3-4 tablespoons syrup with 2 cups milk in microwave (adjust milk depending on pumpkin flavor desired) Pour into a blender or whisk until frothy, for about ten seconds (to make it thick and prevent the pumpkin from settling on the bottom). Pour 1/2 cup of the pumpkin spice mixture into a large mug. Top it off with strong, hot coffee. Add some whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, and a pinch of cinnamon. Store the rest of the latte mixture in the fridge for up to a week, sealed. Shake before using.

Notes: use 2 tbl syrup + 2-3 tbl h/cream instead of to cut down fat. More Pumpkin Flavor: Add a couple more tablespoons puree to the syrup mixture for more pumpkin-y flavor. More Spice: use the best of spices to get more fragrant flavors.

[MomwithHope]

You have a very interesting circle of life every year and it’s always interesting to read about.

[left that other site]

Good Morning! :-)

[goodnesswins]

Good morning...while you are at 41 we are at 66...ugh...another 90+ degree day...we have had the hot summer that many of y’all have missed. And now we have smoke. /whining

[CottonBall]

“The soybean fields are a brilliant yellow; the Goldenrod is in full bloom and the wild Asters are blooming. Maple trees and Burning Bush shrubs are starting to color up a bit. Fall is in the air.”

Gorgeous!!!!!!

[Albion Wilde]

Time for a little trip over to the farm stand!

[Albion Wilde]

That is so clever! Says someone who dug gardens on the side of the house and now has a damp basement...

[Pollard]

I bought shishito plants this year but still had a seed packet from 2022 with 7 seeds in it. Threw those away since I have plenty of new seeds to refill the packet with.

Got an 18 cell tray sowed with mostly mini head lettuces and a few cabbage and kale.

Couple of years ago I cut a 72 cell tray into 12 - 6 packs and still have 10 left so I'm going to fill those with Mesclun mix.

[MomwithHope]

Hubby’s cousin many many years ago bought a run down small cottage on a lake. Immediately started tearing it down and building a new bigger beautiful house. Old house had green garden hose running through it for water supply to everything.

[MomwithHope]

You left her a lifeline depending on her next choices.