Posted on 12/23/2023 7:38:05 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
West Michigan, garlic has started peeking up out of the ground. Not much else going on outside, it is warm and rainy. I got my only seed order, two packets of the Yugoslavian red butter lettuce and two packets of little gem leaf lettuce. We tried bot this last year and loves the results and taste. Enjoying thanksgiving cactus and a couple of new amaryllis bulbs starting, plus I have 4 older ones in the closet that should be sprouting soon. I am almost afraid to check them. I try to keep the indoor plants to a minimum which is why I like the amaryllis. they can spend spring and the whole summer tucked out of the way outdoors. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2024 to all
I doubt it was perpetual beyond a couple of days, maybe a week, but there is a restaurant nearby where my dad loved to go for their vegetable soup. It was slightly different every time he got it, but he always exclaimed how good it was.
To me, it was obvious what they were doing .... when they had batches of vegetables prepared to serve as side dishes, or chopped veggies like onions, celery, etc., and did not serve all of it, they just chucked it in a huge soup pot & the result was their vegetable soup on the menu. I suspect they kept the soup pot going with ‘additions’, probably for a week.
When dad could no longer drive to get his soup, I came up with a veggie soup recipe to try & get close to his favorite - made it in the crockpot. As the saying goes “close but no cigar”. He liked my version & ate it, but the restaurant soup was hands down his favorite.
When I was walking around the property that we are in the process of buying with the RE agent, she exclaimed “there are the deer!”. It was a herd of deer, I would say 6-10. I knew there were deer because the little fruit trees have bars of Irish Spring dangling on string off the branches!
We have a terrible deer problem here because the whole place is a gourmet salad bar: hostas, rose bushes, daylilies, tulips, sedum, chrysanthemums. When we replaced the 30-40 yo azaleas, we got boxwoods ‘cause deer don’t like them & they are not fast growing. They were planted in February, early March & are obviously very happy. They are 12-14 inches tall & their growth has mostly been to bush out more than up. They should be fairly easy to dig up.
Mom has declared she is not planting anything the deer like at the new place - she’s tired of the constant battle & covering plants every night. The house has a long front porch with zero landscaping. In the last day or so, I have decided it will be worth the effort to transplant the boxwoods & put them along the porch. Between the boxwoods, coral bells (heuchera) would be beautiful & deer don’t like them either (bitter due to tannin content). Coral bells come in beautiful colors & I am sure we can find one we like & would go with the house colors. Coral bells are often cited as a nice substitute for hostas - similar shapes & flower in a similar manner to hostas. They would also do well in a partially shaded spot. The front porch faces east so morning sun & they would be spared the full sun western exposure.
“I tend to have rather poor luck with bare root roses, but I’ll get a few anyway.”
That’s the only way I plant roses - because I’m cheap!
I’m sure you know what you’re doing, but for those that may be planting ‘bare root’ anything this upcoming season, I’ve found that soaking the roots overnight gets them off to a good start. Also, don’t plant them too deep; you want the ‘graft knob’ above ground.
https://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening/flower-gardening/planting-bare-root-roses/
Right after ‘Christmas With The Chipmunks’ ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ is my favorite Christmas Carol. ;)
LOL...
The “Cherry Tree Carol” is another nice plant carol. Judy Collins’ version is great.
Thanks, Pete!
“A perpetual stew...”
My late FIL, ‘Big John,’ used to keep a pot of soup simmering on the stove at all times when he had a family of 14 to feed. Whatever was leftovers from supper went into the pot, so you NEVER knew what you were getting!
I miss that guy, but in so many ways he is still with me. *HEART*
P.S. We’re sharing soup recipes on the December 30th thread, so have a few more ready for next week!
I love Coral Bells! Even the everyday cultivar is gorgeous.
This winter I plan on doing a ‘Perennial of the Week’ and will make sure we explore Heuchera in all her varieties with you. :)
Before I knew we were moving, I did my best to try to get mom to swap out some of her deer ‘treat’ hostas for Heuchera, but she wouldn’t do it. Now that we are starting from scratch, she’s excited!
I’ve got one picked out for the leftover ham
Ing--- 2-8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk 1/2-1/3 cup
lemon juice 1 tsp vanilla 21 oz can chilled cherry pie filling, or use fave.
Make---Elec/mixer cream cheese fluffy. Gradually beat in Eagle® Brand sweetened condensed milk smooth. Stir in lemon juice, and vanilla. Pour into crust. Chill at least 3 hours. After chilling, top with favorite canned pie filling.
Tips: Add whipped cream or other garnish as desired.
Use lemon pie filling for topping.
Use butter crust, thin baked brownie, graham crust.
https://www.terranovanurseries.com/marketing/display-garden/
Pro tip; on the above page but also individual plant pages, they have high res images big enough to use as a desktop background.
This one is my Christmas desktop now.
Happy Festivus! LOL!
The Airing of Grievances and Feats of Strength, if I recall correctly.
😃
White Christmas Mojito.
Imbibing in the season.
Ingredients juice of 1 lime 8 leaves mint 1 tbl sugar 2 tbl white rum 1 tbl coconut rum 1/4 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk sparkling water, pomegranate garnish.
Instructions In glass, muddle lime juice, sugar and mint leaves til leaves have broken down. Fill glass half way with ice. Blender/combine white rum, coconut rum, and coconut milk; pulse smooth. Pour over ice; stir to combine. Top with sparkling water, mint and pomegranate. Serve.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all from southern New Hampshire!
My Mom makes that; sometimes it’s my Birthday Cake in July when it’s too hot to bake. It is SO creamy and more on the tart side than sweet. Just a perfect dessert. :)
I used to buy plants for the garden center from Terranova. They have luscious plants and shrubs. :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.