LOOK!!!  The garlic scapes have appeared.  Scapes are the flowering stalks of the garlic.  They emerge and curl around, little goose necks.  The whitish part is the flower bud, and the stems are called scapes.  We eat the scapes.  But not the flower bud.

 

I learned years ago (the hard way) that if you don't cut off the scapes, the garlic bulb will not develop.  The plant sends all its energy to the flowers to produce seeds.  We don't grow garlic for the seeds;  we grow it for the bulbs.  So yesterday I cut off all the scapes, and shared some with friends.  I added some to the quiche we were making. That was really  good.

 

The best way to cook scapes is like green beans:  cut off the flower bud, and cut the stems into 2 inch pieces.  Then we steam them about 5 minutes, and blanch them in cold water til they are cold.  Then we sauté them in butter for about 3-5 minutes, til they get hot again.  You don't need to add garlic to the pan because, they ARE garlic.  Mild, but definitely garlicky.  

 

Aren't they pretty?  Now we just have to wait another month or so, and we can harvest the garlic bulbs.  I'll get back to you on that.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

Our Sage is blooming!!  I planted a 4 inch pot of sage about 10 years ago, and it just keeps growing and getting prettier.  

 

Botanically, sage is Salvia officinalis, and has been praised throughout history for its powers of longevity.  Even the name salvia from Latin, means to be in good health, to cure, to save.  

 

Sage is valuable as an aid to digestion of fatty foods.  My sister likes to serve sage leaves along with cheeses at happy hour.  She puts the sage leaves in a little vase next to the cheese tray.  I love that idea.  We use the leaf as a cracker for the cheese.  And of course, we sprinkle the flowers in our salad.  

 

You can see, there are lots of flowers right now.  They taste like...sage.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

Sorry that today's picture didn't post.  I usually check them every day to be sure, but this morning I was hell bent on planting my cherry tomatoes and eggplants.  I forgot to double check the picture for the blog.  

 

Thanks for reading.  ;]

 

The Honeysuckle is blooming!!!  It smells so sweet.  My nose locates it, before I can even see it.  

 

I pick a few flowers and put them in my water bottle.  They flavor the water just a bit, and I love it!!

 

These vines will absolutely take over your garden, if left unchecked.  But you can let a little go, and have this sweet smell all summer long.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Couldn't help myself...we had to take one more picture.  This is our beautiful Cinnamon Fern, fully open.  Go down to the creek, and see it for yourself.  

 

I wanted you to see how tall it is.  I'm 5 feet, and it's almost as tall as I am.  Isn't it gorgeous?!?

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

We participated in the Wednesday work party.  It was a party to paint the picnic tables and the bridge down at the pavilion.  Lots of volunteers showed up, so some of us broke away from painting and did a little planting.  We moved around some daylilies, and planted a few shrubs:  mountain laurel and spirea.  We also put daffodils in with the daylilies, hoping that the deer will leave them alone.

 

This is my friend, Patty.  She and I are the ones who paint and repaint the haybale.  She's a good sport;  and, as you can see, is willing to do just about anything.  Here, she is planting a spirea that Nancy dug out of her yard.  Nancy also dug up a whole bunch of daffodils;  she brought down about 75 bulbs.  Speaking of good sports:  she contributed all those daffodils from her garden!!!

 

It was a very successful work party.  You should join us next time.  We have fun meeting and working with our neighbors.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

WOW!!!  Talk about pollen!!!

 

This Hickory tree is at the entrance to the park.  Look at the size of those catkins, and all that pollen!!!!  I bet they are 8 inches long.  And there are hundreds of them.  Interesting looking, though.  Don't you think?

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Look at this beautiful tree.  Its name is Chionanthus virginicus, and is commonly known as Fringe-Tree.  This one lives in the parking lot of the Methodist Church in Blairsville.  

 

We saw a wild one blooming when we were walking in the park, so we doubled back to the church parking lot.  I knew there was one there, planted near the visitor entrance.  I wanted to get close enough to smell it:  it is lovely!!  I also wanted to take its picture for you to see.

 

I've seen them planted in shopping center parking lots, and even utilized in roadside plantings.  So, they must be available in garden centers.  

 

There are a bunch on Ft Eustis Blvd in Yorktown, VA.  Those are probably blooming now too.  I wish I could go see them.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Look what Jon found on the side of the road yesterday.  Chicken of the Woods!!!

 

We cut off some, brought it home, and spent a lot of time cleaning it.

 

It is edible when cooked, so I cooked it thoroughly until the juices reabsorbed.  I was inspired to make Chicken pot pie, so Jon made me a crust and I got started about 2:30:  chopping, cooking, assembling.  So exciting!!

 

We had our Chicken pot pie last night for supper, and we are both still alive and feeling fine today.  I really like this mushroom.  Glad the season has started.

 

ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT!!!

 

Have you seen the Mountain Laurels blooming?  WOW!!!  

 

Kalmia latifolia, another name I remember from Horticulture School.  We all know what they look like at 45 mph, but have you ever looked at them up close?  The buds are little pillows of air, waiting to pop open.  And each little open flower has spurs on the back, little pointy bumps, making them quite textural.  Is that even a word?  Anyway, get up close, and look at them;  they are quite unique.

 

There are lots down on the Creekside Trail, within reach for photos, or close examination.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!