American Goldfinch

I have these garden guests. I've been planting an annual buffet every year for them for several years now. I look forward to being their hostess. I'm referring of course to the gorgeous, vibrant American Goldfinch.

A packet of Autumn Beauty Sunflowers will keep them happy and let me enjoy their beauty and chatty songs all summer. Additionally, I have noticed they stay around pretty much all year here now. In my field guide it says their migration is partial or doesn't occur at all depending on their food source. So in the winter, I feed in my feeders in the yard, and they stay then too.

I really love to see them. They make me happy.  

~JB was here.

Hardy Hibiscus

A few years ago at the local Ace Hardware, I saw that hibiscus were available. I really think they are beautiful, but they are a tropical plant and cannot survive our winters.  Right?  Not so.

There are hardy varieties now! I was a little skeptical but bought one and brought it home and planted it. It has been one of the best additions to my garden landscape that I've ever made!

They really do survive our winters. All you have to do is, in the fall when the canes die down, is cut them back a few inches from the ground. Leave the stubs mostly just to tell you where the plant is, as they generally come back in the mid-to later spring and all the growth each year, is brand new. I've never fertilized this guy. Just water occasionally. They are pretty forgiving and they are bigger and more impressive each year.

I thought the variety was “Cranberry Punch” and that is what I have called it all this time but I saw some information recently that made me think it is really “Cranberry Crush”  There are a few of these varieties that are hardy.

There are other colors and some worth checking out can be found in this Collection. Blue Bird and Helene are a couple that I covet.

I hope you have a great week! ~JB was here.

More Guests in My Garden

Here are some more guests to my garden and lawn. I watered and fed everybody. We've all been a little stir  crazy. I'm glad for the recent relief. :) 

Recipe: Cubed Pattypan Squash with Cream Cheese

When I went to the garden show in Springfield back in February, I never dreamed that I would have so much fun, learn so much, or take home things that I would still be using far into the growing season!  I was standing at a vendor looking at seed packets. I got to visiting with a couple who were also looking, and the man said, in reference to a packet of Pattypan seeds I was looking at,”Those are so good. I used to live in North Carolina and we would just slice them and fry them and I love them!” 

I was intrigued enough to purchase the packet. Boy am I glad I did. I have had them sauteed, fried, stuffed and last week I took a zuchinni recipe from www.allrecipes.com and used it for inspiration, with some changes, to create this recipe. They went so quick I didn't have a chance to photo the dish, but maybe this week. Here is a photo of the beautiful, cute little squashes you use to make it:

The Recipe: 6–8 small squash(blossom and stem ends removed) cubed

2 TBSP Olive Oil

Two slices of Onion, seperated

1tsp Fresh Oregano

3 TBSP cream cheese, cubed

1.)Sautee the squash and onion in the olive oil until tender 2.) Add Oregano 3.)Add the cream cheese, stir until melted 4.) Serve and Enjoy!

*You can add a little Parmesan on top, that's good too. Vary amounts according to number served. Makes about 4 servings. From the Farm Kitchen of Julie A. Brown

I'm going to try to get to every one of those garden shows from now on. Besides picking a person's morale up in the winter, they are just full of inspiration! ~JB was here.

Sunflower Before the Storm

The other night, we got a little shower. We are in the middle of a real serious drought here. There is talk of a pattern break this week. Let us hope that is the case.

Here you can see the dark brooding sky behind, but the light is nice on this sunflower that must be a record tall one for me at some twelve feet tall! The row in front is zinnias just preparing for bloom.

Hope with me, please that our 100 degree early heat wave is moderated in the week to come.  ~JB was here.