because you deserve it all

I always take some notes at the end of each growing season in my garden journal.  No matter how good your memory is, you will forget exactly where all your plants were and after many years the exact location and watering needs that your favorite plants do best in your landscape.  For instance, you can water your butterfly bush during dry times because you noticed how much better they grow during a wet growing season.  I think about each area of the garden and write about all the plants.  I try to make note of how much water they needed and how they performed and brainstorm about what may work better next year.  I also make notes about where I need additional plants or if I noticed that any areas are getting overcrowded.  This will help you decide which plants to add in the spring and prevent you from making the same error twice or to help you duplicate something that worked really well this year.  You should also make note of the type of fertilizer or pest control products you used so you can use them again.  It only takes about an hour and it is interesting to look back on several years of garden notes as your garden changes over the years.

It is important to not neglect your garden this time of year, particularly your perennials.  Make sure they are not having any stress from lack of water as this is the time of year that they begin to have more root growth for the upcoming winter months.  Be sure to prune old leaves and deadhead old flowers so the plant can concentrate on one last beautiful bloom and more importantly to establish a strong root system so you will enjoy it for years to come.  It is important to stop fertilizing by early fall too.

Everyone loves apple crisp, but I found that I love it even more with a slight modification. I like to use Amaretti cookies (ground in the food processor or crushed in a ziploc bag) instead of the traditional oatmeal. I still mix butter, cinnamon, sugar and freshly ground nutmeg with the apples and bake. Amaretti cookies add the flavor of amaretto and a nice crunch to the apple crisp. It is nice to have a bit of a crunchy texture when you serve the crisp with a scoop of ice cream and a few amaretti cookie crumbs on the top.

Everyone has had a friend or family member stop by unannounced and had that feeling of panic – nothing to serve them.  With a few items stocked in your freezer or pantry you are always ready for unexpected guests, so next time you will enjoy the surprise instead of freaking out.  Amaretti cookies are a wonderful little cookie that goes great with coffee or tea.  The ones packaged separately and wrapped with decorative papers keep  for a long time and look nice on a cookie display.  Another great dessert idea is biscotti since they keep for up to a month in an airtight container.  And again they are wonderful with coffee.  I also like to freeze chocolate mouse (up to 3 months) for occasions like this.  Everyone loves chocolate mouse…  I hope that these ideas help you the next time you have company drop in.  Put on a pot of coffee and you are ready to chat.

Last week I visited a local flea market and found a little treasure.   There was a medium sized silver bowl for $1.  I couldn’t believe my good fortune.  A little polish and it was almost as good as new.  It looks great on my table with some apples in it…  In a few more weeks I’ll probably put some gourds in it.