steelnut

Another question....we've had great luck with our pear trees over the years and last year we even had tons of peaches, I was totally shocked! They were small, but so good. The thing is that even though we've had great luck with the pears, there are always a few branches of the trees that turn black. Anyone else have this happen and if so what is it? Hubby has trimmed those branches off, but we can't figure out what is causing it to happen.

My garden is loving this weather that we've been having. I'll be picking tons of peas in a couple of days. So far, knock on wood, the crunchy disgusting beetles have left them alone. Maybe they don't like the rain and chilly nights?

Does anyone know much about them? I've now fallen inlove with poppies in addition to lilys and daisys, lol! I haven't been able to find any poppies locally, but I've been checking them out on-line. I love the deep orange ones, just beautiful! I have to get some...

Thank you!

Has anyone had any luck with them locally? When I was a kid, we had two bushes on our farm and I loved them. I was thinking of trying them...any suggestions?

I have some black-eyed Susans, but to me, they just don't cut it compared to the Gloriosa's, they're just so beautiful!

I've looked for seeds all over the place locally, I'll have to check on-line, thanks for the suggestion!

Kitty, I thank you every day!Love this stuff!

Does anyone have any that they would like to sell? I just got into perennials a couple of years ago and have been planting like mad ever since. I'm a lily and daisy nut. Spring is my favorite time of year, I love to see everything coming to life. My Gloriosa's were so beautiful!!! For the last few weeks, I've been watching for my Gloriosa's to wake up. Nothing. So I googled them only to find out that they are a short lived perennial! I've called around to some local places and no one seems to have them. I haven't been on-line a whole lot lately, so I missed the plant sale or I would have definitely been there to see if they had any. Does anyone have any for sale or have any suggestions? Thank you.

Does anyone have knowledge on grape growing? I've been surfing the net trying to find out as much as I can about it. We want to get some Concord vines. I know we're in Zone 5 and that they need sun, but that's about it. Do you plant in the spring? Does anyone sell them locally? What type of soil is the best, what should we treat the soil with? What type of mulch do you use? Spacing of the vines? Any local grape growers knowledge is what I'm really looking for before I go with what I've read on-line. We want to build a grape arbor and would really appreciate any local advise, thanks!

Do you have any herbs? Is it May 8th and 9th? I need to check the events forum.

I'm really excited to see how my butterfly bush does this year. I bought it from your group at the farmer's market last year. Beautiful, healthy plant, thanks. My crocus are just georgous, I stop to admire them every morning on the way to work and every night when I come home! If I've never said it before, and I'm sure that I have many, many times, I LOVE spring!

I've killed four of those crunchy little buggers over the last two days, yuck! I had a fly in the house yesterday and a bee. They were really sluggish, which made it easy for me to get them.

After these last few days, I have spring fever sooo bad! I cannot wait to get everything going for the garden and I'm planning to plant some more perennials. Hubby is telling me that I've planted enough, but after just getting into them the last few years, I want to plant more and more. I like everything I see too, so look out! I loved seeing some of the plants peaking up out of the ground this weekend. If I didn't have to work, I swear that I'd be outside gardening every day, all day, it's like a stress relief thing for me. It just soothes the soul. My Mom says that I just never outgrew playing in the dirt! I think she's right.

We had a terrible time with voles a few years ago. They were in our garden. I would go up to pick and see one, scared the crap out of me every time. Not to mention the damage that they did!

Oooh, they're beautiful!

Would our root celler be ok? It's no cool though, it's cold!

I plant it directly in the ground. We were thinking about a greenhouse last year, but didn't get around to it, maybe this year.

I hate when the season is ending and no more fresh herbs. I do the Rachael Ray thing with wrapping them in paper towels and then in zip lock bags and they do last a long time. I also use the rest of my basil to make pesto, I make it and then freeze it in an old ice cube tray. Then I freeze the cubes. Lavender, that's the site, thanks!

Oooh I love fresh herbs! Every year I plant more, lol! Lavender posted a good site for the perennials and the annuals. I don't think that I saved it though, I printed it out and put it with all of my garden things in the garden shed. I know that oregano, thyme and chives are perennial. I have to plant basil and parsley every year. I added rosemary last year and I think that it's perennial, too. I have to go up to the shed tomorrow and get that list! Oh, I forgot about dill. I CANNOT wait to get the garden started! And my flowers to bloom! And to sit outside until 9pm and it's warm and still daylight! OMG, do I have the winter dumps, ugh.

Lemon Coconut Bars Heat oven to 350. Line a 9" square pan with foil leaving a 2" overhang. Spray with Pam. Press one tube of sugar cookie dough into the pan, prick with a fork. Bake 18 minutes until lightly brown. Spread 3/4 cup of lemon curd over the cookie. Combine 2 cups of coconut, 1 egg, 2 egg whites, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest. Spread this mixture over the lemon curd layer. Bake 15 minutes or until set. Cool well and use the foil overhang to lift from pan. Makes 16 bars.

Cherry Cheescake Brownies Heat oven to 350 Line a 9" square pan with foil, leaving 2" hangover. Spray with Pam. Spread one tube of triple chocolate chunk brownie batter in the pan. Bake 25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Beat 2, 8 ounce packages of cream cheese at room temp., 3/4 cup of sugar, 2 eggs and 1 teas vanilla until fluffy. Spread over cooled brownies. Bake 20 minutes until cream cheese mixture is set in center. Cool on a rack for 30 minutes. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Use the foil overhang to lift from pan. Before serving, top with a 21 ounce can of cherry pie filling.

Me, too! I can't wait. And em, I hope you have good luck with the Brandywine, I tried them twice, but no go. I wish I could get them to grow.

LOL, been there. It happens every year and hubby grumbles about it every year.

I want to try the dishwasher soap, too. I was stocked up on Cascade, so until I've used it up, I'll wait. As I was grating the Fels Naptha soap yesterday, hubby asked why in the world I would do that? When I told him the price of the ingredients and how very long it lasts, he was shocked, lol.