http://statebystategardening.com/ky/blog_01_summary/ en beckykirts@gmail.com Copyright 2012 2012-04-25T01:11:55+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/thanks_for_the_fragrance/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/thanks_for_the_fragrance/ Every season I give thanks to the gardeners that lovingly worked my land before I took over the reins. Over and over I am surprised by the vegetative blessings planted before I lived here, and this years prime example has been the narcissus. Perhaps this is due in part to the early warm temperatures that facilitated the masses of early blooms and subsequent quick departure of my hybrid daffodils, but whatever the reason, I have fallen in love with these small fragrant bombshells.  The narcotic scent of these gems has been filling my field for over two weeks. Even as the grass is growing taller and taller around them, they are playfully nodding at their hybrid daffodil cousins, that have long surrendered for the season. My mission is to investigate this species and to be able to properly identify my treasures. There seem to be so many different varieties. One species I have discovered is  "Poeticus Recurvus". The blossom has a miniature yellow-green cup rimmed with red. The petals are a bright white and gracefully arch back towards the stem. These babies pop the top off on scent. I adore my narcissus and will continue to pick a bunch each day to perfume my home. I am hoping they will continue to bloom into mid May. Thanks with kisses to the gardener that planted this gift years ago!!!!   2012-04-25T00:11:55+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/yes_virginia....the_bluebells_are_blooming/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/yes_virginia....the_bluebells_are_blooming/ My obsession of gardening was lovingly passed down to me by my Mother, Virginia. While raising six active children she tended her garden with a wonderful passion for nature.  One of her favorite spring perennials was the Virginia Bluebell or Mertensia virginica. Every Spring we would search the woods at our property in Brown County Indiana for the large emerging leaves of this Spring beauty. When we moved to Kentucky, I hoped that I would be able to include this perennial in my Native Shade Garden. We have now been in this house for 18 years and yes, Virginia, the Virginia Bluebells are in full bloom. Virginia Bluebells prefer a light shade to partial sun in moist wooded areas with rich soil. The blooms will last up to three weeks, but be aware that the foliage will die back by mid-summer. I have to remember not to do some aggressive landscaping in the fall and dig up or plant over the resting Bluebells. Right now, the Celedine Poppies with their bright yellow faces are in full bloom smiling down on the Virginia Bluebells' hues of pink and blue. In contrast with all the new green growth of a Spring Garden these beauties are a  must for your area!     2012-04-01T15:13:59+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/windflower_anemones/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/windflower_anemones/ Eighteen years ago, we invested in this amazing property. Since then I have lovingly planted hundreds of plants. However, every Spring I am reminded that others loved this land and planted before me.  The Anemone blanda"Gemnengd" is one of the many examples.  Every Spring they grace the side of the Herb House with the small purple daisy blossoms. These wonderful ground cover plants continue to spread across my shade garden, blooming in conjunction with the masses of daffodils. The spark of purple adds a striking contrast to the yellow and white of their early companion spring bulbs. The blooms last sometimes up to 4 to 6 weeks accenting its foliage which is very delicate and low to the ground. Thanks to the previous owners that had the wisdom to plant these Spring gems, they are going to be enjoyed by generations of gardeners. .  2012-03-12T23:19:28+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/next_fall_plant_more_bulbs/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/next_fall_plant_more_bulbs/ My goal for this blog is to encourage everyone, including myself to plant more bulbs next fall!! It is an instant high for me when the first crocus, scilla or any early bulb pop through the earth in the early spring. Often times these early bulbs are playing "peek a boo" with a late snow or garden debris, but they are relentless in their mission to show off their beautiful hues.  It is as if they are boldly stating SPRING IS COMING. Now is the time to look at the catalogs picking out a few new bulbs. I search for the ones that proclaim that they bloom very early. I then walk around the yard and gardens looking for bare spots, that yearn for a early burst of life!! There is a yard on main street in my hometown that is planted totally in crocus.When I pass it in all its blooming glory, I am so excited.  Guess what?  It is blooming now!!!!     2012-02-26T13:55:25+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/early_salad_pots/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/early_salad_pots/ Last year I could not get in the garden early, so I improvised!  I planted my outside pots with salad greens, violas, and herbs.  It worked out great.  I used all different varieties of lettuce and spinach. I found that the different colors and leaf textures adding to the fun of the pots. (Mesclun seed mixes,pablo lettuce,royal red lettuce,spinach, buttercrunch lettuce, black seeded simpson,and much more)  The only requirement was that is was edible.  I added some fresh herbs, parsley, the shorter fernleaf dill, and some "johnny jump ups" for color. It made my early spring pots look amazing and we ate great fresh greens earlier then if I had waited until this crazy Kentucky weather allowed me to plant in the garden. By the time the lettuce was starting to bolt, the weather was cooperating and I was able to change the pots out to annuals. I hope you will give this a try, it was a very tasty success.   2012-02-12T20:24:27+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/why_i_garden/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/why_i_garden/                                 " Let us give thanks for loving friends, who wind around us like                  tendrils and hold us, despite out blights, wilts and witherings"                                                                        Reverend Max Coots              I garden not just due to the love of plants, or the feel of the earth, or the gratification of harvest, I garden for friendship as well.  My love of nature and plants has been handed down to me from some of my best friends, my grandmother, my mother and my father. Garden friends are a special lot.  Perhaps it is because we all "grow together", sharing plants, tips, information and life's happenings. A wise women once said "No gardener is ever too poor to have something to share with others" ( Nita Waxelman )         This last week, a fellow Master Gardener's life long family home burned totally to the ground. Fortunately, she was away on a trip and had taken her dog!! Linda has been a rock in our group, heading up the plantings for the Garden Fair, working on all the downtown planters and much much more.  So when we heard the news, we needed somehow to help.         The construction crew is scheduled next week to bulldoze the house and Linda was very concerned about her plantings around the house. Mother Nature shined her face on us by suppling us with a mild dry day, so Carolyn hatched a plan. We all met yesterday and moved the plants.  Who would have thought that we would be able to dig and replant hundreds of plants on February 2nd.          A nice pitch- in lunch was enjoyed by all. I cannot imagine losing everything you have collected and gathered during a lifetime, but thanks to some garden friends, she has not lost her plants. When the time comes and her house is rebuilt, I am sure we will all return to help her.         Once again, I was reminded why I garden. Thanks to Pam for the group picture and caption!                                    2012-02-03T13:12:17+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/lenten/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/lenten/ Lenten Roses 2012               I love my shade garden! It is always the first area to give me love early in the Spring, but the middle of January is a bit early. Yesterday I walked out to the garden and the Lenten Roses were peeking their heads out at me. Helleborus Orientalis, or commonly know as the Lenten Rose, was the 2005 Perennial Plant of the Year. I would support this accolade 100%.   Lenten Roses are evergreen, blooming anywhere from late winter to early spring. Mature plants form clumps that are 18" to 24" tall and spread up to 30" wide. The plants can host as many as 50 or more flowers per plant which last a very long time.   They come in many colors and appear as single or double forms. As they mature they provide a host of babies to share or spread around. I am hoping they will spread enough form a nice different ground cover under the Silver maple Tree.   They do best in full to partial shade, adding an amazing array of texture, color and form to the landscape. They are great bedfellows to my host of early blooming wildflowers in the same area. I like to think they are the garden gang leaders, nodding their heads to the ground as if to say come on out kids.....Spring is coming  2012-01-21T22:42:25+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/parsnip_planning/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/parsnip_planning/                                           I  believe this blog may fall into the category of did the chicken come before the egg or vice versa. I had some left over parsnips from a roasted root vegetable dish I made at Christmas.  So I decided to try something new. I made "Parsnip Puree", inspired by a recipe I found on line by Tyler Florence, changed to my likings!          It was so delicious and sweet, so now I am on a mission to add this wonderful veggie to my must plant this year list. I have not grown parsnips before so my blog on parsnips is for my knowledge as well as you alls!          Parsnips need to be planted in the early spring, I love this as that is when I am so anxious to get going! I plan to dedicate an area to parsnip and interplant them with radishes.  The parsnips will not be ready to harvest until fall but the radishes I can enjoy earlier. The early and late veggies have been my favorites. They are treasures when the weather is cooler and other veggies are not prolific. For parsnips it is best to let them endure days of near frost temps as this exposure changes the starch in the parsnips to sugar resulting in their unique sweet taste.          Parsnip seeds need to be fresh, they have a lower germination rate and should not be carried over year to year.  I plan to plant them in an area that I have composted and have a nice bed of shredded fall leaves over the area. They need to be in a well prepared area and this will be perfect. It is in my Potager Garden, so I will need to watch for swallowtail butterfly larva hanging out eating the leaves down. I will just pick them off and move them to the herb garden so they can munch on my fennel or parsley.         It is so exciting to me to be planting a new veggie!  I will let you know how it goes. In the mean time, please buy some parsnips and enjoy the following recipe.    Parsnip Puree   1 pound parsnip, pealed and sliced    Kosher salt and finely ground black pepper   1 cup half and half ( the ordinal recipe called for heavy cream and milk)   4 clove of garlic, peeled and gently smashed   1 sprig of thyme   1 stick unsalted butter    Extra Virgin olive oil   Put the parsnips in a pot, season with salt and cover with the half and half. Add garlic and thyme them place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook until tender, the tip of a paring knife should easily go through without resistance--about 12 to 15 minutes. Add the butter and a tad bit of EVO and use an immersion blender to puree the parsnips to achieve the texture of whipped cream. Season with salt and pepper and finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.  Enjoy...this is delicious!!                                    2012-01-08T16:02:32+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/salad/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/salad/         I recently needed to bring an appetizer for an evening meeting. Lacking inspiration, I took a walk through my December garden and  noticed how tasty the Salad Burnet still looked. My thoughts and taste buds immediately turned to one of my favorite recipes, Salad Burnet dip.         My love for this herb is not only for its appearance but its taste as well. The young tender leaves have a cucumber taste, without the burping problems. The crinkle cut leaves stay green well into the Winter and pop back up early in the Spring.  The plants form a mound of tenderness, especially when the young leaves are continually harvested.        Salad Burnet does best when it receives at least 6 hours of sunshine. The blossoms, are best cut down so the energy is put back into making the leaves, but they do make a beautiful rose colored flavored vinegar. This vinegar used with a good olive oil makes a superb vinaigrette. If left to bloom Salad Burnet may reseed, which is not such bad thing.  My approach generally is that some are left to bloom for the vinegar, some blooms are left for reseeding and some are cut down so the flush of new young leaves continues.        My hope is that you will add this wonderful herb to your garden. It definitely is one of my " Top Ten Herbs"  Becky's Salad Burnet Dip 1PKG cream cheese 4TBS Burnet leaves, chopped or cut fine 2TBS Garlic chives chopped Add to this a bit of chopped fresh lettuce, I have also added some chopped fresh radish 1TSP freshly ground salt and pepper Blend with 1/4 cup dry white wine (I often use sour cream, mayo or Greek yogurt instead) Let the flavors mix together by sitting in the refrigerator for a couple hours. From here the presentation possibilities are numerous. I have stuffed small cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, served on crackers or just as a dip for vegetables. This recipe is always a big hit!                   2011-12-14T17:02:06+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/gifts_from_my_december_potager_garden/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ky/blog_01/gifts_from_my_december_potager_garden/ With the nights now consistently dipping down into the 30’s, I journeyed out to the potager garden hoping to find some lingering vegetables. I was in luck, enough bits of kale to harvest and make into a fresh kale salad. Plus a bonus, some small but tasty globes of Brussels sprouts. These young tender bits of deliciousness I will roast in the oven for a great snack! Also one tiny rose bud yearning to come inside and open up! I think that is what I love the most about my potager garden, vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs. It is one stop shopping. Recipe for roasted Brussels sprouts Preheat oven to 400 degrees I prepare the Brussels sprouts by cutting off the brown ends and remove any of outer leaves that are brown. I then spread them out on the roasting pan and sprinkle liberally with about 3 tablespoons of good olive oil. I season them with some sea salt and some freshly ground pepper. Sometimes, I will use an Italian herb mix or Bragg Organic Sprinkle. I roast about 40 minutes. Often times I will shred some fresh Parmesan cheese on top of the sprouts. 　 Recipe for Kale Salad I take the leafy part of the kale off the stem. From here I add a little bit of the dressing making sure in gets into the kale leaves. You may add any ingredients that you have on hand to this salad. Sunflower seeds, fresh peppers, celery, cherry tomatoes are some good suggestions. For the dressing I mix together 1 lemon juiced, 2 teaspoons agave nectar, ¼ cup virgin olive oil and some fresh cracked pepper. I use a whisk to slowly stream in the olive oil till it is the consistency I enjoy!  2011-12-04T18:46:54+00:00