tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72609681830708568932024-03-17T20:04:16.214-07:00tendJuliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01710106273998131443noreply@blogger.comBlogger365125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-77872495418144343632015-08-12T17:25:00.003-07:002015-08-13T11:43:02.351-07:00Lazy summer days in the garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It has been a lazy summer, we are staying mostly home and we are enjoying our garden as much as we can. I try to find a little time to work on the garden in the evening after work and after the little one goes to bed.</div>
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We are harvesting beautiful and delicious tomatoes. For lunch I made myself a fresh tomato salad with basil just a little bit of olive oil. It was perfect. </div>
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Let me show you in pictures how days are here in our Philadelphia backyard. </div>
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Tomatoes</div>
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Pretty zinnias</div>
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Giant sunflowers</div>
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We had a lot of concord grapes</div>
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A mix in our planters</div>
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Hollihocks</div>
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Bird bath and a garden fairy</div>
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Garden fairy </div>
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The last of our peaches. We had so much I wasn't ready. I mostly ate them fresh and baked a couple crumbles ( mixed with blackberries ... delicious )</div>
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What about you ?</div>
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What is happening in your gardens ?</div>
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<br />Annabellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01761157623977402798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-76115728608331511502015-07-22T17:55:00.000-07:002015-07-22T17:55:36.193-07:00Summer Berries - cheesecake popsicle recipe !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am glad to sit and take the time to write here. Life has been busy as it should be, but I was missing sharing my garden with you. In July I love to see the different berries maturing, we have black currants, raspberries and blackberries. Every day I can pick some for Chloe ( my 18 month old baby girl) and I collect extra to prepare some yummy treats like these popsicles for which I am about to share the recipe with you. <div>
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It's really quick to prepare, just think that it has to sit in your freezer a minimum of 5 hours.</div>
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I harvested a bunch of different berries for this recipe but feel free to adjust quantities if you want to make more.</div>
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<i>Summer Berries Cheesecake Popsicles</i></div>
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<i>You will need: </i></div>
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<i>- 1 1/2 package of regular cream cheese</i></div>
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<i>- 3/4 cup milk ( I used whole milk )</i></div>
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<i>- 1/2 cup powdered sugar</i></div>
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<i>- 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract.</i></div>
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<i>- 2 cups fresh or frozen berries ( I used a mix of blackberries, raspberries and blackcurrants from my garden)</i></div>
</span>In a food processor mix the berries together to obtain a thick juice, leave some chunks if you like, it could also be very smooth. <div>
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Reserve the berry juice in the fridge and in a food processor or blender mix the cream cheese, milk, sugar and vanilla extract. </div>
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Then you can start to fill your popsicle molds, I used Solo shot glass cups and mini popsicle sticks so I could make so many of them...</div>
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First fill it with the berries and then add the cream. You can also add some graham crackers like in this <a href="http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2013/06/raspberry-cheesecake-popsicles.html" target="_blank">recipe</a>.</div>
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Fresh blackberries and raspberries </div>
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I like that the berries and cream are mixing together, these popsicles are so cute and so yummy !</div>
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I like to share these tiny treats with friends...</div>
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Enjoy !</div>
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Annabellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01761157623977402798noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-62154736478578424572015-07-13T09:00:00.000-07:002015-07-15T01:58:36.078-07:00July BloomsI've had such a busy summer with family visiting from out of state, my garden has taken a back seat lately. We've had such unusually warm and dry weather here in Seattle, keeping up with the watering has been difficult. Things are pretty crunchy out there, but that hasn't stopped some of my perennials from blooming. Times like these, I'm grateful for the tried, true and hardy varieties I have planted. Some of the more fragile plants I have growing have already withered away for the season. For now, I'm enjoying these lovely blooms.<br />
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dahlias, shasta daisies and joe-pye weed.</div>
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i planted this shasta daisy last year. it has already spread so much, i think i'll need to thin it out next spring. </div>
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the columbine has already faded, i leave the pods to dry so i can reseed. </div>
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thalicturm (meadow rue) is not quite as lush as last year, but still flourishing.</div>
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yarrow, more shasta daisies and camellia</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17770921988652110078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-25502930023311724892015-07-07T01:36:00.001-07:002015-07-07T10:33:46.817-07:00Broccoli Leaf SmoothiesGreen smoothies are a staple around our home during the summer. Although, lately with the bounteous berries the Pacific Northwest offers, our smoothies are more of a purple color. My boys love them! This year I've been adding broccoli and cauliflower greens along with kale and spinach for added goodness.<br />
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Here's a versatile recipe that offers a lot of room for your own adaptations. It's raw, vegan (we use honey), and so very healthy!<br />
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1/2 C raw almonds<br />
1/2 C raw oats<br />
2 T raw coconut<br />
2 T flax meal<br />
2 T raw sunflower seeds<br />
-----Pulse until smooth, then add,<br />
1 handful greens<br />
1 handful frozen berries<br />
Water or fresh orange juice to your preferred consistency <br />
Raw honey to your liking<br />
-----Blend all until smooth. Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17770921988652110078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-16036646767595362232015-07-01T17:48:00.002-07:002015-07-01T18:06:40.384-07:00A little tour in the garden and a mint syrup recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The garden is growing so much, we had our first eggplants, tomatoes, raspberries, and black currants. The plants grow fast and every week there is a new plant we could use in our cooking or to preserve. </div>
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It's a question of good timing and make time for it. </div>
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I wanted to give you a little tour of the garden. The flowers, it's such a delight to smell the roses, honeysuckle, and lilies. I feel I am becoming more and more of a flower collector. </div>
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I like that we grow vegetables and fruits and have flowers in such a small space. It is a challenge to make space for all of the plants, we need to be creative. </div>
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The hollihocks are doing so good, I brought the seeds from France, they come from my parents yard. </div>
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The honeysuckle. ( See I am really in the city ) </div>
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Lilies.</div>
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Some kale, we do eat a lot of it...</div>
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First beets are almost ready !</div>
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A potted tomato on top of the chicken coop.</div>
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Roses</div>
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And so much mint !</div>
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We dry some of the mint but this year I made some mint syrup !</div>
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Here is the recipe.</div>
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<i><u>Mint Syrup Recipe</u> </i></div>
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<i>- 4 big bowls of mint leaves washed </i></div>
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<i>- 4 cups of water</i></div>
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<i>- 4 cups of sugar </i></div>
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<i>In a large bowl add the fresh mint leaves, add the boiling water over the leaves and cover for 24 hours.</i></div>
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<i>Filter the liquid you obtained, add the sugar and cook in a large sauce pan for an hour. ( on high first then on low )</i></div>
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<i>Let the syrup cool and store in a bottle.</i></div>
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<i>Keep it in your fridge. </i></div>
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Enjoy your syrup in a cocktail, or just with sparkling water ( or not ) and a lot of ice. </div>
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It's very sweet so you really just need a little bit, it's fresh and delicious on a hot summer day! </div>
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<br />Annabellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01761157623977402798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-8929417114462343142015-06-26T11:48:00.000-07:002015-06-26T11:52:22.582-07:00Pedestals and plinths in the garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As promised, I am here to talk about my love for pedestals and plinths in the garden. Adding just a few of these to your landscape can add character, height, structure, texture and originality.<br />
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I find a variety of heights in any scene, both indoor and out, is very pleasing to the eye. Giving a pot or planter, a lantern or concrete statue a little lift up to a place all of it's own can make a dramatic difference in a garden vignette.<br />
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Many of the plinths in my garden were foraged or found. It's fun to think outside of the box and make pedestals out of something you already have. Search around your garage or shed and you will be sure to give a new life to something that's been laying around or even broken. Upside down pots, a log or stump, a broken birdbath all make lovely little perches to showcase your favorite things.<br />
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Create a cluster of plinths in all different shapes and sizes or showcase something big and bold to make a statement in the garden. <br />
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Below you will find some of my favorites.<br />
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A cluster of plants by my back door sit on various pedestals such as upside down pots, stumps and logs offering a variety of height and texture.<br />
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A frog friend perches on top of a broken terra-cotta pot back by our grill.<br />
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A pot of succulents sits upon a foraged tree stump on the patio.<br />
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A bird feeder turned candle holder placed atop an upside down faux bois planter.<br />
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A sailboat sun dial afloat in a birdbath.<br />
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A frog birdbath nestled inside a concrete plinth next to our rabbit hutch.<br />
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A toadstool atop a freshly cut stump greets everyone onto the patio.<br />
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A hand me down urn on top of a concrete plinth against our chimney gives this shady area some height and bright color.<br />
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A trash picked broken birdbath stand turned upside down creates a platform for a fairy house made by Chris.<br />
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A cluster of larger pots softens a corner of the patio The larger pot behind sits upon a three legged tree stump while the smaller pot in front sits upon an upside down planter.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07734981136224804320noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-56720206002830863962015-06-23T14:06:00.000-07:002015-06-23T14:06:04.280-07:00scorching summerLast Monday I returned from a week's vacation in coastal Maine, where the highs never crossed 80 and the evenings required the wool sweaters and socks I'd long ago put away in Memphis. Before we left, my sugar snap peas were in full swing- I had to harvest from my galvanized tub garden every day to keep up with them. When we got back, the blistering temperatures had fried the poor plants and they were brown and crispy. The chickens, at least, got to enjoy the last of spring's peas.<br />
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I had prepared for the second round of crops in my tubs by pinching some of the tiny yellow currant tomatoes that grow in the church garden that hosts my acupuncture clinic and rooting the cuttings. I've watched these plants for a few years- they are vigorous (and vigorously reseed), disease resistant, and more importantly, delicious!<br />
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I keep this old brown snuff jar on my window sill, filled with herbs and other cuttings. I have a few of them and have successfully water-rooted lavender, rosemary, basil, and angel-wing begonias. During the summer, I keep my CSA's basil in these jars and they usually root within a few days, too! Tomatoes root so easily that I knew they'd do well, and these tomatoes were ready to be planted in about two weeks (with them were some lavender that dried out while we were gone, and some thai basil that I put out in my front garden.<br />
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Early one morning last week I added a top layer of compost to my newly-cleared tubs, pulled out my eggshell bowl to add to the bottom of the planting holes, and popped those baby tomatoes into their new tub. It was very very hot last week, so I made sure to give my plants some afternoon shade with old sheets draped over the bamboo teepees, and watered them twice daily. This week they seem more settled in and only need every-other-day watering. I hope that these tomatoes will produce into November!<br />
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If you live in a climate like mine, hot now, with a long growing season, you might consider rooting some tomatoes now and planting in late July and August to get a fall crop!bridgmanpotteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552084024770335560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-16191328979706465862015-06-19T10:43:00.000-07:002015-06-21T10:50:13.594-07:00A Little Tour Around the Garden and Patio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been <a href="http://www.secondandedgemont.com/2015/06/21/family/">a celebratory weekend </a>as we have enjoyed hosting a few outdoor parties with friends and family.<br />
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As you can see we have the beginnings of a new back porch! Chris has been working hard but it's not quite finished. I'll be sure to share more on our new space soon but for now thought I would give you a little tour around the garden and patio.<br />
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Chris made a beautiful table for the patio, perfect for snacks, a cold glass of something and card games. It's made from a slab of Kentucky Coffee Tree which <a href="https://instagram.com/p/3r2LZnvDVq/?taken-by=secondandedgemont">he milled himself</a>.<br />
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The Yarrow is in full bloom and the kale growing along the chicken run is so healthy and happy!<br />
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The last of the <a href="http://tendcollective.blogspot.com/2015/05/pansies-peanuts-pears-and-pots-oh-and.html">Kohlrabi growing in pots</a>. It's too pretty to harvest!<br />
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It has been a beautiful year for hydrangeas.<br />
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The 'Sun Gold' cherry tomatoes growing along the sidewalk are beginning to ripen.<br />
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A mixture of Santolina, Black Eyed Susan, Sensitive Fern, Shasta Daisy and Cherry Tomatoes growing in harmony.<br />
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The Trumpet Vine on top of the chicken coop is in full bloom.<br />
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The pear tree has been pinched back and soon will need to be propped!<br />
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I bought a little string of lanterns this weekend to brighten up the patio in the evenings.<br />
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A little cluster of potted plants of all different heights by my back door. I'll be posting about plinths and pedestals in the garden next week.<br />
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A view from our (in progress) back porch.<br />
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A succulent garden atop my rain barrel.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07734981136224804320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-8684714582913717212015-06-17T16:57:00.001-07:002015-06-17T17:10:16.659-07:00Borage pesto <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our borage is doing so well, our friends Kelly and Austin gave us a couple plants and they came back spreading a lot of mini ones around... We keep only a couple plants. I love the true blue flowers and the plant (leaves and flowers) is edible. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can eat the leaves in a salad or dried in herbal teas. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The feel of the leaves is a little prickly so I don't use it in salads but here is a great way to use it, in pesto !</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><u>Borage pesto</u></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>You will need :</i></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-2 cups fresh borage leaves, mixed with kale leaves.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-1/2 cup freshly grated grana padano or Parmesan-Reggiano cheese (about 2 ounces)</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-1/3 cup chopped almonds (can sub chopped walnuts)</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-3 garlic cloves, minced.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix the ingredients in a food processor ( except the cheese ) together until creamy. </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">( add more olive oil if needed ) </span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Add the cheese when the pesto is well mixed. </i></span></div>
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Annabellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01761157623977402798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-46462218137935081492015-06-08T06:30:00.000-07:002015-06-08T06:30:00.729-07:00My Vegetable GardenWe are fortunate enough to have some space dedicated just for a kitchen garden. It's about 20 feet by 20 feet, but I'd like to expand it over the next several years. Over the years we've lived here, I've grown many, many different vegetables in this little spot. But with two young boys to keep me busy, the last couple years I've wittled down what I grow here to a couple handfuls of our favorite vegetables.<br />
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The view of the vegetable patch as you enter the back yard. That's our garage on the north side of the garden.<br />
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We have a few different varieties of pumpkins, always a favorite for me and my boys!</div>
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This started as a few small strawberry starts last year. With a little compost, they are going bananas right now!</div>
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We all love kale, spinach, lettuce and swiss chard. We have a few varieties growing here.</div>
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Mixed in with the leafy greens, we have broccoli and cauliflower, my boys LOVE both! I always let a few things go to seed and use the seeds for the next year's garden. I also love seeing where the wind carries the seeds when volunteer plants start showing up around the garden in early Spring.</div>
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This is my second year <a href="http://www.gardenerscott.com/1/post/2012/03/grow-a-potato-tower.html" target="_blank">growing potatoes vertically</a>. It's been a great space saver using this technique. </div>
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My whole family loves carrots! It's fun for all of us to walk outside and pull out a carrot for a snack. I grow them year round, they overwinter really well in my yard. I got a bit of a late start planting them this year, but they are coming in just fine.</div>
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Our three year old is only one who doesn't like tomatoes. My favorite variety are the sungolds, they taste like candy!</div>
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This ugly shed came with the house. As ugly as it is, it sure comes in handy for storage. I'd LOVE to replace it at some point with a cute little <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ambermek/studio/" target="_blank">wood shed/ studio/ chicken coop</a>. This little guy here though, he won't let me have chickens yet :-(.<br />
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I planted this sage bush as a tiny little thing many years ago. It has completely outgrown and taken over this space. I may need to transplant it this fall. The blooms are at their peak, I may make some strawberry sage blossom jam this week.<br />
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I try to rotate crops every couple years and keep incompatible varieties away from each other. But for the adjustments I need to make and haven't yet, a healthy amount of compost at least once a year keeps everything happy.<br />
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If you live in the Seattle area, you should try to stop by <a href="https://everettwa.gov/823/Sorticulture-Garden-Arts-Festival" target="_blank">Sorticulture</a> this weekend. It's my favorite garden festival! Happy Monday, Friends!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17770921988652110078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-7427693273409698222015-06-03T09:25:00.000-07:002015-06-03T09:25:04.363-07:00Promising summer fruits, blackberries, peaches and for now strawberries !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our garden enjoyed the last heavy rain we had here in Philadelphia. The kale is so happy.</div>
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The last few weeks we have been struggling with a sick chicken, an eye infection. I had to give all of them some antibiotics. It seems that she is doing good now, but her eye is still closed. I will apply some antibiotic ointment on her eye. Having chickens can seem tempting and fun. It is, but it's also a lot of work. If anyone has suggestion to help my chicken. Thanks !</div>
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This week I wanted to share what's happening in our backyard. </div>
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Clematis is in bloom</div>
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Some promising blackberries</div>
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The first strawberries ! I love strawberries.</div>
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I started to add some links in our <a href="http://tendcollective.blogspot.com/p/resources.html" target="_blank">resources</a>. Check it out !</div>
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The strawberry roll looks delicious and amazing...</div>
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The peach tree is so happy ! So many peaches ... </div>
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Check the <a href="http://tendcollective.blogspot.com/p/resources.html" target="_blank">resources</a> I shared a peach salad recipe that I will with no doubt try.</div>
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yarrow, cosmos ...</div>
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The lilies bloom a little bit like fireworks, first it's all the yellow ones, then I forgot how they come but each color bloom at a different time.</div>
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Lettuce and pansies.</div>
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What is new in your gardens ? </div>
<br />Annabellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01761157623977402798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-61595546196791660672015-06-02T19:27:00.001-07:002015-06-02T19:27:42.749-07:00Dandelions: Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of my favorite ways to use dandelions is by making a bitters or tincture. A bitter made with dandelion root is beneficial to the entire digestive system.<br />
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I make my concoction with simple ingredients, just dried roots and pure grain alcohol.<br />
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First, harvest your roots. (Dandelion roots harvested between fall and spring will have the highest medicinal properties.). Thoroughly wash the roots, then chop into uniform pieces, I chop mine into the size of a small pea. Lay out on a mesh surface to dry for about 2 weeks. Fill a bottle half way with the dried roots. Pour the alcohol to cover. Place the bottle in a windowsill to infuse for several weeks. Strain the roots out and save the liquid. Use several drops of the liquid a few times a day to help aid in digestion and to help curb sugar cravings.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17770921988652110078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-74811590122028346432015-05-29T13:31:00.003-07:002015-05-29T13:32:57.055-07:00Pansies, peanuts, pears and pots. Oh and eggs!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love this time of year when I no longer have to depend on store bought flowers. Making little bouquets from the garden to scatter about around the house brings me joy.<br />
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I will now always grow kohlrabi in my planters each spring. I love it's beautiful, purple ribbed, upright leaf amongst pansies and trailing vines. And what a fun surprise to look down to find it's hidden, bright purple bulb.<br />
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I have always wanted to grow peanuts and am trying them this year in a container. They prefer a light well drained soil so I thought they may do well in a pot. These guys won't be ready until September. <br />
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I have been unhappy with my window box plantings over the last few years. I have tried many different varieties of plants (many of which prefer sun) with disappointing results. This year I decided to keep it simple and plant a few tried and true shade lovers, begonias, licorice vine and Tradescantia. Everything seems very happy in it's shady spot. <br />
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Our dwarf Bartlet pear tree is one happy camper this year. Last season it did not produce a single fruit. This year there are over 50 pears!<br />
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I like to incorporate at least one perennial into each of my pots. Since they come back every year, it saves a bit of money on annuals and if they outgrow the pot into the garden they go! This pot got a purple leaf Heuchera (Coral Bells). I love how it looks paired with the licorice vine, purple sweet potato vine, begonia and pansies. It gives a little height to the arrangement.</div>
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After a very long winter of no eggs our girls are laying daily. Since I eat an omelette almost every morning and my sage is in full bloom, I can't wait to try <a href="http://tendcollective.blogspot.com/2015/05/sage-flowers-omelet.html">Annabelle's recipe</a>.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07734981136224804320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-67600741981777115192015-05-20T16:51:00.002-07:002015-05-20T17:53:07.660-07:00Sage flowers omelet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In our backyard a lot of flowers are in bloom. The sage is really spectacular. We do use sage a lot in our cooking but mostly leaves and in the fall we make sage sticks.</div>
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We forget that a lot of flowers are edible, and I am always tempted to add a little elegant touch to a meal with fresh flowers. Always know from where the flowers come from if you want to use them for cooking and check <a href="http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blflowers.htm" target="_blank">here</a> the list of edible flowers.</div>
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This week I share with you a simple idea of a pretty and tasty breakfast, an omelet with sage flowers. </div>
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It's very simple. Beat the eggs together until you see a lot of bubbles on the surface. Add salt and pepper. </div>
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Slice finely sage leaves and add them to the eggs, along with the flowers you washed before hand and mix it together. </div>
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Be mindful of how much sage you put in, it has a strong flavor.</div>
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I like to cook an omelet on a not sticking pan, a little bit like a crepe or pancake. I like it brownish on the outside but not too cooked inside. For that I wait the omelet is hard enough to be folded in two and I don't let it cook for too long. Adjust it to the way you like your omelet and enjoy ! </div>
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<br />Annabellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01761157623977402798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-57662135675743810252015-05-19T11:02:00.001-07:002015-05-22T00:21:59.568-07:00Dandelions: Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dandelions are one of the most recognizable plants throughout the world. A hardy perennial that are well-established growers worldwide, dandelions have deep roots and grow throughout the year in many climates.<br />
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I've seen various ways to get rid of dandelions - pouring boiling water at the roots, pouring vinegar at the roots, burning them with a blow torch- but I have my preferred method. I've noticed that big, fat earthworms love living around the roots of dandelions, and since I perfer not to harm the worms, I don't use any of the above methods. When I need to get rid of dandelions, I've learned that hand pulling each one is the best method. The tricks are to get as much of the root as possible, pull them when they are young, and pull them before they go to seed and spread. <br />
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There are lots of tools available specifically for dandelion removal. I use a sturdy trowel or my trusty <a href="http://www.dewittoolsusa.com/specialty-hand-tools/" target="_blank">Dewit weeding tool</a>.<br />
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After finding the weed you'd like to pull, isolate the top of the taproot, where the root top is flush with the ground. <br />
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Insert your trowel or weeding tool right next to the rood. <br />
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Push straight down, or slightly away from the plant. If you push down in toward the root, you may cut through and break the root, making it harder to remove the entire root system. <br />
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Once you're down several inches, start to gently loosen the root system. <br />
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Ideally, you will remove the entire taproot, with the veins and all. And no harm done to the happy worms! <br />
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Join me next week while I share a medicinal way to use the roots.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17770921988652110078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-38881425895073672182015-05-15T06:36:00.000-07:002015-05-15T06:39:57.410-07:00Aphids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently I noticed my honeysuckle was looking a bit stressed. As I looked a bit closer I saw the tell tale sign of aphids. Several leaves were yellowing and looking a bit distorted and stunted covered in a sticky substance. <br />
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Aphids are soft-bodied insects, about a tenth of an inch long. They're
typically green or black, though you may also run into gray or black
ones in your garden. Aphids suck the sap out of tender plant shoots and leaves. As aphids feed, they secrete a sticky substance, called honeydew, which can quickly become infested with sooty mold. This mold can spread viruses, many of which are incurable. For this reason,
it’s important to take steps for controlling aphids in the garden. The good news is if caught early, they are pretty easy to combat.<br />
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Killing aphids naturally is not only better for the environment, but it
is also a more effective way of killing the insect. Aphids don’t respond
well to insecticides, but you can get them under control by taking
advantage of their weaknesses and making a few changes in the way you
manage your garden.<br />
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Aphids have a number of natural enemies. Pampering and nurturing these insects is an excellent
method of organic aphid control. I have mint, fennel, dill and yarrow planted about to help attract these insects to my garden which will then feed to on those pesky aphids. <br />
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If you have a big enough property, you can create aphid traps by growing plants that are attractive to aphids.
Growing plants such as nasturtium, aster, cosmos, hollyhock, larkspur, verbena, dahlia and zinnia far from other favorite plants will lure aphids away and
keep the garden aphid-free. <br />
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Another easy way to get rid of aphids is a strong spray of water from a hose which will knock many of the pests off
the plant, making it pretty impossible for them to return. It also rinses off some of
the honeydew. Spray the plant every day until the plant is aphid free.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07734981136224804320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-52396861917057369452015-05-13T11:00:00.001-07:002015-05-13T11:00:13.770-07:00popping inHello! I meant to post yesterday, but did not manage to get over here in time. While I won't be posting regularly due to my growing workload, I'm happy to provide a mid-to-deep south garden glimpse from time to time. <br />
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My garden has changed drastically since last year. We adopted a second lab in July and then unexpectedly found ourselves caring for a Great Pyrenees in the fall. My garden shows the strain of three big dogs so I'm limiting my gardening to my front yard raised beds and my galvanized tub planters this year. And like so much of the country, Memphis had a rough winter and I very sadly lost both of my hives at the beginning of the spring. They both had plenty of food in their feeders, but no honeystores and they did not avail themselves of the feeders. I was devastated by the loss and hope to try again next year, unless a swarm just happens to land in my yard the way they did last year.<br />
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On my birthday, in mid-March, it was finally warm enough to plant peas. Everything was still frozen when we usually plant peas and potatoes in February, and my peas are beginning to come in.<br />
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The radishes I planted with them are beginning to bolt, so I set my bowl down to pull the radishes and take them to the chickens (all five girls are fine and laying still, even though the two eldest are five this year!) and discovered that someone else likes peas, too.<br />
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Ajax ate half the bowl. He has always been a veggie-dog. If I find myself with more peas (two of my big tubs are planted in pea teepees, and they're really just beginning to produce), I hope to pickle peas like I did last year- they were a very nice addition to a cheese tray. These were quickly rinsed and eaten with my lunch.<br />
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<br />bridgmanpotteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552084024770335560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-32378472376562372222015-05-13T09:13:00.003-07:002015-05-13T09:13:15.067-07:00Candied flowers - lilac<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I remember as a child eating once some candied violets. I thought it was extraordinary to eat a real flower as a candy. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I love lilac it's perfume is so enchanting to me, my only regret is the flowers don't last long enough and I have to wait another year.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So this week I decided to share with you a recipe of candied flowers.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The recipe is very simple but it takes a little time to be honest with you. But think of the reward of having pretty flowers decorating your desserts. It tastes good too.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You will need :</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-<i> Fresh lilac flowers </i></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">( make sure no one used pesticides on them )</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">- 1 large egg white at room temperature </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">( use pasteurized egg white if you prefer )</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">- Some superfine sugar </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You can find superfine sugar at the store but I just blended some regular sugar in my blender.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">- A small paint brush</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">- Waxed paper </span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">Rinse the flowers quickly and put them on a waxed paper. Y</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 13px;">ou don't want them to be soaked in water. They need to be dry, I rinse the possible dust out of them but you could also not rinse them at all. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191919; line-height: 25px;">In a small bowl beat the egg until the white shows a few bubbles. Place the sugar in a small bowl. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191919; line-height: 25px;">Pick a flower hold it with your fingers, with the paint brush cover evenly the flower on both sides with egg white, not excessively. Hold the flower over the sugar and sprinkle sugar evenly all over on both sides. Place the flower on a waxed paper to dry and keep going with the rest of the flowers. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191919; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It is meticulous but quite easy. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191919; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Let the flowers dry until they are hard. Try to find a place where it's not humid.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191919; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Keep them in a container in the dark, you can keep them up to a year but I would recommend to consume them sooner. </span></span><br />
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You can use this recipe for any other edible flower. </div>
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Annabellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01761157623977402798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-58916571109143868582015-05-11T23:01:00.005-07:002015-05-22T00:22:15.640-07:00My Favorite Viburnums<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have really fallen in love with viburnums over the years. It all started when we bought our home in 2004 and there was planted a <a href="http://www.classicviburnums.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/7182/index.htm" target="_blank">Shoshoni Doublefile Viburnum</a>. The shrub started out small, planted between a peach tree and a royal star magnolia. With a little bit of compost each year, it has now completely outgrown it's expected size range and has overtaken the space. I've trained it to be a small tree rather than a shrub. I love the shade it offers the shade-loving perennials under it. Each year it grows bigger and bigger! This next year, I need to consider pulling or transplanting the two trees on either side of it.</div>
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Another favorite of mine is the <a href="http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/2209/eastern-snowball/" target="_blank">Eastern Snowball</a>. I just love the happy, white snowballs that blossom this time of year. They remind me of cheerleaders! One feature that I love about this variety are the generous blossoms they give. Even the smaller, younger shrubs produce lots of blooms. I have a few smaller shrubs growing around my garden and they each bloom every year. I love the way the snowball blossoms look in a vase or in an arrangement.</div>
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A few other varieties that I have growing in my garden that I love are <a href="http://www.finegardening.com/koreanspice-viburnum-viburnum-carlesii" target="_blank">Korean Spice</a>, <a href="http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=279019&isprofile=1&gen=Viburnum" target="_blank">Burkwood</a>, <a href="http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/2189/pink-dawn-viburnum/" target="_blank">Pink Dawn</a>, and <a href="http://www.rarefindnursery.com/index.php/trees-shrubs/viburnum/viburnum-carlesii-diana-koreanspice-viburnum.html" target="_blank">Diana Koreanspice</a>. They are all so hardy, add great color throughout the seasons, and some of them smell so wonderful. <a href="http://www.finegardening.com/viburnums-are-versatile-shrubs" target="_blank">Here's a great link</a> that explains more about viburnums. If can't say enough about viburnums!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17770921988652110078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-88209553880526187172015-05-06T12:19:00.000-07:002015-05-06T12:19:07.153-07:00A new season in our urban garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's with a lot of joy I am starting to write this post. I feel I have been waiting for this all winter. Even if I really like the cold it felt it was never ending and I was starting to be so tired of it.<br />
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Spring is definitely here and has shown its first colors with crocus, daffodils, trees in bloom, I am already thinking of the delicious fruits we might harvest in the summer.<br />
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I contemplate my garden and I imagine all the things we want to do. Every year is different and we learn so much from every season. The shape of the garden is different, the trees, plants are bigger or didn't make through winter.<br />
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We already had our first greens for a fresh salad, I have some starts inside waiting to be big enough to be outside, a lot of basil, I guess when I planted the seeds I was thinking of pesto so much!<br />
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It's late the windows are opened and I can smell the strong enchanting perfume of our lilac.<br />
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What about your garden ?<br />
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Happy spring !<br />
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<br />Annabellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01761157623977402798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-4793920303257977632015-05-04T10:00:00.000-07:002015-05-22T00:21:37.132-07:00Hopes For This YearI'm so happy to be back at TEND for another season! Thank you for joining us! When it comes to my garden, I dream big. My list of ideas and wants for my garden is pretty large, but here are a few that I'd like to get checked off this year.<br />
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<li>I'm hoping to fill in some gaps in my established perennial beds. I'd love to add some ground covers and additional fillers to tie some of the existing plants together.</li>
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<li>I dream of a larger, more tidy vegetable garden. The wooden raised beds are starting to rot, so replacing those may be a larger project later on this year. </li>
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<li>We have some shaded areas on our property that are pretty bare. The front yard of our home, which faces west, and the north side of our home both need some help. I've started purchasing some shade perennials to plant in those areas.</li>
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<li> My biggest yearning is to have more hard scape done around our home. Brick, cobblestone, pea gravel, and cement paths around the garden beds would be so wonderful! Honestly though, those are some high-priced tickets that I don't think we'll be able to afford this year.</li>
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I'll be sure to keep posting some of the progress throughout the season. That's one of the things I appreciate (and sometimes despise!) about gardening - the work is never complete!<br />
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Happy Spring, my friends! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17770921988652110078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-14839330542094068042015-05-03T13:30:00.002-07:002015-05-03T13:31:35.926-07:00A New Season ~ 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Spring my friends! <br />
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It is always so exciting to start a new season here at Tend. It amazes me that we are going into our 5th year here in this space. Our archives are growing and full of some great ideas and inspiration so pour a cup of tea and peruse when you get a chance.<br />
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I want to take the time to say thank you to both <a href="http://natalienoack.blogspot.com/p/about.html">Natalie</a> and <a href="http://www.bridgmanpottery.com/">Melissa</a> for their knowledge, expertise and contributions to Tend. I learned so much from Melissa about bees and bee keeping last year. It is still a long time dream of mine to keep a roof top hive. I am determined that one day it will happen and I know who to refer to when it does.<br />
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Melissa will not be a regular contributor here at Tend but I am hoping that from time to time she will pop in to say hello and let us know what's happening in her garden. <br />
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Natalie has been a part of Tend from the very beginning and such a help in getting this space established. It was such a pleasure reading about her beautiful gardens over the years and watching as she found the farm of her dreams.<br />
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Natalie will no longer be contributing to this space but you can always visit her over at her gorgeous <a href="http://natalienoack.blogspot.com/">website</a> and read all about her farm adventures and homestead <a href="http://natalienoack.blogspot.com/p/the-farm.html">Freckled Hen Farm.</a><br />
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This year, Tend will be written by just three of us- <a href="http://tendcollective.blogspot.com/p/about.html">Amber (on Mondays), Annabelle (on Wednesdays) and myself (on Fridays). </a><br />
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We are excited to share our gardens with you throughout the season and hope that we will be hosting a few guests this year on Tuesdays and Thursdays. <br />
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So without further ado please say hello to my little Spring garden adorned with pansies, lettuces, rhubarb, asparagus, flowering cherry and crab apple, forget-me-nots, swiss chard and kales.<br />
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I have been working hard out there and am excited to share my gardening adventures with you.<br />
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See you next week!<br />
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AmyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07734981136224804320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-52569241777776527132014-10-07T11:30:00.003-07:002014-10-07T11:38:53.482-07:00fall chores in the bee yard<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NjX7uyOEVNs/VDQu4VKstrI/AAAAAAAAB3g/yx76WfoBS7I/s1600/swarmfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NjX7uyOEVNs/VDQu4VKstrI/AAAAAAAAB3g/yx76WfoBS7I/s1600/swarmfall.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a> On Sunday, I discovered a tiny swarm had landed in my back yard, hanging on to the bottom of my top bar hive. <br />
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Several times during the day the back yard had been filled with bees- flying every which way. This is unusual for my bees. Their "flight school" lasts a short period of time and is centered around the hive entrance, but these seemed be be like bee storms. I suspected I might have a swarm, but I wasn't at home to witness either one, so I when I got home, I walked around the yard to check out what had happened and spotted this cluster immediately. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cy5XfjyoSoI/VDQu3RqrJjI/AAAAAAAAB3M/qQGrSpysRDA/s1600/inhivefall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cy5XfjyoSoI/VDQu3RqrJjI/AAAAAAAAB3M/qQGrSpysRDA/s1600/inhivefall.jpg" height="400" width="222" /></a>As I knew a cold front was expected to come roaring in- with temps in the 40s and thunderstorms, I knew I needed to act quickly, because the bees would be dead in the morning. I took my bee brush, flicked them into a plastic shoe box, and put them in the back of my top bar hive. In the morning, they looked like this- all tucked into a corner, just hanging out:<br />
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After I talked to my bee mentor, we figured out that this late swarm didn't seem to have a queen, and since both of my hives were full of brood and eggs, they didn't come from either of my colonies, so he recommended that I spray both the small colony in my tbh and the swarm with lemongrass-scented sugar water, remove the divider, and let them merge. So I did.<br />
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When I was checking my langstroth hive, I spotted the queen (can you see her below? She is in the bottom center of a cluster and has a naturally blackish, hairless thorax, where the other bees are fuzzy and golden) laying eggs, so I knew the swarm hadn't come from that hive. The honey stores for both my hives are very low, so I made some heavy sugar syrup, to start feeding them.<br />
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This morning I took the top super off of the langstroth (because there was no brood,
honey, or anything but bees guarding small hive beetles in "jail" in this super), pitched the lighter syrup, and refilled it to begin feeding them heavily as we head into cooler weather. I'll continue
to keep the feeders in both hives filled with 2:1 sugar:water syrup over the winter. Summer syrup
ratio is 1:1, so this will help build up their stores. <br />
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And here's my little langstroth hive, ready to snuggle in for the winter. It's been an interesting bee season this year. I've had a lot of swarming and learned so much. My mentor has moved away and is now a phone mentor rather than a physically-show-me-mentor, but I've learned a lot by working on my own.<br />
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I'm making a list of what I'll need for next bee season: a swarm catcher, since I had no less than four swarms in my back yard this year, another bee suit (or at least a jacket and gloves) for visitors and helpers. I hope that if you're interested in bees, my bee adventures have fueled your desire to keep bees!bridgmanpotteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552084024770335560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-10693992360466808612014-10-03T06:45:00.001-07:002014-10-03T06:51:18.850-07:00Lemon Verbena<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/farminmama/15424777571" title="Untitled by Amy Johnson, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="427" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3932/15424777571_f48ab113a9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/farminmama/15427605602" title="Untitled by Amy Johnson, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="427" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3929/15427605602_8f2032f880_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/farminmama/15427604942" title="Untitled by Amy Johnson, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="427" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/15427604942_e6431f6020_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/farminmama/15241410937" title="Untitled by Amy Johnson, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="427" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3935/15241410937_f361f343b1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/farminmama/15241178670" title="lemon verbena by Amy Johnson, on Flickr"><img alt="lemon verbena" height="427" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/15241178670_ca99036f6f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/farminmama/15241270228" title="dried lemon verbena by Amy Johnson, on Flickr"><img alt="dried lemon verbena" height="427" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/15241270228_4bdb88bafd_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/farminmama/15424687851" title="lemon verbena tea by Amy Johnson, on Flickr"><img alt="lemon verbena tea" height="427" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/15424687851_aa3941101a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
Although autumn is here in full swing, my garden is still full of life and abundance. We have yet to have our first frost, so there are still cherry tomatoes on the vine. Greens such as swiss chard and lacianto kale are growing prolifically amongst the blooming asters and toad lily and there is still quite an abundance of parsley making it's way into many a meal these days.<br />
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Another herb that is still growing strong is lemon verbena, an herb that I most recently fell in love with. I have my neighbor to thank for that who gifted me a little brown bag of homegrown lemon verbena tea for Christmas a few years ago. That spring it was the very first plant I bought at the nursery and I find that each year I buy a few more plants than I did the last. I tuck them in to as many pots and planters as possible amongst other herbs and annual flower. I love it's bright green leaves and it's spindly, trailing habit.<br />
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I use the leaves fresh in both iced and hot tea throughout the summer and in late summer I begin to dry the leaves to store a way for winter. A few weeks ago we were threatened with some cold night time temps. Since lemon verbena is an annual I pulled a few plants from my pots and hung them in my pantry to dry.<br />
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Because the leaves are a bit more dry and tough compared to mint or basil, lemon verbena dries quickly. Simply hang in a dry, cool place. In about 7-10 days strip the leaves from the stem and store in an airtight container. To make tea , simply place a handful of leaves in a teapot, cover with boiling water and let steep for 5 minutes. I like my tea with honey but it's also delicious plain both hot and cold. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260968183070856893.post-86787995545319509742014-10-02T10:11:00.000-07:002014-10-02T10:18:42.953-07:00DIY - Concrete planters <div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> I have a lot of succulents that needs to find new pots. Making your own planters is fun and doesn't take much time. Just need to have everything ready.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So you will need :</span></div>
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Plastic containers ( soft plastic )</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I reuse containers, plastic cups, yogurt cups, plastic containers from the restaurant... be creative ! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Vegetable oil ( I used canola oil ) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Concrete, I use a mix that you can get anywhere... Of course than you can start to play and add colors, materials... </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A large bowl to mix the concrete </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A little water ( for the concrete ) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Gloves ( latex )</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qxXvXGVg3Kg/VC18VJkTWpI/AAAAAAAAAaI/YcM0cCHe4XA/s1600/IMG_8093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qxXvXGVg3Kg/VC18VJkTWpI/AAAAAAAAAaI/YcM0cCHe4XA/s1600/IMG_8093.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here are the plastic containers I used. You will need to find some that are soft, it makes it easier to get the planter out...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Then you fill the bottom with concrete and place the smaller container in the middle and fill in any remaining space between the two containers with more concrete. ( again make sure it's very oily )</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I didn't do it but, if you want a planter with a drain I guess you can add in the bottom a piece of a cork or something with a smaller diameter that you'll remove after. ( make sure it's oiled ) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You wait until it's dry. ( depending on the mix you are using ) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And tada ! I made 2 of them just to make sure one of them would succeed for the picture and they both worked !</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Isn't it sweet ? It's perfect for a gift as well with a cute little plant in it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">These pansies found a new home</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And my little succulent can grow until it will need a bigger pot...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Have fun making these !</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Annabelle </span></div>
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Annabellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01761157623977402798noreply@blogger.com4