The Soil Sisters LLC

The Oakleaf Hydrangea

2011-02-28T21:00:00.003-05:00

Well-known for its oak-shaped leaves, this hydrangea ranks high on my favorite plant list! Native to the United States, the oakleaf offers four seasons of beauty, interest and more! Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) varieties ‘Alice’ and ‘Pee Wee’ are most popular in my 5b Zone.

The graceful ‘Alice’ grows to 4-5’ tall and will spread 5-6’ wide. If you have the space, this is an excellent selection as a single specimen or in mass! A hedge of the gorgeous ‘Alice’ is a guaranteed show stopper! The smaller, more petite ‘Pee Wee’ will grow 2-3’ tall and spreads 3-4’ wide. A perfect choice for any size garden, even smaller ones! ‘Alice’ and ‘Pee Wee’ share many similar characteristics. My favorite is watching the deep green foliage as it changes to a brilliant orange, red, burgundy, and yellow in autumn; the colors are amazing and quite unexpected for a hydrangea!

The abundant flowering display of the oakleaf is lovely in summertime and the beautiful blooms attract butterflies. The white cone-shaped blossoms on ‘Alice’ are large and magnificent! ‘Pee Wee’ is considerably smaller, but it is absolutely adorable! Everything about the ‘Pee Wee’ makes my heart sing. ‘Pee Wee’ is the mini-me version of ‘Alice’ and the foliage and blossoms blend perfectly in small settings!

During the winter months, I enjoy the spent flower blooms on all my hydrangea varieties until spring time. The dried flower heads are gorgeous along with another big winter interest bonus for the oakleaf hydrangea - its peeling bark! Admittedly, the cold winter weather rushes me indoors while my gardens are under snow, but the peeling bark of my ‘Pee Wee’ hydrangeas stop me dead in my tracks!

Once again, I’m reminded to take time to appreciate and enjoy the great gift of life and the bountiful earth that sustains us. Just like the oakleaf hydrangea, we have the privilege to make memories all year round!

There are only two ways of spreading light - to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

~Edith Wharton, American writer (1862-1937)

The Limelight Hydrangea

2011-02-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

I simply adore the time of year when hydrangeas make their stunning debut and steal the show in the garden! This is exactly what I wait for all season long! The beauty of all hydrangeas take my breath away...but the exciting and unique 'Limelight' Hydrangea paniculata brings out the giddy gardener in me!

‘Limelight’ hydrangea’s soft lime green blooms held above the dark green foliage resemble a triple scoop of soft-serve ice cream. To me, the luscious tapered blooms just scream “Summer time!” The impressive flower heads can get up to 12 inches long and stand upright on the shrub for an extraordinary and lovely display with no drooping! It’s a strong shrub with flower power! Another thriller with this beauty… as autumn approaches, the blooms gracefully change to a rich deep pink that lasts through late fall and offers wonderful winter interest.

Of all the hydrangeas, the ‘Limelight’ is the most adaptable to different soil types and prefers full sun to light shade. In fact, they are extremely hardy and very tricky to kill…oh yes, my kind of ornamental shrub! The beautiful ‘Limelight’ can be easily maintained as a small shrub or trained into a small tree. I prefer pruning my ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas in early spring by simply cutting off the spent flowers to make way for new ones! Bonus: the spent flowers add great winter interest and are a constant reminder of what’s to come. A hard pruning in spring will produce larger flowers…just cut the shrub back by 1/3 to 1/2. I will prune my ‘Limelights’ back very hard this spring and as a result the foliage will be much denser.

Interested in attracting attention to your landscape and gardens with an outrageously gorgeous effect? I recommend planting the ‘Limelight’ in groupings or masses. Hands down you’ll not be sorry and you, too, will wait for their coming out party each season like I do!

GROW IT

Botanical name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’

Common name: ‘Limelight’ hydrangea

Hardiness: USDA Zone 3 -8

Bloom Time: Begins in late July – early August. Blooms last through late fall.

Height: 6′-8′

The Poppy Fields Collection

2011-02-08T21:49:00.002-05:00

Because of my obsession with gardening, my antennae are such that when anything that comes within range that is remotely garden-related, they start twitching. It just happened again. Somehow I ended up on Kirkland's e-mail list and though I don't shop there often, they do have something once in awhile that I find attractive and usually the price is right.

I just took a look at their new Poppy Fields Collection and gardener or not, it's got some rather attractive items for the home.

My picks:

At 12" tall, this ceramic vase with a nice matte finish in chocolate brown sells for $21.99.

This Tabletop Plaque is crafted of metal and measures approximately 21" by 21". It sells for $24.99.

At my back door, I love to use colorful and fun graphic mats. This Outdoor Coir Mat has a chocolate background and measures 17" by 29". It is inexpensive, at $9.99.

We are not affiliated with Kirkland's in any way, nor have we been contacted by the company or received any of the mentioned products from them. From time to time, The Soil Sisters come across something they like as they shop the web and the real world. We are sharing our finds with you and always follow the FCC guidelines regarding full disclosure.

Hibiscus for northern gardens

2011-02-01T02:12:00.001-05:00

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Starry Wind' from Costa Farms

Every time I go to Florida, I’m enthralled by the tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) in bloom. So many vibrant colors grab my attention every time I pass by them when walking or driving just about anywhere. Sadly, I know we can’t put them in the ground here in Ohio and expect them to live through the winter.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t have hibiscus in Ohio. I keep them in containers and take them in and out of the house as the weather dictates. But there’s a way to enjoy hibiscus in the north without all that in and out business. There are two hybrid hibiscus that are hardy to our zone 5 winters: Hibiscus syriacus and Hibiscus moscheutos.

I’ve got two Hibiscus moscheutos. They have ginormous blooms measuring 8-10 inches across. This hibiscus dies all the way back to the ground after a hard freeze in the fall, and begins growing again in late spring.

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Plum Crazy'

I’ve also got four Hibiscus syriacus, also known as Althea or Rose of Sharon. The blooms are similar to other hibiscus, but are much smaller, being approximately 3-4 inches across. These do not die down to the ground after frost, but they do lose their leaves. They too are rather slow to break dormancy in the spring, so don’t think they’ve not made it through the winter just because they’re later than most plants to show signs of life.

Hibiscus syriacus 'Aphrodite'

GROW IT

Botanical name: Hibiscus syriacus

Common name: Rose of Sharon

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5 – 9

Bloom Time: July through September

Height: 4′-10′

Grow it: This is easy to grow from seed and from cuttings. Blooms best in full sun, but will grow and bloom (less) in full shade, too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Botanical name: Hibiscus moscheutos

Common name: Hardy Hibiscus

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5 – 10

Bloom Time: July through September

Height: 4′- 6′

Grow it: Plant in full sun. Average moisture needs, but does better on the moist side.

Hydrangea and Me: A Love Affair

2011-01-27T21:38:00.002-05:00

Did you know that western gardens have cultivated hydrangeas since the first American species were brought to England in the 1700s? The common, big-leaf hydrangea, macrophylla, has been popular with gardeners in its native land of Japan for hundreds of years. Many gardeners enjoy the beautiful flowers and foliage of the hydrangea as a treasured specimen in the garden… including me!

Recently I spent a few hours at the nursery selecting and tagging plants for my clients. As always, I was instantly drawn to the charming hydrangeas and, once again, stood before them in fascination. The ongoing rows of the various species thoroughly warmed my heart and filled it with joy! I simply NEVER get tired of hydrangeas! As I strolled up and down the rows, I intentionally touched every flower head and leaf that I came in contact with! From ‘Pinky Winky’ to the ‘Twist-N-Shout’ to the ‘Little Lamb’, the ‘Annabelle’ and ‘Limelight’ and ‘Oakleaf’ and all the others that crossed my path! How gorgeous they looked lined up like soldiers and I wanted all of them!

I’m not quite sure what it is about a hydrangea that attracts me like no other. Yes, there are the obvious gardener’s reasons…the paniculata and the arborescens species provide year-round interest, the blooms are outstanding, the colors showing and endearing, and they’re hardy in most zones… but that’s not it. My love for hydrangeas goes much deeper. I adore how the hydrangea never holds back from its full blooming potential. From the time the first bud appears, there is no stopping the exuberant growth as it seemingly strives to celebrate all it was created to be. The abundant, lush blooms boldly and beautifully speaking to the world! I believe that’s how our lives were intended to be lived. Even the smallest hydrangea buds, in time, bloom in unabashed glory and we are no different. I think I’ve learned something new about myself and my beloved Hydrangea. I will always cherish them in my gardens!

The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water,

but to walk on the earth.

~Chinese Proverb

Planting Great Seeds at Reaching Higher

2011-01-20T13:49:00.000-05:00

If you walk past a Reaching Higher classroom in Royal Oak, MI, it is everything but conventional! You may just hear many, chanting very loudly:

"I plant great seeds in the corner of my mind,

My seeds are my thoughts, they are the winning kind.

My thoughts help me focus when I am still.

I say yes I can, yes I will.

I am a winner

I will succeed

Because I use my mind to

Plant great seeds!"

I once believed seeds were only planted in the soil…until I discovered Reaching Higher. Four years ago I responded to an ad in my local newspaper by Susie Dahlmann, Founder and Executive Director of Reaching Higher. Susie was recruiting volunteers interested in becoming trained Reaching Higher instructors so I called to express an interest. Since then, I have had the distinct honor and privilege of working with youth from my local middle and high school. Just like gardening, Reaching Higher strikes an unexplained chord deep in my soul!

Reaching Higher’s unique curriculum is a well-designed nine-session program that is progressive and cutting edge. The thing I love most is that it is love-based. Hands down, The Beatles were “right on” when they crooned “all we need is love!"

During the eight-week period, two instructors, five assistants and twenty-some students explore uncharted waters and endless possibilities, together. Here's a brief synopsis:

SESSION 1
You Are a Miracle - Students explore their miraculous and unique nature and begin to create a positive community within the group.

SESSION 2
Remembering - Students put away negative messages they have "learned" about themselves and begin to remember the precious parts of themselves.

SESSION 3
Managing Stress - Students learn techniques for impulse intervention and stress relief as well as ways to overcome worry.

SESSION 4
Purpose In Life-Setting Goals - Students look at their unique gifts and explore how those gifts can be expressed through setting and attaining goals.

SESSION 5
Changing Limiting Beliefs - Students look at negative beliefs about themselves and experience techniques to replace them with positive beliefs.

SESSION 6
Fear to Freedom - Students explore the impact of fear in their lives and learn techniques for releasing fear.

SESSION 7
Positive Life Choices - Students have the opportunity to hear experiences that have involved poor life choices and learn to make good choices for themselves.

SESSION 8
Happiness Through Giving and Loving - Students will give to one another, through kind action and communications, and experience the happiness that results.

SESSION 9
Graduation Celebration - On this special evening, parents, friends and faculty come together to celebrate the children and to hear how the students have benefited from the Reaching Higher program.

Front Row: Jan Bills, Lisa Bahm, Marie Churchill; Back row: Sarah Goodwin, Dawna Tennant, Sarah Rothenberg, Carrie Selinski

So when I am not planting seeds in the soil during the growing season in Michigan, you will more than likely find me and many others planting seeds of love and hope for one another!

Bravo, Reaching Higher, for putting the memorable words of The Beatles into action! I am grateful and blessed to be a part of this awesome program!

Together we can plant great seeds! After all, to nourish and grow, all we need is love!

A cool, eco-friendly lunch box for kids!

2011-01-18T11:36:00.001-05:00

I was watching The Today Show this morning and while I no longer have kids of the age where they pack lunches for school, this eco-friendly way of doing it caught my eye. It's SO cool, I'm sitting here trying to figure out a reason why I need to buy one anyway.

PlanetBox makes this hip lunch box that incorporates the classic design of a compartmentalized lunch tray with the utilitarian need for storage and transport capabilities.

Made of stainless steel, it has a hinged cover and five compartments (PlanetBox Basic). It's also available with two separate round containers - one large and one small - for condiments and dips (PlanetBox Plus). Another option is an insulated carrying case, which you'd surely want. For all of the above (PlanetBox Complete), the total cost is $59.95. You can also buy the "extras" separately.

Even the carrying case is eco-minded, being made of toxin-free recycled plastic fibers. (No lead, no PVC, no phthalates, no BPA).

Another fun aspect of these is the magnets that come with the set that allow you to personalize the lunch tray. There are Retro Kitty, Rockets, Green Globe, Sports Balls, Under the Sea, Rainbow, Modern Art, Groovy, Wheelies, and Paisley & Plaid magnet sets. I know right now that I'd want Paisley & Plaid! ('Cause I LOVE paisley!)

Sports Balls magnet set

Check them out!

Balance, ease, beauty. It’s all about sustainability!

2011-01-18T08:34:00.000-05:00

Initial meetings with clients always begin with a request for a maintenance-free landscape and the response is always consistent - a maintenance-free landscape is virtually impossible! However, what is not impossible is a sustainable landscape that works with the environment and requires minimal and manageable maintenance. Once explained, clients are excited and anxious for us to dig in…literally! After all, who doesn’t long for beautiful gardens that attract wildlife and require very little maintenance?

As you may know, there are many variations to the definition of sustainable landscaping. However, The Soil Sisters define sustainable landscaping with three easy words: balance, ease, and beauty! Balance embraces local climate, site selection and resources; ease includes minimal inputs such as water, organic pesticides and fertilizers; and beauty, of course, is what excites all gardeners!

Sustainable landscaping begins with an excellent design that is functional, cost efficient, visually attractive, environmentally friendly, and easy to maintain. Believe it or not, sustainable landscaping is very simple to achieve!

Following are three key components to a viable sustainable landscape:

Promotes positive practices and minimizes negative impacts
Facilitates self-sufficiency
Conserves natural resources

How can you implement these ideas into your landscaping this year?

Water harvesting by attaching a rain barrel to a downspout
Utilizing a compost bin
Thickly planted garden beds with trees, shrubs, and ground covers
Beds planted along the edge of the road to slow and filter runoff
Terracing to slow runoff and encourage infiltration
Plant trees to create microclimates which reduce water usage
Learning good soil management which encourages rainwater infiltration
Mulching around tree trunks

Sustainability is an ongoing relationship between you, your garden and its surrounding eco-system. It’s not too late to begin making small changes toward a more sustainable garden now, with a goal of a more water-wise, environmentally-friendly garden in just a few months. You’ll be helping the earth and you’ll be rewarded with a lot less work creating and maintaining beautiful garden beds!

I am very passionate about sustainability and we’ll be featuring more helpful and informative articles to get you growing green. After all, it’s all about sustainability!

Let me entertain you!

2011-01-15T20:02:00.000-05:00

Like many of us, I love when wildlife shows up in my tiny backyard. Kylee’s recent Soil Sisters' article, Gleaning for the Wildlife, inspired me to feed my squirrels the way she does, from a nifty corncob holder! Enthusiastically, I drove from store to store but could not find one like hers so I decided to make my own corncob holder. It has been delightful watching these frisky creatures maneuver and munch on the corncobs while hanging from my tree!

Do you want to be entertained by squirrels, too? If so, gather up the kids and a wire coat hanger for a fun and inexpensive weekend project! Here’s how:

1. Begin by straightening a wire coat hanger. Unwind the wire that is wrapped around the base of the hanger’s hook (I used a pliers).

2. Keep the hook in place and straighten out the rest of the hanger.

3. Starting at the end of the wire opposite the hook (using the pliers) wrap the wire to make two tight circles, these will be the base of the feeder and will hold the corncob in place.

4. Use your hands to wrap the wire in circles large enough to fit a corncob. Remember to leave the hook end sticking straight up.

5. Place the corncob into the spiral.

6. Use the hook end to hang the corncob from a branch or any place that the squirrels can get to it.

Now, sit back with the kids and enjoy the funny antics of your backyard squirrels…they’ll be glad you did!

"Hey, Soil Sister..."

2011-01-15T08:59:00.000-05:00

Our Soil Mister, Joseph, of Greensparrow Gardens, has recorded a delightful video, with a creative take on the Train hit, Hey, Soul Sister. We met Joseph in Buffalo last summer at the garden bloggers' fling and spent some fun time with him, talking about doing some video for The Soil Sisters. He wrote a blog post for us a couple of months ago, for our Meet a Weeder feature.

Please check out his video here. We love it!

Operator’s Manual: Gardening Hand Tools - A Guest Post

2011-01-13T17:32:00.000-05:00

Today's guest post is from Stacy Walters, a Registered Kinesiotherapist, Master Gardener, and budding freelance writer with a passion for green living.

Gardening is on the rise, yet about one in every five do-it-yourself injuries occurs during the activity. It’s important to recognize, however, that gardening does not cause injury. Poor gardening biomechanics cause injury.

The use of everyday gardening hand tools can cause strain, and in effect be a major source of discomfort for many gardeners. The hands, wrists, and elbows are complex joint structures that are vulnerable to overuse injury and degenerative conditions. Novice and expert gardeners alike need to be aware that poor biomechanics can result in osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain injury, or cumulative trauma disorder.

If you’re like me, you’ve tried every tool and gadget on the market promising to make gardening tasks easier and more enjoyable. Gardeners understand each tool’s purpose, but what they don’t understand is how to use the body appropriately to OPERATE the tool. Gardeners can avoid reduced mobility, strength, and next day soreness by adopting a few simple habits when using hand tools.

Here are Stacy’s four key guidelines to serve as your operator’s manual for gardening hand tools:

Always use a right angled grip to ensure proper alignment of the forearm, wrist, and fingers.

This is actually much easier than it may seem. For example, quickly examine the proper trowel grip. Simply take the trowel, direct the point at the target, and shake hands with it (similar to gripping a golf club for my golfers out there). Many manufacturers actually draw a map for you right on the tool. As a matter of fact, this Corona eGrip trowel is designed with what I call a “thumb rest” and a “grip stopper”. The thumb rest provides a slip resistant protruding ledge that allows the thumb to stay straight in proper alignment. Even better, the grip stopper is a comfortable hook that keeps the fingers perfectly aligned with the thumb.

This grip seamlessly prepares the body to recruit the appropriate muscles of the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, and neck to perform the work. I see gardeners time and time again make the mistake of grabbing the trowel toward the end of the tool as if they were grabbing a doorknob. The wrist is immediately set up to take the brunt of the work with a little help from the forearm and elbow joint. Not to mention, what do we do with doorknobs? Twist! The very motion we should avoid while gardening.

Proper grip

Improper grip
Keep the work close to you.

Do whatever it takes to position yourself close to your work. Kneel on a pad, squat, or sit on a stool. Avoid bending over at the waist to reach the task, as well as twisting a joint resulting in an awkward motion. Try to circumvent working with the arms overhead, and consider working from a ladder. Of course gardeners will find themselves in situations when they cannot follow these recommendations; however, it is important to evaluate the dangers and ask a fellow gardener for assistance.
Avoid isolated wrist movements by using gross movements of the shoulder and elbow.

It sounds easy enough, but HOW exactly do you do this? The first question you need to ask yourself when you’re setting up for a gardening task is “How can I position myself so that I am using my entire arm and shoulder for this task?” Quickly access how to capitalize on the mechanical advantage of the stronger joint structures and muscles of the arm, shoulder, and even the abdominal muscles. You do not need to be an expert in biomechanics to accomplish this.

Typically this just means you will use the techniques provided in guideline #2 to stay close to your work, and keep your shoulder over the tool. Feel free to use both hands when greater force is needed, but be sure to use the proper grip. Simply shake hands with tool, and then wrap the other hand around the tool with the thumb on top (this is very much like the golf grip!). As you begin to move through the range of motion, ensure that you are engaging your abdominals and driving the work from your shoulder. Do not excessively flex or extend the wrist, avoid the flicking motion, and do not lock (completely straighten) the elbow joint.
Fit to Garden Basics:
- Complete a gardening warm-up wrist, arm, and shoulder stretches
- Begin with easier gardening tasks and progress to more difficult projects
- Don’t spend too long in one position, be sure to alternate tasks
- Wear gloves for extra cushion
- Perform post-gardening wrist, arm, and shoulder stretches
- Stop when you’re tired, that’s when most gardening injuries occur

Spending just a few moments concentrating on these guidelines will enhance body awareness and protect gardeners from unnecessary injury. While you’re chipping away on those gardening projects and performing mindful movement, you will also be burning approximately 200 calories every 30 minutes.

Wishing you happy and healthy gardening, cheers!

In addition to her website, Fit to Garden™, you can follow Stacy on Twitter at @FITtoGARDEN.

Five Great Native Plants for the Home Landscape

2011-01-11T22:45:00.001-05:00

Today's guest post is from Scott Hokunson. Scott is the principal of Blue Heron Landscape Design, organic land care proponent and a happily married father of two, living in northern Connecticut. He also coaches high school lacrosse.

For centuries, plant aficionados have scoured the earth for new and exciting flora to bring home to their gardens. Plant hunters have been so successful, that their popular exotic introductions have replaced native plant species at such a rate as to cause a reduction in our native insect species.

Luckily though, the tide is turning; growers are producing new cultivars of native plants and natives are finding their way back into our gardens. Here are five native plants that we use on a regular basis in our designs that will work well in your gardens.

Heritage River Birch (Betula nigra ‘Heritage’) is a beautiful small to mid-sized tree, hardy in zones 3–8. Its bark peels away gracefully to reveal a beautiful cinnamon color. Glossy dark green leaves contrast with the bark nicely until fall when they change to a nice yellow. Used en masse or as a specimen, this eastern U.S. native will stand out in your landscape.

Heritage River Birch (Betula nigra ‘Heritage’)

Golden Groundsel (Senecio aureus), a native of the northeast U.S., is a low-growing perennial that tolerates wet soil and blossoms well in the shade. Golden daisy-like flowers appear above shiny green foliage in spring. A good groundcover and a great naturalizer for the woodland garden, it also performs well as a cut flower.

Golden Groundsel (Senecio aureus)

‘Blue Shadow’ Fothergilla (Fothergilla major ‘Blue Shadow’), a native of the mountains of the southeastern U.S., the plant is covered with white, fragrant, bottlebrush flowers atop bare stems in spring. The foliage opens light green but quickly changes to a wonderful soft blue - a color that matches well with many grasses and perennials. In autumn, 'Blue Shadow' stands out again as the foliage takes on the reds, yellows and oranges of a sugar maple. Good branching habit, with smooth grey bark provides very good winter interest. Growing 6–10 feet in height and spread, and hardy in zones 4–8, Fothergilla ‘Blue Shadow’ is a four-season stunner.

Fothergilla major 'Blue Shadow'

Another wonderful groundcover, Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), is native to the northern half of North America. Growing just 5–9 inches tall and covered in dark green foliage that turns red in autumn, bunchberry is slow to establish but well worth the wait. Small flowers in late spring and early summer give way to deep red fruit in August. A favorite of many birds, they don’t last long. Hardy in zones 2–6 and a member of the dogwood family, bunchberry will work nicely in the shade of the woodland garden.

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’), zones 4–8, has purple stems and chocolate green leaves. Its upright habit to 3–4 feet in height and dark presence are great in the perennial border, providing a nice accent amongst any brightly colored blossoms. Small white flowers appear in clusters, forming large heads from late summer through early fall, attracting many pollinators and guaranteeing a few oohs! and aahs! from the neighbors.

White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’)

The commonalities of these and other great natives for the home landscape are that they provide wonderful ornamental characteristics, nectar for our pollinators, and a food source for native insects and birds. Next time you are searching for a new plant for your garden, give one of these great natives a try, and sit back and enjoy all the visitors you will receive.

I hope your garden is full of life and a joy to interact with!

Scott

Find Scott on Twitter and on his blog, Blue Heron Landscapes.

For the love of carrots

2011-01-10T11:45:00.004-05:00

I love cooked carrots. I do not like raw carrots. I think you'll find more raw carrot lovers than those like me, but there's a good reason to like them cooked. (Not that this is the reason I eat them that way - I just think they taste better.) It turns out that cooked carrots are better for you!

Carrots have tough cellular walls that our digestive systems can't break down very well. Within those cells are contained beta carotene, which our body then turns into Vitamin A. Cooking breaks down the cellular walls, making the beta carotene more available.

In all fairness, technically, raw carrots can be as nutritious, if they're juiced. This too breaks down the cellular walls. And it's best to cook the carrots whole, rather than slicing them, because slicing them causes proteins and carbohydrates to be lost in the water during cooking.

If all this is too confusing, let's just keep it simple. Carrots are good for you, whether you eat them raw or eat them cooked. But if you eat them for the benefit of the beta carotene, you're better off to eat them cooked.

Oh, and one more thing, like a lot of root vegetables, there's a lot of goodness in the skins, so scrub them clean rather than peel them, whether you cook them or not.

Mother Nature's punk side

2011-01-08T10:56:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I come across a plant that makes me smile because I like to imagine Mother Nature having a crazy fun day at the time of its creation. A few years ago, I saw a beautyberry bush (Callicarpa americana) and smiled. I mean, really... the color of those berries! You just don't see it very often, occurring naturally.

Last year, I bought a related species of the native shrub for myself and this fall, it was large enough to put on some berries. The color of the berries is pretty enough, but the fall color of the leaves contrasts nicely, too.

I love this shrub and so do the birds and butterflies. The berries aren't the first choice of birds, but if other food sources are scarce, they're quite content to eat them. The larvae of particular species of butterflies native to Asia eat the leaves.

Calicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst'

American beautyberry contains the chemical callicarpenal, a natural mosquito and tick repellent.

GROW IT

Common name: Beautyberry

Botanical name: Callicarpa sp.

Hardiness zone: 5-8

Height: 3-4 feet

Grow it: Grows best in neutral to slightly acidic soil in sun to part shade. Average water needs. White to pink blooms in mid-summer, with berries in late summer into fall. Unless eaten by birds, berries will remain after leaves have been lost.

For the Love of Heritage Trees

2011-01-07T21:13:00.000-05:00

The thing I love most about gardening is that I always learn something new. A perfect example is when I picked up the October issue of the Michigan Gardener and read a fascinating (and eye opening) article by Steven Turner, a Certified Arborist in Ferndale, Michigan.

Steve’s informative article was about preserving heritage trees from a European prospective. I was amazed to learn the contrast between us, Europeans, and trees. It is incredible the great lengths Europeans will endeavor to preserve a tree in comparison to our “remove and replace” attitude described by Steve.

For as long as I remember, I thought a 100 to 200-year-old tree was very old. Steve’s article explained that most of our lands were cleared out as they were settled which means our forests are second, third, and even fourth generation growth from the original trees. It was sad to learn that in North America there are very few virgin forests left. I cannot imagine what a 500-1000-year-old tree looks like but would love to see one! Wow!

Steve shared that a colleague was fortunate enough to visit a small German village and a several-hundred-year-old “dancing” lime tree (linden). The colleague was amazed by the linden’s size! In the past he would have thought the tree was in decline until he was shown paintings of the linden from the 1600’s, in a similar state as it is now! I think it is fair to say that by our standards, we would have declared that tree a hazard and removed it many years ago. Steve made an excellent point that our thinking denies us, and many generations to follow, the thrill and true glory of a mature tree, long after 100 years.

Steve reported that an oak tree in England will grow for 300 years, live for 300 more, and then die for 300 years. Whew…that is very different thinking that ours! We often believe that an 80-100-year-old tree is considered very mature causing concern that it may be a hazard or will die soon. In Steve’s “tree year’s world," our mature trees are really just teenagers and, if left undisturbed by man and our potential harmful activities, have the potential to outlive us all! Wow again!

Believe it or not, our existence in urban environments shortens the life of these trees. Sidewalks, roads, and buildings interfere with a tree’s root zones. Also, competing turf grass, leaf removal, improper irrigation and the over-use of fertilization contribute to a tree’s decline.

Did you know that trees have three stages of canopies? Here’s how Steve described it:

“The first is the full canopy that we are all used to seeing, with no tip dieback from the top. The second is about halfway down, and this is the point where the tree will dieback to after the first stage of decline. You will see large, dead structural branches sticking up about the new canopy and in time these branches will rot and break off if not removed by a professional first. The third and final stage looks more like a bonsai tree: a massive trunk with minimal, large branches left, but a full yet much smaller canopy sprouting from the trunk or remaining limbs.

It is in this final stage that a tree can live for many years by simply re-sprouting a new branch when one breaks off or dies. Keep in mind that a tree can remain in the second stage for many years and if pruned properly can remain a valuable landscape asset for years to come before progressing to the final stage. Even in the final stage of decline, a tree can be an interesting living sculpture if left to its own accord. “

Wondering what you can do? Steve believes that with a bit of patience, protection, and care, we may have the opportunity to enjoy our heritage trees for many years to come! Thanks, Steve, for opening my eyes to heritage trees!

Cause an effect: Invincibelle® Spirit Hydrangea

2011-01-05T20:52:00.001-05:00

Hold me back! Anyone that knows me will confirm that I am hydrangea crazy and my favorite color in the garden is pink. Well, my dreams have come true! Have you seen the first ever PINK-flowered ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea, the Invinicibelle® Spirit ( Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHAI’ ppaf, cbraf) by Proven Winners?! This rugged beauty blooms every year on new wood, even after the harshest of winters, making it the most reliable pink hydrangea yet. At full maturity, it can produce over 100 large pink blooms from midsummer until frost! In my opinion, Proven Winners has definitely out-performed themselves in 2010!

Another sweet bonus: Proven Winners’ goal is to raise ONE MILLION DOLLARS for breast cancer research. $1.00 from every Invincibelle® Spirit sold will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. You can visit www.invincibellespirit.net to make a donation.

Be sure to plant these amazing hydrangeas where you can enjoy their blooms from inside as well. I have three planted in the garden in front of a very large window and they are FABULOUS! Each day a new bud appears and the pink continues to intensify. They thrive in full sun to part shade so the plant combinations are endless! I’m giddy with excitement over the Invincibelle® Spirit and I know you will be, too. Go ahead, treat yourself today, and plant this gorgeous ornamental in your garden… and help prevent and fight breast cancer! Think PINK!

Hardiness: USDA Zones 3-9a

Sesame Street Live in the garden!

2011-01-05T20:36:00.000-05:00

When our older daughter Kara was about three years old, I took her to see Sesame Street Live, a musical performance by the larger then life characters from the classic children's television show. We had fabulous seats, being front and center at the end of the runway used in the production.

I don't remember what the show was called that year (1983?) but I do remember that Big Bird was running around at the end of that runway when a lone yellow feather drifted down onto the floor right in front of us. Kara, being painfully shy for most of her growing up years, wanted that feather. I told her to go get it, but she hesitated and before we knew it, another child snatched it up, obviously thrilled.

It was a fun time, nonetheless, even for me as an adult. It was fun, because not only was I an adult, but I was a mom and I got to experience it through the eyes of my child. Sesame Street Live continues 28 years later, and this year, the show is Elmo's Green Thumb! From the website:

Elmo has raised his sunflower, Sunny, from a seed, but his floral friend has outgrown the flower pot. Elmo and friends find Big Bird’s garden the ideal place for Sunny to flourish and grow but they are too excited to wait. Rather than let Sunny follow nature’s course, Abby Cadabby, Sesame Street’s fairy-in-training, casts a spell to make Sunny grow. The spell does just the opposite and, instead of growing, Elmo and all of his friends shrink!

While Abby searches for just the right words to reverse the spell, Elmo, Zoe,Telly and friends explore Big Bird’s garden from a smaller perspective and learn some big lessons about patience, overcoming their fears and appreciating the role that each creature plays in our ecosystem – from dancing ladybugs and beautiful butterflies to grouchy beetles that scavenge the garden floor. Will being small help Sunny grow tall? It’s a fresh, original Sesame Street Live from a whole new point of view!

Who knows? Perhaps Elmo and friends will be just the ones to inspire new young gardeners to grow their own!

To see if Sesame Street Live will be performing in your area, visit the official website for more details.

Nonnie's meatloaf is filled with memories!

2011-01-04T17:33:00.007-05:00

There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place

where colors are brighter,

the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.

~Elizabeth Lawrence

Last week my friend’s daughter Sarah posted on Facebook that she was making Nonnie’s meatloaf recipe for dinner. Immediately I longed to be 13 years old again, sitting in Nonnie’s home. Nonnie is my best friend’s mother (Sarah’s grandmother). Nonnie was an avid gardener who adored wildlife, especially the birds and squirrels. I think she would love Edgar and Stump!

A favorite childhood memory is the aroma of Nonnie’s kitchen after a hot summer day of cheerleader practice in the late '70s. Nonnie was the best southern-style cook I’ve ever met! Silly as it may seem, if I close my eyes and reflect on days gone by, I can feel myself in her comfy cozy presence. Nonnie always graciously opened up her home (and heart) to me and others. She took pleasure in preparing and serving her lip-smacking homemade southern meals. Goodness, that woman could cook, and always with a smile on her face! Have you ever had fresh green beans sautéed in bacon grease? Now there’s a flavor to savor that cannot be replicated with low-fat oils!

Naturally, I had to try my hand at Nonnie’s meatloaf and so I did. My husband and I ate (more like devoured) the whole thing! I shared my loving memories of Nonnie with him and we both shared comfort in her amazing meal. My husband is very nostalgic that way and always appreciates a story from the past.

So it is with great honor and pleasure to share with you Nonnie’s simple meatloaf recipe passed on by her incredibly amazing granddaughter.

1 lb. ground round
1 egg
½ cup of rolled oats
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Salt & pepper
½ cup ketchup, extra for top of meatloaf

Mix above in bowl and place in a loaf pan.
Heat oven to 350°. Cook for 1½ hours. Drain fat periodically. Ten minutes before taking out of oven, spread the ketchup on top.

Nonnie passed away many years ago but her memory lives on. Yes, she was the best southern-style cook, but more importantly she had the essence of a true southern belle. Nonnie truly cared for others more than she cared for herself.

How blessed are we to cherish special moments that will never leave our minds…or our hearts. ♥

Sarah & Kathy (my best friends)

Feed the birds!

2010-12-21T14:04:00.000-05:00

While we feed and watch the birds all year long, it takes on special significance in winter, especially if you live in the north. From the birds' perspective, they're grateful for the eats and from ours, it's a chance to watch them and appreciate their beauty and interesting behavior.

For example, when the blue jays come around, the feeder clears of the finches and sparrows and they return only after the blue jays have finished hogging it all.

The equally beautiful cardinals don't have that effect on the other birds. They share.

We don't feed ours anything special, just a general mix of seeds. That way we get a variety of birds. We do have a separate feeder for the goldfinches, who don't look very gold this time of year, with their duller winter colors.

What kinds of birds are you seeing at your feeders right now?

Basic houseplant care tips

2010-12-18T11:11:00.002-05:00

Now that winter is upon us and for many areas of the country, it's here in a big way, gardening comes inside. Houseplants are great, because they allow us to continue our passion in a smaller way while our outside gardens take a big nap.

Pothos, which is similar to Philodendron, is an easy houseplant to grow.

Every time I talk to someone about houseplants, there's someone in the bunch who says, "I can't grow houseplants. I always kill them." You know what? I used to say that very thing, because it was true. I even turned over the watering duties to my husband because for some reason, he was better at it and if something ended up dead, I wouldn't have to take the blame for it!

Growing houseplants is not really that hard, if you choose the houseplants that fit your lifestyle. Some require much more care than others. If you don't want a fussy plant, choose something like a philodendron, a jade plant, a hoya, or a ZZ plant. They're very forgiving if you're sporadic about your watering duties.

But regardless of what you're growing in your living room, here are some things to remember:

Don't overwater! Everyone says this, but it's true. More houseplants die from drowning than dehydration. Stick your finger into the soil about an inch deep and if you feel any moisture in the soil, don't water. Using a water meter is a great help, too. (I use one.) When you do water, water thoroughly, letting the water run out the bottom.

Fertilize! Since plants are in a limited environment in their pots, they'll use up the nutrients in the potting soil and they'll need to be replenished. Potting soils are available that have slow-release fertilizer added and these feed the plants over a period of 3-6 months, but after that, you'll need to feed them. Nothing special is needed, just a general purpose plant food. Follow the instructions on the container.

Light! Make sure you're meeting their light needs. There are many houseplants that don't require high light and most tags will indicate a plant's optimum light level. During the winter, most high-light plants will need to be in a sunny south window to receive enough light to do well, so if you don't have that available, look for plants that only require medium to low light.

Pork Chops Dressed up for the Holidays!

2010-12-17T18:21:00.002-05:00

The Soil Sisters are so thrilled our Smart Cooking Cyber Chef Debra Hempe graciously agreed to share one of her delicious holiday recipes and Christmas thoughts with us!

Christmas is almost here and as I hurry around town doing my last minute errands, I’m struck by the beauty of the season. My town resembles a tabletop Christmas Village and the shopkeepers, from the baker to the cobbler (yes we have a cobbler), have carefully turned their windows into a feast for the eyes. My fellow shoppers don a dazzling array of Christmas attire. A woman in a tastefully subdued forest green pullover nods and whispers a “Merry Christmas” to the woman whose sweater and earrings light up and twinkle to the beat of the Christmas carols playing on the stores PA system. The streets are filled with bell ringers; nativity scenes and holiday lights wound on lampposts making them resemble giant candy canes. I feel like a kid again, and suddenly I’m lost in my own nostalgic memories of Christmases past. It’s nice to remember.

Since our streets, shops, and neighbors are all dressed up for the holidays I saw no reason why I shouldn’t dress up my pork chops as well. These boneless chops will be butterflied and stuffed with a delicious combination of red onion fruit and bread crumbs that will make the meal look and taste like a holiday feast. It's an easy dinner for two and can be easily doubled if company is expected!

2 boneless pork chops butterflied

1 tbs olive oil

½ red onion

1 small rib celery

½ Granny Smith apple

5 dried apricots

2 tbs dried cranberries

5 cherries (pitted and stemmed)

1 clove minced garlic

½ tsp poultry seasoning

2 tsp parsley

½ tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

¼ cup chicken stock

Dice the onion celery and the fruits

Cook onion and celery in oil till almost soft

Add the garlic cook for a minute more

Add the diced fruit

Cook till onions and fruits are slightly soft

Add spices

Add ½ cup breadcrumbs

Stir to combine

Set aside and cool COMPLETELY. This can be done in advance. I never put hot filling in any meat product. When the filling is cool, fill chops and roll up. Secure with twine or toothpicks.

I place any leftover filling in the baking dish and add ¼ chicken stock to the baking dish. Place in a 350 degree oven till done. I cooked mine about 40 minutes (internal temp of 160 degrees minimum according to the national pork board).

Visit Debra's blog Smart Cooking for more fabulous (and easy)
recipes on a budget!

Happy Holidays!

Wordless Wednesday - Winter Wonderland

2010-12-15T08:09:00.000-05:00

*For more Wordless Wednesday blogs, please visit WW Headquarters.

Wordless Wednesday - Euonymus

2010-12-08T21:31:00.001-05:00

This is our first time participating in Wordless Wednesday. You can see other Wordless Wednesday blogs at WW Headquarters.

The unselfish gardener wishes us Merry Christmas!

2010-12-01T21:22:00.002-05:00

October 2010

Remember the unselfish gardener who plants a corner out in the middle of nowhere near where I live in northwest Ohio? He plants it every summer for the enjoyment of whomever happens to pass by, and that includes me.

Generally, what's planted are annuals that won't survive temperatures below freezing and it was certainly that today. In fact, we had our first snow of the season. Not much, but enough to say we had it.

This afternoon, I had to take a couple of the kitties to the vet's for their yearly immunizations and as I neared the intersection, I noticed that the corner had a new look! Two fresh-cut Christmas trees as well as some figures decorated the little plot. Again, I smiled...

God rest you, merry gentleman, whomever you are...

Thanksgiving or Christmas cactus - which is it?

2010-11-28T22:56:00.000-05:00

There are these plants that are all over the stores these days, blooming in pink, red, magenta, and white. They're advertised as "Christmas Cactus," but you want to know the truth? Very few of them are true Christmas cacti. They're actually Thanksgiving cacti. I didn't know the difference until about a year ago, when I bought my first one.

I had my doubts as to whether I could even keep the thing alive for another year, let alone have it bloom again. I have a habit of watering succulents too much and they fall over in a heap of mush. But once this one stopped blooming last year, I put it on the top shelf of my baker's rack and I'm not kidding - I think I only watered it half a dozen times all year. And now it's blooming.

My Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncate)

There really are two kinds of these plants and they're very similar. But they're easy to tell apart, once you know how. The Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncate) has 'serrated' edges to its leaves, while the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x Buckleyi) leaves are jagged, but more rounded. The flowers also hang a little differently, with the Thanksgiving cactus flowers bending upwards a little more. I don't know that I've ever seen a true Christmas cactus in any nursery or store, even though some are labeled as such.

For more detailed information about these holiday plants, visit this site.