Cruise

I took these photos just this past Sunday.

The garden is wearing out and tonight

we are expecting a hard freeze.

The Alpine miniature strawberries have 

started blooming again.

The zinnias bloomed their hearts out.

Some were reseeded from last year,

and others where from three seed packets

 I planted this spring.

What's left now are faded and worn.

I really loved the color of this salvia.

Even though the fruit production of this

nectarine is minimal, 

I still appreciate this tree.

It has the most beautiful pink flowers in

the spring time and beautiful yellow leaves

in the fall.  

The packet of lavender seeds promised

to bloom the first season, and one made it.

Yeah!

Well, tomatoes here just don't do well.

There's too much shade in our garden space.

This is my first tomato.... still on the vine.

It's not mature enough to save through 

the freeze tonight.

The other two....

The yellow and orange cosmos 

reseed themselves every year.

They're just about finished as well.

I've been collecting the seeds and scattering

them here and there.

Garlic chive seeds ready to start

new plants next spring.

Take care, and have a wonderful

Thanksgiving.

Nectarines and Peaches

I have to celebrate and showcase

this last nectarine from our tree.

This year  was a very poor year for 

our little tree. 

It only produced seven nectarines.

We harvested them one by one,

as they each softened into the most 

delicious and juicy nectarines.

Most were scarred, or bird pecked,

or had fallen to the ground and then

attacked by ants.

We were down to the last two on the tree.

The next to the last one disappeared.

 The prime suspect was a squirrel I'm sure.

  I picked the very last precious nectarine

before it was quite ripe enough.

The only blemish was the marks

from the branches it was tucked tightly against.

It's been a very poor year for our fruit trees.

Most of our fruit trees are still young,

and the four year old drought

hasn't helped their growth progress.

The peaches I used here are store bought.

They'll do.

I used a terrific recipe for 

Belgian Pecan Waffles with sauteed Peaches
that came from a 1994 issue of 
Country Home magazine.
The recipe was part of an article featuring
recipes from bed and breakfast inns.
This recipe was from the Inn at Twin Linden.
I have no idea where that Inn is, but
I do know that this recipe is worthy of
the many steps and effort it takes to make
these delicious and airy light waffles.
Top the waffles with the delicious taste 
of summer sauteed peaches and oh goodness
it's worthy of the once a summer treat.

The recipe says it makes 9 to 10 waffles.

For me it made four.

Of course the first waffle from the very

old Belgian waffle maker stuck to one side

and crumbled to pieces as I tried to get it unstuck.

I haven't made waffles in more than a year,

probably two.

The second waffle I didn't use quite 

enough batter.

The third waffle wasn't quite crisp enough.

The fourth waffle in the photo above 

turned out the nicest.

I need a new waffle maker,

but for a once a year (if that) use,

I'm not sure it's worth replacing.

Then again...

Belgian Pecan Waffles

With Sauteed Peaches

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

2 eggs, separated

1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled

1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup peeled, sliced peaches

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons brandy

(I used a couple drops brandy extract)

Preheat Belgian waffle iron. 

In a large mixer bowl stir together

flour, baking powder, and salt.

Set aside.

Combine milk and egg yolks;

set aside.

In a small mixer bowl beat egg whites

until stiff peaks form. Set aside.

Add milk-egg yolk mixture to dry

ingredients. Beat at high speed

just enough to moisten ingredients.

Stir in cooled butter.

Gently fold in egg whites.  

Fold in chopped pecans.

Pour batter into waffle iron and bake

until steaming stops.

Keep waffles warm on racks in oven

(250*F) while others are baking.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium

saucepan and lightly saute peaches.

Stir in sugar and brandy, 

cooking on low heat until

 alcohol evaporates ( 3 to 5 minutes). 

To serve, place a waffle on a warmed

plate.  Lightly sprinkle with powdered 

sugar.  Spoon some peaches into the 

center of the waffle; serve with maple

or blueberry syrup and butter.

Makes 9 to 10 waffles.

I didn't add the powdered sugar

or use butter and syrup when I made these.

A sprinkling of powdered sugar

would have been pretty though... dang.

I have to make them again.

I won't be around much this coming

week, starting tomorrow.

Our long distance granddaughter is

staying with us for a week.

Yeah!!!!

Garden Sanctuary

My little garden in the woods,

has become a much needed oasis

for lots of little creatures.

Butterflies are frequent visitors

to the zinnias I started from seed.

They're out there from the first

morning light

until the evening light fades.

I keep the birdbath clean and full,

which the birds are loving.

They need the scarce water as much as we do.

We barely water the lawn.

It's just enough to keep trees alive.

  Otherwise it's not much.

I'd much rather have my small little garden  

for all the birds, bees, butterflies, lizards

and me to enjoy.

I planted three packets of zinnia seeds

this spring.  They sure don't put many seeds

in the packets anymore.

But, it's so worth the joy of watching

the bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies

enjoying the blooms.

I can't think of what these are.

They grow from bulbs and have

leaves that look quite a bit like thin

gladiola leaves.

This was the first bloom to open.

Edited to add: They are Crocosmia.  

The little garden 

is at it's best first thing in the morning.

I love being out there to hear the birds

chirping and the hummingbirds zipping around

enjoying little sips of nectar.

In the afternoon, the heat wilts

a few things and it's looks a bit ragged.

But come morning, it's beautiful again.

Datura metel

This was the first bloom 

to open on my Datura metel,

otherwise known as 

Devil's Trumpet.

I didn't know about the Devil's Trumpet 

name until just now, while

doing some online research.

 

Isn't it amazing how much you

can learn in a moment's notice

like "How old is Vanna White"?

She's 58 and it only took me 

seconds to find the answer 

while we were watching Wheel of

Fortune last night. 

Anyway  Datura metel is poisonous,

especially the seeds and flowers.

Not that I'm going to try to eat it

or anything.

Just have to be careful when the 

grand kids are around.

Datura is considered a witches weed,

along with deadly nightshade,

henbane and mandrake.

Yikes.  It has a long history of

causing delirious states and death.

It was well known as an essential 

ingredient of potions and witches' brew.

(info from Wikipedia) 

But I just know it as an

interesting plant, with it's blossoms

that open up in the evening 

with the most intriguing tropical

scent.  The blooms whither away

the following day, especially if it's hot.

Wyntour Gardens Nursery Visit.

 On the way out to Wyntour Gardens Nursery

I passed by this barn with it's rusty roof.

I had to pull off to the side of the road

 to take photos.

      

I didn't bother going out to the nursery 

last year for two reasons. 

1. Drought

2.  We were saving for the cruise.

This year we're still in a drought,

seemingly worse than last year.

I still have a little area for gardening

that I will be watering.

The lawn is being sacrificed again 

this year, so that I can use the water

for flowers, herbs and vegetables.

Still, it was fun to wander around for an 

hour or so wishing and dreaming of 

good soil and plenty of water to grow

whatever I would have wanted.

The prices seem to have gone up since

the last time I was here.

There's plenty to choose from

with different sections for drought tolerant,

veggies, herbs, perennials, annuals,

butterfly and bee friendly... and on and on. 

Everything in bloom.

Wagons parked here and there 

with plants ready to head for 

their new homes.

They have interesting water fountains

everywhere.

 $769.99 for the spiral water fountain.

I only took a photo of it because I thought

it was just a bit odd.  I wouldn't want this

one, but it was interesting.

 I did purchase a black Petunia

because the color was so dark

and unusual.

It's a Crazytunia (TM) Black Mamba.

Succulents in the dappled morning shade.

At the ends of each isle,

they had expensive containers

planted with beautiful flowers.
I was paying attention to the plant

combinations and what made

the collections attractive.

Each container had a mixture of plants

that seemed to include spike-y plants

along with trailing ones, different shaped 

leaves, and color combos.

Seems like they used lots of lime green

plants for a huge pop of color and interest.  

Some of my favorites aren't the really showy 

flowers. I tend to like the salvia's and sages

and plants that attract bees and butterflies.

Out in my garden:

The bees were buzzing and the 

birds were sharing turns getting water

in the bird baths. 

It was nice to be able to spend some

time outside this morning in the garden.

Peaceful.