tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675801184699312512024-02-20T09:23:22.505-08:00The Dusty LaneAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16283178813869429844noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-3437499987762966812016-07-15T08:39:00.000-07:002016-07-15T08:39:00.293-07:00Water for Wildlife <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxYrjGno0zd53yjH_LIe6OfiIXtHlNIYGieQsVJpEdMZHcnhEMv_C6QftAKpXenBko6RK7uon8CTWgg8vIt45lt8hkrLQtF5d1Rzj0IlBHynrK9aOOoQCuU6_Tz93RV0ffNWzgdYle5x5/s1600/baby+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxYrjGno0zd53yjH_LIe6OfiIXtHlNIYGieQsVJpEdMZHcnhEMv_C6QftAKpXenBko6RK7uon8CTWgg8vIt45lt8hkrLQtF5d1Rzj0IlBHynrK9aOOoQCuU6_Tz93RV0ffNWzgdYle5x5/s640/baby+small.jpg" title="Baby robin, DIY birdbaths for wildlife, Oregon drought, Dusty Lane life in the country blog." width="424" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
We used to say "It will rain until the 4th of July,"<br />
and year after year this has been true.<br />
<br />
But last year started with one of the worst snowpacks in history.<br />
<br />
In June, instead of rain we experienced record heat and desiccating winds.<br />
<br />
Our home is ringed with sloughs, puposefully left as natural refuges for wildlife. But last year there was no water in those channels.<br />
<br />
How far would birds have to fly to find water, leaving their young behind?<br />
<br />
<br />
I set thrift store serving bowls in shady places in the garden.<br />
<br />
Clean rocks provided places to perch and made them shallow for a bird to bathe in.<br />
<br />
Some were set up a few feet from the ground, others I left on the ground for the quail. (We have no cats)<br />
<br />
Impatient, I kept an eye on them.<br />
<br />
Would they find them?<br />
Use them?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimkAlZ0hZKjmrybohitC4Wry4gis4Vn1uV6AMByqkS7jU5M6Hw7kddpZj70eUFn3nTvgT3CZ-RPqlXB2LVt_dpMDOQkSZSaX_C3aOdax3QKS1oTm8ENQjImleQsucomFanNRBuRhv1GLE/s1600/wet+robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimkAlZ0hZKjmrybohitC4Wry4gis4Vn1uV6AMByqkS7jU5M6Hw7kddpZj70eUFn3nTvgT3CZ-RPqlXB2LVt_dpMDOQkSZSaX_C3aOdax3QKS1oTm8ENQjImleQsucomFanNRBuRhv1GLE/s320/wet+robin.jpg" title="Robin, DIY birdbaths for wildlife, Oregon drought, Dusty Lane life in the country blog." width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EhtAF8grX_bEUrDt3iqLcS81kQUunwtYcY3CN5lVGQhk6SiSlpTKBRFSrYl5NePKE_vqnF_ZxxvZUH99ZvNiA6hdDmnfFcAQbrXInUA89UBgwCT8MIn-ZarvU-AeXVlKfXjqk9Sz7DZx/s1600/bath+small2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EhtAF8grX_bEUrDt3iqLcS81kQUunwtYcY3CN5lVGQhk6SiSlpTKBRFSrYl5NePKE_vqnF_ZxxvZUH99ZvNiA6hdDmnfFcAQbrXInUA89UBgwCT8MIn-ZarvU-AeXVlKfXjqk9Sz7DZx/s320/bath+small2.jpg" title="Robin, DIY birdbaths for wildlife, Oregon drought, Dusty Lane life in the country blog." width="264" /></a><br />
<br />
Oh yes.<br />
<br />
<br />
Keeping them filled was quite a task. The birds loved bathing in these, so they needed regular sloshing out as well as re-filled.<br />
<br />
As I heard news stories about birds dying in the drought, I was glad to do my part.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlB3FE0aRZDPH-Zw9C3D9eYzKlMhzG03caDiHtVKV77tF9Fm6Q8yBzx7e9y88pFLM0yytaxxhkEN8HBAkPWcD0ex4Ap1tULkf9thcve0Dl4C0z0smz1J3kmbCHE2V0XR4O6hltx7_AnxJ/s1600/sip+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlB3FE0aRZDPH-Zw9C3D9eYzKlMhzG03caDiHtVKV77tF9Fm6Q8yBzx7e9y88pFLM0yytaxxhkEN8HBAkPWcD0ex4Ap1tULkf9thcve0Dl4C0z0smz1J3kmbCHE2V0XR4O6hltx7_AnxJ/s640/sip+small.jpg" title="Flicker, DIY birdbaths for wildlife, Oregon drought, Dusty Lane life in the country blog." width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This flicker came several times a day to the bowl in the magnolia --- sip ---</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OYOR5RembLDZb4jur4Di_WQWigmibKKobuUCZotel0zHs77J-DiApsCeUiqiro5pNbv-BDfusSDXePEG4MvBLPQ0puL8sBpEVk_z0fTjUfl7uw8fRcL8nqEKG5EQCatg3afY2CnuMHDK/s1600/swallow+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OYOR5RembLDZb4jur4Di_WQWigmibKKobuUCZotel0zHs77J-DiApsCeUiqiro5pNbv-BDfusSDXePEG4MvBLPQ0puL8sBpEVk_z0fTjUfl7uw8fRcL8nqEKG5EQCatg3afY2CnuMHDK/s640/swallow+small.jpg" title="Flicker, DIY birdbaths for wildlife, Oregon drought, Dusty Lane life in the country blog." width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
--- swallow</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXK7-R9p6MwNhBW3CHVeQE5CxFZnAkbgvQiqI57tu6WkkAgl84Cl67hum5JaQVIHr0W7V87KIahyheYtl0kwSegnh-Jh1Twk3zejTl5tDJpiNUp2I0KQVkiubIvy-wsPgk6eWE3tOHjzj/s1600/poser+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXK7-R9p6MwNhBW3CHVeQE5CxFZnAkbgvQiqI57tu6WkkAgl84Cl67hum5JaQVIHr0W7V87KIahyheYtl0kwSegnh-Jh1Twk3zejTl5tDJpiNUp2I0KQVkiubIvy-wsPgk6eWE3tOHjzj/s640/poser+small.jpg" title="Robin, DIY birdbaths for wildlife, Oregon drought, Dusty Lane life in the country blog." width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"> So far this summer we have had our early summer rains, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">but as the temperatures rise I will renew this commitment to our birds and other wildlife.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavemWLzCVVgRb1Oy_e5NTtxMAz_jcpv3XgKk-qAiV_TqTKimo3n3HelmaZxknOnWsebLA1FJ5rW7f9OrzaWmbmjWN3mr5uQdpQgeLhAHzXCep5BnFhSg6H4SMK6LfufbQ2YQNwMu_qjoB/s1600/flicker+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavemWLzCVVgRb1Oy_e5NTtxMAz_jcpv3XgKk-qAiV_TqTKimo3n3HelmaZxknOnWsebLA1FJ5rW7f9OrzaWmbmjWN3mr5uQdpQgeLhAHzXCep5BnFhSg6H4SMK6LfufbQ2YQNwMu_qjoB/s640/flicker+small.jpg" title="Flicker, DIY birdbaths for wildlife, Oregon drought, Dusty Lane life in the country blog." width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpT7LTsoB5jXOEpAZH72VbFoA83dZS5ccvlcE8YGZFTkPpjrFREkvFnqrmGyPInuiG7WylTtcTbUjdDp6TBnh43GOxiJZkl5zuKkZIN1h3wdKwGz-tvVAHQf8MsqUnK-5R1n7XnuvefKLV/s1600/plunge+small2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpT7LTsoB5jXOEpAZH72VbFoA83dZS5ccvlcE8YGZFTkPpjrFREkvFnqrmGyPInuiG7WylTtcTbUjdDp6TBnh43GOxiJZkl5zuKkZIN1h3wdKwGz-tvVAHQf8MsqUnK-5R1n7XnuvefKLV/s320/plunge+small2.jpg" title="robin, DIY birdbaths for wildlife, Oregon drought, Dusty Lane life in the country blog." width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Even though they did eat every single one of my raspberries.<br />
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Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-60125366403123062432016-05-04T08:33:00.006-07:002016-05-04T08:34:19.551-07:00Baby Owls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDL6-VowcsuqZc8pVKEfxZ6oJ7CuQ3rdR3UA92FwjOIZHuyXuO-8uBPeE-hldwaR8SUTiMmbGB_vGG1MfLxQLcdkIngMOg4X9bo4PHlEq0Q-SN_MC03sI68B55iNLOwKxPzLgFY4lL34V/s1600/baby+owl+1+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDL6-VowcsuqZc8pVKEfxZ6oJ7CuQ3rdR3UA92FwjOIZHuyXuO-8uBPeE-hldwaR8SUTiMmbGB_vGG1MfLxQLcdkIngMOg4X9bo4PHlEq0Q-SN_MC03sI68B55iNLOwKxPzLgFY4lL34V/s400/baby+owl+1+small.jpg" title="Baby Owl, Juvenile Great Horned Owl, Owlet, Oregon, photos of baby owl, Dusty Lane Blog" width="266" /></a></div>
Great Horned Owls nest in "The Woods" behind our home. We have come to recognize their various calls, and especially the sounds made by the owlets.<br />
<br />
A week ago we heard one screaming, and saw an adult flying from the ground as we approached. Though it was covered by underbrush, we knew a baby owl had fallen from the nest.<br />
<br />
"Don't" my husband reminded me.<br />
<br />
A juvenile will often leave the nest before it is fully able to fly, and must find a stump or leaning tree to climb upon to be safe from predators. The adult owl will tend to it, and we know not to interfere.<br />
<br />
The next day we were both relieved to find it safely watching us from a leaning alder tree.<br />
<br />
Every day it would be peering at us from a new perch.<br />
<br />
When our grown kids came home the next weekend, I took them out to see if we could find it again. I finally spotted a lump of fuzz high in a Big Leaf Maple. Was it alive? I snapped this before it woke up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrnrXWJSBqTTAU7py6wFxLVyqF45rBUKDj5eZdFvwkGx5NNED_CUM6jfjllCv147ZMaCHKS6diE6v04dJ19Plq1DQzrKBnEhPJO_nde_hS4oBKEr2e6NJI9r6TMDZxmAOViL6nj1AS_sF/s1600/sleeping+owl+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrnrXWJSBqTTAU7py6wFxLVyqF45rBUKDj5eZdFvwkGx5NNED_CUM6jfjllCv147ZMaCHKS6diE6v04dJ19Plq1DQzrKBnEhPJO_nde_hS4oBKEr2e6NJI9r6TMDZxmAOViL6nj1AS_sF/s640/sleeping+owl+small.jpg" title="Sleeping Baby Owl, Juvenile Great Horned Owl, Owlet, Oregon, photos of baby owl, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
... and then it woke up...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsKuDr0uFT445gwiWUUjAwEd0RC4LmRx17pNd9L7f9qBfOQL8p2lnAMOegP683FkRSAIJ3dsLvCd5zJ4tKM2_105mJ7ixXGR_PoUjppce9EBFSE8ykLdTK7_QLjY00i_AmSeK_pD4_OMj/s1600/resting+owl+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsKuDr0uFT445gwiWUUjAwEd0RC4LmRx17pNd9L7f9qBfOQL8p2lnAMOegP683FkRSAIJ3dsLvCd5zJ4tKM2_105mJ7ixXGR_PoUjppce9EBFSE8ykLdTK7_QLjY00i_AmSeK_pD4_OMj/s640/resting+owl+small.jpg" title="Baby Owl, Juvenile Great Horned Owl, Owlet, Oregon, photos of baby owl, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5dNbSAJzu2P18OaaO64IRzz8o_jI7rDRtRfnFOI43HbZibtLC46G411auG4n8GmjKtN-J2BYLBnStRf64IWRUmtXCqQBgn-pb4j1smJPi-5EKNhlWHqOI0MHK32YqbENWYkP6xAClL9u/s1600/owlet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5dNbSAJzu2P18OaaO64IRzz8o_jI7rDRtRfnFOI43HbZibtLC46G411auG4n8GmjKtN-J2BYLBnStRf64IWRUmtXCqQBgn-pb4j1smJPi-5EKNhlWHqOI0MHK32YqbENWYkP6xAClL9u/s320/owlet.jpg" title="Juvenile Great Horned Owl, Owlet, Oregon, photos of baby owl, Dusty Lane Blog" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRjsxy4T3Sf9UBR7VVYbF9_FRS3HnQ881990myF9ACLm6DMs46biHrJnQJUW2UwN-wP3Cj1yrl2HMYa3Z7Sg0vv4hFOFAL_jlWhnsX_rdDSbf9Q7jnzNVZlUaZlrWvDX2vvVP8jSW6QOm/s1600/owlnestsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRjsxy4T3Sf9UBR7VVYbF9_FRS3HnQ881990myF9ACLm6DMs46biHrJnQJUW2UwN-wP3Cj1yrl2HMYa3Z7Sg0vv4hFOFAL_jlWhnsX_rdDSbf9Q7jnzNVZlUaZlrWvDX2vvVP8jSW6QOm/s320/owlnestsmall.jpg" title="Juvenile Great Horned Owl, Owlet, Oregon, photos of baby owl, Dusty Lane Blog" width="212" /></a><br />
<br />
We concluded it must be flying a little now, to have reached this idyllic spot.<br />
<br />
<br />
My daughter lingered a little with the camera, so enchanted by this encounter.<br />
<br />
<br />
As she and her husband turned to leave, the baby jumped up to watch them go.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWigZnmUbU3vEV58bWEM99Y4zSEMjXO7H-Jh2Jx-O9bhLdtHVM62E7eS7QjwECUNjcYrVKDT6yGJcb-hKznLdUbTiI__aylyMY9wi6lo-chw8HZNcMRf9PLeC0KMGqoNdIMfInkrDMkOr/s1600/liz+owlsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWigZnmUbU3vEV58bWEM99Y4zSEMjXO7H-Jh2Jx-O9bhLdtHVM62E7eS7QjwECUNjcYrVKDT6yGJcb-hKznLdUbTiI__aylyMY9wi6lo-chw8HZNcMRf9PLeC0KMGqoNdIMfInkrDMkOr/s640/liz+owlsmall.jpg" title="Juvenile Great Horned Owl, Owlet, Oregon, photos of baby owl, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-24003431264969068522016-02-14T10:13:00.000-08:002016-02-14T10:13:24.978-08:00The Beauty of Winter's Twigs and WeedsThe trees are budding out, the snowdrops are blooming, and a few early daffodils have already proclaimed an end to nature's sleep.<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">So this post is a little late.</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzs9_rrnPN1bxPqNWVrIq4FWz_FoHgiOAMiNNQSVn3tadPMkymwM18nAnWllnJ1aWAbpNGpchRyzU4_JWv6sJfXmjiLJK15Vx3RekoUxaFxYnjLLdRMSigk5XBxjqP5dZoDPnmFBwi1_T2/s1600/twigs6detailc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzs9_rrnPN1bxPqNWVrIq4FWz_FoHgiOAMiNNQSVn3tadPMkymwM18nAnWllnJ1aWAbpNGpchRyzU4_JWv6sJfXmjiLJK15Vx3RekoUxaFxYnjLLdRMSigk5XBxjqP5dZoDPnmFBwi1_T2/s640/twigs6detailc.jpg" title="Dried Canary Grass, reeds, red twigs and other treasures from the ditch, Using twigs and weeds in winter floral arrangements. Dusty Lane Blog." width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqOH3DKwIgRhsL_nhe9kum165OQupzNZTKf4aCxgfotb-YCXEs2bAyYnNZ4fyMy_WvC8Y9w0U4tEA4WURhBDJrLpzTHQ5Df484K0xjy4d09HiePaUFJZNsyqgdpGTe1lfPnxdkw7o_Cw8/s1600/teal+vasesmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqOH3DKwIgRhsL_nhe9kum165OQupzNZTKf4aCxgfotb-YCXEs2bAyYnNZ4fyMy_WvC8Y9w0U4tEA4WURhBDJrLpzTHQ5Df484K0xjy4d09HiePaUFJZNsyqgdpGTe1lfPnxdkw7o_Cw8/s400/teal+vasesmall.jpg" title="dried Queen Anne's Lace in teal vase, Using twigs and weeds in winter floral arrangements. Dusty Lane Blog." width="130" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbuTNVfw-X_SFNIkDgP3uZoh906FQ7921AtPwUqC-hVHc3ccIp-p3ifo2CijNijfLZR0oGZ28rFtOvW8NZrfY7GP7eTVRt_Szan6URb7bFBwMdTnV-sXvlgEvBJ-mskXH_-rXNLahBNAf/s1600/dock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbuTNVfw-X_SFNIkDgP3uZoh906FQ7921AtPwUqC-hVHc3ccIp-p3ifo2CijNijfLZR0oGZ28rFtOvW8NZrfY7GP7eTVRt_Szan6URb7bFBwMdTnV-sXvlgEvBJ-mskXH_-rXNLahBNAf/s400/dock.jpg" title="Dried Dock and other weeds, Using twigs and weeds in winter floral arrangements. Dusty Lane Blog." width="358" /></a><br />
Sometime before Thanksgiving I start my rambles through the woods, pastures and along country roads.<br />
<br />
I find spent Queen Anne's Lace, now become brown snowflakes.<br />
<br />
Dock and other weeds playfully remind me of summer past.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohSbxooCDziCS_4_FgY_dSVqGtE-peYOSpcc2I2il7DpbqiT2D_rHg5CHKqLjK8UuvZfTD6VlX-JrD0cen4zbUpNTJFzQ86JlrcWTY8RdWC8McteSfohW-ZGzyNLbjHB7cY0KmCwu2Fig/s1600/twigs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohSbxooCDziCS_4_FgY_dSVqGtE-peYOSpcc2I2il7DpbqiT2D_rHg5CHKqLjK8UuvZfTD6VlX-JrD0cen4zbUpNTJFzQ86JlrcWTY8RdWC8McteSfohW-ZGzyNLbjHB7cY0KmCwu2Fig/s640/twigs.jpg" title="catkins and mossy branches, Using twigs and weeds in winter floral arrangements. Dusty Lane Blog." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As the catkins emerge, a few will grace my kitchen counter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QBkk4o1rR1lJPLlqYIWHye_XrVrzMuukfOgb-JJpv1p9_xJ9GWcJws93EoyyIxGvr6HrcNVw6PUtjrZUNRAFBKDOH3oWMAPI-cTmunqrnOA2K_go6_FyAcpZ2cf484hzhrUEhHa1ggKU/s1600/twigs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QBkk4o1rR1lJPLlqYIWHye_XrVrzMuukfOgb-JJpv1p9_xJ9GWcJws93EoyyIxGvr6HrcNVw6PUtjrZUNRAFBKDOH3oWMAPI-cTmunqrnOA2K_go6_FyAcpZ2cf484hzhrUEhHa1ggKU/s400/twigs2.jpg" title="hawthorn buds, Using twigs and weeds in winter floral arrangements. Dusty Lane Blog." width="266" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUZ7yh8xhgo1xOWooVx1WM4-Sxg5G7v_Lw1x3saK_LGalHdQOGTKb3kH0ccBAOCLC1cWjpTeM8Qom8ATr9Gm3yAqYBXbR2cgteC-UJPghYJvoAM3_g1OYhfnPXTjQRaYcIebT2CJAPmNz/s1600/twigs3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUZ7yh8xhgo1xOWooVx1WM4-Sxg5G7v_Lw1x3saK_LGalHdQOGTKb3kH0ccBAOCLC1cWjpTeM8Qom8ATr9Gm3yAqYBXbR2cgteC-UJPghYJvoAM3_g1OYhfnPXTjQRaYcIebT2CJAPmNz/s400/twigs3.jpg" title="alder twigs in blue bottle, Using twigs and weeds in winter floral arrangements. Dusty Lane Blog." width="283" /></a><br />
The alder twigs cast down by the wind form an arabesque.<br />
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Early buds from the Hawthorn are deep garnet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu0VIHEoXHtkEXYUMOdEVGXdl1P_YFDuwCph-vPvw6tUj6V8SWwgoHbRYRPhdtVOiWXLUgFRm_bP4eFgdkd7F72zctByVIWNFOFqsFxNvQ8Rc33LCjHrrHcSRO7EJkcHxC_qlect-sI5x/s1600/rosehips2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu0VIHEoXHtkEXYUMOdEVGXdl1P_YFDuwCph-vPvw6tUj6V8SWwgoHbRYRPhdtVOiWXLUgFRm_bP4eFgdkd7F72zctByVIWNFOFqsFxNvQ8Rc33LCjHrrHcSRO7EJkcHxC_qlect-sI5x/s400/rosehips2.jpg" title="wild rose hips, Using twigs and weeds in winter floral arrangements. Dusty Lane Blog." width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUZKqwbDiTtMIwNhmpflu8hUkNqW_c7CFW_wE26xGCNntYJ_Zlp5eFk61r8tMREdf_QuIYwQKXC1aC3YLXg0SLqDUjT59_18VTvYu16rEOiwKq8AC3zs0PR0dOSBtTmFmYvWKcpASMi83/s1600/rosehips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUZKqwbDiTtMIwNhmpflu8hUkNqW_c7CFW_wE26xGCNntYJ_Zlp5eFk61r8tMREdf_QuIYwQKXC1aC3YLXg0SLqDUjT59_18VTvYu16rEOiwKq8AC3zs0PR0dOSBtTmFmYvWKcpASMi83/s320/rosehips.jpg" title="wild rose hips, Using twigs and weeds in winter floral arrangements. Dusty Lane Blog." width="196" /></a><br />
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Just before Christmas, rose hips are tucked here and there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIiRbS4ttLNcvyyGQVXY9bHYKwDUpfRWx2ETGNI_4ue5jYhG2NcsqaL5k3m22i4cWvAK0SVd4eaPufdrgbRuf8zFXobDbQjMA_uY7AaXCJ6Axsyt8GSOtTVLd6hSokveJj8t75lGpKD06/s1600/green+vase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIiRbS4ttLNcvyyGQVXY9bHYKwDUpfRWx2ETGNI_4ue5jYhG2NcsqaL5k3m22i4cWvAK0SVd4eaPufdrgbRuf8zFXobDbQjMA_uY7AaXCJ6Axsyt8GSOtTVLd6hSokveJj8t75lGpKD06/s640/green+vase.jpg" title="catkins in green vase, Using twigs and weeds in winter floral arrangements. Dusty Lane Blog." width="640" /></a></div>
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Soon, violets will fill the vases, and camelias will float in little bowls on the table. But I confess winter's delicate gifts make me smile.</div>
Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-34108944164355230902015-12-10T16:14:00.002-08:002017-01-01T21:20:44.921-08:00Ric Rac Rummy, a Card Game for Family Gatherings, version of Contract RummyThis challenging card game was an important part of extended family gatherings (on my Norwegian side) when I was a kid.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMsHdkHU2RgkiCnISKHFP11gu1m79ZukqKOCe2S_GMXMJQY3o3toHa9F_mJIivi0BA49bv4sQOsD_snBcnnYQwUgsjAOY83sFXh1Pr1noYPYnzxHJEdT9piFTJKi63bSh9BKXXr2lSMd3/s1600/ric+rac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMsHdkHU2RgkiCnISKHFP11gu1m79ZukqKOCe2S_GMXMJQY3o3toHa9F_mJIivi0BA49bv4sQOsD_snBcnnYQwUgsjAOY83sFXh1Pr1noYPYnzxHJEdT9piFTJKi63bSh9BKXXr2lSMd3/s640/ric+rac.jpg" title="Ric Rac Rummy, a card game for large gatherings, version of Contract Rummy, Family and Friends! Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
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We called it Ric Rac Rummy, but I can't find any reference to that name anywhere. For the sake of someone else on this planet desperately searching for this game from their childhood, here it is!<br />
<br />
I did find a card game nearly identical in "Official Rules of Card Games" by The United States Playing Card Company, known as Contract Rummy among many other names, popular for large gatherings.<br />
<br />
This game works best if you have many players AND at least a couple hours to spend together. I remember epic games with aunties and cousins crowded around our fully extended dining table.<br />
<br />
To help us keep track of the hands, as each hand becomes progressively demanding, my aunties created these little booklets from cut strips of paper. I found one of these booklets in a back drawer. Treasure!<br />
<br />
For Thanks-Birth-O-Ween, I wanted to introduce it to my kids. Would they like it?<br />
They loved it.<br />
<br />
<h4>
RIC RAC RUMMY</h4>
<br />
<b>CARDS REQUIRED:</b><br />
for 4-5 people, use a double deck WITH jokers as wild cards.<br />
(with 5 players you might want to use a triple for the last few rounds)<br />
for 6-9 players use a triple deck etc...<br />
OTHER WILD CARDS -- the group may choose to use 2s as wild cards also.<br />
<br />
Deal 12 cards to each player (for the first few hands)<br />
Place rest of deck in center of table and flip the top card over to begin the discard pile.<br />
Player to the left of dealer may choose this card or draw from the top of the deck.<br />
<br />
<b>TURNS:</b><br />
Player draws the top discard or draws from the top of the deck.<br />
At that point, the player may "go down" if they can.<br />
If they have already "gone down" they may then play on other people's cards on the table.<br />
If they have not gone down, discard one card and end the turn.<br />
<br />
<b>HOW TO "GO DOWN"</b><br />
<br />
Each hand has different requirements. The first hand, for example, calls for 2 sets of 3.<br />
<br />
SET: Three cards of any suit that are the same rank, such as 3 Queens or 3 sixes.<br />
RUN: Three or more cards in the SAME SUIT in sequential order, such as 8, 9, 10, J, all in Diamonds.<br />
ACES: can be played as a "one" = A, 2,3,4 OR can be played "high" = J,Q, K, A, but <u><b>cannot </b></u>be wrapped around -- such as K, A, 2, 3.<br />
<br />
To go down, the player must have ALL the sets and/or runs called for in that round (No partial going down), and ONLY those sets or runs called for. They may not place additional sets or runs on the table. They may add to those sets or runs however, for example, if they place a run of four hearts: 6,7,8,9 -- they may then add to it with a 5 or a 10 of hearts.<br />
<br />
After a player has gone down, they may then play cards from their hand to other player's sets or runs on the table. Unlike Rummikub, they may not split or re-arrange those sets or runs to create new ones. They can however, replace wild cards with the cards they are representing, and according to your interpretation of the rules, the wild card can be used elsewhere in that run only OR you could decide to extend that rule to be able to use those freed wild cards elsewhere on the table.<br />
<br />
<b>TO GO OUT:</b> The last card played out of a players hand must be a discard. You cannot go out by simply going down. You must have a discard.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>BUYING: </b>Keeps things interesting. After a player discards and BEFORE the next player draws to begin their play, any player may call out "I'LL BUY THAT!" meaning they want the card that has just been discarded.<br />
The players are then given the opportunity to assert their rights for that card, beginning with the player whose turn is next and progressing around the table. If no one with higher rank in playing order wants that discard, the buyer takes the discard AND two more cards from the top of the deck.<br />
If the person whose turn is next wants that card, they draw it normally. They do not have to buy it.<br />
<br />
Each player may BUY up to three times per round.<br />
The group may decide to allow four BUYS in the last few rounds.<br />
<br />
BUYING becomes essential in order to have enough cards to go out later in the game.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>ALL THE ROUNDS</b><br />
<br />
<b>First Round:</b><br />
Two Sets of Three,<br />
deal 12, each player may buy up to three times.<br />
<br />
<b>Second Round:</b><br />
1 Run of Four<br />
1 Set of Three<br />
<br />
<b>Third Round:</b><br />
2 Runs of Four<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkIHL9NmQAZnJuSj5qmBdeGiyl-9UzQzQVmsikeq_XNPsEddYUXouDaBnIWne7sDQ9Ih1fjaipNsIaszzFxrM03ZzV8WlQLN-VdKsYhiOLdZ8g83MUR86aRYuH0Rbs1Ms4etbP_AgeBmZ/s1600/ric+rac2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkIHL9NmQAZnJuSj5qmBdeGiyl-9UzQzQVmsikeq_XNPsEddYUXouDaBnIWne7sDQ9Ih1fjaipNsIaszzFxrM03ZzV8WlQLN-VdKsYhiOLdZ8g83MUR86aRYuH0Rbs1Ms4etbP_AgeBmZ/s400/ric+rac2.jpg" title="Ric Rac Rummy, a card game for large gatherings, version of Contract Rummy, Family and Friends! Dusty Lane Blog" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fifth Round: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">One Run of Seven,<br />One set of Three</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Fourth Round:</b><br />
3 Sets of Three<br />
<br />
<b>Fifth Round:</b><br />
1 Run of Seven<br />
1 Set of Three<br />
<br />
<b>Sixth Round:</b><br />
2 Runs of Four<br />
1 Set of Three<br />
<br />
<b>Seventh Round:</b><br />
3 Runs of Four<br />
<br />
<b>Eighth Round:</b><br />
1 Run of Ten<br />
1 Set of Three<br />
Deal 14 cards<br />
(At any point, if you determine there are not enough cards for players involved,<br />
add one additional deck of cards. Players may also decide to allow up to four buys per round)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Ninth Round:</b><br />
1 Run of Five<br />
3 Sets of Three<br />
Deal 14 cards<br />
<br />
<b>Tenth Round:</b><br />
3 Runs of Five<br />
Deal 15 cards<br />
<br />
<b>SCORING</b>: Play continues until someone goes out by playing the last card from their hand as a discard.<br />
Players then count the cards remaining in their hand as negative points. Cards on the table are not counted.<br />
Numbered cards may be counted their face value OR you may choose to count them all as five points. You decide.<br />
Face cards are ten points.<br />
Aces are fifteen points.<br />
Jokers are twenty points.<br />
If 2s are wild, they are also twenty points.<br />
<br />
Lowest score wins!<br />
<br />
<i>If you are glad to find this game, let me know! Happy Holidays!</i>Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-86381462633245372572015-11-23T12:54:00.000-08:002015-12-01T12:35:06.686-08:00Decorating for Thanksbirthoween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's a mixed up holiday of our own invention, so the opportunity to be creative was terrific.</div>
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(For an explanation of Thanksbirthoween, see my earlier post)</div>
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Budget -- basically frugal.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fF93oRALWhKd126acl6Co23TxayyA_o2a9hOWd3oPAJKgobzIbgBaO4iCykzL7mEY8xMveTI_98m0MAJD18xFpWDHxzmFk2vFeEVB9SmdVq4HI91nqs5muMXa2L4t7d5m__sdNvkikMo/s1600/vase+TBW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fF93oRALWhKd126acl6Co23TxayyA_o2a9hOWd3oPAJKgobzIbgBaO4iCykzL7mEY8xMveTI_98m0MAJD18xFpWDHxzmFk2vFeEVB9SmdVq4HI91nqs5muMXa2L4t7d5m__sdNvkikMo/s640/vase+TBW.jpg" title="Grapevines and Fall leaves (Japanese Maple) in a vase. Thanksbirthoween (Thanksgiving, Birthdays and Halloween all at once!) Decorations using natural elements and thrift store finds. Autumn, Fall, November Dusty Lane Blog" width="520" /></a></div>
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I played with grapevines, leaves and pine cones.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeaQLo-jijU_gwlOj_-tv0MSSK-rLpgXF4UyQqfAZ49pxz3KYYgSPx7y3bUTv-9_BQ0gmNKB5ntqzdtFDFzApPUJtbpIQLBuEC0x8ieT3BdjM4-VIP1ahe3ZTkOZKHnTxTgXwabsoOSC_/s1600/cricket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeaQLo-jijU_gwlOj_-tv0MSSK-rLpgXF4UyQqfAZ49pxz3KYYgSPx7y3bUTv-9_BQ0gmNKB5ntqzdtFDFzApPUJtbpIQLBuEC0x8ieT3BdjM4-VIP1ahe3ZTkOZKHnTxTgXwabsoOSC_/s400/cricket.jpg" title="Thanksbirthoween (Thanksgiving, Birthdays and Halloween all at once!) Decorations using natural elements and thrift store finds. Autumn, Fall, November Dusty Lane Blog" width="400" /></a></div>
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Using what was at hand or free in nature. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClk4qu6hmUYsOZ-DsieoSoKSggC6NFo6E1mG5_CaoLF_ItZ_4uaCfOvRmWsNloRntiGS12d9DGrzojvb7mjXaJ1Ar5Wwhj9nq7YrejQanhUQ332oYPkpwohcjqZ67VF3Xg906gTThU7ig/s1600/gifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClk4qu6hmUYsOZ-DsieoSoKSggC6NFo6E1mG5_CaoLF_ItZ_4uaCfOvRmWsNloRntiGS12d9DGrzojvb7mjXaJ1Ar5Wwhj9nq7YrejQanhUQ332oYPkpwohcjqZ67VF3Xg906gTThU7ig/s400/gifts.jpg" title="Autumn Fall Birthday wrapping gifts November Thanksbirthoween (Thanksgiving, Birthdays and Halloween all at once!) Decorations using natural elements and thrift store finds. Dusty Lane Blog" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Birthday gifts were wrapped with shipping paper and leftover wallpaper found at a thrift store. </div>
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Odd bits of ribbons, yarns, jute string and even fabric found in thrift shops added more color.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2AWB1mbvl-EWgqPFTm901S7kRWFkhudZnrt9KU4bwFQ88clw8RqdkHpjztHaZAIGDYyLUPfMUxo9h-BcHvXMhfkvtprr3E630iK5gUmKY5XhfB5MK2SXT0AmY3yQgnddZavDjVIy6hDR/s1600/thanksbirthoween+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2AWB1mbvl-EWgqPFTm901S7kRWFkhudZnrt9KU4bwFQ88clw8RqdkHpjztHaZAIGDYyLUPfMUxo9h-BcHvXMhfkvtprr3E630iK5gUmKY5XhfB5MK2SXT0AmY3yQgnddZavDjVIy6hDR/s640/thanksbirthoween+table.jpg" title="Mismatched Dinner plates Dinnerware Dishes Autumn, Fall, November tablesetting. Thanksbirthoween (Thanksgiving, Birthdays and Halloween all at once!) Decorations using natural elements and thrift store finds. Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
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The most difficult thing I took on was mismatched dinner plates salad plates and cloth napkins. </div>
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Mismatching has become very popular, and I love it, but when you look at a lovely image all put together it seems so easy.</div>
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This was not quite perfect, but still fun.</div>
<br />
I discovered several things:<br />
<br />
Keep to a very narrow color palette, including specific tones in that palette.<br />
<br />
The shapes of dishes matter. Some of my dishes were more bowl shaped at the sides, and these don't work as well as those with a slight well and a defined, flat rim.<br />
<br />
I discovered that creating individual settings was easy, but making the whole thing look right was much trickier.<br />
<br />
And mixing modern designs with antique designs adds a layer of complexity. Some of my favorite individual settings just did not work together.<br />
<br />
I have been collecting colorful water glasses for years. These helped tie it together.<br />
<br />
I hate tall fussy floral arrangements in the middle of a dining table. I much prefer to see the people I am enjoying dinner with! Four delicious Comice pears and five simple candles was perfect for our centerpiece. And we ate the pears the next day ;)Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-64964299708756167412015-11-16T09:19:00.006-08:002016-05-04T08:38:37.433-07:00Pumpkin EatersI love photographs of front doorways beautifully decorated for fall, and many times I have tried to create a welcoming entry for our home. But Oregon has other ideas.<br />
<br />
Cornstalks mold in the soaking rain, and then the wind breaks and shreds them all over the yard.<br />
Fall arrangements fill up with wind driven soggy leaves and decay overnight. It's just more maintenance. What is pretty for half a day ends up a black slimy mess all over the porch.<br />
<br />
So this year, I just set out a lot of pumpkins. They don't seem to mind the wind and rain. Ah, even this has its problems.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWQ4lG6Vg7VrafAXtqQXACWRbQSe02FaEMZ_UPE3QEsNOKjbf7wn8ptHO8HfGI1c_9oyfxQ-v007xa6EDYe545YU54cAYOpb4ChwUqEoz_6hHI9QFTj6AddIdWZwtW3L7aG_Cn2HG85aF/s1600/pumpkin+eaters1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 5em; margin-right: 5em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWQ4lG6Vg7VrafAXtqQXACWRbQSe02FaEMZ_UPE3QEsNOKjbf7wn8ptHO8HfGI1c_9oyfxQ-v007xa6EDYe545YU54cAYOpb4ChwUqEoz_6hHI9QFTj6AddIdWZwtW3L7aG_Cn2HG85aF/s640/pumpkin+eaters1.jpg" title="A Blue Jay and Chipmunk take turns eating my pumpkins. C'est la vie! Cute little vandals. Dusty Lane Blog." width="640" /></a></div>
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We saw the jay start it two weeks ago. What could we do? He has all the time in the world.</div>
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This morning as I snapped photos of our saboteur, he suddenly flew away. Had I scared him?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWu3qjhTAGgJuIcNb-QXZAWsCoef_ynLryTqQC6I06TqhWkpBmHmW-l3deP0LEnmAzHp4PvxEwltXlCvWhOsX-Zyiw3wF_ccHvznOCtviWrWQMmXsYkEfOiXtK5qnjha0fmFNdiIDDO_e/s1600/pumpkin+eaters3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWu3qjhTAGgJuIcNb-QXZAWsCoef_ynLryTqQC6I06TqhWkpBmHmW-l3deP0LEnmAzHp4PvxEwltXlCvWhOsX-Zyiw3wF_ccHvznOCtviWrWQMmXsYkEfOiXtK5qnjha0fmFNdiIDDO_e/s640/pumpkin+eaters3.jpg" title="A Blue Jay and Chipmunk take turns eating my pumpkins. C'est la vie! Cute little vandals. Dusty Lane Blog." width="640" /></a></div>
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No. Cue the other miscreant.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmLB8ZvANe-eoyZ52io3bzssyhyhYoEx1Fm9iy6BYE5QWLGi2mkga89ZoLgBhlR7QMZTK8PEdH5rl7UiMMq-akkfNYlLi8Xif-dsU27fNOYku4YHehvX5pIlTZm4J0RTm4dQWIc69M-T3/s1600/pumpkin+eaters4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmLB8ZvANe-eoyZ52io3bzssyhyhYoEx1Fm9iy6BYE5QWLGi2mkga89ZoLgBhlR7QMZTK8PEdH5rl7UiMMq-akkfNYlLi8Xif-dsU27fNOYku4YHehvX5pIlTZm4J0RTm4dQWIc69M-T3/s640/pumpkin+eaters4.jpg" title="A Blue Jay and Chipmunk take turns eating my pumpkins. C'est la vie! Cute little vandals. Dusty Lane Blog." width="640" /></a></div>
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As soon as the chipmunk scurries away, the jay comes back. So much for my fall decorating.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3eWGS5-6jnkjK_ueZDJPgNUfpx0cerURScghdcLgU2RUehJiOi0t2_nZfcqcZ13fxUvbcOJXT4-DerYjNKLbIgr1v9F4-p3MmwUP3lMjI7OmPcOgs7erGL_CaxI0TKDFp3kgS9Jdwg42/s1600/pumpkin+eaters5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3eWGS5-6jnkjK_ueZDJPgNUfpx0cerURScghdcLgU2RUehJiOi0t2_nZfcqcZ13fxUvbcOJXT4-DerYjNKLbIgr1v9F4-p3MmwUP3lMjI7OmPcOgs7erGL_CaxI0TKDFp3kgS9Jdwg42/s640/pumpkin+eaters5.jpg" title="A Blue Jay and Chipmunk take turns eating my pumpkins. C'est la vie! Cute little vandals. Dusty Lane Blog." width="640" /></a></div>
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Back and forth they go.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGviVXDLc2pfoO99oyDXgsA2liw0sACmwq0e_ps1XS7BLwqr9lXFw0-6121pQOqbt3XiFGgMfp_B5FkfrF7jt-hzsCThNwDWCi5cKlPz9xpxwoMZd8j_ayWND4cx5Ml3j2fNo2PAgVPuS/s1600/pumpkin+eaters6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGviVXDLc2pfoO99oyDXgsA2liw0sACmwq0e_ps1XS7BLwqr9lXFw0-6121pQOqbt3XiFGgMfp_B5FkfrF7jt-hzsCThNwDWCi5cKlPz9xpxwoMZd8j_ayWND4cx5Ml3j2fNo2PAgVPuS/s640/pumpkin+eaters6.jpg" title="A Blue Jay and Chipmunk take turns eating my pumpkins. C'est la vie! Cute little vandals. Dusty Lane Blog." width="640" /></a></div>
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The Blue Jay</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MD_XrR5oKddhly1R9c8CuuIpX_UDiba71PwtmiCO4YBne6yrmW20yF9pHfeHtLr5HYrJMGhrEvblY8rflDjDJ98L3q0idB61WewOAsiM2KDWEToGgrLfbRMXRfQnQIlXKPCT43-Dxuei/s1600/pumpkin+eaters2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MD_XrR5oKddhly1R9c8CuuIpX_UDiba71PwtmiCO4YBne6yrmW20yF9pHfeHtLr5HYrJMGhrEvblY8rflDjDJ98L3q0idB61WewOAsiM2KDWEToGgrLfbRMXRfQnQIlXKPCT43-Dxuei/s640/pumpkin+eaters2.jpg" title="A Blue Jay and Chipmunk take turns eating my pumpkins. C'est la vie! Cute little vandals. Dusty Lane Blog." width="640" /></a></div>
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And the chipmunk.</div>
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Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-11040169132247787852015-11-10T15:38:00.001-08:002015-11-10T15:38:02.903-08:00Thanks-Birth-o-Ween<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tiJ8IJCqXsB7r-oaojmatf6LAlxyb8fgpeIiR8DeUs97GUIwSbCtY4N_PpBURXzxbAIgdfAuJ5uv1PoBFa2r8a1bucoXaYw6P3odhErcxlqKrur6BEesAYeLFJWEGlQVVRepvFgoghnS/s1600/pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tiJ8IJCqXsB7r-oaojmatf6LAlxyb8fgpeIiR8DeUs97GUIwSbCtY4N_PpBURXzxbAIgdfAuJ5uv1PoBFa2r8a1bucoXaYw6P3odhErcxlqKrur6BEesAYeLFJWEGlQVVRepvFgoghnS/s400/pumpkins.jpg" title="Thanks-Birth-o-Ween, an invented holiday for busy extended families to take the pressure off getting together. Halloween, Birthdays and Thanksgiving in one glorious day of feasting, games and presents." width="168" /></a>We are so glad that our two daughters are forming their adult lives, fully engaged in careers and <br />
committed to their own social circles and of course, their husbands and extended families.<br />
<br />
This is a great comfort.<br />
<br />
But occasionally we need to consecrate time together.<br />
<br />
I have seen that major holidays can be a point of contest in other families, so we avoid having any expectations. One day is the same as all the rest to us! We don't want a day of celebration to become a torment of guilt, or worse, a mad dash from one party to the next in an anxious attempt to please everyone.<br />
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So we have started making up our own traditions.<br />
<br />
It started when our youngest went off to college in another state. Her favorite holiday is Halloween, and though she had fun with her new friends, it just was not the same for her as Halloween on the farm, with the darkening Oregon skies, the wind whipped birch tree casting amber leaves like enchantments, the rain soaked fields of pumpkins.<br />
<br />
So when she came home on Thanksgiving break, we would often have a little Halloween as well. Why not?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6Gy3ySjaU6FBhmyheXAMdv0xy7w4VFCNUJZ3ouvQjso943hNAr3_vdet3LtJUPX_A-1WU8qi1sU8c5leP-wclA3v0pAtnCu5ISNp718VVsZARHXwnyg4w2OceCzJ66LLCamSg9SwFQOE/s1600/birch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6Gy3ySjaU6FBhmyheXAMdv0xy7w4VFCNUJZ3ouvQjso943hNAr3_vdet3LtJUPX_A-1WU8qi1sU8c5leP-wclA3v0pAtnCu5ISNp718VVsZARHXwnyg4w2OceCzJ66LLCamSg9SwFQOE/s400/birch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A few years later, we found that including our new sons-in-law, five of us had birthdays in October and November.<br />
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And also with their marriages, Thanksgiving got complicated, as should be expected!<br />
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So we invented Thanks-Birth-o-Ween. This will be our third, and I am unreasonably excited about it.<br />
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This year we will celebrate the weekend before Thanksgiving. It will be a day of feasting and games and presents. There will be pumpkins, hot cider and walks in the rain.<br />
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For now, it's time to decorate! (To be continued)Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-40341071053447965982015-09-26T19:58:00.001-07:002015-09-27T21:48:19.702-07:00Reliable Sedum "Autumn Joy"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTKK1QvrfBs8bYgS2KTUKgRt2NG16Ygd2p1an25UJa_0gWabVreJ5__yXUMlatFry_JOacKK3g-UVZiVLWH1l3Ura74O-JgGzLAP3KjnkJdeUWGTaibH5TdAxY_9C3mVmtM8Jr4IAQ80q/s1600/sedum+full2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTKK1QvrfBs8bYgS2KTUKgRt2NG16Ygd2p1an25UJa_0gWabVreJ5__yXUMlatFry_JOacKK3g-UVZiVLWH1l3Ura74O-JgGzLAP3KjnkJdeUWGTaibH5TdAxY_9C3mVmtM8Jr4IAQ80q/s640/sedum+full2.jpg" title="Sedum "Autumn Joy" in the landscape, containers, bouquets, favorite perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Fx8SEPut5JZz51DSxiITsIZBf9H_6mu7GXgUeg3Nq7zcHq_aZ322xF4IbuVxn_r2wJ7ANiJZRr97RzZ6gSSM4yHpMJ5ka6gG4ybEH2pgDmCi7Lq09SFr3ePeIJIbYNZIL7XjO1if7wqM/s1600/sedum+hollyhock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Fx8SEPut5JZz51DSxiITsIZBf9H_6mu7GXgUeg3Nq7zcHq_aZ322xF4IbuVxn_r2wJ7ANiJZRr97RzZ6gSSM4yHpMJ5ka6gG4ybEH2pgDmCi7Lq09SFr3ePeIJIbYNZIL7XjO1if7wqM/s400/sedum+hollyhock.jpg" title="Sedum "Autumn Joy" in the landscape, containers, bouquets, favorite perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="246" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcryo0ZPabcqChHT7Oijgn30RGhSf-WqtgQp_3DpyuwJ78TxYOouODJOPF5e2cLG7jCVuLw638clYmz0JyOi5t3nRMJ1ywCaKPQ_-2vhydp-PBBOHQTyUWAoOKFTw9PWSOxw0ZqcC-Nkv/s1600/bouquet3+sedum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcryo0ZPabcqChHT7Oijgn30RGhSf-WqtgQp_3DpyuwJ78TxYOouODJOPF5e2cLG7jCVuLw638clYmz0JyOi5t3nRMJ1ywCaKPQ_-2vhydp-PBBOHQTyUWAoOKFTw9PWSOxw0ZqcC-Nkv/s400/bouquet3+sedum.jpg" title="Sedum "Autumn Joy" in the landscape, containers, bouquets, favorite perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="322" /></a>If I had to choose just two plants for my garden forever, I would pick Lavender and Sedum "Autumn Joy".<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Practically indestructible, </span>this perennial is perfect for the haphazard attention I pay to my garden.<br />
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Here's a few reasons I love this plant:<br />
<br />
<b>Hardiness:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Cold hardy </li>
<li>Deer Resistant </li>
<li>Highly drought tolerant</li>
<li>Easy to grow</li>
<li>Full to sun to part shade</li>
<li><u>Easily</u> propagated by rooting cuttings</li>
<li>Bugs and slugs don't seem to bother it</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Benefits: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Attractive green to blue green foliage </li>
<li>Slow to mature flower heads have interest even when immature, gradually deepening in color through the summer into fall.</li>
<li>Good cut flower</li>
<li>Attracts bees and butterflies</li>
<li>Dried flower stalks may be of some interest in winter</li>
<li>Combines well with other plants in the border.</li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Drawbacks:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>May get spindly if grown in deep shade</li>
<li>Needs division every 2-3 years</li>
<li>Large clumps may need some support. I often tuck a few large rocks around the edges, or use farm artifacts like the end of an old pitchfork.</li>
<li>Spent stalks may become unsightly after a freeze and need removal. New growth will appear at the base soon.</li>
</ul>
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Spring into fall photos below.</div>
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Spring into Early Summer</div>
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Flower Heads Form Mid Summer</div>
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First Blush of Color, August</div>
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September Color Varies from Pale Pink to Red</div>
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Sedum, Hydrangea, Purple Perennial Aster, Anemone, Bay Laurel</div>
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Sedum, Lavender, Thai Basil, Fennel (flowers and leaves) Bay Laurel</div>
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I put a few stems in one year and they rooted. It's been happy in this copper bowl for years.</div>
Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-9648874223461449442015-09-12T07:38:00.006-07:002015-09-12T08:08:02.146-07:00"Whirling Butterflies" Gaura <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been told that nicknames are often a sign of affection.<br />
This playful meadow flower has several, including Wandflower, Bee Blossom or Whirling Butterflies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7Yqs4V3cChSYA3STQdmiCscemm348yksF0Lr3LYaLf4QWIsA_sXXklLIIuclLVXGYrI58s7BjvRs4wubRXm4GvllnW2H0N45-dPrdGfpFwnNP3gGFFFqBvyarzatR657P2Ssxh_tdj5F/s1600/close+up+gaura3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7Yqs4V3cChSYA3STQdmiCscemm348yksF0Lr3LYaLf4QWIsA_sXXklLIIuclLVXGYrI58s7BjvRs4wubRXm4GvllnW2H0N45-dPrdGfpFwnNP3gGFFFqBvyarzatR657P2Ssxh_tdj5F/s640/close+up+gaura3.jpg" title="Whirling Butterflies Gaura, Easy Perennial Summer through Fall, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
Here are some reasons to plant this easy perennial in your garden:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt79yfZZcbgsXBZwwwfqA2yHSQeOwutepfdB_l93UajZQLPBqtnMju65TJfKv8OKwRtW96MuPlohjnPuIAzVc_Vcs3bMOn08EF1bemG1Lhafvqoh8bOQGy6d5cqcUyd5FlRjuxHsx77iu/s1600/gaura+arranged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt79yfZZcbgsXBZwwwfqA2yHSQeOwutepfdB_l93UajZQLPBqtnMju65TJfKv8OKwRtW96MuPlohjnPuIAzVc_Vcs3bMOn08EF1bemG1Lhafvqoh8bOQGy6d5cqcUyd5FlRjuxHsx77iu/s640/gaura+arranged.jpg" title="Whirling Butterflies Gaura, Easy Perennial Summer through Fall, Dusty Lane Blog" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gaura with zinnias and Limelight Hydrangea</span></td></tr>
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<li>Long lasting blooming season starting in spring or mid summer, going into fall (trimming may encourage longer blooming)</li>
<li>Drought hardy once established</li>
<li>Cold hardy </li>
<li>Self Sewing</li>
<li>Many blossoms</li>
<li>Attracts bees, butterflies and humming birds</li>
<li>May be evergreen in some climates</li>
<li>Lovely cut flower</li>
<li>Deer Resistant</li>
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<li>Easy to grow</li>
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And here are a few cautions:</div>
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<li>A long taproot makes this very difficult to transplant. New seedlings should be moved while small. </li>
<li>May tend to take up much more room than you planned on, especially if you let the new seedlings spread out.</li>
<li>Needs adequate drainage</li>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> I bought one gallon of white Gaura two years ago, and was so enchanted I bought a pink variety the following year. </span><br />
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The first two years my white Gaura kept its neat habit, sending sprays of dancing blossoms from its mound of foliage. The third year however, the original clump was overwhelmed by another plant and it was just kept too wet.<br />
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Gaura does not like to be soggy.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Fortunately the parent plant had put out at least a dozen volunteers. </span><span style="text-align: center;">By mid summer they more than doubled the space originally inhabited by the first plant,</span></div>
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and by late August they were a happy sprawl.<br />
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Just more pictures...<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHgtCcMvOee_54Hjhz8IHnEXCuxijPdBI60ns8OymoQ52nX8hV_TSWLQ2nHzI_VzzaJ-XEmvSdTRyHE-JELlt4vSGVBXaqVxMJ8njAe_tOGmO5yik3aKEXtnc6DIBk4i8HNiPSgZ57rIR/s400/bee.jpg" title="Whirling Butterflies Gaura, Easy Perennial Summer through Fall, Dusty Lane Blog" width="306" /></td>
<td><img alt="" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5Lk1wihgeNxk7qQ83-S6cy27_K44XWMVUmuRLWulQUZyBsH0K_y-WSheMScJ6P0sBhuERP2t5T7Om3KtZHziB1nC6Pr8-JMtE2457Al5R3j8gWjr5sje0BMp9pF5dfA-tPnT9fYzxTPj/s400/vase.jpg" title="Whirling Butterflies Gaura, Easy Perennial Summer through Fall, Dusty Lane Blog" width="359" /></td>
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Pink variety with burgundy tipped foliage, second year plant, before blooming.</div>
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Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-52947488124833789302015-08-18T22:30:00.004-07:002015-08-19T14:27:39.278-07:00Containers, Landscape and Arrangements: Euonymus fortunei<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82ALVBVVHD8heeYdYsh03Dsu2cnDzaTephyA-NuVEq_LC4VNBZb5Vx3G6v-Gr19-AfypqSZBMEyAiK2cP55J7gfbGhkQRKA1ZbnlaF40PT3LoO9PtO6IbtUI_MVWPrIMBOVFMzUxOZkG5/s1600/Euonymus7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82ALVBVVHD8heeYdYsh03Dsu2cnDzaTephyA-NuVEq_LC4VNBZb5Vx3G6v-Gr19-AfypqSZBMEyAiK2cP55J7gfbGhkQRKA1ZbnlaF40PT3LoO9PtO6IbtUI_MVWPrIMBOVFMzUxOZkG5/s640/Euonymus7.jpg" title="Containers, Landscape and Arrangements: Euonymus fortunei, Evergreen vining shrub, The Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
It's ubiquitous, this shrub that I can never remember the name of. It's been in our front yard forever, and I had a love-hate relationship with it until I figured out how to keep it looking lovely. And then I discovered some magic.<br />
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I often see Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ or another variety pruned severely into hedges in formal landscapes, but that's not my style. My rambling garden resists artificial shapes.<br />
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This vining shrub seems to grow year round, and I have found by keeping it low to the ground it relaxes, putting up wonderful spires that just beg to be included in bouquets.<br />
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Trimming it back twice a year is all I ever do for it, and it never complains. When all my annuals die in early winter, I pull rooted stems from the Euonymus to fill in some of the empty places, and gradually many of my deep shade containers are filling up with these starts.<br />
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I love how it combines with other brilliantly colored foliage plants, or sets off flowers in a vase.<br />
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Just more pictures...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY8k6_9n2l3F3yHoN__k5ZjpHGXeJKgwEmd0dZw8xBD3ZEc9y1yX3GdtWedsSe3RcYGbjWpA0jakhi1CnQRga7XTPq4BwD5Le0aZYyQWSAnL1lvPXxGaSlXtjEkv3bye0XC-k8ttUdbmW/s1600/Euonymus8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY8k6_9n2l3F3yHoN__k5ZjpHGXeJKgwEmd0dZw8xBD3ZEc9y1yX3GdtWedsSe3RcYGbjWpA0jakhi1CnQRga7XTPq4BwD5Le0aZYyQWSAnL1lvPXxGaSlXtjEkv3bye0XC-k8ttUdbmW/s640/Euonymus8.jpg" title="Containers, Landscape and Arrangements: Euonymus fortunei, Evergreen vining shrub, The Dusty Lane Blog" width="434" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> "Profusion" Zinnia from Park Seed (2 colors), Russian Sage, Smoke Tree and Euonymus fortunei</span></td></tr>
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<br />Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-58859855157413820092015-07-21T07:36:00.000-07:002015-07-28T06:44:11.411-07:00Zucchini Smoothie<div style="text-align: right;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbkknuus6iW_o_iTZnbKh7X0t0K732613HtJFKXRiZE0VsJ8HqeH7VpkySnDQy9meKhE7qBM5gvnwyRh0Rwuk7LLsxMQeo0ZQRKAdC3LfF7LaodYfVmSvWq6cL5Qw41w1-tmYlB9vxZsJ/s1600/z+smoothie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbkknuus6iW_o_iTZnbKh7X0t0K732613HtJFKXRiZE0VsJ8HqeH7VpkySnDQy9meKhE7qBM5gvnwyRh0Rwuk7LLsxMQeo0ZQRKAdC3LfF7LaodYfVmSvWq6cL5Qw41w1-tmYlB9vxZsJ/s400/z+smoothie2.jpg" title="Zucchini Fruit Smoothie with blueberries and other summer fruits, The Dusty Lane blog" width="266" /></a></div>
I drank a zucchini and it was delicious.<br />
<br />
It stands to reason; Raw zucchini has practically no flavor of its own, so why wouldn't it work in fruit smoothies?<br />
<br />
I've long been a fan of putting large portions of baby spinach or deep green kale in my smoothies, and have won over many skeptics.<br />
<br />
The zucchini actually added a thick and creamy element that I enjoyed.<br />
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Here is my basic template for smoothies:<br />
<ul>
<li>About 2-3 cups <b>fresh fruit</b> (or partially thawed frozen) cut into chunks if needed (see list below)</li>
<li>About 1-3 cups <b>zucchini</b>, remove core and seeds, cut in chunks, leave peel on if tender -- <b>OR </b>About 1-3 cups <b>baby spinach</b> or other favorite raw greens that have a mild flavor</li>
</ul>
<i>Puree this in the blender, then add:</i><br />
<ul>
<li>About 1-3 cups <b>frozen fruit </b>(I partially thaw it if I'm using mostly frozen fruit)</li>
</ul>
<i>I often add:</i><br />
<ul>
<li>A scoop of plain yogurt, preferably Greek (about 1/3 cup)</li>
<li>TB wheat germ</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDoPVfbTic1L01KrqaDCHNz1XQ5_iOJ-HftHdlYiSure-kH1ycQYW9yaEphwx85gnW7pvRO0VEcrBT-E7zFbM1bnLHEAotxbPUQqa9aPdzswsR2z29z5xGoYUp6Wprt5TqgaMyhIvTMSn/s1600/z+blender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDoPVfbTic1L01KrqaDCHNz1XQ5_iOJ-HftHdlYiSure-kH1ycQYW9yaEphwx85gnW7pvRO0VEcrBT-E7zFbM1bnLHEAotxbPUQqa9aPdzswsR2z29z5xGoYUp6Wprt5TqgaMyhIvTMSn/s320/z+blender.jpg" title="Zucchini Fruit Smoothie with blueberries and other summer fruits, The Dusty Lane blog" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One medium zucchini + fruit <br />= 6 1/2 cups</span></td></tr>
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<li>TB ground flax seed </li>
</ul>
If the blender is struggling because it is too thick, I add:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>fruit juice or water</b></li>
</ul>
Do a taste test. Not sweet enough? I add a little orange juice concentrate or fruit preserves. Too bland? Try just a little frozen lemonade or lime juice or something else with a citric acid kick!<br />
<br />
In this batch I used:<br />
<ul>
<li>One medium zucchini (about 1 pound) some peel removed, core and seeds removed</li>
<li>One peach, peeled and <u>pit removed</u></li>
<li>One apricot with skin, <u>pit removed</u></li>
<li>Fresh blueberries 1-2 cups</li>
<li>One frozen banana (no peel of course!)</li>
<li>12 whole frozen strawberries</li>
<li>1 TB apricot preserves</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6Vfs75de8BBVr7t84p0T4moZ8WRpVHLm4nqaH8pO0fy3JeiaydR34q08rErsPiZKb-pqPVAVsO_NJoFRSTLBKdjf-HpSlWTiKCiFHqYcGw7-MDkBfPQYrYf7R4Mbpqg7Jp04Tr_b6F9q/s1600/z+fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6Vfs75de8BBVr7t84p0T4moZ8WRpVHLm4nqaH8pO0fy3JeiaydR34q08rErsPiZKb-pqPVAVsO_NJoFRSTLBKdjf-HpSlWTiKCiFHqYcGw7-MDkBfPQYrYf7R4Mbpqg7Jp04Tr_b6F9q/s640/z+fruit.jpg" title="Zucchini Fruit Smoothie with blueberries and other summer fruits, The Dusty Lane blog" width="640" /></a></div>
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Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-34965697770295570792015-07-17T15:13:00.001-07:002015-07-17T15:13:42.605-07:00Zucchini Soup with Coconut Milk, Curry and Lemon Grass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFs4sCRp6hyUhQSuUZoXY678xwDZHOLcYwoh7RCv43avl7p2vHpFgXwwIp2jIKcKF_oWqPpb-NleIryvmwK3pnhQb8ElVdiwDrafUxhw4l3wwKEPKvjYfaJZdUitaR-QcY9X5EIgZ_iXan/s1600/z+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFs4sCRp6hyUhQSuUZoXY678xwDZHOLcYwoh7RCv43avl7p2vHpFgXwwIp2jIKcKF_oWqPpb-NleIryvmwK3pnhQb8ElVdiwDrafUxhw4l3wwKEPKvjYfaJZdUitaR-QcY9X5EIgZ_iXan/s400/z+soup.jpg" title="Zucchini Soup with Coconut Milk, Curry and Lemon Grass, The Dusty Lane Blog" width="400" /></a></div>
I over-planted the zucchini again. Want some? This beautiful soup can use up one large zucchini. Joy joy.<br />
<b><i>And</i></b> you can make this recipe vegetarian/vegan<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Zucchini Soup with Coconut Milk, Curry and Lemon Grass</b></span><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByMag8a_A4lkQWROaDB2MFk4SHc/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">For Printable Version Click Here</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPS3Y-To1ZFvJFHSDnzpw-QPKNYi7m40iQWiygoKhqvLJxJyHYccPWFg4aFPtSzQGnbWruc-u1vhQG_rwigEMvosf5s_qn5pf-gqPK5PGbZ4ZhAi4waB765BReG2Hr6D5kFX7ev_NHowV/s1600/z+soup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPS3Y-To1ZFvJFHSDnzpw-QPKNYi7m40iQWiygoKhqvLJxJyHYccPWFg4aFPtSzQGnbWruc-u1vhQG_rwigEMvosf5s_qn5pf-gqPK5PGbZ4ZhAi4waB765BReG2Hr6D5kFX7ev_NHowV/s640/z+soup2.jpg" title="Zucchini Soup with Coconut Milk, Curry and Lemon Grass, The Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>1 medium onion (I used a sweet yellow onion) chopped</li>
<li>4-5 cloves garlic, chopped or pressed</li>
<li>Olive oil or coconut oil -- just enough to saute the onion & garlic, about 1 TB</li>
<li>1 large (2 pounds at least, more is fine) zucchini chopped in 1" pieces -- I peeled off some of the skin, but it all cooked down. I also removed the pithy core & seeds, but this zucchini was not overripe so very little was removed.</li>
<li>1 can chicken broth or vegetable broth </li>
<li>1 can coconut milk (I used regular, but you may use light)</li>
<li>1 TB mild yellow curry</li>
<li>1TB fresh lemongrass or 1 Kaffir Lime Leaf, or try some Lemon Thyme? *see notes</li>
<li>Optional: Mild Cheese: Shredded Mozzarella or Feta or mild Goat Cheese</li>
<li>Optional: Toasted Pumpkin Seeds *see notes</li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li>Saute the onion and garlic in a little oil over medium heat until tender, about 8-10 minutes.</li>
<li>Add zucchini, lemon grass and about half the broth. Simmer until tender, at least 10-15 minutes. (I covered the pot)</li>
<li>When the zucchini is tender, remove the lemon grass if you prefer (see notes), then blend with an immersion blender or transfer to a standing blender and blend until smooth.</li>
<li>Return to pot (if using standing blender) and add remaining broth, coconut milk, curry powder and salt and pepper to taste. Stir while heating to serving temperature.</li>
<li>I served this with a little shredded mozzarella cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds, along with some crusty sourdough bread. </li>
</ol>
NOTES: The original recipe did not call for the lemongrass, but I have a bounty growing in my herb garden, so -- why not? I picked several thick stems with the blades, which are sharp as razors. I chopped it very fine and tossed it in. The fragrance was <i>amazing </i>and it did so much for this soup! The texture after blending was a little fibrous though, and I ended up running my husband's serving through a sieve so he would not complain. I did not mind it. Solution: leave whole and remove before blending. I think a Kaffir Lime leaf or a little Lemon Thyme would be nice alternatives. Maybe fresh Tarragon?<br />
<a href="http://thaifood.about.com/od/thairecipesstepbystep/ss/lemongrasshowto.htm#step8" target="_blank">Here's an excellent tutorial on using lemongrass.</a><br />
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Toasted Pumpkin Seeds: I had some unsalted pumpkin seeds, and just laid them on a baking sheet, sprinkled with seasoning salt and put them under the broiler for about 3-4 minutes until a few were just turning brown. This was so good with this soup!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb6lSjVgecVNTHer6-d-q9p2-7MA2oPpzG4rNDQJQv5rAIGAR2VIax7_QdQLKCqU15IuP6GEtvkYG-Ks_23oHypn6yukHLCGaA3MOPsJksspWtWve6Xc-sFsRbLu11jn4udI4930zanLQ/s1600/happy+zucchini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb6lSjVgecVNTHer6-d-q9p2-7MA2oPpzG4rNDQJQv5rAIGAR2VIax7_QdQLKCqU15IuP6GEtvkYG-Ks_23oHypn6yukHLCGaA3MOPsJksspWtWve6Xc-sFsRbLu11jn4udI4930zanLQ/s400/happy+zucchini.jpg" title="Zucchini Soup with Coconut Milk, Curry and Lemon Grass, The Dusty Lane Blog" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-42956963607926210692015-07-15T18:33:00.002-07:002015-07-16T09:32:57.816-07:00Year of the Beetle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ztOtmKxCMT77AfhNYt7SHVLAJBitWy7ayzaoP1_qqI9QfU2tUbBIm5ehRK3uix50_DpBaEJi1Q18eOa9f4wKWGrccNGzV8in8nZBWhppmCxbryJmQjfvoaQb6_uX-6OwVFbCPKleiPwZ/s1600/073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ztOtmKxCMT77AfhNYt7SHVLAJBitWy7ayzaoP1_qqI9QfU2tUbBIm5ehRK3uix50_DpBaEJi1Q18eOa9f4wKWGrccNGzV8in8nZBWhppmCxbryJmQjfvoaQb6_uX-6OwVFbCPKleiPwZ/s1600/073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkzrgfDvolSrzH8RZyrulyOB4Ojk8wVmhXWT3we1w1qSpRSNqdDrGCz5aCyohT_r_ZXohONSQyxaiEWDNu-F7CYN81dNxaf776q0_vN5eG5ZwnB3wi51zquZkszK4MFCu0jypwZ5vZw4G/s1600/073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkzrgfDvolSrzH8RZyrulyOB4Ojk8wVmhXWT3we1w1qSpRSNqdDrGCz5aCyohT_r_ZXohONSQyxaiEWDNu-F7CYN81dNxaf776q0_vN5eG5ZwnB3wi51zquZkszK4MFCu0jypwZ5vZw4G/s640/073.jpg" title="Battling Flea Beetles ants and other insect pests with organic products, The Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eggplant Leaf destroyed by flea beetles</span></td></tr>
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I had beautiful plans for the best vegetable garden ever this year.<br />
<br />
And row after row, nothing came up -- or something would sprout, but be gone in a day. I blamed the weather or old seeds.<br />
I replanted.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT1tDSyHhN2h5SvugUEHFoYnUjfyc360c8wq2baWL8ymN00cCeYrad-kVwJnyj2p4FIsiDjrxI1ZOYu5Exc9vfWL52LqI8mGzk9BvpIUNf66M-22Au6EXhqNlOha4cLjN0W_BngTYY-ho/s1600/076+copy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT1tDSyHhN2h5SvugUEHFoYnUjfyc360c8wq2baWL8ymN00cCeYrad-kVwJnyj2p4FIsiDjrxI1ZOYu5Exc9vfWL52LqI8mGzk9BvpIUNf66M-22Au6EXhqNlOha4cLjN0W_BngTYY-ho/s400/076+copy+2.jpg" title="Battling Flea Beetles ants and other insect pests with organic products, The Dusty Lane Blog" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Flea Beetle on Nasturtium</span></td></tr>
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<br />
Then I noticed the eggplants.<br />
<br />
And not just the eggplants. The tomatoes were drooping, the peppers were stunted, and the kale, arugula, beets, swiss chard, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, spinach and bok choy were non-existent in spite of several plantings.<br />
<br />
The internet diagnosed Flea Beetles. I had never heard of them. This has never been a problem! But stepping back into my garden, now I saw them everywhere, on nearly everything.<br />
<br />
What to do? I hurried to the farm store and spent $30 on beneficial nematodes to destroy the larvae feasting on the plant roots.<br />
I bought a large bag of diatomaceous earth to annoy a large variety of insect pests, including the ants who had developed a regular track through the garden, and I suspect were "farming" some of these pests for their benefit.<br />
And I bought a spray bottle of Neem oil, figuring this would send them packing.<br />
I added some fly paper to trap some critters.<br />
<br />
It's been four weeks. The latest re-planting efforts have been moderately successful.<br />
<br />
At this point I have decided to rejoice that the lettuce is thriving, the peas and beans don't seem to mind being chomped a little, and absolutely NOTHING bothered the zucchini this year.<br />
<br />
Next year, I will re-apply the beneficial nematodes before planting, bleach my row covers and spread the diatomaceous earth on everything after planting.<br />
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If anyone has more ideas for me, I would LOVE to hear them!<br />
<br />Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-19508354527772959082015-07-06T08:01:00.000-07:002015-07-06T08:02:09.370-07:00Poor Man's Orchid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZxuNhpKNFBE-RCmizWckvgqCBo-yzhoboLgvtHQqmnO8cgDdawefFzrmsF4zY4doYYgLY7vsLMWjAei8BPkhnC6f1_yKi6eWHyk4wO5HFZIdlbmL-tCSgVCuD8FLgqEnS7n8j_-MPaXG/s1600/orchid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZxuNhpKNFBE-RCmizWckvgqCBo-yzhoboLgvtHQqmnO8cgDdawefFzrmsF4zY4doYYgLY7vsLMWjAei8BPkhnC6f1_yKi6eWHyk4wO5HFZIdlbmL-tCSgVCuD8FLgqEnS7n8j_-MPaXG/s640/orchid.jpg" title="Poor Man's Orchid, Balfour's Impatien, favorite flower for shade gardens, self sewing annual, Dusty Lane Blog" width="426" /></a></div>
I rely on this generously self sewing annual as though it is a perennial. It fills in deep shady spots in my garden, and often pops up in sunny places as well.
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Aunt Jeannie shared the seeds with my Mom decades ago. She called it "Poor Man's Orchid",<br />
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It is also known as Balfour's Touch Me Not, Balfour's Impatien, or Impatiens Balfourii, and can be purchased in seed catalogs.<br />
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You may not be able to find this for sale in nurseries because in my experience this plant can be fussy about being transplanted. From seed however, it grows beautifully and multiplies!<br />
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I have discovered that it will show up in pots I have left nearby, so I have taken to leaving a few leftover nursery pots near my plantings as a way to easily create new starts for moving around the garden and sharing with friends.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnkaWSsscVh1deQv3d_88UJNeQ0yEDQcGkLiXIaONTV-_oFYPGZdfVA9-ALJEimP7_wPvyIr6VMlS9Xxn2faPUolKInz6MRdfLhnJHwiLWqnB5m5jkU9GgW91k73Ae8_olgPoRSiM4CsY/s1600/orchid2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnkaWSsscVh1deQv3d_88UJNeQ0yEDQcGkLiXIaONTV-_oFYPGZdfVA9-ALJEimP7_wPvyIr6VMlS9Xxn2faPUolKInz6MRdfLhnJHwiLWqnB5m5jkU9GgW91k73Ae8_olgPoRSiM4CsY/s640/orchid2.jpg" title="Poor Man's Orchid, Balfour's Impatien, favorite flower for shade gardens, self sewing annual, Dusty Lane Blog" width="426" /></a>Originating around the Kashmir region of the Himalayas, it grows naturally in cool moist climates.<br />
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Here are a few reasons I love this delightful annual:<br />
<ul>
<li>Long lasting blooming season (beginning late spring and going into fall)</li>
<li>Charming orchid like blossoms</li>
<li>Attractive foliage</li>
<li>Performs well in deep shade</li>
<li>Self sowing (generously)</li>
<li>Attracts butterflies and humming birds</li>
<li>Easy to grow</li>
<li>Works well combined with other plants in the border.</li>
<li>Entertaining exploding seed pods</li>
</ul>
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That last "benefit" on the list is one of the novelties of this plant. When the seed pods are fully mature, they burst open when touched gently, much to the delight of guests, and especially my kids when they were little. As long as you don't get a seed in your eye, this is great fun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu__-P0wALnjRTJom4Mt3FFzecDYtz-buE5Tv8MmR8iL8_lM1jshnSIvn1BOOa0sUGGLqyMAGx889wGHhc7X9zzcTr8S7jXJcr8Av1tyLGLRuqrTph8wnJ00JRE1XoXPJIjcUanOdXTa3p/s1600/orchid3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu__-P0wALnjRTJom4Mt3FFzecDYtz-buE5Tv8MmR8iL8_lM1jshnSIvn1BOOa0sUGGLqyMAGx889wGHhc7X9zzcTr8S7jXJcr8Av1tyLGLRuqrTph8wnJ00JRE1XoXPJIjcUanOdXTa3p/s400/orchid3.jpg" title="Poor Man's Orchid, Balfour's Impatien, favorite flower for shade gardens, self sewing annual, Dusty Lane Blog" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">New plants in spring</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Drawbacks:</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Prolific seed production, but young plants are easily pulled out.</li>
<li>Needs regular watering, but do not over water.</li>
<li>May need staking when grown as a massed planting, as shown here. Grown as a single plant, they will develop a sturdy shape, but in a wall of plants they will tend to become tall and spindly. </li>
<li>Because it is an annual, plants will die after first frost and need removal. Obviously this means there is no attraction for the winter garden.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
Just more photos...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFUakv16M0Szw0l0OH8iwn9G1oQ81wJEO5yoBd3wlO8oSN0bk3SxJM1o9nq0H8Vcsd1P8LH2uGupI81OBMDrCn2A0h84cg3s2GAJ2ToBdCn2znxGBILV-D4P3EA0Y9S3qy283HRvpx0Bk/s1600/orchid5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFUakv16M0Szw0l0OH8iwn9G1oQ81wJEO5yoBd3wlO8oSN0bk3SxJM1o9nq0H8Vcsd1P8LH2uGupI81OBMDrCn2A0h84cg3s2GAJ2ToBdCn2znxGBILV-D4P3EA0Y9S3qy283HRvpx0Bk/s640/orchid5.jpg" title="Poor Man's Orchid, Balfour's Impatien, favorite flower for shade gardens, self sewing annual, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NACFJc4FaOVnMRKPPwenCvpbstGqBmKy2Z5wWkdIEHDWRl-uxoRmNPkA24LrNNS5jCBcIi8lOgJQLXeBqSarN1tH8z15jATMsqfnrLSqS6k-lz5Cu7FxSDmlsrTCk8A3NAYBQP1hAbuT/s1600/orchid6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NACFJc4FaOVnMRKPPwenCvpbstGqBmKy2Z5wWkdIEHDWRl-uxoRmNPkA24LrNNS5jCBcIi8lOgJQLXeBqSarN1tH8z15jATMsqfnrLSqS6k-lz5Cu7FxSDmlsrTCk8A3NAYBQP1hAbuT/s640/orchid6.jpg" title="Poor Man's Orchid, Balfour's Impatien, favorite flower for shade gardens, self sewing annual, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A seed pod almost ready to burst</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjwUH3lGaBRctqTBLHBmj06yQuo_brqIeLAieBbInsY9ugrkkV04QZizKmeE6sCqOZYYnF9dTSiZEmopLWiwdLor8NfxxPO0K2cdeVyDhcioDW_BYj44jSSsmfy8i0TqtWwVKUqnBCRVa/s1600/orchid4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjwUH3lGaBRctqTBLHBmj06yQuo_brqIeLAieBbInsY9ugrkkV04QZizKmeE6sCqOZYYnF9dTSiZEmopLWiwdLor8NfxxPO0K2cdeVyDhcioDW_BYj44jSSsmfy8i0TqtWwVKUqnBCRVa/s640/orchid4.jpg" title="Poor Man's Orchid, Balfour's Impatien, favorite flower for shade gardens, self sewing annual, Dusty Lane Blog" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a backdrop for Astilbe</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-43117077430385303652015-06-28T07:37:00.002-07:002015-06-28T16:06:04.776-07:00Aromatic Santolina<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjp_n7Ho8MhtumZzOengvCy_5ZeVMMITaOK4CgkNGsSXovRh8xi0PaTrfwefmnE1iE-EvAYIgaDWOGYxTs_VRlDRuOIL3_GcXRXbLP6PWS1Pi6fbud5rGfTlcRVx032mjZTN4280KDxLy/s1600/santolina+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: .5em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjp_n7Ho8MhtumZzOengvCy_5ZeVMMITaOK4CgkNGsSXovRh8xi0PaTrfwefmnE1iE-EvAYIgaDWOGYxTs_VRlDRuOIL3_GcXRXbLP6PWS1Pi6fbud5rGfTlcRVx032mjZTN4280KDxLy/s640/santolina+2.jpg" title="Aromatic Santolina, a favorite perennial, benefits and drawbacks with photos, Dusty Lane Blog" width="426" /></a>
I received a Santolina start from a friend many years ago.<br />
<br />
Also called "Lavender Cotton", the standard variety has bright yellow flowers and more intensely silvery foliage. The variety in my garden has creamy white flowers, and it has earned a place in my top ten for so many reasons.<br />
<br />
<b>Hardiness</b>:<br />
<ul>
<li>Cold hardy </li>
<li>Deer Resistant </li>
<li>Highly drought tolerant</li>
<li>Easy to grow</li>
<li>Full to sun to part shade</li>
<li>Easily propagated by layering or rooting cuttings</li>
</ul>
<ul></ul>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Benefits</b>:<br />
<ul>
<li>Attractive silvery green fern-like foliage </li>
<li>Evergreen - does not go dormant in winter</li>
<li>Aromatic foliage has been used historically to discourage insect pests.</li>
<li>Long lasting blooming season in early summer</li>
<li>Adorable button flowers</li>
<li>Good cut flower, possible to use as dried flower</li>
<li>Combines well with other plants in the border.</li>
<li>Santolina cuttings are lovely in winter container arrangements. They will last a long time if kept adequately watered, and may even take root. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu975KVrkOTrYpxMqjK39Nl71fhpmEoIITsN5zpPq1vRJnVFpmxwN3D-nB2aU83IeAi_XYLSNqDMFkQHSkT4Xtawtzg64Nhjud59c8-ZyDNBAKvwz0DIinfuCfrkQEzjaChjyLVYU4n36Y/s1600/santolina3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu975KVrkOTrYpxMqjK39Nl71fhpmEoIITsN5zpPq1vRJnVFpmxwN3D-nB2aU83IeAi_XYLSNqDMFkQHSkT4Xtawtzg64Nhjud59c8-ZyDNBAKvwz0DIinfuCfrkQEzjaChjyLVYU4n36Y/s640/santolina3.jpg" title="Aromatic Santolina, a favorite perennial, benefits and drawbacks with photos, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Allow for plenty of space, planting at least two feet from the edge of your border.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyoEfAJtGwKThpavvZDtwow8K0hcwUgKlrisbUdtIge4VofkvLGhFFH7cB_kIYJxnZ9QRq9VvDz63ferQhA1ny1r93aUyCl_PsBFA4h85sKxGVh3d5lUqdBNRB90boL81DO0JS5xpGbOD/s1600/Santolinamature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyoEfAJtGwKThpavvZDtwow8K0hcwUgKlrisbUdtIge4VofkvLGhFFH7cB_kIYJxnZ9QRq9VvDz63ferQhA1ny1r93aUyCl_PsBFA4h85sKxGVh3d5lUqdBNRB90boL81DO0JS5xpGbOD/s640/Santolinamature.jpg" title="Aromatic Santolina, a favorite perennial, benefits and drawbacks with photos, Dusty Lane Blog" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The blossoms open out as they mature.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Drawbacks</b>:<br />
<br />
-Must have good drainage; will not tolerate excessive watering.<br />
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<b></b>
<b></b>
<b></b>
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<b></b>
- Although some sites claim you can keep Santolina trimmed to the shape desired, my experience is a rambling shrub that sends its long flower stalks wherever it wishes (even though I trim it every year).<br />
<br />
- Must be pruned back after blooming because the spent flower stems are not attractive, and the plant will become leggy and the woody stems tend to split if not trimmed.<br />
After the flowers turn brown I prune it back vigorously.<br />
<br />
- Even with trimming, most plants will need to be replaced after about five years.
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>However:</b><br />
<br />
Sometimes I take my trimmings and bury them in mud, keeping them moist until the winter rains begin. I usually am rewarded with several rooted cuttings by spring.<br />
<br />
The other way to propagate this plant is to layer branches in dirt until they root, then divide the plant.<br />
<div>
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<br />
Just more pictures (below)</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIZIq4AKQ6o1UNKiYEPkXOBugV0H4bMB7dSO3m7DvesjujQVkem0SdvhBFz3GHE3DmV_76qoOsIRoSLL4vSmQBmL8uWjokyTcSp9xPBf-vNB-vSMS-P7LwjCvmhKi878kSBLB2kGOU6Vj/s1600/santo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIZIq4AKQ6o1UNKiYEPkXOBugV0H4bMB7dSO3m7DvesjujQVkem0SdvhBFz3GHE3DmV_76qoOsIRoSLL4vSmQBmL8uWjokyTcSp9xPBf-vNB-vSMS-P7LwjCvmhKi878kSBLB2kGOU6Vj/s640/santo.jpg" title="Aromatic Santolina, a favorite perennial, benefits and drawbacks with photos, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVI8wx7pKFKppml08aNzzeqeahHlQUTlSwus7AeMz45-ZoDQ2fs-kq00RUPXGT19Hx3ff-zjclneB9rAxIig_5vN8TrsW5BIDWLBWUrZzdrwvkGeamYN5RTQ1d4tKHChL54gwtWXBmj1Z/s1600/Santolina8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="547" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVI8wx7pKFKppml08aNzzeqeahHlQUTlSwus7AeMz45-ZoDQ2fs-kq00RUPXGT19Hx3ff-zjclneB9rAxIig_5vN8TrsW5BIDWLBWUrZzdrwvkGeamYN5RTQ1d4tKHChL54gwtWXBmj1Z/s640/Santolina8.jpg" title="Aromatic Santolina, a favorite perennial, benefits and drawbacks with photos, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpqKjpq-u8HkLc3Cq0w5bR2w-SEc50g2iKBczfrPU3Z1XwlChJEAWXALDGI7PJRBaTDrsthtoEIpBuwTE9hzIZQgjzUKPrhz_b5gGMXi5vBelt-T1u1KVhMX_2Nq95bu7PQ6L0qVoLzax/s1600/santolina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpqKjpq-u8HkLc3Cq0w5bR2w-SEc50g2iKBczfrPU3Z1XwlChJEAWXALDGI7PJRBaTDrsthtoEIpBuwTE9hzIZQgjzUKPrhz_b5gGMXi5vBelt-T1u1KVhMX_2Nq95bu7PQ6L0qVoLzax/s640/santolina.jpg" title="Aromatic Santolina, a favorite perennial, benefits and drawbacks with photos, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
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Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-5867472868215065892015-06-18T08:08:00.002-07:002015-06-18T08:08:45.438-07:00Rose Campion from Grandma's Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_a7ku4KgFRTXYqySpcPfbHKKHDTuMEKQnvyJO7UJ_S2tGwyhIf6zVkZ9URAzAmvgj8NUe2IYM6YCJgQLL1x2nasOqs63a8SqIUKeX_Dv6tyypdguG5WBpy0BdaOi25HcpUHedj2luAbg9/s1600/phlox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_a7ku4KgFRTXYqySpcPfbHKKHDTuMEKQnvyJO7UJ_S2tGwyhIf6zVkZ9URAzAmvgj8NUe2IYM6YCJgQLL1x2nasOqs63a8SqIUKeX_Dv6tyypdguG5WBpy0BdaOi25HcpUHedj2luAbg9/s640/phlox.jpg" title="Rose Campion, a cottage garden favorite perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
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I grew up taking these deep magenta blossoms for granted. </div>
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They were practically ubiquitous in our rambling sidewalk borders, </div>
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and were most likely planted from seed shared with my Grandmother decades ago.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jbvNrvVzzvWYuUgzODj7V39_V2oSQQNnTcxJHyyfKbZsBesINrGKFcywPSXlXktKLMI26mBm68GW86UERWDkzzMSRf7rOf5RYboAYlopVy90IDnceUmWfJCVIkW1VQ7qBL7ttjKeu4-H/s1600/phlox6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jbvNrvVzzvWYuUgzODj7V39_V2oSQQNnTcxJHyyfKbZsBesINrGKFcywPSXlXktKLMI26mBm68GW86UERWDkzzMSRf7rOf5RYboAYlopVy90IDnceUmWfJCVIkW1VQ7qBL7ttjKeu4-H/s640/phlox6.jpg" title="Rose Campion, a cottage garden favorite perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium;">
My Mother called them a "single phlox", and it's not hard to see why she made that error. </div>
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Rose Campion is just one of the many common names for Lychnis coronaria. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium;">
I think it sounds like a heroine from an Edwardian novel.</div>
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<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGr6i148ysbrWULvf5f089PaWl84YubdbtN4As8WlWQ7G1CjmfQcM2d11kMZlDkHu6dTCXLgcNDZ0QyJ1UUJ6TGi4sYjegmCDMjHrd69DAvcAs4JMvVM49c5V8oLPZXF2r8FoMa0-hyPle/s1600/rose+campion2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGr6i148ysbrWULvf5f089PaWl84YubdbtN4As8WlWQ7G1CjmfQcM2d11kMZlDkHu6dTCXLgcNDZ0QyJ1UUJ6TGi4sYjegmCDMjHrd69DAvcAs4JMvVM49c5V8oLPZXF2r8FoMa0-hyPle/s400/rose+campion2.JPG" title="Rose Campion, a cottage garden favorite perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="266" /></a>Because they multiply rapidly by seed, at one point they were so prolific I pulled them out every time I saw them. Now that they are under control, I realize what a treasure they really are.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Long lasting blooming season in mid-spring (some repeat blooms in summer-fall)</li>
<li>Velvety deep magenta blossoms</li>
<li>Felted silvery stems and leaves (like Lamb's Ear)</li>
<li>Fairly drought tolerant</li>
<li>Cold hardy </li>
<li>Self sowing (generously)</li>
<li>Transplants easily</li>
<li>Attracts bees, butterflies and humming birds</li>
<li>Deer Resistant </li>
<li>Evergreen - does not go dormant in winter</li>
<li>Good cut flower</li>
<li>Easy to grow</li>
<li>Seldom needs staking</li>
<li>Adaptable to sun or medium shade</li>
<li>Works well combined with other plants in the border.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusa-twmiNF4nMltYSFWi-MfHad6i6aBpbJ-LbsmKbiehB4TzQo0-vFl8DxaP2jsVEMs-EP6IP5o1E7q76oCnuwdxZ9Xremgk4vndTOhrxLyiNjrFOsWsYSCybSVInAdGAcqWUIYJjKsLb/s1600/phlox5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusa-twmiNF4nMltYSFWi-MfHad6i6aBpbJ-LbsmKbiehB4TzQo0-vFl8DxaP2jsVEMs-EP6IP5o1E7q76oCnuwdxZ9Xremgk4vndTOhrxLyiNjrFOsWsYSCybSVInAdGAcqWUIYJjKsLb/s400/phlox5.jpg" title="Rose Campion, a cottage garden favorite perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="300" /></a></div>
<div>
Reading other postings about this plant, many people mention that it just showed up in their garden. Birds? Wind? Happy circumstance!</div>
<div>
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<div>
Drawbacks:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Spent flower stems are not attractive. </div>
<div>
I cut it back mid summer.</div>
<div>
<br />Prolific seed production. </div>
<div>
Young plants are easily pulled out.</div>
<div>
<br />Needs drainage. </div>
<div>
I think of this perennial more like a self sewing annual, because our Oregon winters are often too wet for established plants. </div>
</div>
<div>
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<div>
Just more photos (below)</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30tyw77F0W9Vb-MFDlPdZEOumKxnHQxWrFlUsC-pT2JUCWHdj-su1UIqea2a835Ndk3Q4QfTu3aWgRmmLRbqw60NyFCi2rN8jq6HD-ZsQsbeBBwLibeA48U1ECQW61m8z_VOTwqh-YJsF/s1600/rose+campion3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30tyw77F0W9Vb-MFDlPdZEOumKxnHQxWrFlUsC-pT2JUCWHdj-su1UIqea2a835Ndk3Q4QfTu3aWgRmmLRbqw60NyFCi2rN8jq6HD-ZsQsbeBBwLibeA48U1ECQW61m8z_VOTwqh-YJsF/s640/rose+campion3.jpg" title="Rose Campion, a cottage garden favorite perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rose Campion and Lavender</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9n2axehvSTo7NC3eMdjllsmG0J0mFZyp7onSOaw2XAuUOBi9BsBUnSJpLwtcRvZmLdN7XcXpRg96nes5DZlThxgzXLNR6DpyyEDoVXah5EJocIN9ZDBfX8jxu2BzrY9lqz2UTxLh1-93i/s1600/phlox2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9n2axehvSTo7NC3eMdjllsmG0J0mFZyp7onSOaw2XAuUOBi9BsBUnSJpLwtcRvZmLdN7XcXpRg96nes5DZlThxgzXLNR6DpyyEDoVXah5EJocIN9ZDBfX8jxu2BzrY9lqz2UTxLh1-93i/s640/phlox2.jpg" title="Rose Campion, a cottage garden favorite perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rose Campion's silver foliage contrasts nicely with brighter greens in the border.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1D25uA17wM0adJrs4FTS8_kMD56wHZuv2gpS07Pk-OlUEw8xFmS5r4MMMPTb3pJhNlPsfYCq3nzMOtaNGd7ATfGyzq-Qe0uGUEEpHVQwWEstj_O3YjtXFPXVle3YeFSHMkAfHu7fo_s5/s1600/phlox3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1D25uA17wM0adJrs4FTS8_kMD56wHZuv2gpS07Pk-OlUEw8xFmS5r4MMMPTb3pJhNlPsfYCq3nzMOtaNGd7ATfGyzq-Qe0uGUEEpHVQwWEstj_O3YjtXFPXVle3YeFSHMkAfHu7fo_s5/s640/phlox3.jpg" title="Rose Campion, a cottage garden favorite perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="516" /></a></div>
<br />Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-42827120263532422562015-06-12T10:31:00.000-07:002015-06-12T10:31:02.132-07:00Airy LinariaAnother mid spring flower that brings butterflies and bees to my perennial border is the faithful Linaria Purpurea, or "Purple Toadflax".<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuCwEnu7XVZfqEYGfpCTVxB-yiC4bn7Dk4T6un_jROAEV7jtdYY2KGEWvfVDfi5NSdBlbCtgLWh12hyphenhyphen1gIC7bFHKC6xbHNulQdrgOTWJC2wknjpfYlKUtFnd5Sud1TesGKSuhEYDdAfu7/s1600/linaria+panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuCwEnu7XVZfqEYGfpCTVxB-yiC4bn7Dk4T6un_jROAEV7jtdYY2KGEWvfVDfi5NSdBlbCtgLWh12hyphenhyphen1gIC7bFHKC6xbHNulQdrgOTWJC2wknjpfYlKUtFnd5Sud1TesGKSuhEYDdAfu7/s640/linaria+panel.jpg" title="Linaria Purpurea, "Purple Toadflax" Favorite Perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Linaria and Lavender</span></td></tr>
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<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdvHOcqK7rPysmn5cvA2xM4D6v5V0G7IaePPIUvKaA5BSMJzvBBUe_EuVDn3L_UaJLLPgrCHps29X_fPtNRL8uE4pSSNmYgphIJSlErsCP0UvEUt3hk9OyZolL7nrKSNJW83iwpoVM3-v/s1600/linaria+close+white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdvHOcqK7rPysmn5cvA2xM4D6v5V0G7IaePPIUvKaA5BSMJzvBBUe_EuVDn3L_UaJLLPgrCHps29X_fPtNRL8uE4pSSNmYgphIJSlErsCP0UvEUt3hk9OyZolL7nrKSNJW83iwpoVM3-v/s320/linaria+close+white.jpg" title="Linaria Purpurea, "Purple Toadflax" Favorite Perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="224" /></a>Specific cultivars are available from nurseries. Mine is an old fashioned variety, and has purple, pink and white blossoms. It is often promoted for rock gardens and cottage gardens.<br /><div>
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I got a gallon or two from a friend about 20 years ago, and it has earned its place in my favorite plants lists for these qualities:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Long lasting blooming season in spring (with repeat blooms throughout the summer and into the fall)</li>
<li>Drought tolerant</li>
<li>Cold hardy </li>
<li>Self sowing (generously)</li>
<li>Transplants easily</li>
<li>Sweet, airy blossoms</li>
<li>Attracts bees, butterflies and humming birds</li>
<li>Evergreen - does not go dormant in winter</li>
<li>Lovely cut flower</li>
<li>Easy to grow</li>
<li>Although it is a tall plant, it seldom needs staking</li>
<li>Adaptable to sun or medium shade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmF7fofhzcLTZEXon4zDkP_1-aU5XIIhGD20M3RtsL54sCEDg3L92LP7uZQKj6wmmkRrSZppqGJx6Vyk5yRATtplUylRn4u8I0crKKCFOkpz0AcXkv5d67F5e5jgNpw6Mrvl59Qe8LRkpj/s1600/linaria+close+purple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmF7fofhzcLTZEXon4zDkP_1-aU5XIIhGD20M3RtsL54sCEDg3L92LP7uZQKj6wmmkRrSZppqGJx6Vyk5yRATtplUylRn4u8I0crKKCFOkpz0AcXkv5d67F5e5jgNpw6Mrvl59Qe8LRkpj/s400/linaria+close+purple.jpg" title="Linaria Purpurea, "Purple Toadflax" Favorite Perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="207" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIxc3EDd6ey6d1xX54PhTCcqu9jPELf85S95iUs7xnuyWlIPJ3xFTEhg6Mr-K7VqyO1i3rOfGR0ASvG42HCI3YtDLw92pG_GLnSjSeRhMm4ip-scsUWqxn2FTAzKIxhWrFCeCfd2vuO4A/s1600/linaria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIxc3EDd6ey6d1xX54PhTCcqu9jPELf85S95iUs7xnuyWlIPJ3xFTEhg6Mr-K7VqyO1i3rOfGR0ASvG42HCI3YtDLw92pG_GLnSjSeRhMm4ip-scsUWqxn2FTAzKIxhWrFCeCfd2vuO4A/s400/linaria.jpg" title="Linaria Purpurea, "Purple Toadflax" Favorite Perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="218" /></a><div>
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Drawbacks:</div>
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Requires a small amount of maintenance -- I cut back bloom stalks when they are no longer attractive, but it will send up more blossoms from the remaining stalk.</div>
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<br />Highly prolific seed production and excellent germination means it will happily fill your garden. Young plants are easily pulled out, but it can be a lot! </div>
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Just more pictures...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopOToVdJ21ISCGPseea0Fos-sHJh3yU9c2fP6nucYHnO_zMJ4P3Z5wqctiJi4fz_1nEjf6XWAUBnfZw2z21lZBqsWRzqZdw0UMgPzVK45mKM_pN8J8nYbGbHBLbQDSxUFLXEFoOGGFaiv/s1600/linaria+purples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopOToVdJ21ISCGPseea0Fos-sHJh3yU9c2fP6nucYHnO_zMJ4P3Z5wqctiJi4fz_1nEjf6XWAUBnfZw2z21lZBqsWRzqZdw0UMgPzVK45mKM_pN8J8nYbGbHBLbQDSxUFLXEFoOGGFaiv/s640/linaria+purples.jpg" title="Linaria Purpurea, "Purple Toadflax" Favorite Perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmyQq8XXkrf_59jbTf_ls72-cS8oXudCfx_lyj5ZkFcSJNky3QXU-jXd9HFFTw0bHc_vpeJ64v4Xw-QzEKNz8J9ZQ3jUyNPE3IlcBDNlFbr0wjsDJIkfjyiX8FkmIT6jBPH1X_p-PpkBV/s1600/linaria+%2526+lavendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmyQq8XXkrf_59jbTf_ls72-cS8oXudCfx_lyj5ZkFcSJNky3QXU-jXd9HFFTw0bHc_vpeJ64v4Xw-QzEKNz8J9ZQ3jUyNPE3IlcBDNlFbr0wjsDJIkfjyiX8FkmIT6jBPH1X_p-PpkBV/s640/linaria+%2526+lavendar.jpg" title="Linaria Purpurea, "Purple Toadflax" Favorite Perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="342" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Linaria and Lavender</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1o56eOQwNLwa2lzlRTOgOAgRlgh7kJ-Q3szOQ3Neon2v3UtewVKRCQtloy-RpLrS_KLk_fmtrb5541UWFmOrypI-nizxur3qYtAnsLRORCdHrq21CaaGeOPetvYjzx6o0oulDiSFsE4a/s1600/linaria+panel+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1o56eOQwNLwa2lzlRTOgOAgRlgh7kJ-Q3szOQ3Neon2v3UtewVKRCQtloy-RpLrS_KLk_fmtrb5541UWFmOrypI-nizxur3qYtAnsLRORCdHrq21CaaGeOPetvYjzx6o0oulDiSFsE4a/s640/linaria+panel+2.jpg" title="Linaria Purpurea, "Purple Toadflax" Favorite Perennial, Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-25940798019907313362015-06-04T09:13:00.000-07:002015-06-04T15:11:29.784-07:00Brilliant Penstemon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpas67Mz3auGu6F4ztqu9ImeiGyf45g3pbwh6Nd-S32cA5UC8g9Wa-gilKsL35G1-pECRv3aVAv5aeWGuWdzUpEGUVChsfqucyvALoThRfCNfehfJilbFPoA678PkzL6K6kbbTpXB1au1B/s1600/penstemon+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpas67Mz3auGu6F4ztqu9ImeiGyf45g3pbwh6Nd-S32cA5UC8g9Wa-gilKsL35G1-pECRv3aVAv5aeWGuWdzUpEGUVChsfqucyvALoThRfCNfehfJilbFPoA678PkzL6K6kbbTpXB1au1B/s400/penstemon+1.JPG" title="Penstemon "Electric Blue" Favorite Perennial Dusty Lane Blog" width="265" /></a>Every spring I get unreasonably excited when the Penstemon starts to bloom.<br />
I believe the variety I own is "Electric Blue"<br />
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I bought one gallon from a local backyard nursery many years ago, and this plant has earned a top spot in my "Favorite Perennials" list for these qualities:<br />
<ul>
<li>Long lasting blooming season in spring (with some repeat blooms throughout the summer)</li>
<li>Drought hardy</li>
<li>Cold hardy </li>
<li>Dividable *</li>
<li>Gorgeous blossoms</li>
<li>Attracts bees, butterflies and humming birds</li>
<li>Evergreen - does not go dormant in winter</li>
<li>Lovely cut flower</li>
<li>Not invasive</li>
<li>Easy to grow</li>
</ul>
* To divide this plant, I purposefully buried some of the stems in dirt to encourage root growth, and once established I dug up my start. Here is the original plant.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPqivkiYdtLYMjhn8rB6XHYzyfKHgC0EbCNwVEw67B8n8inG0NR-ay2eW8VHPd19HQxDkOqmo-Fu0IHHCBq5YrMWe1tAOpNNfUGCIJFoOHppUf5bL8Icz3LsqXuHugK8CT-OuWRFG271W/s1600/Penstemon+bush+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPqivkiYdtLYMjhn8rB6XHYzyfKHgC0EbCNwVEw67B8n8inG0NR-ay2eW8VHPd19HQxDkOqmo-Fu0IHHCBq5YrMWe1tAOpNNfUGCIJFoOHppUf5bL8Icz3LsqXuHugK8CT-OuWRFG271W/s640/Penstemon+bush+1.JPG" title="Penstemon "Electric Blue" Favorite Perennial Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is the one I grew by division, just a couple years later! (I think it's happy)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTPobdTjucIaQO2-aQQFZg3wCdEcxRkcuxWDUYIWdHrdgXa-QIgEM7w7lCnyf9034PbEWEmjbZOv76kc4n-JNw7OICE3p0l9PV7aDH2nP0nh3WLWd62swpNgBYdKEc7pDRExaf7EaZ4Xw/s1600/penstemon+transplant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTPobdTjucIaQO2-aQQFZg3wCdEcxRkcuxWDUYIWdHrdgXa-QIgEM7w7lCnyf9034PbEWEmjbZOv76kc4n-JNw7OICE3p0l9PV7aDH2nP0nh3WLWd62swpNgBYdKEc7pDRExaf7EaZ4Xw/s640/penstemon+transplant.JPG" title="Penstemon "Electric Blue" Favorite Perennial Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early in bloom season</td></tr>
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Drawbacks:<br />
<ul>
<li>Foliage for this variety is OK, but not exceptional. I cut mine back after blooming and usually place annuals in the bare space. Cutting it back encourages more bloom.</li>
<li>Stems are weak, so the plant becomes rangy. Another reason to cut it back after blooming. </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwduvsLUdkIa91D0S3cXYJrbUnAikhhRfNwKPrpqRjpgSTK9GHaHzv6e7xOL5Tc1r_msfmW6k9uJitxU0CnCOVfcAkTmYdNT9_Ov8vjcuUqUdlnpdgXVQwyOIq_prFhYGVhfhKyMD4OtE/s1600/Penstemon+Bush+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwduvsLUdkIa91D0S3cXYJrbUnAikhhRfNwKPrpqRjpgSTK9GHaHzv6e7xOL5Tc1r_msfmW6k9uJitxU0CnCOVfcAkTmYdNT9_Ov8vjcuUqUdlnpdgXVQwyOIq_prFhYGVhfhKyMD4OtE/s640/Penstemon+Bush+2.JPG" title="Penstemon "Electric Blue" Favorite Perennial Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Later in bloom season, heavy blossoms & rain have collapsed the stems.</td></tr>
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Just more pictures. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2Eeh0ZeGOSCzkfC60z4C4Et3_8nMJQ41-sk7osDr2g18mkSQILozuOlC3QiGsru6UH7yP0kKMoTxtF6jEZR-XXxireMPX9M47GgccjjnwkAivyvvEt-HV5jfAaA9CUIdb205oTpTdg-m/s1600/Penstemon+close+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2Eeh0ZeGOSCzkfC60z4C4Et3_8nMJQ41-sk7osDr2g18mkSQILozuOlC3QiGsru6UH7yP0kKMoTxtF6jEZR-XXxireMPX9M47GgccjjnwkAivyvvEt-HV5jfAaA9CUIdb205oTpTdg-m/s640/Penstemon+close+up.JPG" title="Penstemon "Electric Blue" Favorite Perennial Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifYBPWzFEAN7iY0_HIrGnKRcrdwDtyKgMKdspLVqNSPpXqL4PErTRG5AdCIn4UgeMKsRTtC2EkYzpbhlji0fE97podhsi4YaIlS3Dw1W5oh5scDLv9El9-_6H10FuVCbOOY0SPG1Pxpaw/s1600/Penstemon+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifYBPWzFEAN7iY0_HIrGnKRcrdwDtyKgMKdspLVqNSPpXqL4PErTRG5AdCIn4UgeMKsRTtC2EkYzpbhlji0fE97podhsi4YaIlS3Dw1W5oh5scDLv9El9-_6H10FuVCbOOY0SPG1Pxpaw/s640/Penstemon+2.JPG" title="Penstemon "Electric Blue" Favorite Perennial Dusty Lane Blog" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-89640727757989762682015-04-26T15:34:00.000-07:002015-07-04T08:06:28.439-07:00A Garden PlannerWe enjoyed an early Spring this year, and last week I planted the first few rows of my vegetable garden.<br />
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This year I spent some time studying the theory of companion planting, and put a little more thought than usual to the placement of my plantings.<br />
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Because I tend to lose my hand drawn diagrams, this year I decided to plot my garden using a Google Spreadsheet.<br />
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I discovered it is quite easy to put images inside the spreadsheet cells, and then once entered, all you have to do to "Plant a Row" is highlight the image, click on the little square at the edge and drag.<br />
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This is far too much nerdy fun.<br />
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Here is what I hope my garden layout will be when everything is in the ground. (Click on the image to see it in better resolution)<br />
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If you want to design your own planner using a google spreadsheet, here are a few tips:<br />
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I made the cells 45 x 50 to allow my images to be large enough.<br />
-- do this by selecting all the rows or columns (highlight an area and then use the keystrokes shift-space for rows, or control-space for columns)<br />
-- while they are selected, right-click and choose "re-size rows" or re-size columns".<br />
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I filled everything with a tan color. Select All, and then find the color you want using the Custom Color Selector.<br />
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There are two ways to insert images in a Google Spreadsheet. One is simply using the Insert menu. Images inserted this way can be freely moved around and re-sized. My little ladybugs and butterfly are inserted this way.<br />
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I wanted the vegetables to be inserted directly into the cells however, so I used a function dialog for images: =images("URL")<br />
I also wanted to manipulate the size of each image, so I added ,4 and then the size of the image, for example, the marigold function reads like this:<br />
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I wanted to use copyright-free images, so just to be safe (and have fun) I drew my own primitive little images using Microsoft's paint tool.<br />
<a href="http://thedustylane.blogspot.com/p/resources.html" target="_blank">Take this link to my hidden resource page.</a><br />
Right click on the image and "copy URL" to insert them into your own spreadsheet project.<br />
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They are not fine art, but they worked for my purpose, and you are welcome to use them.<br />
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The ADVANTAGE to going to all this trouble -- besides knowing which row has what! -- is I will know exactly how to rotate crops in next year's garden. I can just make a new planner further down the page, copy-pasting my images already loaded into the spreadsheet. Easy!<br />
<br />Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-68669221948839875372015-03-05T08:48:00.001-08:002015-11-10T15:39:42.937-08:00A New Lefse GenerationI have two sons in law now. They have heard stories about the Great Grandparents who came from Norway and settled here, working the land to create this beautiful farm.<br />
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So for Christmas I gave my daughters their very own lefse rolling pins and a copy of Julia Peterson Tufford's Norwegian Recipes. Our local hardware store happens to carry these! We made lefse a few days later, using leftover mashed potatoes.<br />
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Our mashed potatoes were just the standard made with butter, salt, pepper & a little cream. <br />
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A simple lefse recipe is a half cup flour for each cup of mashed potatoes.<br />
I cut the flour in with a pastry tool.<br />
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We learned that cold mashed potatoes are lumpy and we had to work the dough far too long. Next time we will warm them up and make sure they are smooth! I might try using a little less flour as well.<br />
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We combined the flour & potatoes into a workable dough, and kneaded it until it felt ready to roll.<br />
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My Grandmother would roll all the dough into a large cylinder which she called an "emne": a rough translation would be "something that is made to be processed into something else".<br />
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She would cut a disk off the end of the emne and shape it with her hands,<br />
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then turn it onto a floured surface and roll it round and thin.<br />
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My sons in law learned quickly. They found out why we keep adequate flour on the board and let the weight of the pin do the work; pulling the dough out from the center. Both of them are engineers, so they needed little help from me in working out the most effective techniques!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7NSESyXswwYhv3xlOkaOSQbaZrFvLZWtibaucSya0xE7JkDMwBx9FM03Uakvi87ZsS6PqzQFoO4z9ONr7Zt5HQogqYp4W5BMYvWHNPCvdAQe-cXi2GWyxaIW3w5I12Tc0AKxZvbD7sQr/s1600/lifting+the+lefse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7NSESyXswwYhv3xlOkaOSQbaZrFvLZWtibaucSya0xE7JkDMwBx9FM03Uakvi87ZsS6PqzQFoO4z9ONr7Zt5HQogqYp4W5BMYvWHNPCvdAQe-cXi2GWyxaIW3w5I12Tc0AKxZvbD7sQr/s400/lifting+the+lefse2.jpg" title="Making Norwegian lefse with the next generation, Simple lefse recipe and instructions. The Dusty Lane Blog." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lifting off the board with a paddle</span></td></tr>
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Lefse dough is handled more delicately than flatbread, but the methods are much the same. See my <a href="http://thedustylane.blogspot.com/2012/11/norwegian-flat-bread-flatbrd.html" target="_blank">flatbread post</a> for a description of the tools we use.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tapping off the excess flour</span></td></tr>
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If you can cook outside you will have an easier time cleaning up all the flour that gets swept off the lefse grill.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Turning lefse on the grill</span></td></tr>
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Try to turn the lefse when there are light brown speckles (lift it to check underneath from time to time). If it is burning (black specks) you are cooking too long or your grill is too hot.<br />
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Once the lefse is cooked, you need to place it between dampened cloths to soften. I stacked our lefse about 3-4 high before adding another cloth. Let them soften until they have no stiffness left at least 15 minutes or more.<br />
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One side will have larger spots. That is normal.<br />
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Traditionally we eat our lefse rolled up with butter and cinnamon sugar, but we also love to experiment with savory fillings the same as you might use a wrap or tortilla.Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-90389310884735978782013-07-21T17:50:00.000-07:002015-03-05T08:56:23.940-08:00Chick Pea Coconut Curry<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mae-Ploy-Thai-Curry-Paste/dp/B000EI2LLO/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1374452518&sr=1-1&keywords=red+curry+paste" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/819AIK3CZpL._SY679_.jpg" height="200" width="152" /></a>Important note: I have read the ingredient list on the Red Curry Paste, and it contains shrimp. For this reason I no longer call this a Vegan dish, but all you have to do is skip the Curry Paste and add more spices, or find a Curry Paste without shrimp in the ingredients.<br />
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So many people wanted this recipe after Liz & Jake's wedding, I thought I would share it here to make it easy.<br />
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I took the basic recipe from <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/recipe?id=11212204" target="_blank">ABC's page here</a>.<br />
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But changed it to our tastes.<br />
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MOST important, use FRESH spices! <br />
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I have finally found a wonderful yellow curry and won't use bad curry EVER again. It makes all the difference.<br />
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I added Thai red curry paste to the recipe also, and we love it.<br />
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Here's the recipe!<br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HMHn85PiU2W1F8rvizbU95_704wNDgQv7_Z8_x7sSJw/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Click here for printable version. </a><br />
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<b>Chickpea Coconut Curry </b></div>
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I cook the whole recipe in my wok.</div>
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<b>2 large cloves garlic</b>, pressed, saute in olive oil</div>
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add:</div>
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<b>2 cans chickpeas</b>, rinsed</div>
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<b>1 can diced tomatoes</b></div>
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<b>2 parboiled potatoes</b>, cubed (I used peeled baked potatoes)</div>
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<b>3 cups baby spinach</b></div>
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<b>1 can coconut milk</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1 tsp Thai red curry paste</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>3 tsp yellow curry powder</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1 ¼ tsp tumeric</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>⅛ tsp ground cloves</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>½ tsp cumin</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1 ¼ tsp salt</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
stir all together, bring to boil, simmer, stirring to help
combine 20-30 minutes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Serve with:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Greens</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rice</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you use dairy, some greek yogurt goes very nicely with this dish! </div>
Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-36250160858010333452012-11-28T15:31:00.001-08:002015-11-10T15:39:56.171-08:00Norwegian Flat Bread (flatbrød)Everyone loves lefse, but I think fewer Americans have experienced the dry "flatbrød" I grew up enjoying with my family.<br />
<br />
While lefse is like a soft, potato based tortilla, flatbread is a thin, crisp cracker, intended for long storage and delicious with tiny bit of butter. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1eabPDBt4yYLO25eNHrVF-IP1G1etgcrlLX8hGI7ZMv55JMPtAu5f8ojetNym1UZsVb0Ai6Kz8B_HBogkvrOc7wO4Z9avbxzs6uoBKrdnM3_4LiOdF3Wjx90iDpUc6KdDCmfXEbCbYQA/s1600/2012_1112neighbors0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1eabPDBt4yYLO25eNHrVF-IP1G1etgcrlLX8hGI7ZMv55JMPtAu5f8ojetNym1UZsVb0Ai6Kz8B_HBogkvrOc7wO4Z9avbxzs6uoBKrdnM3_4LiOdF3Wjx90iDpUc6KdDCmfXEbCbYQA/s640/2012_1112neighbors0023.JPG" title="Norwegian Flat Bread (flatbrød) party: recipe with photos and how to ideas if you don't have the traditional equipment" width="640" /></a></div>
Making it has always been a big social experience as well, and I had depended on my parents to organize the event, usually just before Christmas. Many years have passed since our last flatbread party, and I realized it was up to me to start the tradition anew.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsf4-vjcooUoqZMBJybO6sMtmy-92IciQd249kDNg4haASXrM-A1YSkCZzDKMmHPvIednGujZCzBMkwsVkMdN1zgpR-XIUZka9NK422AMEZJ7bJD4vOuRe5KDuhifjNOQBHVQ5eah5A_jV/s1600/2012_1112neighbors0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsf4-vjcooUoqZMBJybO6sMtmy-92IciQd249kDNg4haASXrM-A1YSkCZzDKMmHPvIednGujZCzBMkwsVkMdN1zgpR-XIUZka9NK422AMEZJ7bJD4vOuRe5KDuhifjNOQBHVQ5eah5A_jV/s320/2012_1112neighbors0024.JPG" title="Norwegian Flat Bread (flatbrød) party: recipe with photos and how to ideas if you don't have the traditional equipment" width="320" /></a><br />
I invited my sister-in-law, who isn't a speck Norwegian but can cook just about anything. You need people like that on your team when you are re-building something only vaguely remembered! I had to promise we'd make lefse as well (which we did).<br />
<br />
I happened to have the special equipment favored for the task:<br />
<ul>
<li>a large flat lefse grill, </li>
<li>a giant lefse rolling pin (the checkered surface gives you the needed pull on the dough), </li>
<li>a clean Bethany board to make rolling easier, and </li>
<li>plenty of flat, thin wooden paddles for lifting & transferring the rolled dough.</li>
<li>an oven set to warm, with a tray for catching crumbs </li>
<li>The only important piece missing was a large soft brush for dusting
excess flour off the dough & griddle. I substituted a clean, unused
paint brush, but had to be very careful not to let it touch the 500
degree griddle (would melt instantly!)</li>
</ul>
If you don't have these: <br />
<ul>
<li>If you don't have access to a lefse grill, you could experiment with a very hot non-stick skillet or other flat grilling surface. Lefse grills go up to 500 degrees - on a skillet the cooking times may be a little longer. <a href="http://www.dondennisfamily.com/lefse/index.html">Here's another blogger's advice.</a></li>
<li>A standard rolling pin may work also, but if you can borrow something with more clout you'll be happier!</li>
<li>Any clean surface you would use for rolling a pie crust would work also, just keep it well floured</li>
<li>You could come up with something to replace the wooden sticks. I saw one lefse blogger who made their own by sanding down smooth lath pieces or paint stirring sticks. Basically you want a stick that is long (about 18-24"), thin, smooth & strong and has ROUNDED edges. </li>
</ul>
My folks experimented for YEARS with the recipe. Here is the only one I wrote down, with a note about what I actually did:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Anderson's Flatbrød</b></span><br />
<br />
6 C white flour<br />
3 C whole wheat flour<br />
2 C cornmeal (I ended up using about a half cup cornmeal and 1 & 1/2 Cups Masa flour)<br />
heaping Tb Salt<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByqkFximVe9-iSsEi7_djOSguq9sFJn5oN8TnUSmeqSG0OF50_1Jz10v4DafUyT69G5PkvfbkbAMqfPwaAkDXpppQz9dWCuE9IENUQ5SomRw5BXZStdplONGdqUhc8pf90Xu81XsM7V4T/s1600/2012_1112neighbors0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByqkFximVe9-iSsEi7_djOSguq9sFJn5oN8TnUSmeqSG0OF50_1Jz10v4DafUyT69G5PkvfbkbAMqfPwaAkDXpppQz9dWCuE9IENUQ5SomRw5BXZStdplONGdqUhc8pf90Xu81XsM7V4T/s200/2012_1112neighbors0027.JPG" title="Norwegian Flat Bread (flatbrød) party: recipe with photos and how to ideas if you don't have the traditional equipment" width="200" /></a>5 C water<br />
1 stick butter, softened<br />
<br />
We mixed all the dry ingredients, cut the butter into the flours, and then gradually added the water. When it was pretty well combined, we turned the stiff dough onto a board and kneaded it just enough to make sure it was well mixed.<br />
Then we divided it into smaller portions, and from those into balls of dough.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyylCeZQmXSZpqG85qKqSpxKWalJyL7ht7em7XVgKOUlPL6OpsduZVVyiHhB-wgKzu3WEAfTcdcx5z785XDOXONayL3IUra-ddv7n9Lokl31VMgiUAOVku5InkeXPGbS1tjiX7EvRUcg2f/s1600/2012_1112neighbors0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyylCeZQmXSZpqG85qKqSpxKWalJyL7ht7em7XVgKOUlPL6OpsduZVVyiHhB-wgKzu3WEAfTcdcx5z785XDOXONayL3IUra-ddv7n9Lokl31VMgiUAOVku5InkeXPGbS1tjiX7EvRUcg2f/s320/2012_1112neighbors0043.JPG" title="Norwegian Flat Bread (flatbrød) party: recipe with photos and how to ideas if you don't have the traditional equipment" width="320" /></a>My family used to make massive flatbrød that<br />
filled the grills from side to side! My sister-in-law made them smaller, but this made them much easier to work with and store.<br />
<br />
The cloth covered Bethany board really makes rolling much easier than a plain wooden board, but you still need to keep it well floured.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcMlowBgc0HPhSxzW7M9JUrboH9c4CK9mo-1akrLlLBKCpn8Dzexh2cU8Z_q2TKZqk_B2yRj0sM0pEO6PP0jocZzGZz_ZFTL-OEsFfOAUfzN26MNBMRWKB5GIdwSZxUHt23_3hxjMSCQT/s1600/2012_1112neighbors0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcMlowBgc0HPhSxzW7M9JUrboH9c4CK9mo-1akrLlLBKCpn8Dzexh2cU8Z_q2TKZqk_B2yRj0sM0pEO6PP0jocZzGZz_ZFTL-OEsFfOAUfzN26MNBMRWKB5GIdwSZxUHt23_3hxjMSCQT/s320/2012_1112neighbors0046.JPG" title="Norwegian Flat Bread (flatbrød) party: recipe with photos and how to ideas if you don't have the traditional equipment" width="240" /></a><br />
We like our flatbread as thin as possible - about the width of a piece of cardstock! You can experiment with yours. Thick flatbread can be hard to eat.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Rolling tip: work the ball into a flat round with your hands, and keeping it floured, work the roller from the <u>middle out</u>, working all the way around the dough (don't roll all the way across from side to side). As it expands, you can leave the middle alone and focus on the edges. You want the dough to be as even as possible. Let the heavy roller do the work. If you lean onto the dough too much you'll tear it or get it stuck to the board or pin.<br />
<br />
My sister-in-law didn't care if it was perfectly round, and I decided that was just fine. It all tastes the same!<br />
<br />
Once it's rolled out, slide the stick under the middle & gently lift
off the board. Tap it to remove excess flour, and if you are ahead of
the baker, it's good to have a place to store them (like those we have
wedged in the laundry hamper!)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1r2PoZFJpSo0GmqTrTw4Yex0H2GXWQYWtqiOP7puqGfJzfvAFsvOZyPRh5K0AYSZUv0LlPNpsCCKcm8TfE-eVVctT5chORzba8F_0XHcAd_vGb7mwVO8IPmYeGvvM8pgwfn6DxSo1GCo/s1600/2012_1112neighbors0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1r2PoZFJpSo0GmqTrTw4Yex0H2GXWQYWtqiOP7puqGfJzfvAFsvOZyPRh5K0AYSZUv0LlPNpsCCKcm8TfE-eVVctT5chORzba8F_0XHcAd_vGb7mwVO8IPmYeGvvM8pgwfn6DxSo1GCo/s320/2012_1112neighbors0028.JPG" style="cursor: move;" title="Norwegian Flat Bread (flatbrød) party: recipe with photos and how to ideas if you don't have the traditional equipment" width="320" /></a><br />
To put on the grill, lay half the dough on the dry grill, (no grease or oil is used) and unfold the
rest by flipping the stick over until it's all flat on the grill. Use
the brush to gently flick off excess flour and re-position the dough if
need be.<br />
<br />
In a few minutes (grills vary) the first side will be done. Check by
lifting with the stick to see if small brown freckles are appearing. Use the stick to
flip it over, and do the other side.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44ipyIzzij2Pz1Vt2ML2f93C3b1f-X0sD6Gex_Tkhy13kgJmLNladVW5EBRsvqtFJHJMofOcHiUV4_K3bEcfu8IkjSni-3et9gi6CMGD01OQXCEcjhsauzUzJeiufg1tLKsluXRWbGuxF/s1600/2012_1112neighbors0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44ipyIzzij2Pz1Vt2ML2f93C3b1f-X0sD6Gex_Tkhy13kgJmLNladVW5EBRsvqtFJHJMofOcHiUV4_K3bEcfu8IkjSni-3et9gi6CMGD01OQXCEcjhsauzUzJeiufg1tLKsluXRWbGuxF/s320/2012_1112neighbors0033.JPG" title="Norwegian Flat Bread (flatbrød) party: recipe with photos and how to ideas if you don't have the traditional equipment" width="320" /></a></div>
When both sides have nice brown spots like this, you are ready to move it to the oven, where it will need to be for several hours to finish drying. (It will probably be a little chewy yet if you try it now, even though it should seem very dry & stiff.)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuojhNniswnKcGQ3cJ8hh1DDqMVbCGBw_FA3A6G_jy-QNaKA242mWvPmDXvdCMPa5EvorlfqLBQZA16VL-r2EiD1ElySL_wYb3ABQx_jG5PpFpEQOd0H-AcXA9ox2xDI138kAwjqZ2CpZ/s1600/2012_1112neighbors0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuojhNniswnKcGQ3cJ8hh1DDqMVbCGBw_FA3A6G_jy-QNaKA242mWvPmDXvdCMPa5EvorlfqLBQZA16VL-r2EiD1ElySL_wYb3ABQx_jG5PpFpEQOd0H-AcXA9ox2xDI138kAwjqZ2CpZ/s320/2012_1112neighbors0016.JPG" title="Norwegian Flat Bread (flatbrød) party: recipe with photos and how to ideas if you don't have the traditional equipment" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">brushing flour off the dough. You can simply blow flour off the grill.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Clean any flour left on the grill by swiping it quickly with a cotton
cloth. We set our grill up outside so the house doesn't get full of
flour.<br />
<br />
When it was finally completely dry, we broke the
pieces in half (or more) to put in gallon size ziplock bags. My husband
was sure we'd made enough to last through Christmas, but we didn't even
make it to Thanksgiving. Oh well! Gotta have another party I guess!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEG89aoZrfAB_urzzj4o5BvlOfhrsIGK-DvpsojCMUrvRBDRllE8-VKzD4i3RXUi4zoYXVVXfX0z1L6ztVCIss8DCxBcj5EZGlQW221-Rcw8yPQURSeB_-wqiFJcXTNff5ZpP2GpLns6V/s1600/2012_1112neighbors0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEG89aoZrfAB_urzzj4o5BvlOfhrsIGK-DvpsojCMUrvRBDRllE8-VKzD4i3RXUi4zoYXVVXfX0z1L6ztVCIss8DCxBcj5EZGlQW221-Rcw8yPQURSeB_-wqiFJcXTNff5ZpP2GpLns6V/s640/2012_1112neighbors0044.JPG" title="Norwegian Flat Bread (flatbrød) party: recipe with photos and how to ideas if you don't have the traditional equipment" width="640" /></a></div>
Kathy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293544577257165923noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-39218657916161418432012-11-19T08:12:00.000-08:002015-03-01T20:01:13.350-08:00Leaf Collage Fabric Table Runners<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNFeMEMnle98325bsmyPGaqclgvar5G4HPetNo4VoxhksPaHDnsTX07_eKp_9F7KpBpeYLFUOG6MaXPTlPAl5Xx9nEKn2-q_nm-KDR1sA84vEJcilgPtUX_unn8JsBlOoXf6cXZDBSWqh/s1600/2012_1116neighbors0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNFeMEMnle98325bsmyPGaqclgvar5G4HPetNo4VoxhksPaHDnsTX07_eKp_9F7KpBpeYLFUOG6MaXPTlPAl5Xx9nEKn2-q_nm-KDR1sA84vEJcilgPtUX_unn8JsBlOoXf6cXZDBSWqh/s400/2012_1116neighbors0045.JPG" height="300" title="How to Make Fall Leaf Collage Table Runners, with caution to avoid toxic plants" width="400" /></a><i>Before tackling this project, please verify that the leaves you are working with are not toxic.</i> Many popular garden plants and shrubs are highly poisonous, and you do not want to get the leaf sap on your skin.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Some to avoid:</b></u><br />
Euphorbia, also known as Spurge, is a common nursery plant and <b>poisonous</b>. Getting the sap on your hands may produce blisters, but getting it in your eyes may produce blindness.<br />
<br />
Angel's Trumpet is highly <b>toxic </b>- I will not grow this in my garden. Oleander is another extremely toxic plant, and the smoke from burning the wood is deadly.<br />
<br />
Cherry, peach, plum, apricot and almond leaves are reportedly poisonous, as are Caladium, Elderberry, Horse Chestnut, Golden Chain (Laburnum), Mountain Laurel, Oak, Rhododendron & Azalea, and Red Leaf Maple.<br />
<br />
Here are a couple resources for checking this out:<br />
<a href="http://naturalbird.com/mcwatters/toxic.htm">http://naturalbird.com/mcwatters/toxic.htm</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_poisonous_plants">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_poisonous_plants</a><br />
<br />
<b><u>Generally safe</u></b> -- but please verify on your own -- are Japanese Maple, Big Leaf Maple & Vine Maples (West Coast natives) and Sweet Gum.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUh28Koy8E7ADjT_O1P4-KxIl_B4Tjiv1PMUNQCpmAreFLMV76r-i7JQUN6ns0plno9C66KHUuAZYaswNBF3diJzJ0UJ_e9AVjA9iLSZDHY7vaADWbMBtGV3OfOhiZLDB7nDiN3WQcVDT/s1600/2012_1116neighbors0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUh28Koy8E7ADjT_O1P4-KxIl_B4Tjiv1PMUNQCpmAreFLMV76r-i7JQUN6ns0plno9C66KHUuAZYaswNBF3diJzJ0UJ_e9AVjA9iLSZDHY7vaADWbMBtGV3OfOhiZLDB7nDiN3WQcVDT/s320/2012_1116neighbors0026.JPG" height="240" title="How to Make Fall Leaf Collage Table Runners, with caution to avoid toxic plants" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Place your fabric on a sturdy and disposable piece of lumber. It will get stained from the leaves. Using <u>Non-Toxic</u> leaves, put the top side down on your fabric and pound with a hammer. It is very tedious, and ear protection is a good idea. Watch your fingers! </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-Ax4xiyZCa9qEoyGXJlZ6nOH-96v4p1okqEgKfP_GQ_HnjixqkVciC50YBq3j1UZiQEVB_HvC41iM81rhNnNYRcl28XS25w-U7QKbknh-APxRTsr7CoqIWH2Bb3FB_oHj2L67t4P4i5T/s1600/2012_1116neighbors0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-Ax4xiyZCa9qEoyGXJlZ6nOH-96v4p1okqEgKfP_GQ_HnjixqkVciC50YBq3j1UZiQEVB_HvC41iM81rhNnNYRcl28XS25w-U7QKbknh-APxRTsr7CoqIWH2Bb3FB_oHj2L67t4P4i5T/s320/2012_1116neighbors0042.JPG" height="240" title="How to Make Fall Leaf Collage Table Runners, with caution to avoid toxic plants" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is a close up of the runner I made years ago on a light brown fabric, still my favorite! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYScqjNEPcnQvxFhjcXXnJtvsv_g6Qw4x9nGXuZrxBnOSbNNzFtY8Zsdbh0vtBjMoNADqeMNjLip1CjUFDIoSAQRNJ9_2Y-xe-x30DQLc9KcWjdKi6Z7RH-7RaekOO2UsIXH_aMapWVC-E/s1600/2012_1116neighbors0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYScqjNEPcnQvxFhjcXXnJtvsv_g6Qw4x9nGXuZrxBnOSbNNzFtY8Zsdbh0vtBjMoNADqeMNjLip1CjUFDIoSAQRNJ9_2Y-xe-x30DQLc9KcWjdKi6Z7RH-7RaekOO2UsIXH_aMapWVC-E/s320/2012_1116neighbors0043.JPG" height="240" title="How to Make Fall Leaf Collage Table Runners, with caution to avoid toxic plants" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Step 2, I simply used a zigzag stitch and trimmed with
scissors. A satin stitch would have been very nice also. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkY33w-dFTVW3r80LieYjo_lMhE-PeaLrH5_1y1hyphenhyphenRiD3E0i1v511NuBk7AmtICgotumaJlS_Ok2PZBYZ2vMmF-EU4udkia9YUmBTEpV5otFRs4M2BkxlkrQx3H5Z2WxkIDUE0-j86llua/s1600/2012_1116neighbors0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkY33w-dFTVW3r80LieYjo_lMhE-PeaLrH5_1y1hyphenhyphenRiD3E0i1v511NuBk7AmtICgotumaJlS_Ok2PZBYZ2vMmF-EU4udkia9YUmBTEpV5otFRs4M2BkxlkrQx3H5Z2WxkIDUE0-j86llua/s320/2012_1116neighbors0028.JPG" height="240" title="How to Make Fall Leaf Collage Table Runners, with caution to avoid toxic plants" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Step 3, I took
it outside & sprayed it with Scotch Guard & hung it to dry. The
colors bled a little from this, but not too much. </span><span style="font-size: small;">I wanted to create an irregular shape, like a "leaf puddle". </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This did not turn out quite like I wanted --lace helped. </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlr6NI3lVHFkrVNdnoNpwPO4Gd7Tp-L1Fn_jW9clSFZjJCEpzRqVp5OnZaSwVqkywkpybi6ENZsCnHuom3I_QyQUBKXad63QNWbcN_ASHwKqkm5x7VKz7LZpyYuAVSiZ9bSLqsIQaKHywg/s1600/1+center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlr6NI3lVHFkrVNdnoNpwPO4Gd7Tp-L1Fn_jW9clSFZjJCEpzRqVp5OnZaSwVqkywkpybi6ENZsCnHuom3I_QyQUBKXad63QNWbcN_ASHwKqkm5x7VKz7LZpyYuAVSiZ9bSLqsIQaKHywg/s640/1+center.jpg" height="419" title="How to Make Fall Leaf Collage Table Runners, with caution to avoid toxic plants" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is for my "Banquette" table.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_wsiwv58DCfzAwCDT_FelfVz7WIb_vGiIASX0VC5MMQhAwKrDrlS3EN3JDi_u1Qg762yZ-YOGHqSIAfLI3GRBEiEcQST-uJa65l4YfSEWKJf0EpKjOvmU1AgzS7Pyz8QdH0pegvb85qd/s1600/2012_1116neighbors0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_wsiwv58DCfzAwCDT_FelfVz7WIb_vGiIASX0VC5MMQhAwKrDrlS3EN3JDi_u1Qg762yZ-YOGHqSIAfLI3GRBEiEcQST-uJa65l4YfSEWKJf0EpKjOvmU1AgzS7Pyz8QdH0pegvb85qd/s640/2012_1116neighbors0035.JPG" height="640" title="How to Make Fall Leaf Collage Table Runners, with caution to avoid toxic plants" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And the brown runner for the dining table.</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16283178813869429844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-12165088009675094762012-11-15T22:22:00.001-08:002015-06-04T19:58:01.459-07:00Winter Container Arrangements from your Garden<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;">The tender annuals are nearly done for the year. Time to raid the garden and woods for materials to fill the flower pots until spring.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;">Here's today's project.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA1tRxnVPuOXuw2ba7PPNOYEXpEIOwNB-GvWZp8i2wjsch9MQpRT-2f6yGG8zLxgJIyBfAnCk-duaIdvsdRlI0nwSb-OeYFtMVqG8dOKYq9wcpB3tkvdFEufHww0janLfKcofMfLaLcNz/s1600/2012_1115neighbors0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #eee5d4; clear: left; color: #7f4c3b; float: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA1tRxnVPuOXuw2ba7PPNOYEXpEIOwNB-GvWZp8i2wjsch9MQpRT-2f6yGG8zLxgJIyBfAnCk-duaIdvsdRlI0nwSb-OeYFtMVqG8dOKYq9wcpB3tkvdFEufHww0janLfKcofMfLaLcNz/s320/2012_1115neighbors0065.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" title="Winter Container Arrangements from Your Garden, Dusty Lane Blog" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;">1. An antique woodstove sits by my front door. The begonias gone, I started by arranging various greens (evergreens and Bay Laurel) and some hydrangeas.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;">The hydrangeas won't last too long. I will probably replace them by Christmas. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;"> Silver Nettle grows out of the pitcher.</span></span><br />
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<br style="background-color: #eee5d4; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;" />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;"> 2. The Heuchera coming out the top of the stove is getting leggy. I filled in with sprigs of Santolina -- jammed into the pot, they may even take root!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;">3. Cottoneaster added to the pot to partially cover the rusty stovepipe. I discovered the stems were easy to bend into shape.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;"> 4. Sword Ferns for a little drama. Almost done.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;"> 5. (below) A few rose hips was just what it needed.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzZ1QwvablkEGwwmFrzGBzATkD2RzTp1xNRgkBdolWK_JAph4iM5QELP0Rw601tetHlGtLfe19UWgS_2tN-Xa72E_t5negJEfe6Mqx9r8Ixl9fLtXuj5iu5GQMs8DsoQExyQADd0vKJ3c/s1600/2012_1115neighbors0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #eee5d4; clear: right; color: #7f4c3b; float: right; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzZ1QwvablkEGwwmFrzGBzATkD2RzTp1xNRgkBdolWK_JAph4iM5QELP0Rw601tetHlGtLfe19UWgS_2tN-Xa72E_t5negJEfe6Mqx9r8Ixl9fLtXuj5iu5GQMs8DsoQExyQADd0vKJ3c/s320/2012_1115neighbors0080.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" title="Winter Container Arrangements from Your Garden, Dusty Lane Blog" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;">I put a plastic salad container in a wooden box to hold water for the next arrangement. Evergreens will last a long time in the cool temperatures even without water.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;">Step one, something big to help hold things together, then add some Santolina & Russian Sage...</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;">Weeping spruce and red twigs, Variegated evergreen broadleaf.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;">This might take root also!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;">Finally, Cedar Berries and some Bay Laurel.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 20.2859992980957px;"> Not bad for free.</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16283178813869429844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567580118469931251.post-69974419189748957572012-10-26T08:47:00.001-07:002012-10-26T08:51:26.242-07:00Queen Anne's Lace Pressed Flowers in a Frame<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpJD-Yawe9afLpVEOixGqrCftdGSXiV7L9pQkISgLoJeNcGMQ0aTk0OF8G5CUSVb2a9zltyRInE2wqQp6v9Rn0gMR_kpmJc8i7Z-PbScj9Ch-_ZTF5Y79sp4fRRgPnpBAtjCtDOLiCJYX/s1600/2012_0930neighbors0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpJD-Yawe9afLpVEOixGqrCftdGSXiV7L9pQkISgLoJeNcGMQ0aTk0OF8G5CUSVb2a9zltyRInE2wqQp6v9Rn0gMR_kpmJc8i7Z-PbScj9Ch-_ZTF5Y79sp4fRRgPnpBAtjCtDOLiCJYX/s200/2012_0930neighbors0116.JPG" title="Queen Anne's Lace Bedroom, Pressed Flower Picture how to DIY, Queen Anne's Lace, Russian Sage" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Queen Anne's Lace Room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In an earlier post, I explained how I was inspired by Queen Anne's Lace and September colors when re-decorating my oldest daughter's old bedroom.<br />
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Queen Anne's Lace happens to be one of her favorite flowers; fortunately they are prolific here on the farm. They will help us fill out her wedding bouquet next summer!<br />
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So we gathered an armload of blooms for this project, and on the way back to the house, added some Russian Sage to the mix.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">No fancy flower press in sight, I pressed these the same way my
Grandmother did: between sheets of wax paper slipped between the pages of several large
books. I stacked these on top of each other and stacked on about 20
pounds of weights for good measure.</span> <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFhSOshBZPdIqUkHrAzTNH1GiHllYa12-4Jad-sJqDIZr0RVaXjTMtaNunDjJino-oRXGqy_sYwMKlQhxt4UqRXrTE9jOdg2yb5LlUF8j2Py1S69VdrinDM2mAP9iS3bttDDinx_z9Mzy/s1600/2012_1014neighbors0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFhSOshBZPdIqUkHrAzTNH1GiHllYa12-4Jad-sJqDIZr0RVaXjTMtaNunDjJino-oRXGqy_sYwMKlQhxt4UqRXrTE9jOdg2yb5LlUF8j2Py1S69VdrinDM2mAP9iS3bttDDinx_z9Mzy/s400/2012_1014neighbors0008.JPG" title="Pressed Flower Picture how to DIY, Queen Anne's Lace, Russian Sage" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">About a week later they were finely pressed and ready to use.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I drew inspiration from an online "how to". <a href="http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/3267/2/Pressed%20Flower%20Pictures.pdf" target="_blank">Here's a link </a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz06gwqxmb8jyvRfBm-oiCG3ZwyNKLcvzBrdEv8xbpK3NAX9wzMqr8iPlWeg7oF7m49F7avALLrJh8nopOr8McfB1NXAsp3U3Ak_Nwnw_AQ6VTeSNILZjF-2je5LB7aLq4Nn0I4OX__0AA/s1600/2012_1014neighbors0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz06gwqxmb8jyvRfBm-oiCG3ZwyNKLcvzBrdEv8xbpK3NAX9wzMqr8iPlWeg7oF7m49F7avALLrJh8nopOr8McfB1NXAsp3U3Ak_Nwnw_AQ6VTeSNILZjF-2je5LB7aLq4Nn0I4OX__0AA/s400/2012_1014neighbors0009.JPG" title="Pressed Flower Picture how to DIY, Queen Anne's Lace, Russian Sage" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I chose a background paper that would be a good contrast to the
white of the flowers, but a more neutral background would have worked
also. I played with composition, trying out many ideas. The flowers were
not as fragile as I expected, but a pair of tweezers makes handling
them much easier.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-CM4je-IJ2l7SVUxrI0OF-FqxneylvK_GGyO_pvA2lPKAEYZZC_513Jo482_Cptl16HxAl5NsWScQshWSh6f1GRHwsk_pkszgZ4yPxDBm4tdaxOjwAI287GgYsgEgJcb3F5LGpC-4LGl/s1600/2012_1021neighbors0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-CM4je-IJ2l7SVUxrI0OF-FqxneylvK_GGyO_pvA2lPKAEYZZC_513Jo482_Cptl16HxAl5NsWScQshWSh6f1GRHwsk_pkszgZ4yPxDBm4tdaxOjwAI287GgYsgEgJcb3F5LGpC-4LGl/s320/2012_1021neighbors0007.JPG" title="Pressed Flower Picture how to DIY, Queen Anne's Lace, Russian Sage" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can often bend the the stems very gently to get things where you
want them to go. I also decided that if there were too many leaves in
one place, I would just pinch them off. They are easy to glue back later
if you change your mind.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EuekyNFPxHhIVDQo4gC9H78shu_YrzUWcKcV92kLFWmsOKEmHhkh6NG_MoP3GbjCNjL4biQMDG53vUIdHuFL77LKDK_8ToUN4O2t3Zvi1FWG3WwDX6TIhPf3c5JlD5_N7FfFW5T67C53/s1600/2012_1021neighbors0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EuekyNFPxHhIVDQo4gC9H78shu_YrzUWcKcV92kLFWmsOKEmHhkh6NG_MoP3GbjCNjL4biQMDG53vUIdHuFL77LKDK_8ToUN4O2t3Zvi1FWG3WwDX6TIhPf3c5JlD5_N7FfFW5T67C53/s320/2012_1021neighbors0015.JPG" title="Pressed Flower Picture how to DIY, Queen Anne's Lace, Russian Sage" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I used Elmer's glue when it was time to fix the design. The final
picture is not exactly the design I chose, as a few flowers landed
slightly off the intended spot, and once on the paper it is difficult to
move them. I just worked around it. This was part of the fun.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cD1GVc4DFyJ1C_5iYX5h96GjzTTDlBd0XWyegDAShxzOS3PNHBxkqnMWpl3G-ETTfLeoRp2jFiIJwQCYEnJjrTXBONgnSxn942n6mFPoP63q1G6CdFE6hKTT-kOG6Iyri94C9sAiGrJh/s1600/closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cD1GVc4DFyJ1C_5iYX5h96GjzTTDlBd0XWyegDAShxzOS3PNHBxkqnMWpl3G-ETTfLeoRp2jFiIJwQCYEnJjrTXBONgnSxn942n6mFPoP63q1G6CdFE6hKTT-kOG6Iyri94C9sAiGrJh/s320/closeup.jpg" title="Pressed Flower Picture how to DIY, Queen Anne's Lace, Russian Sage" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The frame was a Goodwill find. It had been water damaged, so it was a challenge, but affordable.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4p6EUohAiz5fANhILrrGM8I0n7rIToyLJ8Pb2Kf-6w1HQA8W3X4_zgT1Y8YLwsgil293Lhc-TZhH90MWQKc0wP7AquYldNsKxkOK-UaNu9Kc_K95v3IWFNXJfODLPOZIkASHZSrv-aS1m/s1600/2012_1021neighbors0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4p6EUohAiz5fANhILrrGM8I0n7rIToyLJ8Pb2Kf-6w1HQA8W3X4_zgT1Y8YLwsgil293Lhc-TZhH90MWQKc0wP7AquYldNsKxkOK-UaNu9Kc_K95v3IWFNXJfODLPOZIkASHZSrv-aS1m/s320/2012_1021neighbors0036.JPG" title="Pressed Flower Picture how to DIY, Queen Anne's Lace, Russian Sage" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I don't expect this to last for decades. Dried flowers tend
to turn brown over time, and I am not going to wait for it to be an
eyesore before replacing it with a new creation. In the meantime, I have
hung it far from the window where it will be protected from direct
sunlight.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16283178813869429844noreply@blogger.com0