Happenings around Setters Run - Basil seed collection, Nasturtium, Orchid Cactus, Roses

I just thought I'd update you on the goings on here at Setters Run. It's gotten really cold here. The low this morning was 61 degrees. You don't get days like this during August in the South.

photo credit: CK Worley

First, I wanted to show this to you. It's called Dollar Weed and it came up in the pot that I planted cilantro in. Go figure! It's considered a weed but is a member of the parsley family. It can be eaten raw in a salad so I went out and tried some. It tastes like parsley at first but gets bitter fast. Thanks to Bobby the Flower Fanatic who named this for me. He said it was either Dollar Weed or Nasturtium and both are eatable so don't worry I won't get toenail poisoning from tasting it. I had been searching under Silver Dollar plant on the Internet and it wasn't the same plant. It's amazing how one word can make a difference. I suppose I'll just leave it until it dies out on it's own. It's a pretty plant.
By the way, if you ever need a plant identified all you need to do is go to Walter Reeves website and click "Name that Plant". They have all kinds of gardening experts who will help you identify your plant if they can.

photo credit: CK Worley

Our climbing Don Juan roses are taking shape. They seem to love where we planted them. Eventually the one on the left and the one on the right will cross paths and intertwine framing the entire window to my office.

photo credit: CK Worley

My Orchid Cactus is about to bloom. There are several blooms on this plant. We inherited it from my husbands father. We've had it several years and never knew it bloomed.

photo credit: CK Worley

photo credit: CK Worley

Now is the time to collect seed off your basil plants. These long stalks carry seed in them. Just pull them off and store them in a cool dry place. You can plant them again next spring. Saving money is key to Growing It First.

P.S. Today is September 13th and I had to show you the Orchid Cactus in bloom. It only blooms at night so we went out at 10 last night to take this photo. Here is a day time followed by a night time photo. So Excited!

photo credit: CK Worley

photo credit: CK Worley

And here is one more close up of the bloom.

photo credit: CK Worley

My 100th Post! - Banana Whip, Freezing juice, MDJ article on my Blog

My friend Kelly made this awesome cilantro rice the other day and the recipe called for the rind of 4 limes. She gave me the limes and said, “I don’t know what to do with these.” So I went to the store and picked up this cool ice cube mold. I squeezed the limes and put the juice into the molds and froze them. Now anytime Kelly needs the juice of a lime she can take one or two of these out of the freezer and WELLA! Remember, if the rind of any citrus is in tact you can just throw the whole thing into the freezer and pull it out when you need it. Once it’s thawed the juice will just pour out of them.



So, I just found out that dairy doesn’t like me very much so I can’t have ice-cream anymore. Kelly (from my lime story) told me to put some sliced banana onto a cookie sheet and freeze it. Then put those frozen slices into a food processor. She told me that it tastes just like ice-cream and is nice and creamy. So, you know me - I had to find out for myself. Kelly was right! This stuff is cool and velvety and is a very good alternative to ice-cream. Thanks my friend!



Here I am in my office talking with Jeff the photographer from the local paper. He is a very nice guy and it was a pleasure to meet him. We are discussing which projects to shoot. They are doing an article on my blog!




Here is the link to the article in the paper.
http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/23421697/article-Marietta-woman-s-blog-shows-it-s--not-too-hard--to-grow-own-food-at-home?instance=home_lifestyle

Fun bits and pieces - Keeping kids busy during cocktail hour, Large eggs or x-large eggs in recipes, bunny and porch garden

Here is a fun thing to do if you have a pea gravel patio and a dinner party where you have kids as well as adults in attendance. I throw beads, shells, marbles and little plastic toys into the patio. It doesn’t matter if they stay out in the weather or if they get mixed up in the patio pebbles. The more mixed in the better. While the adults are having cocktails and conversation the kids are busy treasure hunting. At the end of the evening I let them choose one "found treasure" to bring home with them. They love it and it works like a charm!



Ever wonder what the difference is between a large egg and an extra large egg. Here it is. I heard Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) say that she only uses extra large eggs in her recipes. It would be good to find out if a recipe used regular, large or extra large eggs when it was invented. I heard Mario Batali say on “The Chew” that he uses large eggs in his recipes. Something to wonder about indeed.



I visited Mom the other day and we met Jane who lives on the same floor. She is an organic gardener and once had a large garden when she lived in a house. Now that she lives in an apartment she still gardens only it's a patio garden. Jane uses organic soil and even waters with bottled water. She grows mostly flowers and herbs. Once a gardener always a gardener.



One last thing. I saw this cute little fellow while I was walking home from the gym. He lives in a grassy area between the gym, a parking garage and an assisted living facility. Little wonders never cease to amaze me.