This year I decided to give it my best shot paring down the list. First I had to make a few choices, like do I really need to spend a gazillion dollars to have a great Christmas? Will Aunt Ida really care  that I baked one less dessert or that my usual formal dinner is buffet style this year? Do I really need to iron ALL the linens, clean every nook and cranny? Will my benefactors appreciate a less than glitzy store bought gift? I don’t know but I will soon find out. If they love me ha, ha,then they had better love my gifts!

So here it goes, I’m going to list them as I make them or when time permits. Remember I’m going for nice, easy and stress-free while reducing my carbon foot print this holiday season so please be patient with me.  Like ‘somebody’ once said “there’s always next year”. Seriously though most of these recipes, gifts, and projects can be applied and/or adapted to suit any time of year.

Cookies:

Chocolate Crackle Cookies

Peanut-Free Granola Bars

In 1935 at the age of 23, French horticulturalist Francis Meilland, developed a hybridized tea rose known at the time as #3-35-40.  In 1939 as war began in Europe, Meilland foresaw the impending invasion of France and secretly sent cuttings to friends in Italy, Turkey, Germany, and United States to protect the new rose. Rumor has it, that it was sent on the last U.S. plane out of Europe before the German invasion, to Conrad Pyle Company where it was successfully propagated during the war. For over five years, because of no communication due to the war, Meilland had no knowledge of what happened to the rose. It survived its clandestine journey under three separate names. In Germany- ‘Gloria Dei’ (Latin for glory of God), in Italy ‘Gioia’ (Joy), in the United States ‘Peace’ and in France, Meilland named it ‘Madame A. Meilland’ in memory of his dear mother. The latter name is recognized as the true cultivar while the others are the commercial names.

The variation of the commercial name ‘Peace’ was announced by the Conrad Pyle Company on April 29, 1945. Interestingly, on the same day that Berlin fell, which is also the day officially recognized as the end of WW2 in Europe. Later that year the ‘Peace’ rose was given to the delegates at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco with a note which read “We hope the ‘Peace’ rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace”.

It’s remarkable that sixty-six years later the ‘Peace’ rose is still the most enduring and beautiful hybrid tea rose on the market. Unfortunately world peace is still so elusive to our world today.

Nothing is more precious than peace. Peace is the most basic starting point for the advancement of humankind.

~Daisaku Ikeda

Peace rose image by Firegodess1-photobucket

Thankfully I’m an optimist, any gardener can tell you this is one our most endearing qualities, so what’s a few obstacles, right? Pull up the boot straps, again and carry on. As my grandmother used to say “life is good if we don’t weaken” so three cheers to Grass Root Gardens as it embarks on its ten year anniversary in 2012 and cheers to you for coming along for the ride, I could never have done it without you.

Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light,

give me life; keep me free from birth,

give me hope; help me cope, with this heavy load,

trying to, touch and reach you with, heart and soul.

~George Harrison

According to the Marconi seed cultural notes Marconi is an Italian heirloom prized for extremely sweet, large red fruits. Plants produce 3-lobed tapered blunt-tipped fruits that measure 3″ at the shoulder and up to 12″ long. Excellent for using green, in fresh in salads, and also for frying. 70-90 days from transplant.

My Observations

Some peppers were ready for harvest September 17th, 2011. There are four more plants with dozens of unripened peppers as of this date. I would suspect they need another four weeks to harvest. Normally from seed to harvest these peppers should take 150-160 days but this year they needed a longer growing time at 210-240 days. Proving 2011 was a poor year for peppers in Windsor Ontario, at least for my Marconi’s. Long red Cayenne peppers seemed to do just fine.

In this picture-mums, asters, sedums, kale, and fountain grass grass. For less than 100.00 this garden could be yours. Grass Root Gardens would love to help you select everything you need to make this garden happen. Plant it once to enjoy for years. Sure its an investment, but think of what you spend on annuals per year-its a bargain! And..you don’t have to water and fertilize it constantly like the annuals. I don’t know, why plant every year if you don’t have to. Just saying..

Fall Gardening with Ornamental Grasses

From the moment I picked it up in 2002 I loved it. The photography is exceptional, and photographer Saxon Holt captures the breathtaking beauty of ornamental grasses in the landscape and garden in extraordinary ways. From cover to cover the author Nancy J. Ondra presents outstanding garden design showcasing the versatility and splendour of grasses for any garden setting. Discover unique ways to combine other garden plants such as perennials and shrubs with ornamental grasses to bring out the best in your garden year round.

Light, wind, texture, movement, drama, grasses do it all. To every home and commercial landscape embracing these lovelies there is joy in knowing very little maintenance is required to keep them at their best. One snip in the spring, amend the soil with organic matter, water and you are good to go for another year! So what are you waiting for-plant your grass today. You will love it..and the book too!

Excellent Book on Ornamental Grasses-Versatile Partners For Uncommon Garden Designs

For more info and stunning photos..

Fall is the perfect time to plant a garden

Seasoned gardeners realize that fall is the perfect time to garden and not just for bulbs. There are a number of benefits to planting in the fall.  First, the weather is agreeable and the rainfall is generous. Fall is the time in which the plants focus on their root system rather than flowering, therefore, being very strong by the time spring comes when they are ready to flower. Basically you gain a whole year by planting in the fall. Secondly, the spring garden will grow in more fullywith the root system well established. And fnally the layout of the garden is clearly seen in the fall and the gardener is not left guessing at what was in that space! This allows planting and filling in with more confidence about the desired results.

Grass Root Gardens will help you plan your fall garden, assist in plant picks and answer your garden questions.

Newly planted P.J.M. Rhododendron

Care and Cultural Tips:

P.J.M. Rhododendron is deer-proof and somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, benefiting from being planted in a somewhat sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder zones. At maturity P.J.M. will grow 4 feet tall spreading 3 feet. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. Prune only after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season’s flowers. Feed rhodos after flowering with a low nitrogen/high phosphorous organic fertilizer.

Landscape Attributes:

An outstanding evergreen shrub planted in mass or standing alone as specimen. Consider planting with spring bulbs, hostas and ostrich ferns. For the zen garden pair this rhododendron with Japanese Maples and Lemon thread-leaf Cyprus.

Fragrant lavender flowers in late spring

P.J.M. Rhododendron as Specimen

P.J.M. Rhododendron adds interest, texture and colour in the fall and winter landscape.

Mass of P.J.M. Rhododendron