Family Resources Kid's Resources
Family Support
The Parlor Join us on our message boards for conversation, introductions, support, encouragement and chit chat. Stop by and introduce yourself Here!
Recipes
Tea
Crafts
Garden
Forums
A Chocolate Lovers Garden
By Sue Neitzel
With New Years safely behind us and Valentine's Day soon upon us, the
season for giving sweets to the sweet is never ending. Choosing a gift with
a treat is simple for gardeners. For those who crave chocolate and can't get
enough can now savor the sweetness without gaining a pound or feeling
guilty. Plant a chocolate lover's garden!
When I came across some chocolate cosmos in a seed catalog
my blood sugar rose just thinking about a chocolate
garden. Not to mention a sweet idea for an article!
The fudgy flowers of the carob color cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) are a hardy perennial to zone
6 with some protection. Blooms late only to tease your senses with a rich
reward.
The chocolate flower ( Berlandieva Iytata) is a irresistible daisy for
those chocoholics who can't get enough, another perennial, hardy to only
zone 4, it reseeds itself which makes it the gift that keeps giving..
A herbal cocoa treat is the chocolate mint, invasive as other mints, but
can be tamed in a container or bed of it's own. Makes a wonderful tea, or
just pick and chew on the leaves for an bitter sweet taste sensation.
For geranium fans, there is a chocolate peppermint variety (Pelargonium). The aroma from these leaves are worth planting alone, smelling
like a York peppermint patty! A speedy grower with a chocolate center and a
scent to match.
A true chocolate lover's delight would be the Akebia Quinata, a vine with
cocoa blossoms that grace the air with a vanilla fragrance. Plants are hardy
to zone 5 and climb easily, perfect for a tower to guard over this sinful
and semi sweet garden.
So, if your in need of a unique gift idea for your Valentine this year,
one that loves to garden, forget that box of chocolates, give them the fat
free garden to plant, they will love you for it, and so will their hips!
About the author:
Sue lives to garden, and when she can't play outside, she writes about
gardening! "We owe so much to this planet and my goal is to have everyone come to her aid
to ensure Mother Earth stays green!" said Sue. She's also a wife,
mother of five and a first time granny! Visit Sue at her website
The Grateful Gardener
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling Memorial Day signals the start of barbecue season. Everyone wants to light that fire and charcoal that first meal. A few tips might pre- vent your entree from becoming a "Burnt Offering."
Read these tips for plenty of grilling ideas, make this year's barbecue perfect!
Growing and Using Garlic Chives Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, is a hardy perennial (Zones 3-9) that will grow to about 12 inches high. The stems are skinnier and flat, instead of hollow as are regular chives, with greenish white blooms that are about an inch wide and not as rounded. They bloom in the summer rather than spring. The bloom stalks grow much taller than the leaves, sometimes up to 30 inches.
The stems and blooms are both edible and have a mild garlic onion taste. I've noticed many writers will list this as primarily as an Asian herb, as they are also known as Chinese chives, Chinese leeks, ku chai (China) or Nira (Japan), but it has many other uses as well!
The Perfect Porch Swing Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.
Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet.
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing