Kaseys Korner

Out like a Lamb

That's the way our March is predicted to end this year.

I feel almost guilty putting that in black & white when I know half the country has been unseasonably cold.  

For once, not our half!

The gardens are responding to the days of sun and warmth.

Growing.

Erupting into bloom.

Narcissi 'Derringer'

Every week more Narcissi dot the beds with patches of color, filling in the landscape & erasing the winter brown.

Above:  Narcissi 'Goblet'

Above:  Narcissi 'Ice Follies' lit by evening sun and (below) Narcissi 'Mount Hood:'

One of my favorites with it's long, elegant, creamy trumpet.

Earlier bulbs have already finished blooming,

like Eranthis hyemalis ~ the Winter Aconites (above.)

Hellebores are at their peak now, above: 'Kingston Cardinal' with 'Phoebe' in the background.

'Kingston Cardinal' is another double but darker than 'Phoebe' & without any spotting. 

Below:  A longer view of 'Phoebe'

After two years of having my focus diverted, this spring I've been trying to make up ground.

Above:  Hyacinth 'Firelights'

It would be cheesy to equate the time spent to the industriousness of bees. 

But I feel a kinship.  Pruning.  Raking.  Readying....

This year I want to stay in front of the chores and not lag behind.  

Above:  Leucojum 'Gravetye Giant'

We know all too well how hard it is to catch up from the latter.  

Above:  Amaryllis 'Double Dream'

Once the garden takes off, there's no slowing it down.  

So exciting to be on that verge.

This week, the city begins weekly pick-ups of our yard waste cart ~ a real signal of the season.

Mine is FULL!  No surprise there!

I'm planning to break a bit from outdoor chores the next few days & catch up elsewhere.

Unless the roses call my name too loudly, begging to be pruned!  They are next on my list.... 

What's on yours?????

trio of Amaryllis

Just a quick post tonight as I have company in town for the week (and didn't get my act together to compose anything before they arrived!)

Luckily I'd just taken a few updated photos of Amaryllis 'Half & Half.'

which is absolutely glorious right now.

The new photos show it off much more accurately than the ones posted last week.

Amaryllis 'Exotic Nymph' started unfurling early this week too:

This bulb is from last year,

which was the first time I'd ever grown her & she quickly climbed to the top of my favorites list.

Which makes complete sense seeing she's that highly coveted Apricot color!!

The last of the Amaryllis trio is 'Cherry Nymph:'

I once wrote that 'Cherry Nymph' was the perfect red Amaryllis and each time I see it bloom, I believe it more and more.

The very first time I tried this bulb, it bloomed two double stalks simultaneously at Christmas.

It was the perfect holiday accent.

Finally my daughter celebrated a birthday this past week.

There were flowers,

fancy place settings with dainty linen napkins,

and a four layer chocolate cake with raspberry filling and white chocolate raspberry frosting:

I am not the best cake decorator, it took me forever to get it to look even this good, but I can tell you the taste was out-of-this-world, especially the frosting.

I found the recipe on Pinterest.  If you want to try it click here.  (I encourage you to do so if only for the sake of seeing how truly gorgeous this cake is in the hands of a "real" cake decorator.)  I promise you will NOT be disappointed!

 

 

lovely things

When I flipped my calendar last Sunday, (The Simple Life by Karen H. Good) from February to March, the saying this month said "just think of lovely things."

Above:  Royal Albert "American Beauty" China

Thinking of "lovely things" most likely means different subject matter for all of us but hopefully there's at least a little overlap?

At the top of my list is beautiful china & silverware.

A sweet Persian cat ranks right up there too!

A new spring wreath, a reminder that warmer days are just around the corner, seems especially lovely today.

Along with fresh, accompanying spring porch decor (although the boxwood wreath needs some sprucing up.)

Flowers are a GIVEN as lovely things 

and "must" haves....ALWAYS.

This time of year, Amaryllis are still "go-to" blooms.  This one is "Half & Half."

One I've never grown before.

I have a couple more Amaryllis about to open, then I'm hoping we can transition to blooms straight out of the garden!

That is the loveliest thought of all!!!

This week the weather calls for blue skies and warm temperatures.  

Another lovely thought....

I don't know about you, but all this thinking and looking at lovely things has me in a very zen place.  What a "lovely" way to start the week!!!!

 

antique silver fan vase

The past week was one of highs and lows.  The highs ~ two days of 70 degree weather!!!

For January, that is a TRUE GIFT.  :)

I spent both days doing yard clean-up, fixing my fence, washing the car & getting my pond filter hooked back up, among other tasks.

Then two days later, felt all that extra activity in my knees!  

ugh.  I'm wondering if they'll ever be the same again????

Meanwhile, the lows of the week involved losing another neighbor.

That's where the roses come in ~ his wife brought them to me after the service.  

I picked the silver fan vase to display them.  I love how narrow it is but yet the width makes it possible to create a 'substantial" looking centerpiece.

Above:  on my dining room turntable...

The vase was picked up at an antique store a few years ago when I didn't even realize what it was.  I just thought it looked cool!  Enter Pinterest ~ the answer to everything....  :)

Amaryllis 'Charisma' also opened this week.

Most of my Amaryllis have been slow to bud this year and I'm not sure why?

Aside from not getting them outside last summer, all their other care has been the same as usual.

'Charisma' is a pretty one.  The speckles of red are what I like the most about it.

There will be other Amaryllis appearing on the blog soon but I hope this one lasts till Valentine's.  

Meanwhile, RIP Mr. Howard.  We will miss you in the cul-de-sac.

p.s. I also had snowdrops open this past week.

How exciting is that??  Blooms in January!!!  Hard to beat....

 

Christmas 2014 follow up

Hope all of you had a wonderful (or at the very least) relaxing Christmas??

Above:  Boxwood wreath on back door.

After jubilantly thinking we were NOT going to have snow this year for Christmas, my bubble burst and we ended up with approx 6" afterall. 

For those of you who like a white Christmas, you would have been excited.  I don't mind a light dusting (like in the photo above), enough to coat everything white & make it pretty but not where you have to dig out the boots, shovels, etc.

I thought a dusting was all we'd get at first.  It started as rain then turned to snow but kept melting for a while as it hit the concrete.  That was nice but alas, it accumulated...

Oh well.  We were staying in for the day so it really didn't matter. 

Above photo:  Christmas urn on front porch.

Then again at night.

I had hoped to post "Merry Christmas" wishes before the holiday but got wrapped up with hosting duties for our cul-de-sac dinner along with last minute gift wrapping, card mailing, etc., so it never happened.

Then my most wonderful neighbors started dropping by with toffee, homemade bread, chocolate wafers, beautifully wrapped gifts, etc.  What a blessing they are!

This package, I really didn't want to open, it was so lovely.

She said she wrapped it special for me since she knew I would appreciate it. 

I certainly did!  The ribbon & greenery are still on my coffee table.

Amaryllis 'Red Lion' opened in the nick of time for Christmas too.

I planted all my Amaryllis in leftover plastic nursery pots this year so that I could insert them in & out of containers (like the one above) as they bloomed.

I like the idea of dressing them up too with floral picks like this fancy butterfly ~ although a lot of them are so spectacular, they don't require anything additional.

Bunny huddled in the yews just before the snow.

I am not going to be in any hurry to take down Christmas.  I also doubt I'll be back before New Years so I'll wish you  "Happy New Year" in advance.  I hope it's a healthy, good year for us all.  Thank you for all you contributed to our life this past year. 

 

 

'Persimmon' Hibiscus

I almost titled this post "winter blooms" then I realized I couldn't do that because it's not even winter yet!  Although I've been really busy with holiday preparations it still feels like the garden has been OVER for quite a while already.  Anyone else feeling that way? 

Luckily, some tender tropicals are helping to fill the gap the garden left behind.  In my bathroom/greenhouse, a Clivia miniata bud scape is beginning to open:

This will be it's second time to bloom this year. 

Usually I bring my Clivias indoors (after summering outside) and take them straight to the basement for a forced dormancy period.

I followed this routine because I'd read to treat them similarly to Amaryllis?? 

However, this year I switched it up and went a whole different route.  Instead of to the basement, they went directly into my south-facing, glass block bathroom.

The results are going to make it hard to ever go back to the former treatment.

Maybe it would like a dormancy period after this bloom is finished?????  or should that whole idea be nixed altogether? 

Now, I believe the post title was actually 'Persimmon' Hibiscus, not Clivia miniata!??

I didn't fake you out, there IS actually one of those beauties to share!

How is that for a vibrant holiday kick off???

All that impact from such a tiny little plant!

Tiny but mighty ~ notice it's vigorous enough to produce quite a few buds!  ((my way of saying "you'll be seeing more of 'Persimmon'...) 

and finally, one last bloom (the first in a whole line-up, as most of you already know to expect!!)

An unknown Amaryllis, NOT 'Elvas' which I thought I had purchased.

Arrgggg, it's a pet peeve when the tags & bulbs are mismatched.... 

I know many people don't care about the names but having grown so many and for so long, I'm pretty partial to certain favorites & to new ones.   Oh well, whatever the name, it's the first Amaryllis bloom of the season and that makes me feel like it's officially the holidays!!!!  

About time considering we're about two weeks away from Christmas!!  Please tell me I'm not the only one who needs to get it together?!!!!

Tomato Mozzarella Basil Ciabatta

oh. my. goodness. 

Allow me a quick recap of the week first, if you will, before we get into that yummy goodness.

It was already crazy crammed with appointments and the usual "to do" list when a box and a half of peaches I ordered (to support a school fundraiser) got delivered.

They are the BEST peaches BUT, holy Toledo, I had not built time into my schedule for them! 

Never the shrinking violet, I decided to forego some sleep & surged ahead, blanching, peeling, cooking, preserving, baking, etc.

Until 18 jars of peach freezer preserves, a strudel and a cobbler later, the boxes were empty. 

Whew.  I've never made preserves before.  I've been given jars in the past but what a new appreciation I have of that gift now!  Such a labor of love.

There wasn't time for back patting tho, on top of everything else, I had agreed to host a little garden party for a friend (who had a friend) who wanted to see my garden.

Follow that???

Even tho I was busy, I jumped at the chance, because I love any excuse to pull out two of my other passions ~ antique dishes & silver!!

I only own four covered bouillon cups/bowls, three in one pattern & this single one in my favorite rose pattern.  They are all Limoges, in case you're into this sort of thing as much as I am!!  :)

Don't you just love the whole idea of covering your bouillon to keep it warm??  (As opposed to ladling it into an open bowl only to have it cool off too quickly.)

Not to mention the adorable bouillon spoons.  *sigh*

I bet you couldn't guess I'm a Downton Abbey fan?!!!!!   I so dig this stuff....

My neighbor generously made the Butternut squash/chicken soup that we served in the bowls.

Now (finally) we're back to the promised Ciabatta sandwich!!!!

Inspired by a similar item seen on the menu at Starbucks.

Made using mayo, topped by ultra thin mozzarella slices on both halves of the Ciabatta, followed by a generous slice of a garden grown tomato, basil pesto & a few fresh basil leaves.

I don't own a Panini Press so I just sprayed both sides of the ciabatta with olive oil and grilled it on my George Foreman grill.

I'm telling you, biting into this sandwich is like tasting a little bit of heaven.  I can think of many variations too.  Imagine adding some bacon for a start!

Melted cheese, warm bread, fresh produce, ooey goodness = my new favorite sandwich!

It makes me wish I had grown some basil this year to make my own pesto.  Since I didn't, I used the basil paste above made by Gourmet Garden which turned out to be a delicious alternative.

The whole party was capped off by Peach Cobbler which was devoured quicker than a photo could be snapped!

Somehow, someway, the new vintage urn found a way to be planted.

What do you think??  Worthy of the container?? 

and now I'm ready for some "down" time.  Happy Labor Day weekend everyone!

 

 

Amaryllis 'Exotic Nymph'

A.G.A.I.N.

For no reason other than it's just

insanely beautiful....

This is the third bloom scape!

Enforcing the validity of the adage, "three's a charm."

The 3rd has definitely been the BEST!

So gorgeous it's on my desk for pure inspiration

with a side of distraction!

Make that distraction times two! :)

Amaryllis 'Cherry Nymph'

Welcome back gorgeous bulb.

Last time we saw you, it was Christmas 2012.

You were lighting up my holiday gloriously.

If suddenly the choices of red Amaryllis were whittled to one,

I'd hope 'Cherry Nymph' would be that ONE.

Now if only I knew the name of your current bloom companion.

Opening in perfect synchrony but whose identity remains a mystery.

Purchased last season as Amaryllis 'Double Dream,' but looks nothing like the 'Double Dream' previously featured or for sale on various websites????

I even went so far as to ask Royal Colors (website ordered from) to verify I had the correct bulb and they insisted I did. 

Despite the reassurance, I remain unconvinced....

I've been growing obsessed with Amaryllis for so long, I know most on sight. 

Maybe one with a bit of mystery makes life more interesting...

Whoever she is, I'm summering her over.  Maybe by the time she re-blooms in 2015, I'll have figured out her name? 

Unless one of my very smart readers wants to help me out before hand???

 

 

 

Amaryllis 'Exotic Nymph' & 'Exotica'

A pair of salmony peach Amaryllis to soothe a winter weary gardeners soul.

'Exotic Nymph,' a frilly double bulb, in the loveliest sherbet color.

I'm calling this her "debutante season" since she's new to the blog and my home in 2014.

As far as debutante's go, she's nothing short of a knockout (her stiffest competition 'Double Dream' from the previous blog post.)  Needless to say, 'Exotic Nymph' won't be lured away, she's already been granted permanent residency here!

She's been bunking with single, large-flowering 'Exotica,' another Amaryllis I couldn't bear to be without:

Season after season, she's endured for me.

Never failing to put on a show-stopping display.

I get a lot of questions about how I keep my Amaryllis blooming year after year.   I've experimented with several methods over the seasons but last summer I took all my bulbs (a considerable number) out of their pots and planted them right in the raised veggie bed. 

There they stayed until October when I dug them up and stored them in a box in the basement (leaves and all.)   The leaves can simply be removed later when they have turned brown and dried up.  The result was a resounding success.  They bulbs grew in circumference and all but one have re-bloomed this winter.

You can bet I still have hope for that lone holdout!

I think all the bulbs benefited from some good garden soil and compost, not to mention a little freedom from being pot bound.   Amaryllis are heavy feeders, meaning they need to be fertilized after blooming for good results the next year.  Remembering to consistently do that is often a problem for me so planting them directly in the ground solves that issue. 

Maybe this method would work in your garden as well??  If you give it a go, I'd love to know how it works for you...