FAREWELL JUNE GARDEN (GARDEN STROLL)

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature,

he finds it attached to the rest of the world."

~ John Muir

Stokes' Aster

(Stokesia)

EARLY DAYLILY

(Hemerocallis)

ASIATIC LILY

SHASTA DAISY

(Leucanthemum)

Lilies, Daylilies, Rudbeckia, Coneflowers, Chocolate Cosmos

Hosta, Red Begonia, Gerbera Daisy, Coreopsis 'Moombeam'

RUDBECKIA

(Cherry Brandy)

'New Kid on the Block'

(Rudbeckia - 'Cherry Brandy')

CONEFLOWER

(Echinacea purpurea 'Doubledecker')

HYDRANGEA

MONKSHOOD

(Aconitum)

ASTILBE

A FLOWER ... 'SIMPLE DELIGHT'! ('BIG SKY' WHITE CONEFLOWER)

"The actual flower is the plant's highest fulfilment, and are not
here exclusively for herbaria, county floras and plant geography: they are here first of all for delight."

~ John Ruskin

CONEFLOWER

(ECHINACEA 'BIG SKY')

ENJOY THE 'SIMPLE' THINGS IN LIFE ~ CONEFLOWER (Echinacea purpurea 'Doubledecker') / GRILLED BOURBON SALMON

"Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

~ Hans Christian Anderson

CONEFLOWER

(Echinacea purpurea 'Doubledecker')

______________

GRILLED BOURBON SALMON

~ Guests proclaiming they don't like salmon, love this! Give it a try ...

(great for a buffet brunch or dinner ... )

________

For each 1 1/2 lb. of salmon fillets (skin or skinless)

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

3 Tbsp. Bourbon

2 Tbsp. soy sauce

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

3 Tbsp. chopped green onions

additional green onions

• Combine brown sugar, bourbon, soy sauce, olive oil and chopped green onions. Pour over rinsed and patted dry salmon fillet. Marinate several hours.
• Remove salmon and reserve marinade. Grill salmon over hot coals until opaque or until oil breaks through surface ( 9-15 minutes depending on thickness and outdoor temperature).
• While salmon is cooking, bring marinade to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes (sauce should be thick and coat spoon). Add reserved green onions to sauce or pour sauce over salmon and garnish with green onions.
  
  
  Note: Delicious served with roasted rosemary redskin and/or sweet potatoes. For a buffet, surround with tri-colored julienne sliced peppers (red, orange & yellow) sauteed in a touch of extra-virgin olive oil seasoned with a pinch of coarse salt & freshly cracked pepper.
  
  

WELCOME SUMMER SOLSTICE!

... On The Summer Solstice ...
"Whatever is dreamed on this night, will come to pass."

William Shakespeare -

Acknowledging the Magic of This Time
A Mid-Summernight's Dream

Gerbera Daisy

Iceland Poppy

Zinnia

Solstice, from the Latin for sun stands still, in astronomy, either of the two points on the ecliptic that lie midway between the equinoxes(separated from them by an angular distance of 90°).At the solstices the sun's apparent position on the celestial sphere reaches its greatest distance above or below the celestial equator, about 23 1/2° of arc. At the time of summer solstice, about June 22, the sun is directly overhead at noon at the Tropic of Cancer.In the Northern Hemisphere the longest day and shortest night of the year occur on this date, marking the beginning of summer. At winter solstice, about December 22, the sun is overhead at noon at the Tropic of Capricorn; this marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. For several days before and after each solstice the sun appears to stand still in the sky, i.e., its noontime elevation does not seem to change from day to day."

Solstice information courtesy of ~

( http://www.infoplease.com/spot/solstice.html )

IN HONOR of FATHER'S DAY ~ "DERLING SANDWICH" & PINE FLOAT

"My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me."

~ Jim Valvano

Father

(Leonard Francis LaFlamme)

______

DERLING SANDWICH

~ A simple 'egg in a frame'. Dad's favorite breakfast and snack.

_________

Firm slice of white or wheat bread

large egg

room temperature butter

salt & pepper

thin sliced Pinconning or American cheese (optional)

• Cut circular hole in middle of bread, large enough to accommodate egg. Butter both sides of bread.
• Place bread in heavy iron skillet and toast on both sides. Drop a tsp. of butter in the hole and carefully slip in egg. Season with salt & pepper and cook until browned.
• Carefully flip and cook on other side. If desired, top with cheese and cover with lid until cheese is melted. (single serving)
  

PINE FLOAT

~ Simple recipe for meager funds

_______________

Tall glass

fresh cold water from the spigot

tooth pick

___

Carefully fill glass with ice cold water. Gently drop toothpick on water surface. Enjoy.

Note: Both recipes featured in Diary of a Ho-Hum Housewife.

SIMPLE SATURDAY ... FLOWER (JAPANESE IRIS) & DINNER (COPPER RIVER SALMON)

"Anything simple always interests me."

~ David Hockney

Japanese Iris

_______________

SIMPLE FISH MARINADE

~ excellent for any firm whitefish, grouper, trout, tuna and especially for this seasonal salmon treat

_____________

LEMON/OIL/HERB MARINADE

(fish for 4)

1/3 cup lemon juice

1 tsp. lemon rind

2 Tbsp. horseradish

1 clove garlic, halved

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/3 cup olive oil

Combine all above except olive oil. Gradually add oil with whisk or in blender. Pour marinade over fish, turning to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours. Grill as normal, basting with left over marinade (or reduce remaining marinade and serve over fish).

Delicious served with grilled fresh asparagus ( Toss asparagus spears with olive oil and a few splashes of balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked pepper. Grill until slightly caramelized.) Also, a simple baked sweet potato ...

AS THE GARDEN GROWS (MID-JUNE GARDEN STROLL) ~ 'BURSTING BUDS'

"In June, as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day. No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore all of them."

~ Aldo Leopold

WAVE PETUNIAS

ROCK GARDEN WONDERS

STREPTOCARPUS

BLUE WONDERS

GERBERA DAISY

IN THE ROSE GARDEN

CHOCOLATE COSMOS

JOHNSON'S BLUE GERANIUM

EVENING PRIMROSE (Oenothera) - ASTILBE

HYDRANGEA (ANNABELLA - MACROPHYLLA)

ASTILBE

KOUSA DOGWOOD

JAPANESE PAINTED FERN - HOSTA