FAREWELL AUGUST ~ WHY WE GARDEN!

"There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling."

~ Mirabel Osler

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LEMON THYME COOKIES

~ A treasured Michigan recipe from Woodland Herb Farm

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 cup unsalted butter

2 organic eggs

2 1/2 cups unbleached flour

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1/2 tsp. salt

zest of 1 lemon

3 Tbsp. dried lemon thyme

• Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
• Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix well.
• Sift together flour, cream of tartar and salt.
• Work flour mixture into other mixture until well blended. Stir in lemon zest and thyme. Chill overnight.
• Roll into balls the size of small walnuts. Bake on greased cookie sheet for 10 minutes. (About 3 1/2 dozen)

'WILDFLOWER WEDNESDAY' ~ A WALK IN THE WOODS

"The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man."

~ Author Unknown

A GATHERING of WILDFLOWERS

(Hubbard Lake Woods ~ Northern MI)

CANADA GOLDENROD

(Solidago canadensis)

"There are over 100 types of goldenrod in North America and over 20 in Michigan, all looking similar, thus difficult to identify. While most yellow autumn flowers are a type of goldenrod and are often blamed for hay fever, most hay fever is caused by Ragweed. Only 1-2 percent of autumn airborne pollen is from goldenrod."

(Wildflower of Michigan Field Guide ~ Stan Tekiela)

SPOTTED TOUCH-ME-NOT

(Impatiens capensis)

"Also called Jewelweed because water droplets on its leaves shine like tiny jewels, the Spotted Touch-me-not is a tall annual plant of wet areas. Its stems are nearly translucent and contain a slippery juice that can be used to soothe the sting from nettles or Poison Ivy."

(Wildflower of Michigan Field Guide ~ Stan Tekiela)

EVERLASTING PEA

(Lathyrus latifolius)

Flowers pink, ranging from white to purple, resemble the cultivated sweet pea of the garden

DAYLILY

(Hemerocallis fulva L.)

WOODLAND FERN

QUEEN ANNE'S LACE (Wild Carrot)

(Daucus carota)

Click on Queen Anne's Lace for more information ...

CANADA HAWKWEED

(Hieracium kalmii)

One of 15 species of species of hawkweed that grows in Michigan

BLACK-EYED SUSAN

(Rudbeckia hirta)

Also called Brown-eyed Susan ... originally a native prairie plant ... seeds make abundant food source for goldfinches

"May all your weeds be wildflowers."

~ Author unknown

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Celebrate Wildflower Wednesday

with Gail (Clay and limestone)

'I AM THE ROSE OF SHARON ... ' (HEAVENLY HIBISCUS)

"I am the Rose of Sharon,

and the Lily of the Valleys."

- Song of Solomon 2. 1-17

Rose of Sharon

(Hibiscus syriacus)

also called shrub althaea

GENERAL INFORMATION

Scientific name: Hibiscus syriacus

Pronunciation: high-BISS-kuss seer-ee-AY-kuss

Common name(s): Rose-of-Sharon, Shrub-Althea

Family: Malvaceae USDA hardiness zones: 5B through 9A

Origin: not native to North America

Uses: container or above-ground planter; near a deck or patio; trainable as a standard; specimen; no proven urban tolerance

Availability: generally available in many areas within its hardiness range

DESCRIPTION

Height: 8 to 12 feet

Spread: 4 to 10 feet

Crown uniformity: symmetrical canopy with a regular (or smooth) outline, and individuals have more

or less identical crown forms

Crown shape: upright

Crown density: open

Growth rate: slow

Texture: fine

AUGUST 'GRATEFUL HEART' GARDEN ~ LEMON PASTA with ROASTED SHRIMP

"There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart."

~ Celia Thaxter

'Old Garden Companions'

(Daisy/Purple Coneflower)

PURPLE PLEASURES

(Phlox, Purple Coneflowers, Dwarf Chinese Astile, Daylily)

Astilbe, hosta, Rose of Sharon, Hydrangea

LEMON PASTA with ROASTED SHRIMP

~ Summer friendly ... light/luscious adapted from Ina Garten

2 lbs. (peeled and deveined) large shrimp

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

coarse salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 cloves minced garlic

2 lemons, zested and juiced

1 lb. angel hair pasta

fresh chopped basil to taste

Grated Parmesan or fresh feta cheese to taste (optional)

• Preheat oven to 400º and bring large pot of water to boil.
• Place shrimp on baking sheet with olive oil, salt and freshly ground pepper. Toss well and spread over pan. Roast for 6-8 minutes, just until pink and cooked through.
• While shrimp are roasting, melt butter and olive oil. Cook garlic until soft. Add lemon juice, zest and a touch of salt to taste. Add salt and a drizzle of olive oil to boiling water. Cook pasta al dente, about 3 minutes. Drain, reserving some cooking liquid.
• Quickly toss pasta in butter/olive oil. Add roasted shrimp and 1/2 cup of reserved cooking liquid. Toss again adding fresh basil.
• Serve hot topped with cheese. (6 servings)

Note: A good garden fresh salad and favorite summer wine makes the meal complete.

Daisy

Purple Coneflower

Garden Pleasures

(Phlox, White Coneflower)

Hardy Hibiscus

(Rose Mallow)

Ivy Geranium

"Summer's lease hath all too short a date."

~ William Shakespeare

'IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES' ~ TIGER SWALLOWTAIL (Papilio glaucus)

"Butterflies are self propelled flowers."

~ R.H. Heinlein

"The fluttering of a butterfly's wings can effect climate changes on the other side of the planet."

~ Paul Erlich

"Not quite birds, as they were not quite flowers, mysterious and fascinating as are all indeterminate creatures."

~ Elizabeth Goudge

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."

~ Maya Angelou

"We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever."

~ Carl Sagan

TIGER SWALLOWTAIL

(Papilio glaucus)

"Swallowtails epitomize the beauty, vibrant color, and grace of butterflies. Their large size makes them conspicuous visitors to any garden, ant their gorgeous colors make them prized additions to any scene." (The Butterfly Book)

Caterpillar: Leaf green and plump ... excellently camouflaged. Feeds on trees, particularly cherry, willow and ash.

Wingspan: 3 1/2 - 6 3/4 inches

Habitat: Woodland, wooded gardens and parks.

Range: Across North American continent, from Alaska and Canada to Mexico

Status: Widespread and common

"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

~ Nathaniel Hawthorne