Hydrangea fungus

This was my hydrangea a few years ago in the fall. It was a large, beautiful, healthy plant.  Then within a couple of days it looked like this _

Some kind of fungus?  When I dug it up this spring, the roots didn't show signs of root rot. The leaves didn't develop any black spots. It looked like someone took a blow torch to it.

2 weeks ago, I purchased a new hydrangea. This time I chose an endless summer.  Some of the leaves have begun to turn a sort of silvery color. It doesn't look like powdery mildew. I've been picking them off, keeping the area around it clean, and spraying with a fungicide. I don't like using chemicals in my garden, but sometimes I give in. So far, it hasn't died. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! I probably shouldn't have planted it in the same spot as my old one, but darn it all - that's where I want it!


On a better note, the battle I've been fighting the last couple of years with the viburnum leaf beetle seems to have been won - by ME!! My snowball bush is gorgeous this year and covered with snowballs.

new plants added to my garden

I used some of my gift certificates to our local nursery and bought some new plants for my garden. Now my problem is, I want so many things but don't know where to plant them. The only full sun my yard gets is in the driveway and in front of my house, which isn't a very large space. So the neighbors get to watch me walk around my yard holding plants and staring at my gardens. They must wonder what is wrong with me! Just trying to find a spot for my babies. 

Cherry blossoms - friend or foe?

I took this picture a couple of weeks ago, the day after my car was 100% covered in weeping cherry blossoms.  See how the front bumper near the license plate is covered? That's what my whole car looked like. I wish I'd taken a picture then. My husband's new black truck was also covered. He was none too happy, let me tell you!! We've had the tree for years but must be every other year when the blossoms fall, it isn't raining. They just puddle in the driveway like piles of snow. The rain makes them stick like glue. Good think he really likes this tree, otherwise the chainsaw may have made a presence.  I had so many compliments on how I decorated my car.  He drives 40 miles to work on a highway and expected the flowers to fly off before he got there - didn't happen. Our rain must be pretty strong glue.  He got a lot of compliments on his big truck too, from all his buddies.  Again, he was none too happy! I thought it was rather pretty.

Pasque Flower

My first Pasque flower.  I bought it last spring and was excited to see it survive the winter.  It brought much needed color to my garden early this spring. I can't wait for it to spread a little so I can divide it.  While researching a little about this flower, I discovered another name for it is Easter Flower.  Pasque being an old French word for Easter.  Interesting little tidbit.  Meanwhile, the hellibore I purchased at the same time last year did not bloom this year. I was very disappointed.  It has some healthy new growth on it, but no flowers.  Maybe next year.

Peaches and cream bread

This is a recipe for peach bread that I make every year for Easter.
Peaches and Cream Bread
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
2 pkgs. yeast
2/3 cup water
6 TBS margarine
1 egg
1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
2 TBS confectioners sugar
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 16oz can peaches, well drained and cut up
1 egg white

In large bowl, combine sugar, yeast, & 1 cup flour.  In saucepan, heat water & margarine until very warm. Margarine does not have to melt completely.
Gradually beat liquid into dry ingredients. Beat in egg and 3/4 cup flour to make a thick batter. Stir in 1 1/4 cups flour to make a soft dough.
Turn out onto lightly floured surface & knead until smooth & elastic, working in more flour while kneading. Shape dough into a ball and place in greased bowl, turning dough over so top is greased. Cover bowl and let rise for 1 hour.
Meanwhile prepare filling. Mix cream cheese until smooth, mix in confectioners sugar and almond extract until smooth. Sitr in peaches; cover and refrigerate.
When dough is ready, punch down and let rest 15 minutes. Cut dough in half. With floured rolling pin, roll half the dough into 12" x 8" rectangle. Spread half the filling in a 3" wide strip lengthwise down the center. Cut dough on both sides of filling crosswise into 1" strips.

 

Cottage decor giveaway at A Delightsome Life blog

A Delightsome Life blog is giving away some very pretty cottage decor items to celebrate their blog anniversary. http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/2011/05/delightsome-life-cottage-charm-giveaway.html

making fresh mozzarella cheese

My daughter and I completed our first attempt at making fresh mozzarella cheese over the weekend.  I read a post from Kevin over at A Garden for the House blog about making cheese.  http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2011/03/homemade-mozzarella-in-30-minutes.html
I ordered the cheese making kit he suggested ($32.50 w/shipping) It arrived in 2 days. We were very excited to undertake this new adventure.  It took us much longer than the 30 minutes it should have, but that was due to us not being sure if we were doing it right. We kept looking at the pictures and comparing to what we had on the stove. We finally just poured everything into a colandar and were surprised to find more curds than we thought we had.  We kneaded and stretched the cheese and ended up with almost a pound of fresh cheese. The only problem with making this with another person is that you have to share it wtih them!! Looking forward to making our next batch.  The kit comes with enough citric acid and rennet to make 40 batches of cheese. It also came with cheesecloth and a thermometer.  Give it a try and have fun! I only wish it was fresh tomato and basil season!!