More about the flower show

There were quite a few things about the Southeastern Flower Show I really liked. I can't imagine that anyone who likes gardening couldn't find something to like.

I loved the small terrariums. This was my favorite.

This was a front door design I liked from an Atlanta Garden Club. I love the decorative tree frog.

I think it is such a great idea to put herbs into landscaping beds.

The aquaponics were fascinating and I love the title, Farm in a Box. I plan to look into this. It would be wonderful to grow a garden in my basement.


This looked much prettier for real than in a photo. A very pretty dish garden.

The exhibits were a little scarce for the entire southeast and flower exhibits like these can be a bit disappointing after being on display for several days -- kind of wilty.

I did like the blooming apple trees with apples underneath -- at least I think they were apple trees. The forced blooms and red apples made for a pretty display.

I loved this grill featured in an award-winning exhibit. This company is located in Douglasville, pretty close to where I live. If I had the money, I would love to have this outdoor cooking station -- not for me but for my husband. He does really well with a normal grill, just think what he could do with this one.

Orchids. Enough said.

This vendor is from right down the road in Peachtree City. She hand makes these pretty glass and metal art objects that would be pretty in any garden.

I signed up for newsletters from a couple of tool and garden manufacturers. I also signed up for a fertilizer newsletter and an interesting mulch company in Atlanta.

Snapdragons -- always lovely.

Water features. There were quite a few.

Calla lilies are always beautiful, too.

The vegetable and herb plants were green and beautiful.

The tomatoes in the photo above already have small green fruit.

Can you imagine having such a beautiful daffodil? This has to be the prettiest one I have ever seen. Of course daffodils are a favorite.

And this award-winning flower sculpture was really one of the prettiest arrangements. Are you as ready for spring as I am?

Southeastern Flower Show

Last Friday, I went to the Southeastern Flower Show with my friend and editor, Angela, to help prepare for our upcoming Newnan-Coweta Magazine gardening issue that comes out in May. Evidently, it was much smaller then in the past and many were disappointed but, I did enjoy it as I learned about a few new techniques, a few new products and I saw some really beautiful flowers.

The vendors had a number of things for sale that were interesting and I saw products I don't see everyday. In addition to the plants, there were garden fashions, seeds, tools, fertilizers, potting soil and books, all to help the attendees become better gardeners.

One of the main sponsors was Home Depot, and I enjoyed seeing the plants that had been forced to grow just for the show, especially the beautiful herbs. I know I can count on seeing these plants and more for sale at our local Home Depot and Lowe's in a few weeks.

I will share more tomorrow about the beautiful flora -- and useful information I received at the show. Meanwhile, I did purchase some seed to get me started on some plants for spring planting.

Firecrackers

I really want to end this week with a bang so I am sharing my friend, Bonnie Jacobs' recipe for Firecrackers. Bonnie is an amazing cook and is always cooking up something wonderful. I really appreciate that she is willing to share her recipe.

These crackers are so tasty and easy. I have never seen saltines flavored this way. My husband really loves these crackers, too. They will not last long around here. I do want to offer this caution -- they are not a low fat snack. Serve them with soup to make it seem like a gourmet treat.

They are a little spicy, but I didn't find these too hot.

The recipe:

Firecrackers
1 box of saltines (4 sleeves)
1-1/2cups cooking oil
2 Tbsp. red pepper flakes
1 pkg. (dry) Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix
1/4 tsp. dry chipotle pepper (suggestion: Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle Blend)
2 gallon Ziploc bags

Mix the oil and Ranch Dip Mix and then divide the mixture into 2 bowls (approximately 3/4 cup in each bowl – dividing the ingredients helps prevent the red pepper flakes from settling to the bottom of the oil and they distribute more evenly).

Add 1 Tbsp. red pepper flakes to each bowl and 1/8 tsp. chipolte pepper into each bowl.

Put 2 sleeves of saltines into a Ziploc bag. Then pour the mixture onto the crackers in the Ziploc bag and toss.

Spread crackers onto paper towels and let drain before storing in plastic container to keep fresh. To keep the red pepper flakes from falling off the crackers, do not store in Ziploc bags. For a milder cracker, just cut back on the red pepper flakes.

Updating you on my sprouts. They are really coming along but not ready, yet.

Two things

First: When I purchased my sprouts from Amazon.com, I bought the last cookbook I plant to buy this year. I was planning on buying it eventually but by adding this book to my purchase, I didn't have to pay shipping. I probably saved around $5.

I would like to use my crock pot more this year, plus I really like Robin Robertson's cookbooks. I am hoping this one will be just what I need to keep my slow cooker going with tasty meals. It is so welcoming to have a crock pot stew or even a dessert. There are some fascinating recipes and I will be trying them very soon. I also like the title, "Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker." The titles of Robertson's books and recipes are always very clever and so far I have been very impressed with the recipes, too. One thing I plan to try is crock pot oatmeal. Waking up to a warm breakfast appeals to me.

Second: My sprouts are really growing. This is after soaking the sprouts and rinsing them this morning and afternoon. I see a little green peeking out. It won't be long now until I have some great hydroponic sprouts.

Sprouting seeds

Yesterday when I arrived home I found the sprouting seeds I had ordered were waiting for me and I couldn't wait wait to start sprouting. I had to order them from Amazon.com because I couldn't find them at the grocery store. I had even looked for them at Whole Foods but they no longer sell the seeds, just the sprouts. I guess I can see why. Sprouting seeds are between $7.95 and $11.95 per pound and the already sprouted seeds in the grocery store are between $2 and $4 for a few ounces of sprouts. The savings is unbelievable.

I bought two kinds of seeds, alfalfa and "broccoli and friends mix." I had to buy the broccoli mix just because of the name. I didn't know broccoli had "friends." The "friends" are crimson clover, china radish and alfalfa. Who knew?

I grow my sprouts in a clear wide-mouth quart jar and I have had the plastic screw on lids I use for draining them for years. You can purchase systems for sprouting but I really like this low tech version because I can just throw it all in the dishwasher for cleaning.

I just measure out the seed, usinge either one or one and a half tablespoon of seeds.

Then I add water and cap it. The seeds will soak overnight.

In the morning I will drain the water and allow it to sit in a sunny place. I will rinse the seeds twice a day and after they start sprouting, I will turn the jar so that the sprouts grow and "green up" well on all sides. They will be nice and green and not anemic, as the last few batches of sprouts I have purchased in the store have been. It will take between 3 and 5 days and I will really enjoy the sprouts in salads and on sandwiches.

In the next day or so I will start my next jar of "broccoli and friends" using lid with a larger screen. If I alternate, I can have fresh and inexpensive organic sprouts every day.

Reviewing my goals

In order to make sure I keep up my quest to meet my goals for this year, I have decided to review them each month. Though I don't have any completed goals, I have made progress.

I haven't consistently worked thirty minutes a day on organizing, but I have done it some days and I have spent more than thirty minutes on a few occasions. The main thing I want to do is maintain consistency -- I am not there yet, so I need to keep working on that goal. I knew it would be a trouble spot.

On a positive note, my diet is going well and I feel good about that goal. I have reached my goal for blogging each week day. So far, so good -- I just need to keep it up. Plans for my garden are well underway. I feel good about that goal. I have cooked a couple of new dishes that I like so I feel that goal is in progress.

I haven't finished my organizational guidebook but I have made a start. I think I could have done better on that goal and I have been working on designs for my stationary but I don't have anything that is finished. I also haven't finished my personal goals yet and I need to work a little more consistently on that.

I do need to get a start on that basement, it is a huge job and the furniture goal is one I really want to complete. The other goals I am not ready to even think about that. I need to get a few of the others behind me first.

Am I where I had hoped to be at this point? Not exactly but I think it is better to aim high, so I didn't expect to much further along than I am.


If I get discouraged, I just look at my cookbook cupboard which was the most disorganized place in my kitchen and is now 100 percent better. I only have an after photo and it is really not a good one, but the before photo would have been just too embarrassing.

Joy of Gardening

There are so many gardening books on the market. Most of them have some useful information but here is a special book has withstood the test of time but is still relevant, and useful. This is what most people say about "Joy of Gardening" by Dick Raymond.

It is a book written in 1983, and still in print. Each page is filled with useful information Mr. Raymond learned from a lifetime of gardening.

We plan to use some of his methods and techniques in our garden this year, especially the wide-row gardening method. The yield is supposed to be higher with less weeding. Of course we will see, but I hope this helps us to be more productive.

We will be planting greens, peas and some root vegetables very soon and I can't wait to plant them in nice wide rows. I can't wait to show you photos.