Thursday, December 21, 2006

The cookies are baked

I made the famous Black and White cookies that Philina told me about and they turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself. I used Martha's recipe with a few of my own changes and some more changes for next time. I would add a little lemon zest to the cookie dough and make the chocolate frosting with a darker chocolate...I also discovered that you should add a little water and a little more corn syrup when you add the chocolate to keep it shiny. I put some sugar sprinkles on the white frosting to try to make it look Christmasy, but I don't think it is necessary. It would look very classy with some silver or gold balls down the center. This was a fun project that I think I will have to repeat and play with soon. I think you could make the white frosting pink and maybe swirl a heart in the center for Valentines Day...Oh the ideas keep going from there.

Here is the last cart of roses ready to be put away and tipped and sprayed. The roses seemed to go pretty fast this year even though we had less people working on it. I guess because it didn't rain much and make us stop. Of course, Michael and Jim may not agree...it may have seem like a neverending process to them. They were troopers and constantly tried to keep us all on task to get the job done. Next is the fruit trees that will be coming in next week...now that is when the really hard labor begins...the roses were just a warm up!

Now the roses are tucked all snug in their beds. All watered in and sprayed and waiting for spring to push out their leaves and open their buds and surprise us all with their beauty and grace. I can't wait!

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Cactus at Almaden Nursery? Oh, my!


I came to work and saw a display I didn't think I would ever see here. Customers keep asking for them so I guess we are meeting their demands. I sure hope we have a warm winter or we could have some cactus to replace. They do look pretty cool and prickly!

Saturday, October 14, 2006

This is the front row of my garden plot I use this row to grow most of my flowers and herbs. Since this picture I have had to pull the orange zinnias because they are starting to get mildew, but I have added some new things that will enjoy the cool damp weather of fall and winter.

A few of my favorite things!


Bishops Children Dahlia ~ these got about 4 feet tall!



My favorite garden Phlox ~ comes back reliably every year!


I planted these turnip seeds two weeks ago and today I thinned them out and covered them up along with some lettuce, carrots and radishes. With all the lettuce and spinach scares lately it is nice to know I have my own crop that I know what it has been fed and watered with.