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Alabama Gardening

If you didn't make it.......

15 years ago

to todays Swap at Lynn's, you sure missed a great time. We had a blast and there were so many plants being traded and given away....thanks to all of those who traded with me and to those who "donated" plants as well. :) Hope to see you all again this fall.

Lynn, thank you so much for hosting the swap, and for the great lunch at Country's. You're the best.

Jan

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Comments (13)

tsmith2579
15 years ago
Jan is absolutely correct. It was one of the biggest and best get togethers we've had. It was great seeing everyone. And for Lynn, thanks so much for lunch. We all owe you, BIG TIME! See y'all next fall.
Terry
loveofmylife680
15 years ago
Yes you missed out if you did not make it to the swap. Lynn thank you for lunch you are a sweetheart, hope you enjoy your fern.
Jill
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Almost any piece of SAJ will root for you. Your babies are not connected by roots to the bigger plant, so you can dig them up and place them where you want. You can also snip off pieces from your large plants and root them, usually by just sticking them in the ground. Broken off pieces, or trimmings if you cut yours back, will often just root on their own if you don't get all the pieces off the ground. The only problem you sometimes have in spring may be too much rain which can rot them. In my wet heavy clay soil if I see a plant having yellowing problems at the base, I sometimes take clippings and root them in a dry spot and then later transplant them in dryer weather back where I want them. This is a plant that you can have as many of as you wish!
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Not sorry I didn't make it!
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Comments (11)
Quinao (pronounced keen-wah) is a small round grain. It has to be rinsed well before it is cooked or else it can be bitter, or have a green grassy smell and taste. Rinsed and toasted before cooking and it has a nutty taste (it actually smells like peanuts to me, rather than a generic "nutty" smell). It cooks relatively quickly and has an interesting texture. Not exactly crunchy, but sort of has a snap. When cooked it goes translucent and this little tail comes loose from the edge. It doesn't get hard when cold like rice does, so it works in cold grain salads as well as warm pilafs. I don't care for the texture of couscous so I tend to sub cooked quinoa in dishes that call for it. You can cook it sort of like rice pudding or even hot cereal but I haven't tried that. It is considered a pseudograin and is it's own complete source of protein, unlike other grains that must be combined to make one. How I make it, which is pilaf style: Thoroughly rinse 1 cup of quinoa. I am not kidding. We are talking 5-10 minutes under running water in a seive. Or buy Bob's Red Mill, which is supposed to be pre-rinsed. Drain well. Heat a skillet with 2 tsp olive oil and 1 tsp butter. Add the quinoa and stir and toast over medium heat until it starts to turn golden brown and looks dryer. Some may pop. This takes about five minutes. Add two cups water or broth of some sort (careful, it will spit and sizzle!). Cover the skillet, and turn it down to low. Let it simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the lid. The grains should look translucent and you should see the little loopy squiggly things LOL. If there is still liquid (and there always is) I turn up the heat a little and basically let it boil off, stirring often. When most of the liquid is gone, turn off the heat and recover the quinoa. Let it sit and steam for about 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork. You may now use it in recipes for salad, or eat it as is. You could also sautee some veggies with the quinoa as it toasts or add cooked veggies before adding the water. I like to make it relatively plain so that I can divide it up. Some for salad, some to eat as is, some to add to soup, and so on. You can read more about it at the link. I haven't tried any of the recipes there but it shows cooked and uncooked quinoa so you can get an idea what it looks like. Plus she gives a good description of it. Here is a link that might be useful: Good info here
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hinoki cypress didn't make it...try again?
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Comments (10)
no in-ground amendments ... see link below ... regardless of clay or not.. you might try planting high .. and adding a good quality topsoil ... to the mound ... half the root mass.. goes in native soil ... half above ... often ... it is not the soil itself.. but rather.. planting in a foreign soil.. with the peat like potting media ... and the plant never gets outside the hole .. by planting high.. in a good soil ... you give it time.. to get past the actual planting.. and put its own roots into the native soil ... and there would be the added issue.. of bare rooting.. in the proper planting season ... to get rid of the potting media .... you need to pull it out.. and observe what it did underground ... i would NEVER.. rely on LAWN sprinklers.. to water trees .. its usually not of long enough duration .. to get down the 6 to 12 inches [depending on how big you planted] ... to get to the trees root zone ... not to mention.. if you are growing blue plants ... wearing off the surface wax.. that makes them blue ... and finally ... NEVER PLANT IN AUGUST ... just because you buy it.. does not mean it proper planting time .. i believe that is also covered at the link ... i increased my success rate by 25% learning that lesson ... you have to insert finger.. 2 or 3 inches.. and FIND OUT ... if you are getting water to the root zone ... now dig it up.. and snap some pix.. and lets see what happened down under ... ken https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub
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daffodillady
15 years ago
Thanks all, for a grand time and the wonderful plants!! Lynne, you are so appreciated!! Rachael and I will keep you and your husband in our prayers. Hope to see every one in the fall. Hugs and blessings!! Beth
tedevore
15 years ago
Great time! Lynne, I already think of you all summer when I look at the big
mexican bush sage you gave me a few years ago, and now I stole some of your phlox too! I hope i can bring you something really good next time.

Nelson, I was going to bring you a "kim's knee high" purple coneflower that was on your want list--I wont forget it next time.

todd
birdlady_10
15 years ago
Yes I agree with everyone.This was a great swap,a fantastic hostess & wonderful friends.What more can you ask of a spring Saturday? Except maybe some volunteers to dig holes for all my plants?? hint hint :O):O).Seriously had a great time. Love you,Lynn.Will see you again soon. Jan
roseyp8255
15 years ago
Yes, It was great! Can't wait to start planting tomorrow! Thanks for all the great plants as well as lunch & conversation!
See you in the fall! Rosemary
ourhighlandhome
15 years ago
I had a great time as well. Thanks to all for their generosity and friendship, and especially to Lynn for hosting such a memorable event (also for the lunch)!

Now it's time to start diggin'....

Take care, and I look forward to seeing everyone this fall, if not before ;-)

Nelson
browneyedsusan_gw
15 years ago
We had a great time! Thanks Lynn, for hosting the best swap ever, and for lunch. Thanks to all who traded plants and to those who snuck extras into my van (you know who you are)! It was great seeing all of you again!
Susan
michelleswonders
15 years ago
I have to agree with everyone. The swap was a huge success and not to mention being around others that love gardening as much as I do. It was great to see you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the beauties. I started planting some yesterday and will do so everyday this week.

I can not wait to see you all again.

Michelle
lsmcw
15 years ago
Ditto to all of the above. Had a great time. Spent Mother's Day planting and moving stuff in the yard - can't get much better than that! Linda
sinai
15 years ago
I'm still trying to locate where all the leftover plants and BBQ are.......:)

So glad all you folks had such a great time......I hope I can meet you all at the fall meet......

Paul from Alabama
tweetypye
Original Author
15 years ago
Paul, I'm sorry you didn't make the swap...I know we all would have loved meeting you. From reading your daily blog, I am certain I would have loved talking with you.
Hopefully you'll be able to come to the next one.
As for the left over Bar-B-Que....hmmmm....I think maybe Terry took care of that, LOL....and any left over plants....got "donated" to Lynn for hosting the swap. :)
Jan
sinai
15 years ago
I want to be invited to Lynn's next party, plant swap or any other kind....She sounds like she knows how to throw a party....from what i know of you folks she'll be planting plants for a year.......:)
Anyways sounds like a good time was had by all as they say around here........

Paul from Alabama

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