Carolee's Herb Farm

Carolee's Herb Farm

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April E-Newsletter

No wonder the old phrase says “April is the cruelest month!”  A  pretty day lulls one into thinking that Spring has arrived, then BAM! A blast of wintery mix that includes blustery winds, hail, and snow arrives!  We’re scurrying to find gloves and wool hats again, or more often, raincoats and umbrellas.  We can count the sunny days on one hand and the lawn will soon be a hay field, especially if the prediction of rain the next eight days is accurate.  

     Despite the less than ideal weather, it has been fun to welcome customers after the long, long winter.  Everyone is in good spirits and eager to see the new offerings and the early blooms.  The Cottage Garden has been especially pretty this spring and the Enchanted Forest is been filled with color.  The Fairy Garden is always delightful, and there are already herbs to harvest in the Cook’s Garden.  Be sure to notice the new roof on the garage!  It’s now brown to match the Cottage and Barn, and it doesn’t leak!  Hurrah!    

 

Shawna Coronado Coming April 30th
The fabulous author and TV personality, Shawna Coronado will be appearing at the farm on Saturday, April 30.  If you haven’t seen one of Shawna’s videos, watched her on TV’s “Growing a Greener World,” or read her fascinating book “The Naked Gardener” you’re in for a treat!  Shawna has turned her own front yard in Chicago into an organic vegetable garden, but persuaded nearly all of her neighbors to do the same!  Not only is she growing healthy food for her own table, but she harvests trunk loads of fresh veggies for local food banks!  She’ll give a presentation entitled ‘Planting a Sustainable Edible Front Lawn Vegetable Garden” (but of course the back yard will do as well!), give away some copies of her book, and encourage you to live a healthy, happier life through gardening.   Her ideas were just featured in Italy.  She now has a weekly feature on Chicago TV, and she’s coming HERE!!!  I can’t wait!!!!!  Make your reservation today and tell all of your friends.  This is a one-time opportunity to hear this vibrant & informative speaker.

Indiana Radio Auction, May 16-23
Carolee’s Herb Farm is participating with a variety of items in the on-line web auction at www.IndianaRadioAuction.com  Visit the site to see great items from the farm as well as many other area businesses.  Then from May 16-23 bid on the items.  We’re donating a Fairy Garden, a Lavender Wreath, Culinary Windowbox, Succulent Trough, a terrific Lavender Lover’s Gift Basket and lots more.  You can see the items at the farm or check out the website, and bid often.  Items must be picked up at the farm by the winning bidder after the bidding closes.  We will be happy to hold items until it is convenient to come, as long as items are picked up before the farm closes on July 10.  You’ll get some great deals and help the farm as well!

The Bargain Table
We’ve had a table filled with bargains since opening day, but I’m getting ready to dismantle it so we can use the table for other purposes.  If you want a great item as a low, low price from the bargain table, come before May 15th!


Alpine Strawberries
     Nothing is so sweet and charming as a tidy, dark green Alpine strawberry plant, hanging with fragrant white flowers and dark red berries.  Fragaria vesca var. semperflorens differs from common garden strawberries and the wild strawberry because it grows as an attractive clump that stays put, without forming runners, so it makes a lovely edging or container plant.  The pretty three-part leaves have serrated edges that hold dewdrops in the early morning, and because of the leaf shape, the strawberry has been linked to the Triology and carried in religious ceremonies in Europe.  In spring, delicate white blooms with yellow centers are produced in abundance, followed by shiny, bright red fruits.  Often, plants continuing producing fruits until the frosts of autumn shrivel their blooms.  If moved indoors, fruit may be picked all winter!  While the fruits are small compared to today’s commercial strawberries, they are packed with flavor and sweetness.  Alpine strawberries are a delightful way to introduce children to the joys of gardening.
     The name strawberry does not come from the common practice of mulching large plantings with straw, but more likely from the Anglo-Saxon word “streauberige” which means “strew.”  In fact, the leaves of wild and alpine strawberries were commonly used as strewing herbs.
     Strawberries are not often thought of as a medicine or a cosmetic, but in former days the berries were used to whiten teeth and to soothe sunburn.  The leaves and berries were common treatments for dysentery, gastro-intestinal problem, urinary diseases, fevers, as a gargle for sore throats, and as a spring tonic to help purify the blood after a long winter.  The leaves were often used as a tea to help excessive menstruation and also as benefit to an easy pregnancy.  Most authorities feel the leaves lose much of their flavor when dried.  Note that only the leaves of the alpine or wild strawberries have significant medicinal properties.  The common garden variety has little or no value.
     Alpine strawberries are easily grown from seed, and there are several excellent varieties available in the marketplace.  “Mignonette” has slightly larger berries.  “Rugen” is the most commonly found and  we’ve found it to be reliable and productive.  They grow well in any sunny location, reaching a height of about six inches and forming a clump about six inches in diameter.  Older plants can be carefully divided.  Good drainage in winter is necessary to prevent crown rot, so raised beds are excellent.  They grow well in containers.  Indoors in winter, give them as much light as possible and you will be rewarded with berries to garnish salads or beverages.

Alpine Strawberry Salad Recipe

A luscious summer salad can be made using a mixture of fresh salad greens from the garden and these delicious little berries.  Whisk together for the dressing: 1 tablespoon organic extra virgin olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon raspberry wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

In a large bowl combine:  2 cups salad greens (a mixture of strawberry leaves, spinach, dandelion, sorrel, endive, lettuces, chicory, etc.); 2 tablespoons chopped chives; a small handful of Alpine Strawberries; 2 T. chopped pecans or walnuts or almonds.
Freshly ground pepper, to taste.  Gently toss with dressing.  Serves 2.

April’s Most-Asked Question
The most asked question so far this month:  Should I trim my lavender plants?  The answer:  Absolutely NOT!  The proper time to trim lavender is right after it blooms.  Trimming in spring can often cause death.  And, remember lavender does not tolerate wood chip mulch, so don’t get carried away applying it this spring.

 

Other garden tips:
1.  Deadhead daffodils and tulips as soon as flowers have faded so the plant will put its energy into making more bulbs rather than trying to produce seeds.  Also remember that these plants must retain their leaves until they are totally brown and dried up, so don’t mow them or pluck off yellowing leaves.
2.  Don’t prune spring flowering shrubs until right after they bloom.
3.  Shear thymes and savory to keep them from getting too leggy.
4.  Clipping asters, mums, and sedums when they are about 6” tall to about 3” will make them more dense, and less likely to flop later in the season.  It will also produce lots more blooms!
5.  Putting a pinch of “Soil-Moist” in the planting hole of water loving annuals (like begonias, impatiens, petunias, etc.) and mixing it in well before setting in the plant will greatly reduce watering later in the summer.  This is the same product we use in all our containers and hanging baskets, so we don’t have to water them as often.  Saves time and money!  Also works for veggies!
6.  Divide perennials when they are 1-2” tall for the least stress possible.  Do this on a cloudy day if possible.  If not, provide a bit of shade for the plants in their new location.  I use an old card table that I can move from spot to spot as required to act as a canopy.
7.  Mix radish seeds with newly sown perennial seed.  It will help keep from seeding them too densely, and the radish seeds will emerge quickly to remind you that a perennial may be sprouting there in a few weeks (or months!)
8.  Enjoy primroses on the coffee table or kitchen table, keeping the faded blooms picked off.  When they are done blooming in another month or so, plant them in a shady location to enjoy outdoors next year.
9.  If you don’t use harmful chemicals and poisons in your lawn and garden, then you can have some delicious salads for free!  There’s nothing I like better than weeding a garden and gathering a huge bowl of salad greens at the same time!  This week, from the paths in the Cook’s garden, I gathered purslane, chickweed, and dandelions.  Thrown in for good measure (and good flavor, too!) were volunteer seedlings of chicory, sorrel, cilantro, mint, anise hyssop, and salad burnet.  I snipped in a few chives, garlic chives, and parsley.  A simple dressing of balsamic vinegar and olive oil was all it took to complete a tasty, and I might add, extremely healthy salad.  My paths were clear, my beds ready to plant, and I didn’t have to cook!  The joys of the garden!  What a giggle!

 

One of the early risers in the Cook’s garden is sorrel.  If you aren’t familiar with this tangy, tasty green you should try it.  It’s high in vitamins and easy to grow in any sunny location.  Grow the large leaf common garden sorrel, or the more dainty French sorrel.  They both have that wonderful lemony flavor.  The common garden salad is great in early spring, but the French is better later in the season when the larger sorrel gets tough.  Here’s a simple salad…and you can use some of those leftover Easter Eggs, too!
Asparagus/Sorrel Salad
     Wash and tear into bite-sized pieces:  2 c. sorrel leaves, 2 c. romaine lettuce (or use dandelion greens, spinach, or other salad greens instead of romaine)  Divide mixed greens evenly into 4 salad bowls.  Cut 4 spears of cooked, cold asparagus into 1” pieces for each bowl (a total of 16 spears) and spread over greens.   Spread the slices of 1 cold, hard-cooked egg (1 per bowl) prettily over each bowl.  Dice ½ of a red bell pepper.  Divide into 4 parts and sprinkle 1 part over each serving.  Grind freshly ground pepper over each serving.
     Make a dressing by mixing:  1/3 c. plain yoghurt, ¼ c. Catalina salad dressing, 1 T. lemon juice.  Spoon over salads.  Serve immediately.  Serves 4.

*******************Carolee’s April E-Coupon****************************
 Buy two jars of any flavor Benchley Tea (regular or decaffeinated) and get a 3rd jar free!  One offer per customer.  Valid through May 20, 2011
 
*******************Carolee’s April Plant E-Coupon***********************
     Alpine Strawberries….one of my favorite plants. 20% off.  Valid until May  20, 2011.   Limit one coupon per customer.  Cannot be combined with other discounts.

*******************Carolee’s Cottage E-Coupon***************************
20% off any country lamp displayed on our Herbal Country Cottage.  Choose from many designs, sizes and styles.  One coupon per customer.  Valid through May 20, 2011.