Making Ice Candle Luminaries ~ Easy as 1-2-3

Make your own ice candle luminary to decorate the outdoors for pennies and a little time.  Materials needed:  a large plastic bucket, water, rubber gloves (optional), and a votive candle.

Step 1.  Fill a large bucket almost full with cold water and set outside to freeze, keeping them out of direct sunlight;  a six quart or two gallon size bucket is ideal.  I like to set them out in early evening and let them freeze overnight, usually they are ready in about 12 to 14 hours if the temps are between zero and 15 degrees.

Step 2.  When the top is completely frozen and you can see a ring of frozen ice around the outside of the bucket that is 1 to 2 inches thick, your ice candle is ready to remove from the bucket.  A 2 inch or thicker ice candle will be sturdier and last longer, and also have a more frosted appearance when lit; a 1 inch ice candle will tend to be clear and look like glass, allowing the flame of the candle to show through when lit.

Step 3.  Turn the bucket upside down in a sink and run warm water over the bottom of the bucket until the ice candle releases from the bucket.  You will notice that the ice layer that was on the bottom of the bucket is thinner than the rest of the ice candle, this will be easy to remove and now becomes the top of your ice candle.

Step 4.  Leaving the candle upside down so the thin layer of ice is on top, break the ice in the top center of the candle, either with your hands or a chisel type object, leaving an edge of at least one to two inches for the upper rim.

Step 5.  Tip the ice candle to pour out water and floating ice chunks – and there you have it!  Place outside and set a votive candle in the center; light the candle at dusk, then enjoy the beauty of candlelight from your ice luminary!

Veronica Longifolia ~ Speedwell

Veronica can be a workhouse in the cut flower garden; it will provide a full second crop of stems if cut down completely to the ground after the first harvest. Veronica is a spiky or linear type flower that provides movement, action, or life to an arrangement, and is long lasting in the vase.  Available in blue, purple, pink, or white, I have found the blue and purple varieties to be the most vigorous and productive growers.

My Veronica Longifolia does require support to prevent flopping and bent stems; a simple light-weight wire tomato cage is adequate.  I also grow Veronica Spicata for cut flowers; they are shorter and don’t require any support, but the blooms are smaller and stems are thinner than the Longifolia, and the second crop is often too short to be useful as cut flowers.

In my gardens I have found that Veronica attracts the tarnished plant bug, which causes unsightly damage to the foliage.  The tarnished plant bug can be easily controlled by hand picking or with an insecticidal soap.

Veronica spicata is also an easy perennial to grow in borders and accent gardens.   It is not fussy, and grows in a neat, tidy  clump that doesn’t need frequent dividing, and provides an upright and spiky contrast to mounding and round flowers or plant shapes.  Deadheading of spent blooms will provide subsequent re-bloom throughout the summer for continual color.

Growing information:

Height – from 15″ to 30″, depending on variety

Light requirements – full to partial sun

Bloom time – first bloom in early to mid summer, second bloom in late summer if cut back

Hardiness – zone 3 – 8

Garden Moments

Ethan checking out the birdbath.

Truth in Advertising ~ Pony Express Ad

In 1860 a San Francisco newspaper ran this advertisement which can only be assumed as the ultimate truth in advertising!

Despite or because of such ads, there never was a shortage of riders!

Old Timers Weather Predictions

A number of years ago, an old timer told us that there will be rain six months following a hoarfrost.  So a few years back, we started paying close attention to when the hoar frosts occurred, and flipping the calendar six months ahead to see when we could expect rains.  Interestingly, most of the time it does rain within a day or two of the date we marked ‘hoarfrost six months ago’.  And if we had many days of hoar frosts in a row, we can almost count on as many days of rainy weather later on.

Last week we had four days in a row of beautiful hoarfrosts, and this week two days, so it looks like a rainy spell in mid-July, which is perfect for the crops and gardens, and a reminder that we should have all the cultivating done before then.  Our last two summers have been exceptionally dry, so any hint of moisture, even by old timers predictions, gives hope for the upcoming growing season.

Check back in six months to see if the old timer was right………

Winter Wonderland rendition by Jack Frost

Book – Woody Cut Stems for Growers and Florists

This new book, Woody Cut Stems for Growers and Florists, by Lane Greer and John M. Dole will be indispensable for growers of woody ornamentals.  Too bad I didn’t have this information 10 years ago when I started my cut flower business, or even 5 years ago, as the gardens have continued to expand.  After reading and learning about the technique of coppicing woody ornamentals, I now feel armed with the knowledge of how to get my woody ornamentals to produce quality stems for cutting.

This book covers growing tips for over 100 kinds of woody stemmed plants for cut flower production.  Information about growing, pruning and coppicing, harvesting, and forcing for each species given.

Find this book at Growing For Market

Also available at Amazon

A smile a day

In the cookie of life

Friends are the chocolate chips.

Ordering seeds, plants, bulbs and more

I am often questioned as to where I purchase plants and seeds.  Here is a list of internet/mail order resources that I have used and been pleased with.   Also, remember to check your local nurseries – by supporting them your dollars help to keep the local economy stimulated, and if any problems arise, it is handier to get a replacement.

When mail ordering perennials, try to order potted plants versus bare root.  I have consistently had poor luck with bare root perennials, and hardly no problems with potted perennials.  Order or purchase flowering bulbs in the largest size available.  When purchasing shrubs or trees, purchase the largest size you can afford.  Trees and shrubs usually do fine as bare root stock, as long as you plant and water them immediately.  Some seed companies give better seed starting information than others, and that can make your seed growing more successful.

Seeds

Burpee
Cook’s Garden
John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Jung Seeds & Plants
Harris Seeds
Park Seed – excellent seed starting information on packets
Pinetree Garden Seeds
Seeds of Change
Select Seeds
Stokes Seeds
Territorial Seed Company
Thompson & Morgan – excellent seed starting information on packets
Veseys Seeds

Perennials, shrubs and trees

Bluestone Perennials
Busse Gardens Perennials
Contrary Mary’s Plants
Jung Seeds & Plants
Klehm’s Song Sparrow
Nature Hills Nursery
Roots & Rhizomes

Bulbs

McClure & Zimmerman
Scheepers Bulbs
van Bourgondien

Local Nurseries full of fun surprises

Cattail Corner, Howard Lake, MN
Thomsen’s Green House, St. Peter, MN

What favorite seed or plant companies have you had great luck with?

Homemade Nut Goodie Bars

Nut Goodie Bars

12 oz pkg. semi sweet chocolate chips
12 oz pkg. butterscotch chips
2 cups peanut butter
2 cups salted peanuts (without skins)
2 lb. powdered sugar
1 ½ tsp. maple flavoring
1 cup butter
½ cup evaporated milk
¼ cup dry vanilla pudding (regular cook, not instant)

Melt chips and peanut butter in double boiler or microwave until melted and smooth.  Pour ½ of melted mixture in a jelly roll size pan that has been lined with foil, then greased.  Refrigerate until firm.  Add peanuts to remaining melted mixture and set aside.  In saucepan melt butter, evaporated milk, and dry pudding mix; cook for 1 minute or until it barely starts to thicken.  Pour over powdered sugar in large bowl, and add maple flavoring.  Beat until smooth with hand mixer, mixture will be quite thick.  Spread quickly over chilled chocolate layer, then top with remaining chocolate and peanut mixture (reheat if necessary to melt).  Refrigerate a few hours until set.  Remove foil and bars from pan for easy cutting.   Keep refrigerated or frozen until needed.

These are as wonderful if not better than Pearson’s Nut Goodie Bars.