Quilt update, Roses and Tea Cake

 A Robin has built a nest in my Crabapple tree and has taken up residence... (click to enlarge)

I have been steadfastly sewing. I absolutely love playing with color. There are several finished blocks I have not shown yet, so without further ado...

I'm 2/3s of the way through making blocks. Another 6 to 8 weeks should see all the blocks completed. I'm looking forward to seeing them sewn together.

As mentioned previously, we're having a good rose year. They started opening late last week and we've had torrential rains since, but they're still looking good. Today is a beautiful day and I got several pictures of the blossoms. So, so beautiful. I want to increase the number of roses in the garden by maybe 4 new ones this fall, or perhaps next spring. I'd love a deep orange one and a deep pink one as well.

I made this super delicious tea cake this afternoon. It's too good if you know what I mean... hard to resist seconds and thirds! The recipe comes from The Elmwood Inn, the book is called "The Tea Table" (2003). I found an autographed copy of the book at a yard sale this spring.

The recipe makes two loaves so I halved all the ingredients to make one loaf and it came out fine. I always have to adjust baking times. I think my oven is a little slow, my cake needed an hour and ten minutes.

Strawberry Tea Cake

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp cinnamon

2 c sugar

4 eggs, beaten

2 cups of thawed, frozen strawberries (mine were whole so I chopped them up)

1.5 c canola oil (I used Wesson--NB, next time I will use straight canola)

1.25 c finely chopped almonds

Preheat to 325F; grease and flour two 9" loaf pans.

Sift dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl.

Combine eggs, strawberries, and oil and then add to the dry ingredients.

Add almonds.

Bake for an hour or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans. Cool another 20 minutes outside of pans.

The recipe comes with a glaze which I did not make. (The cake is perfect without it if you ask me.)

The glaze

1 c confectioners' sugar

4 Tbsp pureed strawberries

.5 tsp almond extract

Mix all together and drizzle over the loaves.

MmmMmmmMmmm, with Earl Grey tea!

The back yard attacks ... poison ivy and cellulitis

Lesson learned. I walked down the back yard to harvest some rhubarb from what remains of the original patch. I had moved a good chuck of it up to the main yard the second year I was here, but left a bit behind. This little neglected patch comes up every year and does quite well for itself. 

Was I really thinking about what I was doing? Going down there in deck shoes with no socks on? Well, yes, to be honest. It crossed my mind to be warry of poison ivy; I was bit by it once before in my Brooklyn back yard. So I looked around and saw some suspicious vining foliage and steered clear of it. Sneaky thing bit me anyway. That is, this is my best guess as to what happened... even though I didn't realize it at the time. That was Sunday afternoon.

On Monday afternoon, I noticed an intense itch on my lower left calf. A bug bite probably, a black fly--they pack quite punch for being so small. As it got worse I had a look and found a large red patch with what appeared to be a quite severe bug bite in the top part of the rash.

At the time, I attributed the rash to the bite and thought to myself that it must have been something bigger than a black fly. A bee, maybe, or a spider. I sprayed it with Bactine which helped alleviate the itchiness. It was a nuisance the rest of the day and evening and night.

When I looked at it Tuesday morning the rash was much more intense and it was deepening in color to the point of being almost maroon/purple in one area. The itchiness is what caused me to wonder if I'd brushed against some poison ivy or poison oak. Was the rash due to the bug bite or poison ivy? Why was the rash intensifying? Is the bug bite a coincidence? By evening time, I knew it wasn't an ordinary bug bite or rash. Standing at the kitchen counter I felt a hot streak shoot up my leg.

Googling led to me cellulitis, which I've heard of before and knew it could develop into a serious situation if not attended to. By this time it was 10:30 pm and I was feeling anxious after realizing that I might have something that could lead to sepsis. There are a couple clinics nearby that I could go to in the morning but I knew I wouldn't get any sleep if I waited. And I don't usually get to bed before 1 a.m., so I drove myself to the emergency room. I took my sewing with me because I knew there was a strong likelihood I'd be waiting for long stretches of time.

There was only one other case in the ER; appeared to be related to a motorcycle incident which makes sense because it's motorcycle week here in NH. I got a goodly amount of sewing in. I wonder how many ER walk-ins come in carrying a hat box of sewing with them? But hey, I wasn't going to waste all that time while waiting for the doctor. An ultra-sound test confirmed cellulitis and I was given a prescription for antibiotics.

Yesterday was rough, so very itchy almost to the point of pain. Nearest I can figure is I indeed got poison ivy. In fact, a rash subsequently appeared on the right side of the same calf. One reason I feel pretty certain about this is that I haven't read of itchiness being a symptom of cellulitis, and the bar of poison ivy soap I bought a few years ago is working wonders on it. That soap with a follow up spray of Bactine makes it quite bearable. It's also clear that I got a bad bug bite. Which is responsible for the cellulitis? I don't know. But there it is, a trifecta of bug bite, poison ivy, and cellulitis.

It's much better today. The antibiotic is doing it's job.

It's Iris season at the minute! Lot's of purples and whites and a few yellows, including a Flag that popped up on it's own. Well, I certainly don't remember planting it!

Other exciting news is the number of buds on the rose bushes. It's shaping up to be a good rose year here.

Just this afternoon I discovered this Robin's nest in the crab apple I planted 10 years ago. They are actively going back and forth to it, so it looks like it's either full house at the Robin's or soon to be so.

How exciting!

Controversy in the Garden

A departure from the usual type of post here. I have had to make a difficult decision regarding a pressing issue in the garden.

The story begins 10 years ago when I was given some plants from an out-of-state friend; some flowers and some raspberry roots. I had just moved here from NYC where I'd lived for 35 years. Not knowing where to plant what--I didn't know the land yet--I plopped everything in the first places I could think of that might be suitable. That location was where my garden would eventually become established. I was completely oblivious to the time bomb hitching a ride in one or more of those potted plants. I knew nothing about it, nor did I know to look for it.

That bomb was Ground Elder, also known by several other names including Bishop's Weed. Aegopodium podagraria. A horribly invasive plant up here where I'm located. The garden where these plants came from had Ground Elder in it, I found out later. I noticed it within a year or two and it's fast spreading habit alarmed me. When I went looking to ID it I started to realize the seriousness of the problem. Within two to three years, one bed had been completely over run by it. I spent two to three weeks one spring digging that bed up and sifting the soil, trying to eradicate it. (If but a tiny segment of root is left in the soil it will take hold, grow, and re-establish itself.) This set it back but before I knew it, it was back and spreading in other directions. It was a mess and threatening to smoother my entire garden. In hindsight I think this threw me into a sort of denial, thinking that it would 'peter out' or meet the end of it's natural life cycle. Well no, it didn't.

I had angst about it for a number of years, discouraged at having had the experience of sifting through soil in an effort to remove every trace of it, and not wanting to repeat that effort again in vain. Last year I noticed it spreading to other beds nearby and some had popped up in an area where I was dumping sod to create new beds. It seemed an insurmountable problem and I was feeling a certain guilt over it, because it wasn't here before I got here. I worried that it would continue to spread and that it's seedlings would eventually cover the entire mountain in an unstoppable sea of Bishop's Weed. How did this ever happen?

The situation had become one of desperation. From the stories I'd read online and my experience at trying to dig it out, I realized that trying to manually eradicate it would be a futile exercise. Thus begins my controversial decision.

It is completely against my principles to use weed killers or insecticides. However, as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures, so I decided to do some reading up on the subject. Today's ubiquitous herbicide of choice is, of course, RoundUp, which contains as it's active ingredient, glyphosate. I have, over the years, read horrible things about glyposate and it's effects on the bee population and other life forms. I would never have considered using something like it. But in my search for an answer I came across some studies that seemed to shed new light on it.

One study from England, in particular, had found that some glyphosate based herbicides had about the same effect on bees as a control group--a very good outcome indeed. The study mentioned a particular brand, but sadly, that product is only available in the UK. The conclusion of the study is that glyphosate is not the main culprit in RoundUp, and the real problem is the inert ingredients that make up 99% of it's constitution. (I'm unclear whether the maker of RoundUp is reformulating its product to address this issue.)

This alone might not have completely convinced me, but I had also read about how glyphosate works, and why it cannot affect insects or animals. It works by interfering with some channel of chemistry that plants alone utilize. Reading about the application of RoundUp, I found that one sprays it on the plant's leaves, which in turn absorb it and it makes it's way to the plant's roots. It's systemic.

 All this 'research' took place last summer and since I couldn't obtain the glyphosate herbicide from England (the one with good marks), I decided to wait and think about it over the winter. I wasn't ready to turn to RoundUp yet.

Several months later, and my thoughts boiled down to these points:

• I think that the indiscriminate use of RoundUp should be avoided and by no means should it be used on a large scale.
• If I had sprayed these invasive plants when the problem first arose, I would have had to use very little. If I wait longer I will have to use a lot more.
• I need a specific, one-time (hopefully) application to erradicate an out-of-control invasive plant that could well smother out a lot of local flora if nothing is done about it.
• The size of the area I need to treat is still manageable.

I decided it needed to be done.

I started with the worst patch first, waiting for a day with little to no breeze, and sprayed close to the plants. The label on the container says results can be seen as quickly as 12 hours later. Nothing. After a few days: Nothing. Finally, I noticed a yellowing of the leaves and a gradual dying back. Oh, thank goodness. It has been working for over a month and I'm now removing as many dead roots as possible so as to reclaim the bed that had become so infested.

There is still another bed that needs treatment and I'm waiting for some early flowering plants to be done blossoming (which they just did this week) so I can dig up the bed, save the plants I want, and then spray the Ground Elder.

I'm really relieved. Finally, it appears to be under control and I know how I can get rid of it now.

It's been a nightmare. I'm keeping some RoundUp in reserve so that if I see any new shoots coming up, they'll get sprayed right away.

This is the area that has already been sprayed, the process of removing roots has begun. The rhubarb patch will also need to be dug up and treated since it, too, is infested:

A pile of dead roots. A small fraction of what I'm pulling out:

Another view of the area (I'm waiting on the small patch on the right because there are crocuses I want to save in that area):

The other bed that is infested, waiting to be treated:

Seedlings etc.

( Note: Blogger is acting up this evening and won't re-size my images. So, as always to see a bigger version of the pics, simply click on them.)

Nature continues it's showy spring roll out with a seemingly endless array of sights, smells, and bird song. Oh, what a delight it is. Pictured is a Sessile Bellwort which has found a place in the front yard. So perfectly delicate and colored. The other morning I went out to the front deck with a cup of coffee and found myself listening to the beautiful song of some bird I could not identify. It was glorious. The Lilac has been in full bloom these past two days and it's heavenly scent is wafting through the yard imbuing the whole place with a magical aura. Beautiful, moving, and reassuring spring.

Some tulips that blossomed in the past few weeks...

I was late sowing tomatoes, didn't get them started until about two weeks ago. They should nonetheless provide a crop... I hope. With this week's high temps they grew much in the past few days and I potted them on, earlier this evening. They'll go in the ground in a couple of weeks. I have been able to place them outside during the day ever since they germinated and doing so has given them a robust character. Seedlings that are exposed to breezes develop stronger stems than those that are coddled in hot houses. These are going to be very good plants I think. Also sown were some zucchini, which is growing gung-ho, some nasturtiums--doing well, petunias--terrible germination, and black-eyed Susan vine--also far from satisfactory germination. I have 2 of the vines and 2 or 3 petunias! There are enough zucchini plants to probably feed the whole town, prolific as they are. Several plants will go to the neighbors.

Just after potting on the tomato seedlings this evening, with some of the zucchini visible on left...

The cost of plants in nurseries has sky rocketed. Shockingly so. I was at a local place this week, 4" pots are over $8 each! A hanging pot with a large geranium: $50!! I shall say no more other than that is not going to make gardening a money saving effort!

The latest quilt square is presenting challenges. Firstly, the pattern's author pictured the central shapes as two-tone leaves and that didn't suit me, so I decided to make them a stylized sun. So far so good. But there are four flowers, one in each corner, and they have many petals that become very narrow near the center of the flower. I have successfully cut out two of them, but the third one started falling apart at those narrow areas. I think I need to find a more tightly woven wool to use for these. Also, because of the narrowness, blanket stitch is out of the question. I checked the author's sample and she put blanket stitch along one edge of each petal only. I wasn't keen on that either, so I'm sewing these down with whip stitch and may then decorate the edges with something else. Not sure yet.

(I've decided not to crop out my current reading. I never read it as a child, only ever saw the wonderful movie that used to come on TV once a year. It's never too late, and it's an enjoyable quick read! 😊 )

Wild things, Tame things, and Sheep and Wool

 

That's a Dogtooth Violet (Erythronium). Ran across them while I was strimming some brambles out back last week, in the dappled shade where the forest meets the field. So, so pretty. There was a whole patch of them...

I'd never seen them before since it was an area I've managed to avoid all these years.

On the other side of the yard, in front, I found these beauties in a small patch. I have seen them in years past up on the other side of the stone wall. Glad they are feeling comfortable in approaching nearer. Trillium...

Finally, one bank on the edge of the front lawn is covered in violets this time of year. Their soft blue/purple is a sight for sore eyes...

Among the domesticated flora greeting the spring are some pretty Daffodils. I do love them so. This one is my favorite of all...

Aren't they beautiful! I must plant more next fall.

Another striking blue, Muscari...

I have a few Hyacinths that I purchased from the supermarket in years past, sold as forced indoor blossoms. I put them out in the garden when they're done in the house. This is one of them, it's getting on in years now...

My neighbor and I visited the NH Sheep and Wool festival over the weekend. These festivals are always a good vibe. It was a lovely day...

Finally, I saw the Aurora Borealis Friday night! We had clouds moving in and out but in between there were a couple of really nice displays. It was awesome. I hope you got to see them where ever you are.

Another block is finished for the quilt and the next one is started.

Yard and Garden

 

Pulmonaria

The Lungwart (Pulmonaria) is blossoming. Its truly delightful blue/purple color is a welcome site against the mostly brown/grey of the yard at this time of year. And so easy to grow.

I got an early start on the yard and garden this year, it seems to me. I've already cleaned up most of the walkway border where the teeny tiny Tête-a tête Daffodils are in full bloom at the moment. Such a cheerful sight! They brighten the grayest of days.

Yesterday I put the blade attachment on the strimmer and went at the bramble patch. Despite being drowned out by the brambles every year, the daylilies that established themselves on the bank continue to persist and that makes me happy. This summer I will keep beating back the brambles hoping to eventually eliminate them from that area of the yard. I want it back:

I need to go back and pick up all the chopped down brambles. Today I focused just to the right of this area where there is an old chicken coop, shed?, and cold frame. The chicken coop has been looking very dilapidated and I went down with the intention of demolishing and removing it. But as I started working on it, I realized that the walls of the coop are very solid, it's just the roof that's caved in. Now I don't want to get rid of it because it's so well built. It's making me want to try chickens, but I'm so unsure about it. More thought needed. Predators are a worry, as is my schedule.

L to R: Chicken coop, cold frame, and shed.

It gave me pause this afternoon to realize that in my 10 years here I've never used this cold frame. That's going to change. It, too, is very solid and I'm going to start some seedlings in it this year. I think retirement might have something to do with this turn of events. The covers seem too opaque to me so I will look for something to replace them. It probably retains heat quite well. I can put a remote thermometer in it and monitor the temps. Sounds like a plan.

The shed on the right is also in good shape but I wish it was up closer to my garden; it would make a great garden shed. But it's too heavy to move so it will remain unused for now.

Last year, the rose pillar that was holding up my Dutchman's Pipe vine fell over. It was quite a predicament because the vine was completely intertwined with the pillar and I had no idea how I could remove it without destroying the plant.

Well. The other day as I was looking it over, I remembered that I had put that pillar together and therefor I could disassemble it. So I went at it with screwdriver and pliers this afternoon. It was easy to pull the vertical supports out of the vine but the circular bands were knotted in place. With a bit of prying and minimal cutting, I got everything freed up. Hurray! I did not have to cut any of the big stems, only some much thinner ones. The pruning will probably be beneficial to it in the end. So the climbing rose now has the rose pillar--which it needed, and I can find something more suitable for the Dutchman's Pipe to grow on. So glad that dilemma is resolved.

One task that had to be done this year was cutting the oregano down to size. It had completely overtaken the herb circle I built several years ago, crowding out all the other herbs. To be honest it didn't look so great last year. Maybe because it had gotten so out of hand. So I went at it aggressively. Very aggressively: I pulled it all out. Knowing now how it spreads, I'll get a new plant and give it a more suitable space.

It's nice to see the circle again.

Also starting to flower at this time are a few pansy plants that I planted 3 years ago! They keep coming back! To be sure, I'm down to just a few plants now, but it's wonderful to see them so early, in blossom.

This square will probably be done by end of week: