Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Nice 'Maters!

A number of you have asked about those upside down tomato growing backs. Hester and Zipperer doesn't currently sell them, but this link should lead you to them.

https://www.hangingtomato.com/?cid=486402

The cool thing is that our veg selection is bigger than ever this year. You don't have to plant tomatoes. You can plant anything in this bag system.

If you try it, let us know how you do! Take pictures. We'll put them up on the blog!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

TGIF-The Garden Is Fabulous!

"If you order the plants, they will come."

That was the whisper we heard this past week. With warmer weather, and wonderful availabilities from our suppliers, we decided to fill every nook and cranny of our nursery with a plant of some sort. This sort of ordering can be a gamble. What if you weren't ready? What if you decided not to garden for a while? What if, dare I say it, there was a freeze?

Thankfully, you showed up, like bears to honey, to see and purchase some of the coolest plants out there. For example, the Evergreen Clematis, that was mentioned in the blog previously, has been snapped up by many of you! The ever-expanding selection of herbs has been a huge draw! Oh, and, of course, citrus sales are still going strong!

I thought I might interest you all in a meal idea which uses some of the plants in stock now! It's Paella! This Spanish dish can be made a million different ways. Recipes abound on line and in thousands of cook books. Here is a picture of mine.



The great thing about this dish is that it is a great use of garden favorites like:
red bell peppers, cilantro, and lemons! It is as attractive as it is tasty, and makes a great presentation for company. Even better is that it is a one dish meal!

So, we'll see you at the store soon!

Happy Easter! (FYI-we're closed Easter.)

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Compose Yourself Maam. It's A Clematis.



I understand your excitement though. It's an Evergreen Clematis, and it's one of our arrivals that we seldom see. Its striking blooms and evergreen foliage is enough to make anyone go ga-ga. That's right-GA-GA. It's the same feeling that a fashion-lover might get upon spying the latest hand bag. You can't carry this Clematis with you everywhere, but you can, most certainly, carry one home.



Sometimes it is important for people not to take gardening so seriously. When done right, it should be a creative release and not a source of frustration. To help lighten the mood try these funny Veggie Stakes to label your plants. They're cute, corny, and cool gifts.

When it's raining, nothing could be more fun than measuring the drops in one of these silly little guys. Kids will enjoy finding one of these rain-gauge creatures waiting for them in the garden. Consider one for your young Master Gardener.



For those of you looking to sprinkle some Spring indoors, check out our retro-animal baskets and old-fashioned pull toys. They bring a sense of nostalgia and seasonal style all at the same time. Surprise friends with an Easter basket that they'll remember forever. Bring relatives one as a center piece.


Three-year-old Ava of Wilmington Island came by Hester and Zipperer the other day, and I couldn't resist showing her off as a young gardener with style!



Boots never looked so good!

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

The Kumquat is the New Key Lime


There are millions of recipes using citrus fruits, but I have to admit that I've always been a little unsure of what to do with Kumquats. Sure, they look beautiful on the tree, but I'd wonder, "What have you little buggers done for me lately?"

Thankfully, Juanita De Gennaro, arrived in our store the other day with just the recipe to allow the Kumquat to shine.

Kumquat Pie

2/3 cup of Kumquats
1/2 cup Lemon Juice
8oz Cool Whip
Can of Condensed Milk
Graham Cracker Crust

Cut Kumquats in half and take out seeds. Place in blender (skin and all) and blend until smooth. Pour in a large bowl, add other ingredients, blend well, and pour in to the crust. Place pie in the freezer to set. Serve frozen.

Carnivorous Plants-Yikes!