I'm posting this recipe for Ricotta-Stuffed Squash Blossoms and warn you: it's NOT that difficult to make these scrumptious beauties! I found the recipe (including video) on Kitchen and Craft. This site is definitely worth a visit! I tried my hand at making these stuffed squash blossoms after a visit to a local farm-to-table style restaurant. They offered this dish, and it was amazing. Can't be that hard to make, I thought. Right? After all, I have this sprawling squash plant growing ... continue reading...
Tomato Troubles
Avoiding trouble when growing tomatoes in Florida can be challenging. While warm weather is conducive to growing tomatoes, it's also the perfect climate for pests. From caterpillars to stink bugs, your tomato plant is prime eating for these beasts. NOT PRETTY--but don't despair! While these critters have it out for your plants, you can outsmart them. My favorite go-to pesticide for caterpillars and worms is Bt or Bacillus thuringiensis. You can buy this product as a spray or dusting powder ... continue reading...
Tropical Orb Weaver Spider
So I recently had a meet and greet with this interesting visitor. Startling experience to be sure, but intriguing, too. I mean, just look at this spider! Incredible. It's quite large, about the size of my thumb, and a bit intimidating. As I've never met a spider this large (I'm happy to say) and wasn't sure what to do. Dispatch from the garden or welcome with open arms. So I did a bit of research. Turns out this spider is a carnivore, which means he (or she) is not there to eat my plants. ... continue reading...
Beneficials in the Garden
Upon first inspection of this photo, you might be wondering if I’ve lost my mind. The tomato hornworm is not a beneficial in your garden. They can do extreme damage to tomato, pepper and eggplants in a matter of hours, destroying en entire plant within days. Definitely not good, especially when you’ve been salivating over that gorgeous ruby colored Roma. So generally speaking, my advice upon sight of missing leaves is to hunt for the hornworm, pluck, and dispatch the beast from your garden. ... continue reading...
School Garden Crafts
Back to school means back to the school garden--at least in my community, it does. And how fortunate are we? Not only do we have school gardens, we can garden year round due to the fabulous climate of Central Florida. However, while fruits and vegetables are fun to grow, so are regular plants. Particularly succulents. Succulent dish gardens are a great craft for kids because they're easy to handle and grow well with little attention. Not that kids don't pay attention to their plants. They ... continue reading...