Summer in Virginia

Tags

Albemarle County, dreaming, garden, home, life, summer, Virginia, Zen

When did you last take time to lie back

to watch clouds

and hawks soar?

Copyright © 2017 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

August garden

Tags

Albemarle County, Central Virginia, garden, home, life, lifestyle, plants, summer, Virginia

There is one word that describes the month of August in central Virginia… steamy. Not unlike steam room cloying temperatures and humidity with dew points in the 70’s.

August skies over Swallowtail Cottage

This year does not disappoint. Any Virginia gardener knows this month requires resolve and fortitude and multiple trips to the shower. If Mother Nature holds back quenching storms, this gardener must rise before dawn to drag hoses around for blooming plants, inviting nectaring insects and butterflies to have sweet tastes. Newly added plant material must be monitored for even moisture, if they are to survive and put down healthy root systems.

Despite these character-building conditions, I want to share with you the beauties that dot my landscape this month…

The Chinese Lycoris squamigera, more commonly known as Naked Ladies, are plentiful around here (zone 7a) as summer beauties yet are extremely persnickety. They send up tall, flat leaves in the spring that die off, then tall spikes appear this month. With multiple flowers on plain or naked stalks reaching 36″ tall, they are quite the show stopper. They never need staking, yet when I transplant them to other garden areas, many never bloom. Go figure…

Formosa lilies are native to Formosa and grow easily in my gardens where they readily self sow… the original seed came from Tufton, a property once owned by Thomas Jefferson.

The Formosa seed pods during winter, with actual seeds removed. Stunning, yes?

This Honeybells fragrant hosta and nine sisters were gifted to me last year. Now blooming and 48″ high, the steamy August garden is blessed with visual cool and fragrance. PS: generous applications of spent coffee grounds around the base of early leaves completely stopped the onslaught of slugs…a Whole Foods Barista was happy to give me their dregs any time that I asked.

A close up of this dreamy hosta Honeybells. Too bad the biting ants like the flowers too or I would cut stems for the house and market.

The only phlox I grow here at Swallowtail Cottage, Davidii stands tall and does not succumb to any mildew. Incredible.

Another gift from Kate. The Celadon poppy blooms early spring and again this month. I am told this poppy is invasive, yet tucked back in the rear garden, I invite a bit of delicate color and naughty.

THIS is a thug. Rudbeckia triloba…I do not remember ever planting it, yet this year a huge area of the butterfly garden is filled with these 6′ tall bloomers! I took many bunches to market and will stuff the rest in the burn barrel, as they have needles along the stems and are as rough as a cob. OUT!!!

Autumn Joy sedum attracts flutterbyes by the dozen and is an easy-care perennial. A classic in any garden. This was on the property when I bought it in 2001, and I have shared many clumps with neighbors.

Ahhh, my summer delight. The Natchez crape myrtle. One double trunk grows in the front lawn, and a five-trunked specimen thrives on the west side of the house. These beauties provide dreamy shade during summer months, have refreshing blooms where honey bees bury themselves, and in fall, leaves change to a brilliant hue. Did I mention the peeling bark during August? This shed reminds me all is well with much visual interest.

The shedding bark layer curls and twists, revealing the baby smooth leather-like under bark. I often find myself stroking the trunks as the sensation is like no other.

I laugh every year when this silly PJM rhododendron blooms in August…All of its companions bloom in the spring, when they should, but here, no. I really do not like pink of any kind in the garden, yet planted PJM’s years ago for their winter bronze leaf color.

Let me introduce you to a new variety… Black Diamond crape myrtle, added to my front garden this summer. Notice the wonderful deep leaf hue and pleasant color of the flowers…this plant blooms multiple times per year and the plant tag promises a mature height at 12′. I look forward to many years with this new variety…

And Babe, the topic of my last post, survives despite its weird appendage in front of its right leg. After emailing photos to the Wildlife Center, they too are stumped and suggest that as long as Babe is eating well, to leave it in the wild. Although Babe continues to molt and look rather pathetic with its shabby coat, I eagerly wait to see what sex it is…can anyone guess?

This plaque, found in a shop at Tryon Palace, reminds me that the garden teaches forever.

Twice per week this time of year I run errands and make deliveries very early, then confess to enjoying short afternoon naps in the air conditioning. Heat is hypnotic. Reclined on the loveseat, dozing between paragraphs of a Baldacci novel, I later rise and do indoor chores. Then around 7PM I dress for insects and head out weekly to mow and perspire. Soon. Soon. Very soon, there will be lower dew points and garden clean up, as the blooming show will be mostly over until next spring. And this gardener will sigh a large exhale.

Thanks for reading along. Your comments are always enjoyed.

Copyright © 2016 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

In the mood for shrimp this July 4th?

Tags

Central Virginia, Charlottesville, food, home, lifestyle, quick recipes, recipies, summer, Virginia

With July fourth around the corner and summer heat and humidity present, I decided to pull out the stops and shop for festive seafood. Landlocked here in central Virginia, most of the ingredients for this recipe came from either Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. Since I do not live in Maine, lobster is out of the question, although langostino is a fine substitute for lobster OR shrimp. Please enjoy this quick recipe inspired by the famous Lobster Roll…ah LaSauce.

This past winter I ate my weight in TJ’s Argentinian wild caught shrimp. Discovered in the frozen food section, I hoarded pounds at a time and feasted regularly. Meaty and tender and ready in four minutes, what could be better? Following a few month’s break from the binge, these beauties called out to me again today.

Are you ready for a simple, simple recipe?

At Trader Joe’s pick up a package of butter croissants, a pound of Argentinian Wild Caught shrimp, some organic bread & butter pickles, a bag of organic celery hearts, and a bag of organic blue corn chips…see photos below.

At Whole Foods, collect a jar of 365 organic mayo, a lemon, and Old Bay seasoning.

OK here is the simple:

Bring water to a rapid boil and add one pound frozen shrimp. Bring back to the boil ( this takes about four minutes) stirring occasionally then drain once water returns to a boil…do not overcook and do not rinse!

wash and finely slice organic celery…about two cups

Trader Joe’s biggest secret…tender butter croissants…I do warm these babies for a few minutes in a toaster oven…slice first ~ never a microwave please!

The label says it all…tender, plump, and they cook in four minutes

What could be a better snack food? Organic, multi-grain, gluten free.

Mix in a few simple ingredients: shrimp, mayo, lemon, celery, Old Bay to taste, and everyone is happy. The Milk Stout happens to be my fav adult beverage and I find it at WF.

The presentation…in minutes this tasty treat will impress; just remember your favorite beverage. The pickles did not make this shot, as I snacked them.

Happy Independence Day to all Americans, and may peace prevail. Be safe.

PS: I do not receive any compensation for mentioning these products…just wanted to share my findings with my readers. Bon Appetit!

Copyright © 2016 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

the morning said “stop!”

Tags

Albemarle County, block wall renovation, DIY, garden, home, home projects, life, paths, pea gravel, rock, summer

After all, it is mid-September.

Most of the blistering heat and drenching humidity is over for another central Virginia season. Many of the annoying, biting insects departed last week when the temperature dropped to 49 degrees F overnight.

look what is ripening in the garden this week! Cayenne peppers. No fungus or insects hang around these prolific plants!

I am in bliss. Can you tell that I am a spring/fall gardener? I delight in the change of light, the tilt of the planet, always keeping pace with the universe. During spring, the slow awakening of plant life dazzles the eye and offers the observant eternal optimism. When fall approaches, the array of home/garden/life chores slows to a manageable pace.

This summer I accomplished more than I planned. My interpretation of a 90′ privacy fence was constructed on the rear property line in January. It would take until August for me to realize that I was once again the designated primer/painter/stainer. Check.

Before it was stained shot of the 90′ privacy fence

photo of stained privacy fence. After a contractor’s estimate of 12 hours labor and $400 price tag (not including stain), I knew it was up to me to complete this job. Six hours over two days delivered one handsomely stained fence to Swallowtail Cottage. PS, pine needles work splendidly as mulch for both sides of this fence…needles collected from a nearby school who was happy to have me rake.

Next 2015 summer project: I refurbished the rear terrace wall that was seriously in need.

block wall on terrace demands attention this year. Drylok Extreme and new coats of paint will restore…I’m hoping…

terrace wall refurbished with Muhly grass showing off on the other side…September is mighty showy here.

Then the front mulched path needed major intervention. For years the sloped property caused mulch to float during heavy rains. So the answer was river rock edges, pea gravel, and repurposed aggregate stepping-stones. All affordable DIY solutions. Of course my labor is free…sweat equity, ahem.

This is the before shot of the sloped path. The Siberian iris are gone! Very invasive gift from a friend…and it nearly killed the man who dug them…gardeners beware!

First the mulch was swept away. Additional river rock lined the mulched side of the path. Then stepping-stones were reused from the rear, and set into the dirt.

Then 40 bags of pea gravel arrived in three separate car loads, as to not break Baby 5. Did I tell you this was another DIY project?

Baby 5 was my perfect companion during this gravel project. She held steadfast, despite my concerns that I would break her.

This was also an aggravating wash area, near the rear garden shed, every time it rained. Mulch was removed. Gravel was the answer. One heavy rain later confirms its success. Gravel will continue to replace mulch where ever it is appropriate. What took me so long???

The front sloped path today…rain runs through it smoothly, leaving the path in tact. My hands and knees are really getting a workout this summer! And that foundation bed needs attention…PJM’s are not happy.

OOo, I have not shared the latest project with you…this time not a DIY other than the design elements. I have never liked the dull, ordinary appearance of the front of this house. Built in the early ’70’s, nothing had changed inside or out until I bought the property in 2001. Following 6.5 years of interior work and exterior landscaping, I usually ignore the front facade and use the back door…until I spent the past week groveling around the front door…oops.

photo of front entrance looking towards new carport, completed last summer: https://dianelasauce.wordpress.com/2014/09/13/three-men-and-a-truck/. Ugly is the only word for the front entry of this home. I never liked the vinyl and shutters, nor the flat plane. The barberry shrubs (overgrown with chronic fungal issues) and rug juniper (invasive) are coming out as soon as the arborist arrives for the annual cypress shearing. I always add a few garden edits while he is here, as his chain saw, muscle, and chipper work wonders in short time. This is the link to the vestibule I found on the Internet. With a few edits, reusing my windows and front doors, and a clever builder, it will become mine..

Photo of former failed rosemary bed (disease from nursery!) now contains 14 heirloom peony plants…soon to be mulched with pea gravel…after the mulch is removed and dosed with BioZome from Jen Neve. This is one steep bed, designed for mountain goats and maintained by one crazy woman!

Back to reality: As for the rock/gravel revelation, the second large peony bed (sloped) is about to get the treatment. If I knew the person who graded this lot back in 1971, I would haunt him till the day he dies…

Despite my huge failure to raise but one monarch this season, due to numerous predatory flies, I strive to learn better ways to outsmart these critters next season. If you need advice, check out my Facebook page for links to many helpful sites.

female monarch ready for release

So my friends, summer quickly draws to an end, and how timely. Not sure if the bod can take much more garden abuse this year. Still, there is green, flat stuff to mow (weeds), and more garden clean up to tend, yet, this morning said, “STOP!” and I followed the call until the temperatures nudged me inside.

matcha is the perfect beverage for morning strolls

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did composing it. I would love to hear what your summer was like and if you have revelations to share. With this home, garden, life, I am continually reminded that all things are temporary (except rock/gravel), and lessons are endless if we remember to remain open and take time to stop and listen.

Be well and I hope to hear from you in the comments section of this blog.

Copyright © 2015 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

~ for the love of blueberries

Tags

blueberry, garden, home, jam, life, summer, Virginia

The month of June is blueberry harvest season here in my central Virginia garden. Planted four years ago, the O’Neil high bush variety thrives, sans disease or insect pressure. The ongoing 2015 harvest is a banner year!

This season I decided to use tulle instead of bird netting to keep the harvest bird-free.

I draped the blueberry plants in tulle and used clothespins to hold in place, a much improved method over bird netting. This idea was shared by a veteran garden friend. What do these blueberries remind you of? Ghosts or runaway brides?

O’Neil blueberry high bush variety is my favorite here in my Virginia gardens. Large, juicy fruit greets me every day for nearly one month in June.

After harvesting in the early morning, I place the unwashed fruit on a sheet pan and let them rest at room temperature for twenty-four hours. Any unripened berries will continue to ripen, and of course, I can snitch a handful as I go by during the day! As the fruit ripens, I place in glass jars in the freezer. I am not a fan of plastic…

Sunday mornings I crave a wee breakfast that is special; a meal that celebrates the end of a very long week. Here I whipped up a quick batch of popovers and served them with fresh blueberry conserve and whipped cream! Yum!

today is a good day for blueberry jam, as the berries just keep coming

I began by cleaning my French copper preserving pan with salt and lemon

following a great recipe from The Blue Chair Jam Cookbook, the ingredients came together quickly

back to the kiss system…simple, pure, flavorful

as the pan’s contents bubbled, the color deepened

using Rachel Saunders’ technique of sterilizing the jars in the oven, the final jam returns to the oven for 15 minutes longer to seal ~ a huge improvement over the boiling kettle process

projects like this are very satisfying

the little lemon that could

O’Neil blueberries beginning to ripen and keep on giving the entire month of June

with July 4th just around the corner, blueberries make a stunning dessert presence ~ simple, fresh, delicious

my collection of French copper serves me well for my lifetime

Blueberries are a very old fruit, and are native to the US. They are reputed to have both health and nutritional benefits, and are very easy to grow. Recipes are handed down for generations, lauding this well-loved fruit. If you don’t grow blueberries, find a local pick-your-own farm, load up the kids, and have a morning of flavorful fun.

wishing you and yours a pleasant and safe summer, while the flutterbies keep me company here at Swallowtail Cottage. Bon Appetit!

Copyright © 2015 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

garden friends…the truest celebration

Tags

Albemarle County, celebration, Central Virginia, Fourth of July, garden friends, nature, summer, virginia countryside, wild birds

July 4th is a day of celebration in the United States.
Fireworks no longer appeal to me…too loud, too buggy to watch.
I prefer the quiet sanctuary of my gardens and the miracles that flourish here.
The colors of nature out-dazzle any fireworks display in my book.
Want to see what I found in the garden this morning?
During absolute quiet, this silent winged beauty shared the morning.

lucky shot this morning. This little hummer decided my zinnia/tomato bed is the perfect place to sun and snack. It was here yesterday, and this morning, I had my camera

this little hummer sat for quite some time sunning and napping on a tomato cage

confident to rest in my garden; I think this is the highest compliment a gardener can receive from wild creatures

zinnias are my favorite annual, as they dazzle the eye and provide nectar for pollinators. I have them amongst my tomatoes ~ what a pleasant combination and reminiscent of fireworks, yes?

my new favorite morning spot, shaded by the large crape myrtle against the bright morning sun. Cool, dry July mornings are rare in central Virginia. Thanks to the coastal hurricane Arthur, cooler air arrived last night sans humidity. I took full advantage, before the sun rose too high this morning

enjoy your day and remember to bask in the truest celebration…

Copyright © 2014 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

 

mid summer delight ~ peach rosemary jam

Tags

artisan jams and chutneys, Blue Chair Jam Cookbook, harvest, harvest season, herb, jam, peaches, preserves, soulful experience, summer, yellow peaches

mid summer yellow peaches beg to be blanched and preserved

the peeling process after a quick blanch

squeeze lovely juice from peels

six pounds of prepared peaches ready for preserving

simmer, simmer, boil and bubble

resting peaches present foam that is skimmed off then remaining pulp is mashed and simmered again to set point or 220 F, adding six sprigs of fresh rosemary during the last five minutes

rosemary removed, jars filled and ready for lids and time in the oven to seal. This jam is pure heaven on just about anything!

This harvest season I give a nod to the Blue Chair Jam Cookbook for shifting my preserve process.
Most recipes are fruit, sugar, lemon, and time allowing simple ingredients to marry.
Rosemary was my addition here, as this herb kisses this fruit with a goodness we remember.

Have you tried your hand at preserves?
I promise it is a rewarding, soulful experience.
Currently on the prowl for figs—my concord grapes will soon ripen and they too will be transformed.

Update on fig prowl: My fruit prince surprised me with 15# of brown turkeys Saturday—he has connections.  So last Sunday I prepared the most elegant fig jam with fennel/gin infusion. Need I say more? Yes, for lunch today I had French Roquefort with fresh figs! She is dead and in heaven….

Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

the glory of harvest

Tags

blessings, Central Virginia, harvest, jam, summer

This time of year there is a subtle shift…the sun is in a different location.
Gardeners spend so much time planning for spring, that summer slips right in.
Time for harvest, time for county fairs, time for blissful naps in the hammock.

time to crack the jam cookbooks

This morning as I guided my little wheelbarrow around the gardens
before the sun rose,
before the dew dried,
I noticed how swollen the grapes;
how fragrant the lambs ear as I trimmed off spent blossoms,
how quiet the landscape before bees awaken.
The gentle burble of the Bluebird’s call,
the racking squawk of Mary Mockingbird,
and how different from the low coo of the Robin;
I catch myself thinking of fall!
And harvest!
And bounty!
And preserves!

plump local plums ready for jam

the path to righteousness

local, just picked blackberries called for immediate attention on Sunday

whirling divine

the last five cups went into this blackberry cobbler

Swallowtail Cottage is filled with heavenly aromas
as the process begins…

freshly capped jars ready for market

plum jam ready for labels

a dozing dove sits just outside my kitchen door, perhaps enjoying the aromas

peaches, nectarines, and plums, oh my!

same beekeeper; the jar on the left is summer honey and the jar on the right is spring honey. Either way divine!

Sending blessings for a wonderful harvest season.

Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

surprises of summer

Tags

Blue bird eggs, bluebird nest, chutney recipes, fast food, food, healthy food, key lime pies, oven roasted garlic, photography, summer, white peaches

Look who was waiting for me when I went to the mailbox yesterday…

slightly out of focus yet how handsome is my mailbox pal?

Not sure why my Nikon has trouble focusing on tiny things these days…frustrating.

Anyway my pal walked onto my hand and I delivered it to a cooler and safer spot in the garden.

better off on the snow peas

With triple digit temperatures forecast for this week, I was in the garden before six today to check soils and monitor the four new eggs in the bluebird box.

Back in the kitchen, I swiftly knocked out 12# of granola while I could let the oven heat out the window before the mercury ascended. I over bought fresh garlic for the chutney recipes causing the fridge to reek. This odor does not mix with tomorrow’s key lime pies, so I decided to roast the remaining cloves.

melt in your mouth roasted garlic cloves

It is amazing how 350 degrees, olive oil, butter, salt & pepper, oregano, and chicken stock transform stinking cloves into a sweet, mouth watering gourmet delight.

To finish my morning tasks with a treat, the first white peaches of the season were ripe enough to devour. OMG good.

first white peaches of the season

I hope that wherever you are your day is filled with summer surprises.

The weatherman says that Saturday will be 100 degrees—pray for me. 😉

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

the thing about dreaming

Tags

dreaming, summer, Virginia

These continued days of 100-degree temperatures and high humidity find me dreaming of an escape. “How can I miss you if you never go away?” is my summer mantra.

This home, this garden, this life. I must go away and soon. To a place where cool breezes stroke my brow, where views are easy, where food is memorable, and where music is restorative. A place away from all responsibility. A place to unplug. A place to laugh…hard.

As it turns out, that place is in my own backyard.

Copyright © by Diane LaSauce 2011 All Rights Reserved