Any Gardeners Out There?

[Lili]

Hi All: I have been trying to just have perennials because annuals get to be expensive year after year. I do like to put some in pots but last year we were traveling to see elderly parents and grandchildren so the annuals did not do well. Does anyone plant/use anything else in pots which hold up better? I could do a drip system for the pots but hubby only does the lawn!!!!! I want something that looks good all summer. Thanks for any ideas.

[Romi]

I like red a lot! In my hanging baskets I use red petunias, in standing pots I use red salvia, both hold up really well in our hot summers (your choice of colors). As with all annuals they do require dead-heading which is cutting off the finished flowers with their immediate stem, not allowing them to go to seed as plants quit blooming when making seed. I use a 4 to 9 month slow release fertilizer stirred in each of the planting holes approx 1/2 teaspoon per plant. Good luck & have a great summer!

[Anaisa]

I live in my travel trailer...I have a rose plant and two June lilies, which I am very excited to see bloom. I have also had green bell peppers and just planted potatoes. My brocolli and pineapple didn't do so well; My friends in CA have a nice outdoor garden too, but the landscaping dudes just pulled out his onions! I guess they don't garden, they weeded them out...lol

[Theresa L]

I just relocated a black, wrought-iron arbor from elsewhere on ,my property where it was going to waste to the front of my home and have planted 2 pink, climbing rose bushes by it. I can't wait to see how it looks by summer's end.

[dyamondrose]

Hi,
so fare this year I am growing herbs. I have green onions and can't wait to see if I get more than what I planted last year. I also have some garlic growing but not too sure on when to harvest them. I recently planted some thyme and cilantro. I have 1 grape tomato that is just starting out. I attempted to plant some tomatoes, bell peppers and habernero last year but they died during the frost.

[Theresa L]

I have begun harvesting mulberries. They are so tasty. I am freezing them by the baggie full. I hope to get enough to make a pie or cobbler with. If not, we'll add them to our fruit smoothies. The plums are beginning to turn purple!

[Lili]

When we were kids there were wild blackberries across the street and my dad would pick them by the bucketfuls and we had the best cobblers, pies etc.

[Theresa L]

I have wild blackberries too and we get quite a large crop but they won't be ready for another 30-45 days. Somewhere I have a wonderful recipe for a triple berry cobbler that I found in a magazine. I will have to dig that out soon!

[Lili]

My mom had a recipe using marionberrys, blackberries and ? raspberries, I can't remember but it was awesome!

[Theresa L]

Here is the Triple Berry Cobbler Recipe - you can substitute berries of your choosing. This came from the Taste of Home magazine. Enjoy!
Triple-Berry Cobbler
6 ServingsPrep: 20 min. Bake: 25 min.
Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup water
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, thawed
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh blackberries
TOPPING:
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/3 cup fat-free milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

In a small heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon
and water until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes
or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in berries. Transfer
to an 8-in. square baking dish coated with cooking spray.
For topping, in a small bowl, beat sugar and butter until crumbly,
about 2 minutes. Beat in milk and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking
powder and salt; stir into butter mixture just until blended. Drop
by tablespoonfuls over fruit mixture.
Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until filling is bubbly and a
toothpick inserted in topping comes out clean. Serve warm. Yield: 6
servings.