A Honey of a Pan and with a BUZZ WORTHY Recipe

 

I was given this great pan by my dear cousin Susie who came to to visit me a couple months ago. 

She is a big fan of our Stoner Honey. Yes that is my maiden name and many members of the Stoner Family are beekeepers.  Check it out wwwStonerHoney.com or on instagram as Stoner Honey. 

The pan was manufactured by Nordic Wear and is part of the Cast Bakewear Collection. 

I love the pan and sincerely appreciate Susies' thoughtful gift. 

I recently tried the recipe that was on the pan's packaging. It was very tasty and really was so impressive looking. I have had several request to share the recipe so here it is..

HONEY LEMON PULL-APARTS

SET OVEN TO 325 F. GREASE PAN AND FLOUR OR USE BAKING SPRAY.  SET ASIDE AND IN A SEPARATE BOWL COMBINE  3 CUPS BAKING FLOUR, 1 1/2 TSP BAKING POWDER, 1 TSP BAKING SODA, 1/4 TSP SALT. SET ASIDE

IN A LARGE BOWL,  BEAT 1 CUP BUTTER AND 1 1/2 CUPS SUGAR ON LOW SPEED UNIT WELL BLENDED THEN CONTINUE TO BEAT ON MEDIUM SPEED UNITL LIGHT AND FLUFFY. ADD 4 LARGE EGGS AND BEAT UNTIL WELL BLENDED. THEN ADD THE FLOUR MIXTURE,  1 CUP SOUR CREAM AND 2TBSP LEMON RIND; BLEND ON SLOW SPEED 1 MINUTE, SCRAPING THE BOWL OFTEN. THEN BEAT ADDITIONAL 2 MINUTES UNTIL WELL BLENDED. 

SPOON INTO THE PREPARED PAN AND BAKE FOR 45 TO 55 MINUTES UNTIL A TOOTHPICK  INSERTED COMES OUT CLEAN. COOL 10 MINUTES IN THE PAN.

GLAZE ( OR THE BEST PART)

IN A SMALL SAUCEPAN COMBINE 3Tbsp HONEY, 1/2 CUP SUGAR AND 2 Tbsp LEMON JUICE. HEAT OVER MEDIUM HEAT UNITL THE GLAZE IS WARM 

INVERT THE CAKE AND BRUSH WITHT HE HONEY GLAZE. 

So I have some ideas to amp up this cake.... I might use some honey in the actual batter. I would use more glaze and just maybe try some Limonchello in the glaze.  I will post back on these thoughts when I use this great recipe again. Thanks to www.nordicware.com for sharing this recipe. ENJOY! 

Mountain Mint Mania

          

            Gardening in Brown County Indiana is certainly proving to be different than my previous 30 plus years of gardening in Kentucky.  However I am slowly adjusting to the challenge and learning to watch and listen to the wild life around me. Nature is supplying me with the clues for what to grow and she lets me know when I have committed errors (sometimes not so gently). 

            In Kentucky, I planted and researched what to plant for my bees, butterflies and other pollinators. On these 165 untouched acres Nature blesses me with the gift of so many natives and then begs me to put my resources into attacking the non-native invasive growth. The more invasive plants I remove the more wildflower gifts emerge. 

            A perfect example has been the abundance of Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incanum) on all the back trails.  We even have nicknamed one trail Mountain Mint Alley as the perfumed beauty lines the trail as it winds through the woods and open spaces. Its abundance in the woods certainly indicates that it is deer resistant. 

            What amazes me the most about this beautiful herb, is the diversity of wildlife that seems to swarm to this plant. It is covered with a wide variety all things pollinating from several different Swallowtail Butterflies to many varieties of native bees, honey bees, bumble bees, to various other butterflies. It seems not one blossom goes to waste. 

            I am fascinated with how the plant becomes tipped with a white hue on the upper leaves, as if a gentle snow fall or frost has glazed the plant. It seems in the wild to grow about 3 to 6 feet tall and has a terminal flower as it's hat.  The flower is a very tight cluster of pinkish to lavender hints inside. So fitting since the genus name is derived from the Greek word for "dense and flower".  The blooms seem to last about 6 weeks. Most of my colonies thrive in sun to part shade, right along the edge of the woods. 

        I love to brush up against the leaves or crush one or two in my palm, as it smells of mint or bee balm. It is sometimes referred to as Wild Basil Mint. I would love to use the leaves to make a tea. I sure it would have me buzzing!

              

  

  I have added this to my meadows, where it behaves and does not seem to aggressively take over but this luscious wildflower's happy place seem to be in masses along the wood's edges. It is a true beauty of the woods and a friend to so many pollinators. 

 

Dodging the Frost Bullet

Last week Mother Nature played a cruel but not an unusual trick on gardeners. After being unseasonably warm for several days, the temperture dropped way down in to the mid-20’s for two nights in a row. Of course, the Old Fashion Lilacs were opening that seems to be when we are always hit with a surprising bit of cold. That is one reason why I have switched to growing Korean Lilacs and later blooming varieties. 

I have learned many very expensive lessons in my 40 plus years of gardening, but #1 is not to plant out any thing too early. It is always so tempting when the stores are full of beautiful spring annuals and the weather has been teasingly warm. But after “freezing “ so many new plants I finally caught on …do not try to fool Mother Nature. 

So here is the plan I try to stick too…

#1 I do fulfill the urge to plant early some spring color by filling my pots with beautiful pansies, violas, snapdragons, dianthus and other cold tolerant spring beauties. * See list at the end of the blog.  

#2 I plant early spring veggies in grow pots close to the house. This area warms up so quickly and is a great microclimate. My husband and I really enjoy the fresh greens after a long cold winter and they are cold hearted customers. 

#3 As I am in the process of developing new spaces and gardens, I am trying to stick to planting natives. It seems like perhaps they have a built in timer that resets with adverse  weather. 

#4 If a frost has covered my plants within an area that I can easily spray, I will get up before sunrise and spray the frost off. 

#5 Lastly, I will cover my plants. This has become an exercise know as showing the neighbors my wide variety of  bed sheets. Please use sheets not plastic !  I prop the sheets up inside and put the cover all the way to the ground to hopefully trap some of the warmth in the ground. 

I pushed my luck last week and did not do any of the above and I won. Most of the plantings  were close to the house and survived. I believe the blanket of snow helped insulate the plants the first night and then we had a cloud cover that kept the temps a little higher the next day. The only victims were my Nasturtiums and they probably should not have been out side anyway. Since I have not been gardening here long, I had not planted out strawberries or any tender fruit. 

I can’t say we are past the possibility of getting a drop below 30 degrees, after all I was in a zone warmer in Kentucky and did not plant out until after Derby Day. (Traditionally the first Saturday in May)  I believe I am Zone 6A here in Southern Indiana. 

So I am erring on the side of caution.  May 15th is the magic date I am focusing on as my safe day to plant outside.  Until then I will make full use of my screened -in porch and my small greenhouse.  May 15th is by the way my dad’s birthday so I will take that as a sign from above. 

Here are images from the front porch.....AKA the survivors of the Freeze. 

* Some Cold Tolerant Annuals I trust for Early Planting: 

Snapdragons, Pansies, Violas, Calendulas, Sweet Peas, Larkspur, Dianthus, Sweet alyssum and Forget me nots, 

I also really enjoy some of the early Spring Ephemerals such as Virginia Bluebells, Celandine Wood poppies, Brunneras, Money Plant, Hellebores and the many wild flowers. 

New Chapter...New Adventures

Several  Friday’s ago, I officially started a new chapter in my life. I have just now relaxed enough to write about what has been happening.

Because our house in Kentucky sold quickly we had only three weeks to pack up 28 years of life. Sometime in the next couple weeks I will share how two old people with a pickup truck, a small box trailer, 

and lots of help from a few very special friends, successfully moved all our worldly possessions, north and out of Kentucky This will include how we successfully moved my bee hive, that is known for its yummy honey, but very aggressive bees. It was a mad rush and we ended up loading the last trip with the new owner arriving for a final walk through before the closing.

The house was purchased by a person who seems to have as much passion for gardening as I do.

 She loves the land, the gardens and appears anxious to tackle my addiction of planting as many varieties of plants that I could get my hands around. In addition she absolutely loves the old Historic House and the Old Herb House. It appears to me that her plans are to maintain the historical integrity of this amazing Kentucky property. 

We are moving to the house my parents built for their retirement; to a property they loved, gardened, and nurtured for their six children, many grandchildren and great grand children.  We will continue that tradition. 

I have felt their presence here with us since we purchased this property over two years ago. Traveling back and forth and trying to maintain two very different landscapes has proven to be more than I could effectively handle. So the timing of the house selling, along with the wonderful person who purchased the house, and getting the move done, was all a gift from my parents watching over me from above. 

It is fitting that we moved when the daffodils were starting to bloom. My parents many, many years ago here in south central Indiana, started planting daffodils, much as I did at my home in Kentucky. They are everywhere and very comforting.

The gardens at my Kentucky home were outstanding and they will forever be etched in my heart and soul  But I am a Gardener and what do Gardeners do when they leave one place and move to a new spot?  They just build more gardens. Since I have over 150 acres space is not an issue. 

But they will be different different gardens, with more natives, wildflowers and with a focus on developing natural spaces. I have been thinking about how to nurture this land for over two years and the time to jump 

in is now.   

So in between unloading hundreds of boxes I will begin my new adventure in a place that is very dear to my heart, my new home. I have so many amazing friends in Kentucky, it was hard to say goodby so I didn't. We will be coming to Shelbyville at least one day a week to our Blitz Builders Office to work. I hope to see many of you and keep up with the very special relationships that I have cherished thru the last 28 years.

Also know that Brown County Indiana is not far away and a great place to explore, 

my gate is always open 

for old friends......

PHASE TWO: STARTING SEEDS INDOORS

        Phase Two / Stage One        Starting  Seeds Inside

It is time to start my seeds indoors and I am hoping this seed season will be as successful as last year.  Over the course of the last couple years, I have learned by trail and error, listening to podcasts, poured over articles and books, and I still thirst for more knowledge. There are numerous on-line seed classes, webinars and blogs for all levels of expertise; google around and you will find them. Please don’t take my advice or experiences as the seed starting bible, I am just sharing my experiences. 

In my gardens in Kentucky, I did use Winter Sowing as a way to start some seeds but did not start many seeds indoors due to what I thought was a lack of a good space. Since moving my gardening to the Lake House in Brown County, I have gotten more adventurous and not only set up a DYI Indoor Seeding Station but have been utilizing my small greenhouse as well. The following are what I consider to be the most important lessons I have learned.

NUMBER ONE: Read The Seed Package. It provides all the information needed concerning the seeds success. Valuable knowledge such as depth to plant, when to plant inside or outside based on the number of days it will take for the seeds to germinate, light requirements and well as much more, is right there on the package. 

NUMBER TWO: Be mindful of how many seeds of each variety you are planting. Last year I started two packets of tomatillos and ended up with over 50 plants. I just do not have that many friends to give starts, nor do I love Salsa Verde that much. It could be fun to swap a 1/2 pack with a fellow gardener or save half for next year.

Last year I scrambled to find pots to transplant the seedings into and lost some due to waiting too long to move my babies into bigger accommodations. This year I have reduced the number needing attention at any one time by better following time recommendations on the packages. In addition I am hoping my homework will give me an A + this year. 

My preferred method of sowing is two fill my trays with a good seed starting mixture. Before adding the seed, I wet the mixture down to a damp workable mixture. Then carefully insert the seeds according to the package. Then I use a spray bottle and spray the soil and put a plastic dome over the container. 

NUMBER THREE: Make sure you properly tag the each tray. I use markers for each section planted plus I make a chart to have as back up. Be sure to keep the original seed package, as it has valuable information on transplanting etc. 

NUMBER FOUR: I have a bamboo shelf that I have transformed into my Seed Station. I have Heat mats on each level as well as Grow lights. I believe that these two items are essential to starting seeds.  Next year I am hoping to purchase a bonified seed starting station, however for now this works good. 

When all of the above steps are done, I carefully position the trays and then wait and watch. I will monitor the moisture levels and cautiously water.  Where it is possible, I water from the bottom but on the others I gently water on the sides. I use a mister as well.

If you pay close attention the seedlings will give you the clues and help with their success. I do take the plastic domes off when the seedlings emerge. Plus carefully monitor the light. I often turn the seed trays as the seedlings lean in towards the light. 

STAGE ONE for the first round of seeds is done. I have to be patient and nurture them along and be prepared for the future steps to ensure success.  

Then a class of wine to cheer…Seeds that need to be planted 10 to 12 weeks ahead are out of the starting gate. Many more to come … stayed tuned for the progress.. meanwhile if you have questions or comments, I hope to hear from you. 

Here are some examples of the type of seeds I start indoors. I choose ones that I love and that I am looking to do mass plantings.  Or just because...

I

 I do use these seed pods as well as just tray of seed starter. It depends on what is on sell and what I have around the house when I am ready to sow the seeds. Sorry not so scientific .

Often times I will pour the seeds into cup or a bowl to make for easier sowing. Careful sowing of the seeds make for more efficient  placement of the seedlings. 

The seeds are germinating and popping up!! So exciting 

My cat Inky feels that he is in charge of the young seedings. Actually he loves the heat mats. 

WINTER SOWING: Phase One of My Seedy 2021

 

         I first heard about the Winter Sowing technique for starting seeds on a podcast over three years ago. The hosts were homesteaders in Texas. They had extensive gardens and also sold plants. They propagated most of their seedlings using this method. Of course, a quick Google search provided me with much needed additional information including a definition that follows.

" Winter Sowing is a method by which seeds are sown into containers that act like mini greenhouses. These seed vehicles are then located outside, experience the chill of winter, and eventually germinate in the spring." It is a phrase that was first coined by Trudi Davidoff.  You can 

read more about her on her website www.wintersowing.org. 

     At that time I did not have a greenhouse so finding a suitable area to start seeds was very 

difficult for me. The notion that I could use the outdoors as a place to start seeds set my wheels in motion, so I gave this method a try.    

   Flash forward three years and I am hooked. That is not to say that I had a 100% success rate 

and all has been perfect. But the pros outweigh the cons and I am going to use this method of sowing certain seeds every winter. 

Here area few very important keys to success that I have learned over the last three years.

#1 This will provide you with a mass of seedlings that will need to be divided and transplanted.BE PREPARED

#2 Seeds that need the cold stratification work best. I try to do my homework and be selective about which seeds I pick for using this method. 

#3  This method has been amazing for perennials that I desire mass plantings of for the bees, butterflies and pollinators. 

    Here are the steps that I took for this project.  

# I sorted through my recycling to find an assortment of potential plastic containers. Milk jugs, vinegar jugs, fresh greens containers, large fruit plastic containers, and liter beverage bottles all went into the potential winter sowing pile. 

#2 I decided to start with perennials. I have good luck with direct sowing annuals in the garden

 but not perennials. So I end up spending a fortune on new perennials. 

#3 All summer I collected seed packets, buying some when they went on sale after the planting season rush. I tried to focus on plants that I wanted in mass and ones that I have not had great success with direct sowing. Here is an example of the many I tried. 

Parsley, both the curly and the flat leaf( I need an abundance of these for my Spicebush Swallowtails to munch on). Hollyhocks (I am still experimenting with this beauty, as it always dies in 

my garden. But I am determined). Butterfly Weed, (to add to my Butterfly Garden), plus some Coneflowers and various other perennials. I tried to stick to seeds that required cold stratification to germinate. 

#4 Early in January, I enlisted the help of my husband to prepare the bottles for me. I have a 

lousy track record with knives, so I thought this the best approach.

#5 The milk and vinegar jugs, were cut open about 1/3 of the way down and just 3/4 of the way around. So it resembled a lid that opened but was still attached. By doing this, I was able to plant the seeds evenly. And I figured that when they are ready to venture into the real world, I will be able to transplant them into the garden swiftly. My husband created drainage holes on the bottom of the 

plastic jugs using both a box cutter and a drill to make the drainage slits and holes. The salad greens containers already had hinge type lids and just needed some additional drainage holes.  

#6 I purchased seed starter mix and filled each vessel with the correct amount of mix. Next, I made sure the soil was wet.

#7 Following the directions for seed planting depth and coverage, I sowed each container. Then I watered them into their winter home. (HINT: the seed packages are your best friend when it comes to information on planting.) 

#8  I marked each filled container in two places. First I used a water soluble pen and wrote on a plastic knife and duct taped it to the side and in addition I labeled each jug by writing on the container. I have added this step, I make a chart that has the seed packets attached and the layout of the seed containers marked. It has been one of the best things I have added to this process. 

#9  At this point I wished them all a good growing season and battened down the hatches. I used duct tape to seal the flip tops, and made sure the caps were off the jugs and took them outside to my patio table. 

All throughout February, March and into April they endured the snow, sleet, and rain and I did nothing to them. By the end of  April I was starting to see some sprouting, then in May there was a lot of significant growth. Near the end of May, I began to transplant my hundreds of seedlings into pots and the gardens.

I would estimate that I had about a 60% success rate the first year and now it is more like 80 %. Here are the reasons for the failures. 

#1 The salad containers worked the best. The holes in the bottom of the vinegar jugs and coke liter bottles seemed to get stopped up, not allowing the water to drain efficiently. Thus causing the containers to fill with water and destroy the seedlings. So ever year since I have focused on better drainage. 

#2 Initially my labeling system was a big miss. I double labeled all the growing bins, but only 

about 1/2 of the labels were still legible after a couple months. Fortunately I had saved all the seed packets, and had to do a guessing match game. I now make a chart and attached the packages. It 

has proven to be the ticket. 

#3 I need to be more proactive with transplanting the seedlings. I lost quite a few due to not separating, thinning and putting them either into pots or safely in the ground.  My lack of experience with transplanting seedlings was an issue. But I learned have done better each of the following years.  The greenhouse and screened porch at the lake house afford me valuable pace to spread out the seedlings. I also have become more selective with the amount of seeds I start using this method. 

The bonus to this method is that each year I have hundreds of seedlings, from Foxgloves to Parsleys to Butterfly Weed and much more. It is a perfect way to start perennials that require the cold to sprout. 

Winter Sowing will always be a part of my seed routine. It is just one seed starting process I use among several others, However, this method has a very distinct and important niche.  

    I hope you will give this fun project a try. If you have any questions, please email me I am happy to help. 

This is such a great way to  reuse the containers we all collect by buying fresh greens and salads.

This is a perfect example of a perennial that I would love to have multiples in my garden. Money saved 

by starting them myself.

This is a container ready to have some seeds planted into it and then set outside 

An example of last years harvest...ready to plant 

Grow babies grow...outside on the deck!!

Down a New Garden Path

  A year ago, I was so excited to have a new growing season upon us. I had spent most of the winter crafting plans to start transitioning from gardening at my amazing Kentucky Gardens to the wild uncultivated gardens of our Brown County Indiana Home. 

The previous fall I created some spaces to allow me to start bringing up some plants. My gardens of over 27 years in Kentucky are overflowing and the gardens in Indiana were non-existent, so it was going to be a win-win for both spaces. 

Indiana gardens are going to be heavily native, pollinator and wildlife friendly. The emphasis is going to be on easy and incorporating the gardens gently into the existing  untouched 150 acres.  

Then as we all know it hit. Our lives will forever be changed by the “virus”. But for me it was much more…my daughter and her family, arrived from India.  This was the first week in April..2020.

They were in quarantine for two weeks at our house in Kentucky. We stayed in Brown County for the two weeks. From there we all realized that it made the most sense to make the lake house in Indiana home base. The ability to swim every day, fish, hike, and have the kids help me craft the gardens was perfect. After all it was just for a month right??

Innovative gardens, like straw bales and grow pots, etc were put into place to grow veggies in Indiana verse Kentucky. Plans were shifted and my expectations changed. My gardens in Kentucky were put on automatic pilot. 

What was suppose to be 1 to 2 months turned into almost 6 months. But it went by so fast and furious. We swam everyday, hiked, gardened and enjoyed nature, the precious time flew by and on August 16th they flew back to India. This is one of the unexpected blessings from an unpredictable 2020. 

Somewhere during this time period my husband and I realized the time had come to put  our beloved Kentucky Home on the Market. We had purchased the Lake House almost three years ago. Our game plan was to sell the house within 5 years, however as we neared the start of the 3rd year we felt it was time. 

It is bittersweet …..leaving a home, neighbors, friends, associates, and my beloved gardens behind. However it is time to transition into an easier lifestyle and gardening style  I look forward to the challenges of developing gardens full of natives on this 150 acres of beautiful land. 

I hope that you all will join in the journey. I have been feeling uprooted since we put the house on the market late October. Too much time has been spent by me searching for ways to let go of 27 years. 

Finally it dawned on me that in reality I am not letting go of my 27 years of Kentucky Gardening just adding to my story. Building on my knowledge, love and passion for all things natural by incorporating my love of gardening, with cooking, gardening crafting, bees, photography, pets, wildlife and travel. Plus creating a space that we can enjoy with our beloved grandsons, granddaughter, our immediate family, lifelong friends, extended family and new friends. 

I hope you will follow me along this journey, as I have renewed my commitment to blog, write, lecture and share my many passions in my Indiana home.