-
“Liquid Landscapes” at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Orchid lovers! May we have your attention!
If you love orchids, you have a treat in store; once again the fabulous orchid collection at the Atlanta Botanical Garden will be featured during the ABG’s annual Orchid Daze.
What does Orchid Daze have to offer? First of all, there is the orchid collection at the Fuqua Orchid Center on the grounds of the Atlanta Botanical Garden –it is the largest collection of species orchids in the United States. Orchid Daze for 2011 will once again be housed in the Fuqua Orchid Center, but each year, the collection is presented in a fabulous surrounding; this year is no different.
This year’s display is entitled “Liquid Landscapes” and will feature hundreds of orchids in full bloom set against the backdrop of waterfalls, trickling beads of water, and more watery wonders. Cathleen Hunt, gardens exhibitions manager says “It really forms a natural companion for the exotic nature of the orchids.”
Events at “Liquid Landscapes” include: Guided Exhibition Tours on Saturdays, beginning at 1 pm, on February 5 and 6, March 5 and 6 and April 2 and 3. There will also be Orchid Care Clinics on February 5, March 5, and April 2 from 10 am until noon. At the Orchid Care Clinics, you can bring a maximum of two orchids for advice from experts on them (if you wish to repot your plant, you can purchase re-potting materials for $5). Of course, the highlight of the show for many will be the Atlanta Orchid Society Show on March 11 through 13, from 9 am to 5 pm, where hundreds of orchids will be on sale (along with orchid supplies).
For more information of Orchid Daze, visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden online at http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/
-
The Antiques Roadshow is Coming!
The Antiques Roadshow is coming to Atlanta on August 6th.
You can apply for tickets to the AR online, at their website at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/faq_02.html#tickets_03 . You can also apply via postcard. The ticket deadline is April 18th.
The AR is one of the premier events in the antiques world, and even if you can’t go, you can still watch and cheer on our fellow North Georgians!
-
Fresh Corn and Potato Chowder
Our friend Helen is a vegetarian, and eats so much healthier than we do! When I heard she was sick, I knew I needed to make something fresh and tasty for her but without meat, broth or anything that isn’t dairy or vegetable. I dreamed up this creamy corn and potato chowder. Wade tasted it and asked “Can you make more of this for dinner?”It’s so easy and quick, you bet!
½ cup chopped onion
3 Tbsp butter
2 to 2 and ½ pounds red potatoes
2 to 3 ears of yellow or bi-color corn, cut off of the ear
4 cups milkPeel and cut into chunks all but two or three of the potatoes. Cover cut potatoes with water and boil until tender. Drain and set aside.
In a large pot, sauté the onion in the butter until onion is transparent. Add in the corn and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes. Add in the cooked potatoes and the milk. Return to a gentle boil.
While it simmers, cut the remaining two potatoes into a small dice (1/2 inch) and add to the soup. Allow to cook for 5 minutes, or until the small pieces are tender.
Using a potato masher or fork, mash enough of the cooked potato chunks up, mixing them in, until the soup is thick and creamy.
Enjoy!
-
Gardening To Do’s For January
Some of our readers have missed our monthly Gardening To Do List in the last few issues, so here it is for them online!
Houseplants: There is a lot to do to take care of houseplants in the winter, but finding a good place to put your plants during the winter is one problem that really needs to be addressed. You should move your houseplants so that they don’t get leggy or grow irregularly over the winter; if your plants seem happy where they are, a simple but regular half-turn of each pot should suffice. However, do take a moment to check that your houseplants aren’t in a draft caused by the HVAC or –if they are close to a window -any cold air that may be coming from it. Just hold your hand close to the plant for a moment. If you feel a draft, make sure your houseplant isn’t in it. It’s also a good idea to check the air flowing off the window if the weather turns very cold. What might be comfortable on a day that is in the 40’s, may not remain as such when the temperature drops below freezing. Again, just use your hand as a test. Also, don’t water your houseplants with the water straight from the tap. This time of year the water is just too cold. Allow tap water to sit in a watering can, etc, for 24 hours before using it (make sure it is open to the air). Allowing it to sit will warm it to room temperature and may allow some of the chemical additives in tap water to evaporate, too. (If you have browning edges on the leaves of your houseplants, it may be caused by the dry air, but, it may be also br caused by watering with tap water that contains chemicals.) Let the water sit open for a day or even two.
Ice: Be careful about the products you use to melt the ice on your steps, sidewalks or driveways. Salt or other products can harm your grass or plants if it melts into them. Look for a product like IceClear Organic De-Icer or another one that clearly states it won’t harm your plants.
Poison Ivy: Yes, that’s what we said- winter is a time to really worry about getting in poison ivy. The worst cases of poison ivy that both my husband and I have ever had came about during the late fall, when we were planting azaleas. Here’s why. Poison ivy’s leaves die back in the winter (but, wait! That’s the way we recognize the stuff, right?). The leaves die, but the poisons stay in the root system. We were told by the doctor who treated us that the toxins that stay in the roots during winter are much, much stronger than what is present in the leaves or stems during the summer months. Digging in the roots brought on our first bout of poison ivy, one that had to be treated in the emergency room with steroids. Worst of all, we were, neither of us, allergic to poison ivy before! Be careful where you are digging in the winter,wear gloves, and don’t get into poison ivy roots. And under no circumstances should you ever burn any part of poison ivy! Breathing in the smoke from poison ivy can cause a very dangerous, perhaps life-threatening reaction in anyone breathing in the smoke!!
Vegetables: If you have a day that is cold, but still dry, you can use it to turn your garden for spring planting. This would be particularly useful if you suspect nematodes may have been a problem last season. Freezing nematodes is one of the best ways to kill them, so tilling your garden in dry, but freezing, weather will help get rid of them by exposing them to the cold. How can you tell if you have nematodes? You won’t see them, that would require a microscope, and there is more than one type of these nasty and destructive critters. However, obvious injuries to your plants might include malformed fruit or flowers, knotted-looking roots, or slowly or unevenly ripening fruit. Testing your soil can tell you for a fact if you have nematodes, if you suspect that you do, but according to a report from the University of Missouri, “Chemical nematicides are highly toxic and unsuitable for home use. Their use is subject to state and federal regulations, and usually only licensed pesticide applicators can purchase or apply them.” Freezing them is one of the few ways you have to rid yourself of them.
Pruning: Yes, winter is the time for pruning, but it can be very confusing. Want to know the easy way around all of that confusion? Just visit Walter Reeves’ site at http://www.walterreeves.com/tag/pruning/ for a most comprehensive guide to pruning in Georgia. It’s the best!
Roses: January is the perfect time to think about any new roses you want to plant this year. There are lots of online nurseries, but our favorite local nursery – and a source of wonderful and very healthy roses- is Autumn Hill Nursery in Cherokee County. They have one location in North Canton, on Highway 140, and one in Woodstock on Earney Road. Every year, they spend January potting up a new year’s worth of bare root roses from national suppliers so that we can have the prettiest, healthiest roses in April, for our own yards and gardens. You can go online at http://www.autumnhillnursery.com/roselist.html to see what new roses they will have this year. You can even reserve them online, too! -
A Fav Recipe: Aunt Jack’s 5 Minute Fudge
Aunt Jack’s Five Minute Fudge
It wouldn’t have been Christmas with this fudge of our Aunt Jack’s. It’s quick and very, very yummy! Believe it or not, this tastes just like regular fudge (except it’
s got a creamier texture). Trust me…if you like fudge, you’ll love this recipe!2/3 cups evaporated milk (undiluted)
1 and 2/3 cup sugar
½ tsp salt
1 and ½ cups diced marshmallows (about 16)
1 and ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla
1 and ½ cups chopped pecansPut the evaporated milk, sugar and salt in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat; heat to a boiling point and cook for five minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add in the marshmallows, chocolate chips and nuts. Beat for 1 to 2 minutes until the marshmallows are melted. Pour into a buttered 9 inch square pan to cool. When cool and set, cut into squares and enjoy!
North Georgia Living Magazine Blog
On our blog you will find the latest information about events, the things we are doing, our thoughts on North Georgia and more. Feel free to comment.
