Sunny Disposition

 

Whenever I see a sunflower, I always smile.

 

Their upturned faces are always looking skyward, and their stalks will actually bend to track daylight.  Organic blossoms are edible, brightening salads, soups, entrees, and desserts.



"Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals.  Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident;

others again are plain, honest and upright,

like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock."

-- Henry Ward Beecher

 

Festive Sunflower Cake

 

Your favorite recipe for a lemon pound (or layer) cake

Cool Whip buttercream icing

edible sunflowers 

 





 

Be sure to check back on June 24th, 26th, and 28th for three special food and fun-filled posts with the

Novel Bakers: a quiet life, Home Is Where the Boat Is, and Once Upon a Plate.

 

 

 

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Weeding the Garden: Before and After



 

This is the year that I'm learning how to keep a real garden. 

I've had yards with boxwoods and the occasional butterfly bush,

but not a real garden.

 

This is the year that Will finally gets a vegetable garden--a small one.

 

He couldn't wait to buy tomatoes and eggplants and peppers. 

 

So many choices and so little garden knowledge (from my end).

 

 

When we bought the house, the gardens were pristine, but after a hard winter

nature began to reclaim the territory. Here's a "before" picture from early spring, 2013.

I didn't know where to begin.

What to do?

Weed. Mulch. See what survived the winter.

Take stock.

Take a deep breath.

 

 

And here are a few "after" photos:

 

Lots of empty spaces.

 

 Before and after.

 

 

A "before" of the front flower beds.

 

Another, bigger "before."

The hydrangeas were engulfed by shrubs.

And a few "in between" photos, taken with my iPhone.

 

Will loved his garden but thought the hedges needed to be moved back, so he'd

have more room to plant. He's so happy to have a little plot of earth.

Not too big. Not too little. Just right.

 

 

 

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