Crab Apple Tree

Peel Mansion Garden

Compton Gardens

Rose of Sharon

Double-Strawberry Scones

Prep 25 min. Bake 16 min. Oven 400 2 1/2 cups all-pupose flour 2 Tbsp. sugar 1 Tbsp. baking powser 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into chunks 3/4 cup chopped fresh strawberries 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries (optional) 2 Tbsp. snipped basil 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 cup half-and-half Half-and-half or milk sugar 1. Preheat oven to 400F. In large bowl stir together flour, the 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gently toss in fresh and freeze-dried strawberries and basil. Make a well in center of four mixture; set aside. 2. In a medium bowl stir together eggs and half-and-half. Add egg mixture to flour mixture all at once. Using a large spoon, gently stir just until moistened. 3. Turn dough out onto a generoulsy floured surgace. Knead dough by folding and gently pressing it 5 to 7 times, turning dough a quarter turn after each fold. Transfer to a lightly floured parchment-line baking sheet. Pat or lightly roll dough into a 3/4-inch-thick circle. Cut circle into wedges and puu apart slightly. 4. Brush wedges with additional half-and-half and sprinkly with sugar. Bake about 16 minutes or until golden. Serve warm. Refrigerate any leftover scones; reheat 15 seconds in microwave. Makes 12 scones. Each scone 209 cal, 10 g fat, 60 mg chol, 211 mg sodium, 26 g carb, 1 g fiber, 4 g pro. Source: Better Homes and Gardens, April 2011, p146.

Have You Seen Trees?

Tell Me, Tree

The Tiny Seed

We are big Eric Carle fans. His books always contain such beautiful and colorful artwork.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I found this book at a second hand book store and have not been able to find another copy in stores where I have seen Golden Books sold.

My middle child has adored this book. It has crisp and clear art work, a worm, caterpillar, snail and ant on every two page spread, and focuses on a family working together to establish, plant, maintain and harvest a garden.

I will be saving this book to someday share with my grandchildren.

Area Farmers Markets

Compiled by Kevin Kinder: kkinder@nwaonline.com

BENTON COUNTY

Bentonville Farmers Market

When: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays

Details: More than 30 local growers and artisans gather on Saturday mornings to hawk their wares

CARROLL COUNTY

Siloam Springs Farmers Market

When: 7 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays

Details: The market is a growers-only market that features 12 to 25 vendors offering baked goods, flowers and more. Cooking demonstrations and contest will take place through the year.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Fayetteville Farmers' Marker

Dates of Operation: April - mid-November When: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays; 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Where: Fayetteville downtown square

Details: Info: 236-2910 or http://www.fayettevillefarmersmarket.com/

West Fork Farmers Market

When: 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays; 3 p.m. to close Wednesday afternoons mid-june to first Wednesday in August

Details: The market gives space to sellers of meats, vegetables and arts and crafts products. About 15 vendors are present most weekends.

Springdale Farmers Market

When: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Details: About 25 vendors will sell homegrown produce at the market. This market accommodates several different kinds of payments, such as EBT, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and more.

Springdale Farmers Market at Shiloh Square

When: 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays

Details: This is the first year for this market (2011), which serves as an affliliate of the market at the Jones Center. Several of the vendors will be at both locations, although some will be new faces.

Botancial Garden of the Ozarks Market

When: 9 a.m. tp 2 p.m. Sundays

Details: Located alongside the Lake Fayetteville trail system, this market averages between 20 and 30 vendors.

Mill District Market

When: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays

Details: This market is a rarity in the area, open during evening hours.

Source: WHAT'S UP!, Friday, April 1, 2011 (An insert in the local paper)

NWA Planting Schedule - 1st Qtr

YEAR ROUND HOME GARDEN PLANTING GUIDE FOR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Note: Vegetagles listed closer to top of each month's list are to be planted earlier in the month, while those listed toward the bottom of each month's list are to be planted later in the month. Also, as weather changes and each person's yard can vary in micro-climate, most planting can take place two weeks or so before the time(s) listed below.

January

Cabbage (hot bed), Peas (garden)

February

Cabbage (hot bed), Peas (garden)

March

Kale, Lettuce (leaf), Mustard

Peas (garden), Radish, Spinach

Turnips, Beets, Broccoli

Brussels sprouts*, Cabbage*

Carrots, Cauliflower

Collards*, Onion, Potatoes (Irish)

Swiss Chard

Strawberries

NWA Planting Schedule - 2nd Qtr

Avg. last frost date: April 15 - 20

April

Kale, Lettuce (leaf), Mustard

Peas (garden), Radish, Spinach

Turnips, Beets, Broccoli*

Brussels sprouts*, Cabbage*

Carrots

Cauliflower*, Collards

Corn (sweet), Endive

Onion, Potatoes (Irish)

Snap Beans

Swiss Chard

Beans (pole)

Asparagus

Potatoes (sweet, in hot bed)

May

Kale, Lettuce, Mustard, Peas (garden)

Radish, Spinach, Turnips

Beans (pole), Beets, Cabbage*

Brussels spouts*, Carrots, Collards*

Corn (sweet), Endive

Swiss Chard

Snap beans, Tomato*

Cantaloupe, Cucumber

Eggplant

Okra, Pepper

Popcorn, Potatoes (sweet)

Pumpkin

Squash

Watermelon

June

Radish, Swiss Chard, Collards*

Snap Beans, Corn (sweet)

Beans (bush, Lima), Beans (pole)

Cantaloupe, Cucumber

Eggplant, Okra, Peppers

Popcorn, Pumkin

Potatoes (sweet)

Southern peas

Squash (summer)

Squash (winter)

Tomato*

Watermelon

NWA Planting Schedule - 3rd Qtr

JULY

Snap Beans, Beans (Pole)

Collards*, corn (sweet)

Beans (bush, Lima)

Popcorn, Potatoes (sweet)

Squash (winter), Southern peas

AUGUST

Squash (summer)

Potatoes (Irish)

Southern peas, Tomatos* (plants only, no seeds)

Corn (sweet) Squash

Collards*, Squash (winter)

SEPTEMBER

Southern peas, Squash (summer)

Carrots, Collards*, Cabbage* (plants only)

Cauliflower* (plants only), Beets

Broccoli* (plants only), Turnips

Chinese Cabbage

Swiss Chard, Beans (bush)

Beans (Lima), Mustard

Cucumbers, Kale

NWA Planting Schedule - 4th Qtr

Avg. first frost date: October 15 - 20

OCTOBER

Lettuce, Radish, Peas

Turnips, Spinach,

Collards*

Kale

NOVEMBER

Turnips, Collards*

Kale

Spinach

DECEMBER

Beets (in hot bed or window box)

Lettuce protected by Radishes

*denotes vegetables that are almost always transplated from starts into the garden.

Source: Bradford Nursery

Crock-Pot Apple Butter

Apples, peeled, cored and finely choppe (Jonathan or Granny Smith)

4 cups sugar or less
4 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt

Fill a slow cooker heaping full of apples. Drizzle the sugar (4 cups is for very sour apples; sweet apples will require less), cinnamon, cloves and salt over apples.

Cover and cook all day (or night), the first hour on high, then on lower heat.

Cook until thick and dark in color, stirring occasionally.

Put in small jars. Crock-Pot Apple Butter can be used short-term in the refrigerator, made into freezer butter or sealed in a water bath for 15 minutes.

Source: "Preserving Perfection," Janice Neighbor, Benton County Daily Record, Aug 4, 2o1o

Huckleberries Grow Locally

We were excited to learn last Saturday, during our visit to Hobbs State Park Visitor's Center, that huckleberries do grow locally. No wonder they were selling huckleberry taffy, suckers, and pretzels.

Darned I was so surprized that I forgot to take a picture of what a huckleberry plant looks like! I promise to post at a later date a picture.

On a road trip last summer to Idaho, my husband's uncle introduced us to wild huckleberries that he and others picked off the side of a mountain. A new love was formed, as he served us pound cake drizzled with huckleberries and topped with whipped cream and then my favorite a huckleberry shake!

Luckily for us the 'Huckleberry King' aka Uncle Pat sent us home with two jars of huckleberry jam!

Latter in the year we made a stop over to War Eagle and discovered they carried wild huckleberry preserves and huckleberry flavored hard candy. To my daughters disappointment we sent off the hard candy off to Uncle Pat.

Follow the links to read two articles the Visitors Center share with me:
http://wildhuckleberry.com/category/growing-wild-huckleberries/
http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_vame.pdf

Blueberry-Lime Jam

I found this recipe in todays newspaper!

My children love homemade strawberry freezer jam! My daughter, who is a blueberry lover, recently asked that we expand her jam options. My sister has suggested we look at exchanging homemade gifts again this Christmas. It looks like my daughter and I will be spending some time together soon to make some jam!

4 1/2 cups blueberries
1 tablespoon grated lime peel
1/3 cup lime juice
6 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 pouches liquid pectin

Place blueberries in large pot, add lime peel, juice and sugar, and mix well.

Bring mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin, bring back up to a rolling boil for one minute.

Pour into sterile jars, leaving 1/4-inch of headspace.

Adjust caps and process 15 minutes in boiling water bath.

Yields five 12-ounce jars.

Source: "Preserving Perfection," Mary Loftus, Benton County Daily Record, Aug 4, 2o1o

Since Sure Jell is easy to find and I try to keep it on hand I searched the Internet for a recipe using it. I was pleasantly surprized to find out my Ball Blue Book of Preserving had one. This was my first canning jam on my own! I ended up giving one jar away as a birthday present and several others as family Christmas presents.

Bagworm Outbreak

2010 Garden Visitors

1st Place Cabbage

My daughter brought home a Bonnie Plant giant cabbage starter plant from school to grow. This photo was taken 14 days before it was picked. Can you imagine how much more it grew in those last 2 weeks?! Pictured next to it is a normal cabbage plant started from seed. She was so excited to come home and announce her cabbage will be representing her grade in the statewide contest. The final weight without the outer leaves and the roots were 4lbs and 2ozs.

I did use dusting powered a little too late to control the bugs, from eating the cabbage, as I am afraid of poisioning my family. I am learning by trial and error.