Watermelon Cocktail

   A good girls-night-in is never complete without a new cocktail concoction to try. This warm (I’m being kind) time of year, especially, it is the cornerstone of your night! This drink (supplied by one of my besties) is soooo delicious & refreshing I had to share. It would also make for a wonderful (alcoholic) punch for any larger event. Here is the recipe (and yes it does not skimp on the alcohol):

2 quarts pink lemonade

1 cup watermelon flavored vodka

1/3 cup triple sec

1/3 cup coconut rum

Frozen watermelon cubes

   What makes this extra simple is there is no blender needed. Just pour over ice in margarita glasses or something equally ample & garnish with the watermelon cubes. Have coffee stirrers to use as spears & you are all set. In a punch recipe, I would freeze the pink lemonade in your traditional ring. You can also freeze the watermelon cubes in an ice cube tray with the pink lemonade surrounding. Very pretty & delish!

Attracting Bats with Plants & Houses

    As I mentioned in my last mosquito tip blog, one brown bat can consume up to 600 mosquitos an hour!! Quite a bit of energy if being used to capture the buggers, so yes it is fun to watch. Swallows, purple martins & most songbirds will eat flying insects also. But, all will choose a hefty moth or beetle over the bitsy-sized mosquito. That being said, we still need these predators in our yards to control the population. Just a simple drive through the shore towns of New Jersey & you will see purple martin houses dotting many backyards. These colony type houses are wonderful for these water-loving birds. But, if you don’t live near water your bats are you best bet.

    Unfortunately, the bat population in the state of Pennsylvania, my home state, has succumbed to white-nose syndrome. It is a fungus that has decimated the majority of large colonies of bats. (See article below) Still, nature finds a way to rebound, and we can help. I am fortunate to have neighbors close by with outbuildings that boast wonderful housing for bats & in some years, swallows. You can buy a simple bat house at Home Depot & birding stores. (or build one... see Better Homes & Gardens link below & see ‘moon’ garden link as well.) You can also plant a moonlight garden to attract the bats. This kind of surprised me, but if birds love certain plants, why not bats? These night-blooming flowers will help attract bats: Evening primrose, moonflower, four-o’clock, cleome, datura (angel’s trumpet), nicotiana & yucca. They seem to have something in common: a trumpet, deep-throated flower. These are plants I will definitely try to incorporate into my garden. The four-o’clock’s, cleome, nicotiana & moonflower vine/plant will grow easily from seed. I will also be hunting ‘moon’ related gardens items while hitting the garage sales from now on!

http://www.counselheal.com/articles/4630/20130401/once-thriving-pa-bat-colony-23-o.htm

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/pests/insects-diseases-weeds/attract-bats-for-organic-insect-control/

Mosquito Repellent Plants & Tips

    With a hot summer in full swing, who would rather be inside because they fear being eaten alive outside? Me..Me..Me! It’s the mosquitos that are the problem. So why can’t mosquitos suck fat instead of blood? Not meant to be I guess. I bring you some tips & some plant choices to help with the problem.

Info & Tips:

~ Mosquitos prefer blood type O. Not that there is anything you can do, but it’s interesting to know. We secrete a substance that lets them know before they bite. Creepy.

~ Drinking just one beer significantly increases your risk of being bitten. Good time to switch to blender drinks! Woo hoo.

~ Female mosquitos are the ones that bite & they know if you are expecting & will bite you twice as often. The full moon also increases activity by 500x!

~ They prefer the smell of feet (yuck) so keep your socks & shoes on or wash with a deodorant soap & sport those sandals.

~ They prefer dark clothing, black being the most attractive for them with red a close second. Yellow, green, light khaki were the least attractive to the buggers.

~ The can reproduce in a week in as little a quarter-inch of water. So empty standing water & refresh your bird baths regularly.

So now for the plants...  Planting in closer proximity to your seating areas is ideal. Let’s start with the annuals in most areas:

~ Citronella – Probably the most recognized natural mosquito repellant. It is a grass that can get 5 feet tall. Plant in the back of a border or make a bushy border all its own.

~ Marigolds & Ageratum. Two common bedding plants serve this other worthwhile purpose. Marigolds do best when planted in beds & not planters. The color combo of the two together is ideal.

The perennials include:

~ Horsemint. This is a Monarda variety or Bee Balm, very beautiful & a hummingbird magnet as well. As with all the plants, the strong smell is key.

~ Catnip. Found to have 10x more effectiveness than deet, some folks rub themselves with the plant. Yes, it will drive cats to do the same craziness so beware. Very pretty perennial.

    See this cool link below with the full info on the plants & other interesting info. So happy planting! Check for the next blog on attracting bats to your yard. A teaser: one brown bat can consume up to 600 mosquitoes an hour!!

http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/5-easy-to-grow-mosquito-repelling-plants/

Flower Planters Rescue Tips!

    So we are well into the hot summer days now. And what do you do if you are away for just a few days (thinking your hanging baskets & containers will be just fine) only to return & have them wilted & sad looking. There is hope!

     If the soil looks completely dried out & if you water then find the water running straight out the planter... the water is actually running around the sides of the planter & out. Kind of like running water over a brick, not much get absorbed! You need to rehydrate the soil completely.

    Ideally, if the container is small enough to submerge completely in another container of water then we will start with that. (sounds crazy but really..) Make it air temperature (dechlorinated :-) water. Submerge & let the soil completely rehydrate. If that is not possible, scratch into the surface of the soil & water slowly. Repeat this process until you have worked down many inches.

    Next, wait and see what perks up & what does not. Trim back your plant as needed (they will come back with a vengeance!) After a few days, feed with a slow release fertilizer like Osmocote and then water with a Miracle Gro water soluble fertilizer a few days later. You should see new growth in no time & be all set for the rest of the season! (do this fertilizing now regardless; your containers are quickly becoming a nutrient-free wasteland!)

    A few tips to prevent this again. Ask a friend or neighbor to water of course! Or, if it’s just a few days, water thoroughly right before you leave. You can also add ice cubes around the soil surface to do a nice additional slow watering the first day. Also, move planters to the shade if possible. I don’t like doing this for a week say to a sun loving petunia planter for instance, because they really look awful when I return... but at least they are still alive, ready to be rescued!! 

12 Foods all Nutritionists Eat

   According to Redbook Magazine, even experts haven’t reached a consensus on the best diet (as a way to eat, not to lose weight). This article lists 12 foods that they all can agree on as being staples to your diet. I have been known to be a more conservative eater, better lately, but even I regularly eat 7 of these foods! These are simple additions, and we are all about simple these days! Know these foods are full of vitamins, antioxidants, blood-sugar regulators, protein, fiber, healthy fats & low-gycemic carbs.

1~ Almond Milk – never tried but will start to use in smoothies for sure.

2~Avacados – I admit I love good guacamole but don’t eat this one sliced. Everyone I know luuuvs it. I need to get past the color. Lol

3~ Cinnamon – Sprinkle it in every smoothie, brewed coffee, cereal. Yum!

4~ Dark Berries – Now is the season for fresh, inexpensive blueberries & blackberries. Thanks to companies like Dole you can buy them frozen year-round with no loss of vitamins or antioxidants!

5~ Greek Yogurt – Some are better than others. Don’t give up finding the brand that tastes best for you. At twice the protein, it’s worth it!

6~ Eggs – I am a big fan of Egglands Best.

7~ Extra-virgin Olive Oil – Not as many benefits when heated, wonderful in your oil & vinegar salad dressings.

8~ Hummus – Yum. Sooo many flavors now to choose from. So good – just watch your portion control.

9~ Nuts – I haven’t met a nut I haven’t liked, so I portion control my purchase. I do baggies with twist ties or tiny containers. Almonds & walnuts rate high nutritionally but they are all good for you!

10~ Kale- One of the ones I need to try on a regular basis & better yet grow in my garden.

11~ Water with lemon. Has always been a staple for years. Will try having it first thing in the morning as suggested.

12~ Quinoa – Haven’t tried yet, heard some negatives on taste. Anyone have a great recipe out there??

I do believe these are easy additions to your diet. And I can say delish on these too!

See the complete article with the link below.

http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/dietitian-tips-for-healthy-eating?click=main_sr#slide-1

Easy Tomato, Basil & Mozzarella Appetizer

   You have to love this time of year... all the fresh vegetables from the garden. All the parties & get-togethers that put you in need of the perfect appetizer. Well this is it. Just a few ingredients & you are set to go.

Ingredients:

Sliced Tomatoes

Sliced Fresh Mozzarella (You can slice your own with an egg slicer)

Fresh Basil

Balsamic Vinegar

Drizzle the sliced tomatoes with the vinegar on separate plate. When ready to assemble, place tomatoes on serving plate, layer on the cheese & then the fresh basil. Pictured at left, I used boxwood basil & sweet basil. Refrigerate until ready to serve (with a small spatula). This is best if assembled at the last minute.

This is so easy, healthy & delicious! A fantastic way to use the basil & tomatoes from your garden. Enjoy!