| 2-11-07 Rosemary and Cuttings |
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In This Issue:
1. For the love of Gardening It has been said that absence makes the heart grow fonder. The same notion can be said of gardening. Over winter, in places where a blanket of snow covers the ground, (or this year - where it covers houses completely), Gardenerd hearts long to be once again out in the sun with our hands in the soil, nurturing tender seedlings to life. To satisfy the burning desire, we have indoor seed starting. Some are fortunate enough to have space for a greenhouse; others squeeze seed trays onto windowsills in hopes of getting a head start on spring. Either way, starting plants from seed is a great way to take what you read in a romance novel (a.k.a. seed catalog) and bringing it to fruition in your own life. For a terrific selection of seed starting equipment and information to satisfy every degree of enthusiasm, go to Gardener's Supply. Here's a link to get you started: 2. Rosemary Ancient lore tells us that rosemary is the herb of lovers, the herb of truth. Cynics would say those two things don't necessarily go together, but being a hopeless romantic, I'll stick to my guns and say that they do. This Valentine's day, you might choose to express your love for someone (including yourself) by cooking with rosemary. One year, I made a heart-shaped cake for my husband with a recipe for a rosemary ganache from Martha Stewart. Just last week, that same recipe appeared on Martha's weekly e-mail. Love her or hate her, you've got to admit that Martha and her "people" sure come up with some great ideas. This ganache is no exception. It led me to a few great ideas of my own: After making the ganache, put it in the refrigerator to firm up. Use the firm version of ganache to spread like frosting between two sheet cakes, then heat up the ganache over simmering water and pour the remainder over the top of the assembled cake. You can also use the firm version of this rosemary ganache to make a filling for truffles (which have gone over in my household with flying colors). You'll really enjoy this unique flavor that brings love and the garden into your kitchen. Try the recipe here: Link: http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=recipe2318&search=true&resultNo=1 3. Gardenerd Tip of the Week: Cuttings Now that I have a house, I'll be transplanting some of my favorite plants from my community garden plot to the new back yard. For those plants that are too well established, taking cuttings from existing plants is a safer idea. For a primer on propagating cuttings from your plants, visit:
I found the following site that has many different types of rooting hormones, as well as Rootstock Rooting Gel, which claims to be the first and only natural and organic rooting formula. Link: http://www.simplyhydroponics.com/rooting_hormones.htm 4. Product of the Month: Gardenerd Dark T-shirt Now the Gardenerd T-Shirt is available in many colors. Choose from Black, Cardinal, Navy, Military Green, Charcoal Gray, Brown, Royal and Red. There's a color for everyone in your Gardenerd family.
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