MY SUNDAY AFTERNOON

The weather was amazing today.  Took advantage of the day by 

creating flower baskets and re-potting  plants.

                               
                                Just finished making Mother's Day Baskets for this Saturdays event.

                                       

                                      Re-planting tomatoes while enjoying a cup of Starbucks coffee. 
                  Here's an   interesting fact-did you know tomatoes were once thought to be poisonous. 

FIELDS OF AJI DULCE

Last years harvest of Aji Dulce Peppers-a sweet pepper similiar to the size and shape of a habenero pepper but without the heat.  This pepper is an important ingredient in the making of sofrito.  Please visit my blog  entitled "My Sofrito Recipe" to make your own sofrito and also visit my website at www.designbynaturenursery.com to purchase these wonderful plants.     

HOW TO BUILD A WATTLE FENCE (DIY)

Wattle fence technique is a quick and affordable (free) way to build fencing.  It's easy to make and beautiful for any garden.    They are traditionally made of willow branches.   If you cannot find willow then any type of branch that you can bend slightly and weave can be used.  

I love wattle fences because it adds an element of natural beauty to my garden and gives it a medieval feel.   The first time I saw this technique being used was at a community garden in my city park.  The person gathered branches of similar sizes and weaved them into a work of art.  It protected their vegetable garden from the deer and rabbits that roamed freely at the park expecially at night.  

Below are a few examples of different types of wattle fencing.  I am also attaching a link that provides intructions on how to build one yourself.

  

http://www.alaskabg.org/Education-Learn/HowTo/WattleFence.pdf

HERB & GARDEN FAIRE MAY 11 AND 12

Hello,

Just wanted to let you know that Design By Nature will be a vendor at the Herb & Garden Faire sponsored by Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum in Lancaster, PA on May 11 and 12th.  Hours 9am to 5pm.   Admission fee $10. 

My booth will be in spot 16; please look for me.  

I will be showcasing my Aji Dulce and Culantro plants this year.

I will also have available on that day - a wide selection of heirloom tomatoes, eggplants, artichoke plants, hot peppers plants, fruit trees, fig trees and kiwi vines.   Oh I almost forget the all time favorite pink blue-berry bush.  

The Herb & Garden Faire has been a Lancaster tradition for 24+ years and I am excited to be a part of it for two years now.   It is a great event for both gardeners and non-gardeners.  More than 70 vendors participate offering a wide selection of plants, including natives, perennials, annuals, vegetables, and heirloom varieties.  People from all over PA, NJ, CT, NY, DE and DC come to visit.   

I am anxiously awaiting this year’s event (I've been preparing since February).  Hope to see you there.   

Sincerely
Aida
Design By Nature


To find out more about the fair please visit www.landisvalleymusem.org

Design By Nature Grand Opening

Hello all please visit my website at WWW.designbynaturenursery.com.   

Website is officialy open and ready for business.

Thank you
Aida

HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD RECIPE

The Brandywine, Black Brandywine, GermanGreen and Black Zebra are wonderful heirloom varieties to use in this salad. They are juicy and have smaller seed pockets.

Heirloom Tomato Salad

2 pounds heirloom tomatoes of various kinds
coarse sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
extra-virgin olive oil
red-wine vinegar
handful basil leaves

Core tomatoes and cut 1/4-inch thick slices.

On a large platter, lay tomato slices overlapping. Season each slice with salt and pepper. Drizzle with about 3 to 4 tablespoons of olive oil and of vinegar.

Gather basil leaves together and roll into a cigar shape. Slice crosswise into very thin ribbons. Sprinkle over tomatoes. Serve salad immediately. Yield: 4 servings.

SOW WHAT WHEN

I found this great planting calender while surfing the web.   Its a great resource.