Garlic Jelly and Cream Cheese Spread

Made with our home made Garlic Jelly these are a one bite treat. INGREDIENTS 3 parts cream cheese 1 part garlic jelly crackers DIRECTIONS In food processor or small blender, mix cream cheese with garlic jelly until well combined. Place in a plastic squeeze bottle with fairly large opening in top (about 1/4 inch). Refrigerate… Read more »

Tomato Scape Canapes

A simple yet tasty appetizer with a delightful use of garlic scape pesto. We make these when out of season using frozen pesto (frozen without the cheese). Have everything ready to assemble at the last minute. Assembling early will result in a soggy cracker. INGREDIENTS cherry tomatoes, ends removed and sliced in half to form… Read more »

Pasta Bolognese

A meat lovers sauce with a slight kick from the italian sausage, this Bolognese style pasta sauce is great on a cold winter day. INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons olive oil 125 grams (about 4 ounces) pancetta 1 pound ground beef 1 pound mild italian sausage meat (I used Johnsonville) 2-3 carrots, chopped fine (about 1 cup)… Read more »

Cold And Blustery Day

The day is proving to be cold and blustery, with the potential for freezing rain in the forecast. It’s that in between time of year — not anything; neither fall nor winter, just a waiting game. So I’m spending the day in my warm, dry and quiet office organizing myself for a winter of garden… Read more »

Tomato Cage Christmas Tree Topiary

I was looking for a different outdoor decoration for our front entrance this year and stumbled upon the idea to build my own Christmas tree topiary. I usually use greenery from the garden center and around the yard to decorate the two urns on either side of our doorway. While this looks nice I was… Read more »

Hemerocallis ‘Salieri’ Daylily

Height: 90 cm (36 inches) Bloom: early season Colour: Huge, very deep red-purple blooms with green throat. Another of my favourites. The blooms sit very high (truly close to three feet), are absolutely huge, there are loads of blooms, not much more you could ask for. Beware picking off dead flowers after a rain though,… Read more »

Hemerocallis ‘Ruby Stella’ Daylily

Height: 45-60 cm (18-24 inches) Bloom: Midseason, repeat bloomer. Extended bloom. Colour: Bright red small flowers with yellow throat. About the same time as I planted some Pardon Me, I put in some Ruby Stella. They are remarkably alike, almost impossible to tell apart. Hmmm, hope I haven’t mixed the two up! Ruby Stella is… Read more »

Hemerocallis ‘Rosy Returns’ Daylily

Height: 45-60 cm (18-24 inches) Bloom: Very early, repeat (constant) bloomer Colour: Raspberry pink with yellow throat. Rosy Returns is one of the longest bloomers I have seen. It starts in early June and blooms until frost. The only disappointment is that the blooms are set too low in the foliage and the foliage gets… Read more »

Hemerocallis ‘Regal Heir’ Daylily

Height: 55 cm (22 inches) Bloom: Midseason, repeat bloomer Colour: Lavender purple star shaped narrow petals with yellow green throat. I have this planted with Heuchera Marmalade and the colours complement each other beautifully. I have not noticed that it has rebloomed for me though, either because of our colder climate or because this area… Read more »

Hemerocallis ‘Purple D’oro’ Daylily

Height: 45-60 cm (18-25″) Bloom: Midseason, repeat (constant) bloomer Colour: Lavender blooms with yellow throat and ruffled edges. Several varieties of continuous blooming daylilies have been introduced over the past few years. In addition to the traditional Stella D’oro I have Happy Returns (light yellow), Rosy Returns (pink) and Purple D’oro (lavendar). Of the pinkish… Read more »