In the midst of our cold, dreary March, I spent a glorious day at the JC Ralston Arboretum in Raleigh attending the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers annual conference. Can you guess what these gorgeous flowers are?  Would you believe it is a bouquet of tulips?!  Most growers tie them closed at early stages of cutting so they do not open so much, but I think they are stunning in this wide-open bouquet!  Perhaps even more amazing is how they still close up at night.

The designer used bare vines to hold the flower heads in place. Save some of your prunings from grape vines, wisteria, akebia, cross vine or others, and wind them into a loose 10” to 12” wreath to dry.  Won’t this be fun to try out in our cut flower workshop this summer?

Remember if you are growing tulips in your garden now, they are deer candy! Get out your deer repellent if you haven’t already and spray the new growth on roses, hostas and hydrangeas too.

For those of you who missed Tommy Cowett’s discussion on growing “Indigineous Microorganisms” (IMOs) to build your soils, here is a link to Bryan McGrath’s YouTube videos on  Bokashi composting and Korean Natural Farming: Bryan McGrath’s videos   Bryan  has 29 videos showing step-by-step how to enrich the life of your soil and your plants.  Whether you want to “grow your own” or not, these are very interesting videos that will show you what healthy soil is all about.

For more info on organic lawn care programs offered by Growin’Green in Kernersville, call their main number at 336-854-7999.  You may also reach Tommy Cowett on his cell at 880-0105.

By popular request, here is the recipe for “Oatmeal Hockey Pucks”. This not-too-sweet, oatmeal mini-granola snack is made entirely with oatmeal and no flour.  I make a batch and freeze them for a perfect breakfast on the go or anytime snack.  Many thanks to the Greensboro News and Record for publishing this recipe several years ago. It has always been a favorite. (A printable version of the recipe is here:  Oatmeal Hockey pucks )

Oatmeal Hockey Puck Cookies

6.75 cups oatmeal  (I use 1 minute oats.)
1.5 cups sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
4 tbsp melted butter

 Preheat oven to 375.
Combine dry ingredients. Combine wet ingredients.
Stir together. Press into 2 mini muffin pans of 24 each.
Bake 14-15 minutes. Makes 48 minis.

Grow flowers, Eat cookies, Be Happy!

Ellen