SILENT SUNDAY!

Images from PINTEREST.

A POTTED HERB GARDEN!

There is nothing like the aroma of Herbs first thing in the morning on a bright summer day. They are at their best when the leaves have been touched by the morning sun and the oils are at their most fragrent.

Having a small farm I am fortunate enough to have a nice large Herb garden. I can sit in my studio and see it.

We built this lovely Thyme Table ( in season it is full of different Thymes) so we can sit in the garden with a cup of tea and touch the beautiful Thyme plants each has their own distinct fragrance.

You do not have to have a large planted Herb garden. I also have pots of Herbs all over my porches in the summer. I walk out of the kitchen to large posts of Rosemary, Thyme, Oregan and Basil on my back porch. It makes it very convenient for cooking but I also just love the look and the smell. You can plant them in small or large pots, individually or group them together in one big pot.

Herbs are so strong, they love the sun and can go without a lot of water for some time. You can plant them in just about anything. Don't you love that idea with the dresser, I might try that.

You can plant a whole selection of Thyme in containers. There are so many varietie, Mother of Thyme, Lemon Thyme, Orange Thyme, Wooly Thyme, Silver Thyme and I am sure a lot more.

Thyme is great to use in walkways, so resiliant that you can walk on it and it pops right back. The second picture is grass but I think Thyme would look great instead.

I cook with Thyme a lot. Not just in Italian dishes. This recipe for Chedder Thyme Gougeres for the lovely Blog WHAT YOU GIVE AWAY YOU KEEP is to die for. Stop by for the recipe.

I must say that my all time favourite Herb would be Rosemary. I just love to have big pots of Rosemary everywhere. I do plant one in the garden but I really love the look of it in pots and it seems to thrive in them. You must plant some Rosemary if it is the only herb you try. I make a Rosemary Lemon Roasted Chicken that everyone loves. So easy just cut some lemons in half squeeze some of the juice into the cavity of the chicken and stuff the lemons and a generous bunch of Rosemary inside. Rub the chicken with Olive Oil and salt and pepper and roast. The fragrance in your kitchen is heavenly.

Herbs are not just used for cooking savory dishes. This delicous ROSEMARY SHORTBREAD from the BLOG Alexandra Cooks is really scrumpcious, stop by her blog for the recipe.

So when you are getting ready this Spring to plant your garden, try some Herbs I guarantee you will get hooked.

Images in this post with the exception of the first three, are from
PINTEREST.

TOPIARY HEAVEN!

I just adore Topiaries! Ever since I was a little girl and saw my first ones at a Garden Show I was hooked.

They were trimmed into the shapes of animals of all kinds. I felt like Alice in a Garden of Wonderland.

Everyone can have a topiary. The large elaborate ones like the Elephant and Frog are beautiful but not for the average garden. Now the cute bunnies would look adorable on my lawn. See more of the bunnies at Rabbit World View.

Topiary Gardens can be very elaborate but even the simple shapes like these round ones from The Steward look elegantly regal.

There is something so country looking and beautiful when a topiary is used in home decor. I especially like the look of the green orbs of an herbal topiary hovering above the pots in a white room.

I made my own mytle topiary once. Very similar to the ones I found on the
Solid Frog. I cultivated the tiny myrtle from seedlings and out of 6 pots I was able to grow 2 beautiful topiaries. I had them for 3 years when one started to die off. I babied the other one for another 2 years until my darling husband knocked it off of the table and there went 5 years of my gardening effort. Now I just buy them already to go like the lovlies in the big pots above.

If you don't have the time or patience for the work topiaries take but still like the look bake some. That's right you can make some pretty cute topiary cake pops like these from The Clever Culinarian. The complete instructions are on that site.

FLOWER POTS ARE NOT JUST FOR PLANTING!

Here is a delicious recipe for a savoury Flower Pot bread courtesy of Delicious Magazine.

FETA, TOMATO & ROSEMARY FLOWER POT BREAD

Basic loaf dough recipe (see below)
240g tub SunBlush tomatoes,
1 tbsp oil
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
150g crumbled feta
METHOD

How to make feta, tomato and rosemary bread
1. Drain a 240g tub Sundried tomatoes, reserving 1 tbsp oil and 8 tomatoes. Chop the rest. Make the dough for a basic white loaf, but add 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary to the flour and mix in the reserved oil, chopped tomatoes and 250ml warm water. Knead, then knead in 150g crumbled feta.

2. Shape into 8 balls and put in 8 well-oiled and floured 7cm terracotta pots. Prove for 30 minutes. Top with more feta and a reserved tomato, and push in a small, wet rosemary sprig. Bake for 25 minutes.


BASIC WHITE BREAD

INGREDIENTS
500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp fine salt
7g sachet fast-action dried yeast
1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing
METHOD

How to make basic white rustic loaf
1. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Stir in the yeast. Make a well in the centre and gradually mix in 300ml warm water and the oil until the dough comes together - add a dash more water if it seems dry.

2. Tip out onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough for 5 minutes, until smooth. Shape like a rugby ball and put onto an oiled, large baking sheet. Set aside in a warm place for 40 minutes or until doubled in size. This is known as proving or rising.

3. Preheat oven to 220°C/fan200°C/gas 7. Make deep slashes with a sharp knife in the top of the dough and dust with flour. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until risen, golden and cooked. To test if it's ready, tap the base of the loaf - it should sound hollow. Cool on a wire rack and slice to serve.

LOVELY URNS.....TIMELESS BEAUTY

There is nothing more beautiful in a garden or home for that matter, than an antique urn.

I adore their shapes. Standing in a garden, regal, well worn, with stories to tell of gardens and gardeners past.

My grandmother had a passion for them, that is where I was first introduced to the glorious urn. She would buy them at auctions and had many of every shape and size in her vast garden. Unfortunately, I do not possess any of hers, they sold for quite a high price at the farm auction when she left us.

I would love to find some old ones, it does not matter the condition. I prefer them rusted with a history.

There is just something about them, whether flanking the doors of a castle or regular home, or standing in a grouping or alone in the garden. You can't help but notice them, walk up and have a look at the intricate details. The pride the casters must have taken designer these magestic vessels.

I also like them as home decor, you can look at them all year, although they are so sturdy you can leave them out in all of the eliments.

For now I have my one urn which I love. It is not old but it is aging. Every year it gets a little more patina. By the time I find the old ones I covet, it will probably catch up with them and have a very similar look. If you are fortunate enough to see the old ones, take the time to have a real good look at their beauty.