Gardening Success Tips

Some plants evolved clinging to tree bark and rocks, never touching soil. These species thrive in airy, mineral-rich substrates that mimic their natural habitats.

- Orchids: Anchor in chunky bark chips, sending roots through air pockets for moisture.

- Air Plants: Absorb water through leaf scales, requiring no growing medium at all.

- Staghorn Fern: Mounts on wood slabs, gathering nutrients from decomposing matter in crevices.

- Lithops: Survive in pure pumice or sand, mimicking desert stone fields.

- String of Pearls: Trails through gritty perlite mix, preventing root rot.

- Carnivorous Plants: Root in pure sphagnum moss, acidic and nutrient-free like bogs.

- Bromeliads: Nestle in bark chips and moss, storing water in leaf cups.

- Tillandsia: Cling to driftwood or wire, feeding from air and occasional misting.

- Rhipsalis: Cascade from coarse cactus mix, replicating rainforest branch life.

Soil was never the requirement — just the surface we happened to notice.

 

https://www.facebook.com/LadyTeapots

 

 Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.”

-Attributed to John Boswell

Winter Slow Care

Created by @simplyy_sarah

#lifelovehygge

 

Apple Fritters with Vanilla Sugar

 

These apple fritters are a sweet end to a Rosh Hashanah feast, while offering a glimpse into Roman Jewish cuisine.

https://www.saveur.com/recipes/apple-fritters-with-vanilla-sugar/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0NFjDKOH2kZD_VaXID8Fsqqmhli_zgeb493BL27jVzL9X2o99DHDAdyxM

 

 Pastina Soup (Italian Penicillin Soup) Tasteful Bites

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 onion, finely diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 carrots, peeled and chopped small

6 cups chicken or vegetable broth

3/4 cup pastina (acini di pepe or stelline)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Fresh parsley, chopped

Optional: Freshly grated Parmigiano

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until soft and fragrant (about 4 minutes).

Add chopped carrots and cook for another 3–4 minutes.

Pour in the broth and bring to a gentle boil.

Add pastina, stir, and reduce heat to simmer. Cook until pasta is tender (about 7–8 minutes).

Season with salt and pepper. Stir in fresh parsley and serve hot with Parmigiano if desired.

Rena’s Tip: If you’ve got leftover cooked chicken, shred a little into the pot for a heartier hug-in-a-bowl. Nonna did that when winter hit hard.

Nutritional Information:

 Prep Time: 10 minutes

 Cooking Time: 20 minutes

 Total Time: 30 minutes

 Calories: ~210 per serving

 Servings: 4

What dish was your family’s “home remedy”? The one that showed up with every cold or heartbreak? I’d love to hear the stories behind your healing meals. 

 

 Different crops benefit from different kinds of pollinators.

Planting the right support flowers nearby helps them do the job more easily.

• Tomatoes — buzz-pollinated flowers benefit from bumblebees

→ plant nearby: penstemon, bee balm, echinacea for steady bumblebee visits

• Squash — rely on native squash bees and bumblebees early in the morning

→ plant nearby: long-blooming natives like coneflowers and asters to keep bees active in the garden

• Beans — mostly self-pollinating but set improves when small native bees visit

→ plant nearby: alyssum, yarrow, and wild bergamot to attract tiny bee species

• Cucumbers — need visits from multiple bee species for full fruits

→ plant nearby: coreopsis, black-eyed Susan, zinnias, and dill for varied bloom shapes

Choose flowers that bloom through the whole season — diversity invites the pollinators your garden needs.

 

 

 

 

 

Plum Purdy Designs by Reneé Mullins