Category — Glenns Garden News

This week we will be running like crazy here at the Urban Garden. The weatherman has promised good weather all week and we need to take advantage of every minute we can. While I am not sure that we will be finished catching up by the end of the week I am pretty certain that we will have made a good dent in all the main priority schedules that I have and that will make a huge difference in the appearance of the campus over the next several weeks. That is one of the things like best about gardening things that you do will show up in a matter of a week or two and it really makes a huge impact.

This week I will be up on the roof getting the rooftop garden all cleaned up and ready for the year. I will need to get the water turned back on and the pots cleaned up and fertilized. Then it will only be a matter of time as all the plants start filling in and start producing their show.

With all the crazy schedules at this time of year it is hard to take time to really relax. I do however take a few minutes every day so that I can just catch my breath forget the schedule and enjoy the moment. It is a very great benefit for those who garden. A few minutes lost in your own thought in the garden is like an elixir for the soul.  I think some of my best ideas and plans come to me during those times. I know that what ever has been bothering me always seems to be much more manageable afterwards.

This week you should try and get the lawn fertilizer down, finish cleaning the beds and get a good fertilizer down for the perennials. These task will ensure that you are off to a good Spring start.  Have a great week and get out in your garden even for a few minutes.

Sage is a relative to the mint family. It is common for Sage to be ground, whole or rubbed but is generally in more of a coarse grain. Sage is grown in the United States but is also grown in Albania and Dalmatia. Sage is a very popular herb in the United States and is used quite frequently for flavoring such things s sausage, pork, lamb, and other meats, salads, pickles, cheese, and stuffing. The smell of Sage is very aromatic and distinct.

Sage loves to hang around in the kitchen with Thyme, Rosemary, and Basil. They work very well together. Sage is normally one of the main herbs in stuffing for poultry but is often added to lamb and pork dishes as well. Sage is very strong and should be used sparingly as a little goes a long way. Sage, like many other herbs develops its full flavor the longer it cooks and withstands lengthy cooking times which might be why it is so good when used in the stuffing for the Thanksgiving turkey that cooks for about five hours.

If you grow your own Sage you will find that all you have to do is snip off the tops of the plant with scissors and add it right to your favorite recipe. Sage is still at its best when dried but if you prefer just simply place the fresh Sage leaves in a baggie in the freezer and pull them out as required.

Today, Sage has no medicinal purposes to speak of but back in a different time Sage was used regularly to cure snake bites and was also used to invigorate the body and cleanse the mind. In the middle ages it was quite common for people to make a Sage tea and drink it for ailments such as colds, fever, liver trouble, and epilepsy.

Although there is nothing to solidify these claims it is also said that a chewed Sage leaf applied to a sting or an insect bite will reduce the sting and bring down the swelling. Sage tea has been said to soothe a sore throat and also help in drying up a mother’s breast milk and also reduces blood clots. Further it has been known to help with itching skin if it is added to hot bath water. Today, it is mainly the Native Indians who still rely on the herbal powers of Sage.

The word Sage means salvation from its Latin origin and is associated with longevity, immortality, and mental capacity. Sage never loses its fragrance even after being dried out so it is often added to potpourri and is also added to many soaps and perfumes. It has been used in insect repellents and has antibacterial properties which have helped it become a preservative for many things such as meats, fish, and condiments. Sage has a musky smoky flavor and works very nicely for cutting down some of the richness in many foods. It also goes great with almost any vegetable too. Sage is definitely an herb that most people almost always have in their pantry if they do any cooking at all.

The holiday decorations are up here at the urban gardens. We do not go overboard too much as we are a hospital but we do dress up a bit for the holidays.

We have large flower pots by the entrances which I refer to as color pots. These pots are changed out 4 times a year. I use Red twig dogwood, winter berry and boughs of evergreens.

One Of The Winter Color Pots Outside Main Entrance

It makes for a festive and a very seasonal solution for cold climate flower pots. It will hold up pretty well until march which will be time to change it out for spring time .

Also a very good idea for patio area planters it will provide a pleasant view on mild days for visitors to the serenity gardens.

Simple Evergreen Boughs And Winterberry

Evergreen boughs are also a great way to cover flowerbeds during the winter months and give a great look that is much nicer than just wood chips or mulch.

Have you ever seen those family portrait Christmas cards. How about those special holiday cards that you can put your own pictures into ?

As a website owner I am always on the look out for great graphics software or programs that will enhance my photos.Check out this great example from their web site.I have found a great software program that is so simple to use but will give you a ton of fun. You can insert any photo into special photo frames then print them right from your computer. Check out this example.

The software which you load on to your computer lets you make hundred of different photos framed like this. It is so simple that anyone can do it in a matter of minutes. Just 3 easy steps! There are all kinds of different things that you can do with the photos . They even offer calendar and license plate templates. Believe me you need to check this out if you are into photos or digital photography here is the link photo gifts

I think you will love this and use it all year long to amaze your friends and family!