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Merry Eastern Orthodox Christmas

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate Nativity on January 6 & 7! by fusion-of-horizons

I think it should be a rule that everybody celebrate everybody else’s happy holidays so that every month the whole year long is filled with festivities and happy holiday cheer. Now that Christmas and New Year’s Eve and day as most people- at least in the Western world-  celebrate is over, we can now start preparing for the Eastern Orthodox Christmas which comes on January 7th.

Traditionally Eastern Orthodox Christmas was celebrated with vegetables making up most of the foods served.  Orthodox Christmas food may include:

  • Nuts and fresh dried fruits.
  • Vegetables and herbs such as potatoes, peas, and garlic.
  • Mushroom soup.
  • Slow-cooked kidney beans with potatoes, garlic and seasoning.
  • Bobal’ki (small biscuits combined with sauerkraut or poppy seed with honey).
  • Bowl of honey.

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Toast in the New Year with Egg-Free Eggnog

eggnog (gluten free and vegan)by elana’s pantry

To all my readers- all my long time readers of  TheGardenLady blog and new readers, young of heart and old of spirit readers, TheGardenLady wishes you all a happy, healthy New Year with wonderful, successful gardening in 2013.

May I offer a toast to all with my favorite nonfattening, nonalcoholic, egg-free eggnog.
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Oprah’s true love….Potatoes

Heart potato by cuorhome

Potatoes are a popular winter vegetable. They are easy to grow and they store over winter well. Many people today love them. Oprah Winfrey is quoted as saying “My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with.” And when potatoes are fried, the fragrance and taste make them ambrosial so that even the poorest person can celebrate with a feast fit for a king in the coldest, darkest of nights. 

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9 Last Minute Garden Gifts

Orchids by donsutherland1


It is really last minute to talk about buying last minute presents- especially if you are planning on ordering them on line. But, there is always a way of creating a card in short order telling the recipient that your gift is coming. Better late than never, especially if that gift shows you really thought about the perfect gift for that perfect person. Take a photo of yourself holding some Christmas decoration, print it out with a line or two that says something to the order of: ” Belated gift will be coming. Be on the Lookout for something VERY special.”   You don’t have to tell them that you had thought of getting the gift at the last minute; just mumble that there must have been some shipping snafu. You can always add the line that you wanted to spread out the joy of receiving Christmas gifts for a longer period than just one day of giving. Put your thoughtful card under the tree or in a stocking for the recipient to get on Christmas morning and be the hero.

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Gardening Gifts

Garden Sculpture at Tucson’s Sam Hughes Historic District by UGArdener

The holidays are coming. The perfect gift, that something special, is being searched for in stores. What to buy your gardening friends or ask someone to get for you or when you write to Santa, that is the problem.

Well, the first thing you might think of is a special plant. Generally perennial plants are not really sold at this time of year in local nurseries because the nurseries are filled to the brim with Holiday plants. So consider a plant gift certificate from a favorite nursery.  Cricket Hill, the nursery that sells peonies, says they are giving 10% off if you use Use code GIFT10 at checkout to save 10% off all gift certificates.

How about a nice planter or sculpture for a garden? If you want something that is eco friendly, check out the products on this site.  I like some of their pebble stools. Or how about lighted planters for the garden?
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Potato Latkes and Applesauce

sweet potato latkes with a vegan sour cream by sweetbeetandgreenbean

Not too long ago TheGardenLady’s Jewish readers celebrated Hanukkah. Because Hanukkah is a holiday which is celebrating the pure oil found in the temple in Jerusalem approximately 2000 years ago, food prepared in oil is generally served on at least one of the 8 nights the holiday is celebrated.

One of the most popular foods served at Hanukkah is the fried potato latke or pancake. This is a simple food to prepare and very delicious to eat. Grate a few potatoes with an onion, drain any water from the grated potato/onion mix and add matza meal or bread crumbs, one egg ( for each two potatoes) plus salt and pepper to taste.  Mix, make pancakes, then fry in oil. Don’t crowd them in the pan. Let brown on one side then flip and fry on the other side. This is a poor person’s food from mostly Eastern Europe.

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Planting perennial shrubs and trees in December

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darwinbell/3253644433/

forced spring by Darwin Bell

Where TheGardenLady lives, we are having unusually warm weather. Of course, winter officially arrives on Dec. 21 st. So this is still a good time to be out planting perennial shrubs and trees.

The soil is still soft enough for you to dig ample holes. When your shrub or tree is planted now, it will get enough water in the winter for it to acclimate in your location.

Even though nurseries are filled with Christmas plants, ask if they have shrubs or trees you want and ask to see if they will still give you a discount. One nursery told TheGardenLady that the trees I am looking for are still in their field, so I know the roots will be good. Even though they will have to dig them for me, they will give me 30% off.

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Christmas Decorations

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tochis/3064550266/

Christmas Ball-keh (Explored!) by tochis

It is that time of year again, the season when TheGardenLady loves to see all the decorations on everyone’s Christmas trees.

I was impressed that many of this year’s White House decorations were simple decorations that anyone could make. I think nothing makes a holiday as wonderful and meaningful as when everyone of all ages and all artistic abilities can participate. For example, I love the wreaths made of sheet music.

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Finding ceramic or clay pots with holes for plants

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brododaktula/215429320/

inside of planter by brododaktula

TheGardenLady received this question from Sarah.

I’m looking to buy 5 or so used, large pots for planting, made of either ceramic or clay.  They need to have holes in the bottom for drainage and a saucer to catch water.  I’m trying to find used ones, as long as they are pretty and in good shape.

This is late in the season to find large pots for planting that are cheap. One can always go to thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales or look in your local $1 store.  Check your local nurseries- not the big box stores. Many of the local nurseries had their sales in the fall when they were selling everything for at least 30% off. Ask the nurseries if they still have big pots left and if they will sell them to you at their sale price.

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