~Saving Marigold Seeds~

Marigold Seeds
(File Photo)

The small Marigold plants that were placed in pots on our deck this past Spring grew and are still adding so much color to our yard. An added plus was that those little bunnies did not hop up the steps to investigate. Seeds from these beautiful flowers can be saved and sowed next Spring. Like with Zinnia seeds, it is an easy process. Snip off the colorful flowers and dry them out. The seeds are long, slender and black. So many seeds can be harvested/ saved and planted next Spring after the danger of a frost is past. Marigolds are very pretty flowers.

Orange Marigolds
(File Photo)

Usually a long planter filled with yellow and orange Marigolds is also found on our deck.

My "Orange Pineapple" Planter
(File Photo)

In the past few years I have planted both Vinca and Marigolds together in pots for added colors on our deck. They also grow well together. If you have been enjoying Marigold flowers these past few months, consider harvesting some of the seeds to plant next Spring.  

For my complete instructions on saving Marigold seeds, click here.

Next Spring plant the seeds in the ground or in planters. Beautiful flowers!

Happy Gardening!

   

Freezing Green Pepper Strips and Chunks

Fresh "Buy Local" Green Peppers
(File Photo)

This is the time of year when I freeze Green Pepper strips and chunks to use while cooking in the future months. In January rather than purchase a Green Pepper at the grocery store, I reach into my freezer and take out a small bag of Pepper strips to defrost. The Peppers are purchased fresh- locally during August/ September when they are in abundance and available at the local roadside stands. Yes, bags of frozen Pepper chunks are sold in grocery stores, but it is an easy process to get them ready to freeze, so why not freeze the "buy local" produce yourself?

Yesterday the last of 6 Peppers were prepared/ labelled and placed in our freezer. I have been freezing this veggie for so many years. 

Strips and Chunks
from last year
(File Photo)

For my very easy Instructions on Freezing Peppers, click here!     

Purchase a few Peppers to prep for your freezer. Then, this winter reach into your freezer and take out a small bag of already prepared Pepper Strips or Chunks whenever you need one. 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

~Saving Zinnia Seeds~

"Tear Shaped" Zinnia Seeds
(File Photo)

This is the time of year when I usually save many of the bright Zinnia blossoms that usually add so much color to our garden. After drying out the blossoms I usually harvest the seeds to save and plant the following Spring (after danger of frost is gone). These flowers attract the Monarch Butterflies. 

A Visitor to Our Garden
(File Photo)

I wrote usually, because this year there really are not many Zinnias in our front garden. However, there is one plant that is producing bright orange blossoms. It was a different growing season this year for my Zinnias. In the Spring the seeds were planted and they did sprout. However, there was a family of bunnies that wandered into our yard. Those tender, small green sprouts made a delicious meal for those hungry bunnies! Only one sprout was able to hide from the bunny family. That sprout hid among the white and pink Vinca that we planted after realizing that the Zinnias would no longer be a reality. Yes, I will save the seeds from the orange flowers and plant them next Spring. Maybe I will plant them in a pot on our deck where the bunnies cannot find them.

The Surviving Zinnia Plant
with a blossom and 2 buds 

For those of you who do have beautiful colorful Zinnias in your garden, save the seeds to plant next year. It is an easy process! Cut the colorful blossoms and let them dry out. After they dry out, harvest the seeds and place them in a labeled paper envelope. It is cool to save the seeds and plant them the following year. 

Click here for my complete Instructions for Saving Zinnia Seeds. 

I wrote the instructions above a few years ago, but I have been using this process to save Zinnia Seeds for so many years.

Happy Gardening!

     

Late August

August 2025

Beautiful weather in Western MA for our last weekend of August! With the sun shining it's great to take a moment or two or three and enjoy the bright colors in gardens. The summer flowers continue to blossom. The Mums that survived the cold winter sprouted up and now have blossoms. It is a pretty time of year! 

August 2025

Wishing you-

a happy and a safe Labor Day Weekend!!

 

Bright Flowers!

Rudbeckia

Bright and beautiful on a HHH day!

Enjoying the view!

 

~Creamy Cheesy Pie~

Creamy Cheesy Pie
ready to cut into needed slices
(File Photo)

A delicious and easy to prep dessert is Creamy Cheesy Pie! It is great to make and then enjoy on a hot summer day. There are 4 ingredients. You probably have 2 of them in your fridge and pantry. The other 2 can be easily purchased in your local grocery store. 

Ingredients: 

(1) Pre-made Graham Cracker Pie Shell
(1) pkg. 2 serving size cook and serve Vanilla Pudding Mix
(1) pkg. 8 ounce Cream Cheese
(2) Cups Milk

Method: 

1. Prepare the Vanilla Pudding according to package directions.
2. Place Cream Cheese in large bowl.
3. Pour hot Pudding over Cream Cheese and whisk until smooth.
4. Pour mixture into Graham Cracker crust. Smooth to edges of crust.
5. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
6. Chill for at least 6 hours.
7. Cut into needed serving slices.
8. Top with whipped cream and serve with fresh berries on the side.
9. Keep remaining pie in refrigerator.   

Instead of fresh berries, I top our slices with a little Strawberry Freezer Jam and then whipped cream.

So easy and so good!
Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

Happy 4th of July!!

Liberty Bell (Celebration)
Norman Rockwell
cover illustration for American Artist (July 1976)
courtesy of Norman Rockwell Museum 

Have a Happy and a Safe July 4th!!