Even though the temperature was below freezing this morning, but these plants are blooming!
Hellebore, Bergenia cordifolia, Daphne, Witch Hazel, Crocuses 
Photos were taken this morning, March 1, 2019, in AGC member Carlotta Lucas’ garden.
Tag Archives: Carlotta Lucas
Willow Water
Why & How to make Willow Water
Willow bark contains a natural plant growth hormone called, auxin hormone. You can use this hormone to stimulate root growth on propagation cuttings by making a home-brewed solution called, ‘Willow Water’.
Willow Twigs
First, you collect first-year twigs from any willow species (Salix spp.); these twigs will have green or yellow bark. Older willow growth has brown or grey bark, so don’t use those. The willow leaves are not used, so remove all the leaves from your twigs and toss them into your compost. Take these willow twigs and cut them into 1-inch to 3-inch long pieces. You will need approximately 2-cups of twigs to make ½ gallon of willow water.
Extracting growth hormone from willow twigs:
Steeping Willow Twigs
Method A – Place the 1-inch willow twigs in a container and cover with ½ gallon of boiling water, let them steep for at least 24 hours, then strain the liquid into another container to remove twigs.
Method B– Place the 1-inch willow twigs in a container and cover with tap water. Let twigs soak 48 hours, and after 2 days strain to remove the twigs.
The willow water is now ready to use.
How To Use:
First method: Pour some willow water into a small jar, and then place the cuttings you want to root into the willow water like flowers in a vase, soak the ends overnight. After soaking, plant the cuttings in a propagation medium. Planting medium suggestion is ½ vermiculite and ½ Coir (coconut fiber) or peat moss. Please note: coir is a sustainable planting medium, while peat moss is not.
Second method: Plant the cuttings you want to root in a propagation medium, then use willow water to water these cuttings. Watering the cuttings with willow water twice should be enough to help them root.
How To Store Willow Water:
Store willow water in a jar with a tight fitting lid and keep refrigerated. Label the jar with Contents, Brew Date, and Expiration Date. Willow water keeps for up to two months if refrigerated, but freshly made willow water is more potent, therefore the longer it is stored the less effective it becomes.
Submitted by: Carlotta Lucas
Resources:
Deep Green Permaculture https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/diy-instructions/home-made-plant-rooting-hormone-willow-water/
Garden Know How https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/projects/making-willow-water.htm
Quick Cinnamon Bread (egg-free)
Makes: 1 loaf
Preheat oven 3500 F
Ingredients:
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 Flax Egg = 1 Tablespoon ground flax seed soaked in 2 Tbl water
1 cup buttermilk,
[if needed make homemade buttermilk: 1 cup milk plus 1 Tbl vinegar]
2 cups flour [ white or fine whole wheat]
1 teaspoon baking soda
Cinnamon mixture:
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions:
Make flax egg: add 1 T ground flax in 2 T water, let it sit for 5 minutes.
Make Cinnamon Mixture: In a small dish combine 2 t cinnamon with 1/3 cup sugar.
In a mixing bowl: Combine 2 cups flour with 1 teaspoon baking soda.
In a separate bowl, cream together ½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, and flax egg mixture.
Once this is creamed slowly add in flour mixture alternating with 1 cup buttermilk. Stir only until blended, do not over mix.
Place half the batter into an oiled loaf pan.
Sprinkle 3/4 of the cinnamon sugar mixture on this first layer of batter.
Add the remaining batter to the loaf pan, top with remaining cinnamon sugar.
Create swirls of cinnamon throughout the dough by using a knife inserted into the batter, then twisting and turning it throughout the batter.
Bake 45-50 min, [test with toothpick]
Cool before removing from pan.
Enjoy!
Sun, Shade, Partial Sun, Partial Shade – What does it mean?
Often these terms are confusing even for a seasoned gardener, so below are some 
guidelines to shed light on the subject, and help you plant with confidence.
Full Sun: 6 hours of direct sunlight anytime during the day. It could even be 3 hour in the morning, then 3 more in the afternoon, but 6 hours total is the minimum.
Partial Sun: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight, but provide some relief from hot afternoon sunshine.
Shade: Less than 6 hours of sunlight, is considered a shady area.
Partial Shade: 3-4 hours of morning or early afternoon sunlight, then shaded or getting indirect light in the late afternoon.
Dappled Sun: Similar to partial shade, some sunlight makes it through the branches of deciduous trees.
Full Shade: Lessen than 3 hours of sunlight. Morning sunshine is the best, then receiving some dappled sun or filtered light during the day.
Shade Tolerant: Plant prefers more sunlight, but can be planted in partial shade. Possibly deceiving statement, because plant performance could be substandard if planted in partial shade.
Note: Some plants listed for shade gardens in USDA Zones 7-8 may perform better in full sun in Zones 4-5.
Submitted by: Carlotta Lucas
Tomatoes!
Yesterday, November 2nd, the last tomatoes were harvested!
Even with Ashland’s early summer heat wave in late June, two months of smoke filled skies from forest fires, and an early light frost on September 22nd, this season was the longest and most robust tomato harvest ever experienced in the Lucas garden.
What made the difference this year? Was it the 60 lbs of rabbit manure worked into soil in mid-February, the rice straw mulching in mid-June, the removal of all the new growth and stem suckers in mid-September, or all the above? It’s always difficult to determine why one growing season yields a better harvest than previous years, but gardeners are delighted when is all comes together and produces a bounty of tomatoes!
Top producers 2017:
Better Boy: Large fruit, high yielding , disease resistant.* Indeterminate, Harvest in 70-75 days
Early Girl: Medium fruit, early producer and longer season than most varieties. Indeterminate. Harvest in 57-63 days.
San Marzano: Medium fruit, elongated heirloom paste tomato. Somewhat longer season than other paste tomato varieties. Seeds stay true from generation to generation. Indeterminate. Harvest in 85 days.
Jeweled Enchantment: Medium fruit, heirloom slicer, long season producer. Hard to find seeds! Indeterminate. Harvest 70-75 days.
*Indeterminate– Plants continue to grow and fruit throughout the growing season. Determinate – Plant stops growing when fruit sets and all the fruit ripens at approximately the same time over a 1-2 week period.
Tomato Bisque Soup
4 cups chopped fresh Tomatoes
½ cup onions, chopped
2-4 stalks of celery, chopped
½ cup butter ( or ¼ butter & ¼ olive oil)
¼ cup flour
1 qt. milk (or nut milk, either Almond or Cashew)
1 ½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried parsley
¼ tsp. baking soda
Phase I: Cook Tomatoes in large sauce pan for 15 minutes.
Add & stir in baking soda to hot tomatoes just before combining the Phase II mixture.
Phase II:
Salute onion & celery in butter for 5 minutes
Add flour, cook 1 minute
Stir in milk, salt, & parsley; cook on low 15 – 20 minutes or until thickened.
Slowly pour tomatoes and the onion- celery- gravy mix into a blender. Remember to vent the blender cap and start motor slowly for stream to escape. Pulse or Blend until desired soup consistency is achieved. Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream. YUM!
Article and photos by: Carlotta Lucas
Bountiful Garden
Tomatoes! From plants bought at the Ashland Garden Club Plant Sale in May. 