Tag Archives: Carlotta Lucas

Horticulture Report: Angel’s Blush Hydrangea

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Plant Name:  Hydrangea paniculata20160825_083348
Cultivar: Angel’s Blush® Hydrangea
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Height:   8 to 12 ft. tall, 6 to 10 ft. wide
Bloom Time:  Summer into Fall

Flower Color: 10 inch-long white flower clusters begin in summer, then turn rosy-red as they age in late summer into fall.
Exposure: Part sun /dappled shade
Soil Requirements: No particular to soil or pH needed.
Highly tolerant of urban pollution.

Water Needs:  Moist
Attributes: Long-lasting flowers, Showy colors
Uses: Urban Garden, Woodland Garden, Garden Accent, Container, Cut Garden, Hedge, Mass Planting,
USDA Zone: 4-8

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Submitted by: Carlotta Lucas

 

Recipe: African Peanut Soup

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African Peanut Soup [Vegan]

Ingredients:
2 tablespoon coconut oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped fine
3-4 cloves of garlic, chopped
4 cups cubed sweet potatoes – (2) 10-oz bags organic frozen, or 2 large organic fresh.
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
½ teaspoon paprika, or to taste ( use chili pepper flakes or cayenne, if you like “heat”)
1 teaspoon salt
1 can diced organic tomatoes with juice (14.5 oz can)
4 cups vegetable stock
½ cup natural peanut butter

Garnishes:
¼ cup roasted unsalted peanuts, chopped
Cilantro leaves, chopped

Using in a 5 or 6 quart Saucepan or Dutch Oven,
Sauté onion & garlic in coconut oil until onions are translucent.
Add broth, sweet potatoes, ginger ; cook on medium heat for 6 minutes.
Add salt, tomatoes, & peanut butter. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and cook an additional 7 minutes. (Note: if using fresh sweet potatoes cook an additional 3 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are tender)

Let cool slightly, puree with a handheld blender, or in small batches in a blender. Serve in bowls , garnished with peanuts & cilantro.

Made today by: Carlotta Lucas
Photo by: Carlotta Lucas

Adapted from The Baker Creek Vegan Cookbook by Jere & Emilee Gettle

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Horticulture Report: Oakleaf Hygrangea

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Plant Name: Hydrangea quercifolia Hydrangea_quercifolia_ Oakleaf
Common Name : Oakleaf Hydrangea
Cultivar: Ice Crystal
Plant type: Deciduous Shrub
Height:   3-6 Ft tall – 3-6 Ft wide
Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
Flower Color: Creamy White aging to Pink (clusters of conical shaped flower heads)
Exposure: Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Acid soil, Excellent Drainage
Water Needs: Low to Moderate ( prefers drier soil after established)
Attributes: Showy Flowers, Interesting Leaves that turn red in Autumn, USA Native, Compact Mounding Shrub, Papery Bark, Multi-Stemmed, Fragrant Flowers.
Note: Will not tolerate “wet feet”. Plant will get root rot very fast if left in soggy soil!
Uses: Woodland Plant, Borders, Group Plantings
USDA Zone: 5-9 ( hardy to -20 F)

By Carlotta Lucas

Chojuro Asian Pear

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Plant Type:  Fruit Tree
Bloom Time:  Early
Fruit Ripens: Late August, Early September
Plant Height: Upright 16-18 feet
Exposure:  Full Sun
Soil: Medium Fertile
USDA:  Zone: 5-8

Attributes: Very productive, Golden fruit with butterscotch-like flavor when tree-ripened. Medium to large fruit. Fruit Keeps.

Other Info: Thin fruit to increase fruit size. Best pollinators: Other variety of Asian pear or Bartlett pear.

Grandpa Ott’s Morning Glory

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Ipomoea purpurea  (Grandpa Ott’s Morning Glory)

Plant Type: Annual (twinning vine)OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Sowing Method: Direct sow seeds in spring (first soak seed in warm water for 24 hrs, then nick the seed)
Bloom Time: Summer until frost – 12 weeks
Flower: Royal purple trumpet with deep pink “star”.
Plant Height: 13-15 feet
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil: Average well drained soil
Attributes: Attracts Humming Birds, Hardy, Easy to Grow, Re-seeds freely, Covers fence or trellis in a profusion of lovely flowers.
USDA Zones: 3-10

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California Giant Zinnia

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             Zinnia elegans (California Giant Zinnia)  
California Giant Zinnia

California Giant Zinnia

Plant Type: Annual
Bloom Time: Early Summer to Frost
Flowers: Large 4” – 5” Double Flowers
Plant Height: 30” – 48” tall
Vibrant Mixed Colors: Orange, Red, Yellow, White, Cherry, Pink, Scarlet, Purple
Exposure: Full sun
Soil: Loamy – Well Drained
Attributes: Excellent Cut Flower, Easy to Grow, Long Lasting, Attracts Humming Birds & Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Very Showy especially in mass plantings, Terrific for Drying.
USDA Zone: All

 

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Submitted by: Carlotta Lucas