Looking for some projects to do this summer? Here are some ideas to help utilize your gardens bounty.
Here is a collection of recipes I hope you enjoy making, vary them as you wish and to fit your pallet.

Herbal Vinegars: Use them in vinaigarrete salad dressings, sauces or marinades. They also are a digestive aid.
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Four Spice Vinegar- Grind 1 tsp Coriander, Peppercorns & dried Chili and 2 tsp Dill or Fennel seeds.Add to heated vinegar, allow to cool. Next day, strain, then store in a cool place.
Alternative- add herbs into vinegar. Let sit in a cool dark place. Strain in 2-3 weeks, refrigerate.   
Use other herbs as substitutes: Bay, Marjoram, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage & Thyme.
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Herbal Infused Oils- Infuse herbs into olive, grapeseed, sunflower or other edible oil. Simmer on low, covered for several hours. Strain and refrigerate.
​Alternative- add herbs into a jar with oil. Leave on a window sill for 2-3 weeks (warm place). Strain and refrigerate. Use on salads or ingredient for other recipes. 
Use Herbal Oils in dressings, flavor vegetables, meats and even for skin care or fragrance.
There are many herbs you can use for flavored oils: Basil, Bay, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, Garlic, Peppers & Peppercorns, Rosemary, Sage, and Thyme. You can also make floral oils for baths or add essential oils for perfume: Calendula, Chamomile, Violets & Pansies, Roses and Yarrow 

Herbal Simple Syrups: Use these syrups to flavor Teas, Cocktails or use in your Humingbird Feeders. You can use Flowers or Berries- Carnation, Elderberry, Hibiscus, Lavender and Rose.
​Pink Syrup
Need: 1lb Red or Pink Carnation, Hibiscus, Rose & Peony petals, 5 cups water, 12 Cloves and 1lb sugar.
Prepare: Combine petals, clove and water in a pan. Cover and simmer for 5-6 hours. Strain liquid. For every 2 ½ cups use 1lb sugar, simmer until sugar melts and becomes a syrup. Cool, then Store in a cool place. 

As we deal with our countries current situation, it's good to get back to the basics and make your own staples at home. These recipes are ideas to spark inspriration to experiement with your family and friends.
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There will be more to comein the coming weeks. If you have a question about using herbs from your garden email me at: Thepondpad@gmail.com 
I also teaching gardening classes, write eBooks and consult online www.HerbalElements.net  

​Lady Beetle Care

1. Release lady beetles at dusk or early evening. Lady beetles will fly away almost immediately if released during the heat of the day or where the sun is shining, so wait until evening to release them. Spray a fine mist of water on the plants before the release. Giving beetles a drink may keep them around longer. Place beetles at the base of plants or in the crotches of low branches. Lady beetles will crawl higher into the plant in search of aphids. Once lady beetles begin to fly, they are likely to fly a substantial distance, often outside the boundaries of your garden. Do not release lady beetles on plants that have been sprayed with insecticides as residues from most insecticides are likely to kill the beetles. However, insecticidal soaps and oils, once dry, will not leave toxic residues.
2. They need a good supply of aphids. There is no point in releasing them on plants with few aphids. Lady beetles are voracious aphid feeders and an adult beetle will eat 50 or more aphids a day. The convergent lady beetle, which is the species sold for release, feeds almost entirely on aphids and will not remain on plants with low aphid populations and will not control other garden pests.
3. Expect lady beetles to fly away in a few days. Even when released with care, lady beetles will fly away within a few days. Lady beetles are unlikely to lay eggs on the plants they are released on. If aphids return a week or two later, gardeners will need to release more lady beetles to help increase the local population.

Derived from: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=13933

Creating a Hummingbird Garden by using a diversity of plantings and garden techniques to attract them to your garden. Hummingbirds are important pollinators as well as adding entertainment and meaning to your landscape.

4 steps

1.Plant nectar and pollen rich flowers- Provide a variety of heights of plants so they meander while feeding. Hummingbirds like all colors- primarily brighter colored and typically tubular in shape. See examples below.​

As our garden awakens, so do we in a way, by embracing the warmth and sunshine that spring brings to us all. Turn off the TV, put down your phone, stop watching the news and get outside and work in the garden. There are a lot of things that can be done now, and then again in early May to achieve the garden of your dreams. While you work and create outdoors, take advantage of the fresh air and embrace your yards energy. Here are some gardening tips for now, some for later, plus a blooming by the seasons guide.

• Make Your Spring Checklist. Look around and take note of the things you need to do and when you plan to do this. Weeding, Mulching Fertilizing, Planting, Amending or Setting up Irrigation and any other project you plan to do this year.   Get a journal, notebook or gardening App to record this info. Checklist and Schedule.
• Decide Your Focus. What are your goals? What you want visual appeal- lawns, flowers, ornamental plants, water feature; or a more functional garden- food, herb & medicine production, attracting pollinators, wildlife. Maybe a combination of the two? Whatever you decide, make a list of plants you want to grow. Look online at garden images or visit Zenith Holland for ideas. Some Plants are only available Seasonally.   
• Food Production- There are many Fruits & Veggies you can grow in the garden, raised beds or in containers. Fruit Trees- Apples, Pears, Asian Pears, Cherries, Plums, Apricots, Nectarines & Peaches- Trees May need a Pollinator (two trees or a combo tree) Berries- Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Marionberry, Gooseberry & Blueberry. Cool Season Veggies vs. Warm Seasoned Veggies- see below.

• Start a Veggie Garden- Spring & Fall!   Cool Season Veggies-there are a bunch- Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Brussels & Cauliflower; Cabbage & Kale; Lettuce, Chard & Spinach; Onions & Leeks; Peas, Radish, Rutabaga, Turnips & Carrots, Peas, Potatoes Asparagus & Garlic (usually planted in spring),. Warm Season Veggies- Tomatoes, Peppers, Tomatillos, Eggplant, Melons, Squashes, Cucumbers, Beans & Green Beans.
• Apply Organics- Apply G&B Fertilizers, then add Mulch like compost or other organic soil amendments 1-3” deep. This helps protect your plants roots from winter damage. Place a thick layer of newspaper or cardboard prior to mulch to choke out weeds.
• Transplant or Repot- Transplant or move plants now before it gets too hot. Repot plants that have over grown their containers.

    Blooms Throughout the Seasons:
Winter & Spring Blooming Bulbs (Feb-April)- Crocus, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Iris, Snowdrops, Tulips. 
Cool Season Annuals (Sept-May)- Calendula, Pansies & Violets (johnnie jump-ups), Primroses, Snapdragons
Spring Blooming Shrubs & Trees- Flowering Ornamental: Cherries, Plums & Crabapples, Dogwoods, Lilacs, Weigela, Azaleas & Rhododendrons, Mountain Laurel, Pieris
Summer Blooming Bulbs (some hardy, some annual)- Crocosmia, Dahlia (tender), Elephant Ears (A), Freesia (A), Iris, Peony
Summer Blooming Shrubs- Butterfly Bush, Clethra, Crape Myrtle, Hydrangeas, Roses
Warm Season Annuals (May-October+)- Fuchsia (some are perennial), Geraniums, Impatiens, Petunias, Marigolds, Verbena (some are perennial), Zinnia
Fall Annuals and Colorful Perennials- Add into pots, borders & beds- Pansies & Violas; Mums & Asters; Cabbage & Kale and Fall Color Vines (Purple Grape, Silver Lace Vine, Virginia Creeper) & Shrubs (Dogwood, Spirea & Blueberries), Evergreen Perennials (Heuchera, Tiarella & Hellebores), Broad Leaf (Euonymus, Azaleas & Lonicera) & Conifers.
Late fall -Winter-Early Spring- Blooming Shrubs- Camellias, Current, Daphne (winter), Forsythia, Quince, Sweet Box, Viburnum (some), Witch Hazel
Plants with Berries- Beauty Berry, Blueberries & Evergreen Huckleberries, Cotoneaster, Holly, Juniper, Mondo Grass, Nandina, St. John’s wort, Viburnum (some), Wintergreen

     Planting Schedule:
January & February: Plant Cool Season Annuals & Veggie Seeds inside. Plant hardy trees, shrubs, perennials, vines and grasses- weather permitting. Plant Bare root fruits and berries.
March & April: Plant Cool Annual Starts & Veggie Starts outside, weather permitting. Plant hardy trees, shrubs, perennials, vines and grasses.  Plant Warm Season Annuals & Veggie Seeds inside (Feb-April) read directions for plant timing to put outdoors.
May: Plant Warm Season Annual Starts, Veggie Starts and Hanging Baskets outside, weather permitting. Plant hardy trees, shrubs, perennials, vines and grasses. Plant Summer Blooming Bulbs (April – June) see directions on package.
June: Put houseplants outside in the shade on porch or other protected areas for summer-repot and fertilize as needed. Direct Sow Seeds (late May-early June)
July & August: Plant Warm Season Annual Starts- replace dead or tired plants from baskets. Start Fall Blooming Annuals & Cool Season Veggies- in pots or direct sow into ground/beds.
September: Plan Your Fall & Late Winter Tasks. Plant Fall Crops Starts, Fall pots & Hardy Plants. Bring indoors houseplants & tropicals. Lawn Care- Aerate, Thatch (if needed), Sod/Seed, Fertilize. Plant Spring Blooming Bulbs (Aug- Oct). Direct Sow Root Veggies Seeds.
October: Plant Fall Crop Starts, Hardy Plants. Rake Leaves, clean plants. Mulch.
November: Irrigation winterized (or in October). Cover spigots. Plants should all be winterized.
December: Decorate for holidays. Feed the birds.

If you have questions, Ask Kerri at: thepondpad@gmail.com  

​ We at Zenith Holland hope this  "Recipe for Seed Gardening" will help you with a great project for kids to get them excited about growing plants and creating their own gardens. 
Ingredients: 

• 1 paper cup
• Soil – seed starting or fluffy mix, we like G&B
• Seeds
• Fertilizer- organic is best, we like G&B
• Pencil
• Teaspoon
• Light and water

 
Directions:

1. Punch holes in the bottom of a plastic or paper cup* 
2. Fill cup 1/2 full of soil 
3. Sprinkle a pinch of fertilizer 
4. Using pencil poke 3 holes in soil 
5. Add seeds into the holes
6. Sprinkle soil over seeds
7. Using spoon drizzle a small amount of water (or use a spray bottle)
8. Place in sunny window

 
     Always be sure to read your seed packet first for best results.
Some Tips: Soil should remain moist, not soggy. As plants grow, they may need to be transplanted into a larger container or acclimated to the outdoors then planted into the garden. * Try using egg cartons, plastic muffin or produce containers and other recycled items to sprout your seeds. Use your imagination and have fun with it!  

This was a collaboration written by Eileen Hoffman of Zenith Holland. Stop in and ask to Eileen about this project and choosing seeds. Call or Email for further details.