Hearts Ease

Welcome to my garden. Hearts Ease is a secret garden located in an average neighborhood, hidden and protected by a large non descriptive stockade fence where Ivy of different colors merge and entwine with a climbing Pink Mary Rose, as miniature roses bushes, Pink Fairy grow along the base of the fence. From the top of the eight foot fence hangs a decades growth of Climbing Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora).

One day as I tended my private sanctuary a place all creatures are at peace with each other. A garden where butterflies, dragonflies and hummingbirds fill the air, rabbits make their warrens and ducklings swim and played with my dogs. A friend stopped by unexpectedly. This friend had recently suffered a heart breaking loss and seemed to be lost as her heart was broken.

As her foot first touched the gravel path a smile slowly came across her tired face as she embraced the view. I stood busy at my garden table making tussie mussie for gifts from my daily collection of rose blooms and naturals. I went to my friend only stopping quickly to shoo a mother mallard who was leading her new ducklings past a sleeping cocker spaniel as I did this I noticed in another area of the garden my old yellow Labrador was busy watching butterflies hover between my butterfly bush Black Knight Butterfly Bush - Buddleia - and the tip of his pink wet nose.

A warm feeling of peace washed over me as I thought how lucky I was. Each step deeper into the garden the tired worn friend went, she visibly became a younger version of the women who had just opened the gate. I thought to myself as I witnesses the effects of the peace on her that this garden was sort of natural Botox. I moved towards her greeting her with a hug and a beribboned tussie mussie. She shook both of them off in a kind way, her eyes roaming the garden taking in every color and texture, she said "Your garden brings me so much peace, it eases my heart, you should call this hearts ease garden." My friend smiled back at me. It was then I could see in her eyes that she was free from the recent pain if only for a few minutes, I felt lucky to have been able to give her those moments no matter how brief.

Flattered by her words I decided then to honor her by naming my garden, "Hearts Ease Garden".

Summer Lingers Still

The snow has been piling up outside these past few days but I hardly notice it with the heavy wonderful fragrance of my Meyer Trees lemon flowers filling the air of my home. My garden is still producing even after the official garden season has ended. The fruits from the Meyers Lemon Tree is heavy causing the branches to slightly bend under their weight. I have spent these cold snowy nights thinking of what I will make with my beautiful smooth skinned lemons, pie? Curd? Teabread with fresh blueberries? Glaze for Salmon? No I think this time I will make and bottle my homemade Limoncello. How wonderful will it be to give a small dose of summertime to be shared with my friends and neighbors during the coldest and roughest part of the late winter.

Limoncello is a Italian based Liquor which can be easily made at home. I get my bottling supplies from a nearby Beer and Wine supplier. When making my Limoncello I will purchase the smallest bottles available with matching fitted corks as well as sanitizer for the bottles. The directions are simple and direct

1. Zest the lemons, and place zest into a large glass bottle or jar, I use a covered pitcher. Add in vodka. Cover and let steep for one week at room temperature.
2. At the end of one week prepare simple syrup(this can be done ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator until needed, combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. DO NOT STIR. Boil for 15 minutes. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature.
3. Add the vodka mixture into syrup and stir. Strain into glass bottles (a cheese cloth is a great strainer), and seal each bottle with a cork. At this point set the bottles aside to rest for 2 more weeks. This beverage is served best straight from the freezer

The liquor can also be used for flavoring and making Limoncello cookies!

Welcome to Heart's Ease Garden

Welcome to my story, my garden, my thoughts on gardening. My focus is on native, shade, herbal, rose and heirloom vegetable gardening. I actively work to use all that my gardens produce for food and recipe development. I am also developing and looking for new and unique ways in which to use other product in my garden from catnip cat toys, lavender dryer sachets, rosemary and basil soaps to canning, drying of Stevia, and holiday decorations making the garden a year round project of fun. I am also constantly working to create simpler ideas for greener more productive as well as attractive gardens. I am certified a Master Gardener and published author. I presently live with my husband, son Alex and exchange student Julius and our six rescued dogs.