Dirt Therapy

Well, who would have thunk it? Those silly weather people, who usually get us all in a tizz over nothing, were actually right this time. We woke up to a beautiful white Christmas. They say that 1989 was the last time it happened. I have not ventured out yet. I took these photos from the windows. Outside the breakfast room window (a tiny room that was once a back porch) is where I have most of the bird feeders during the winter. Michael got me some new ones for Christmas this year so I will have to get them out next week. And speaking of feeding the birds, what is up with the huge price hikes on bird seed??? From the bedroom window - Merry Christmas! Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Until a few years ago, we were heavily into Christmas - trees and decorations in every room, lights all over the place, and a grand party every year for our friends, family and co-workers. Well, it was fun while it lasted but then it got to where it was a chore and not so much fun. So we stopped - completely. We sold most of our Christmas decorations and now only have one main tree, which has not been put up for the past two years. I do miss the decorations but not the work that went into it. And I miss our big party - even though I'm not a party person and it always made me a nervous wreck.  My favorite thing was preparing the food for the party and one dessert I always made was a yule log. I still make it every year. It is beautiful and fun to do and not as hard as you'd think. Most of all, it is quite delicious - the combination of chocolate and Kahlua is divine. I found this recipe somewhere on the Internet and thank goodness I printed it out because a recent search fai...

This cold hardy camellia (to -20!) has compact, upright growth and lovely shell-pink, peony type flowers that begin in late November for us (the above photo was taken the day before Thanksgiving) and continue through late winter and early spring. It was developed by Bill Ackerman in 1987 from a cross between C. x willimsii 'November Pink' x C. oleifera 'Lu Shan Snow'. Long thought of as deep south shrubs, hardier camellias are now a reality thanks to breeding efforts by Bill Ackerman at the National Arboretum during the 80s. When devastating hard freezes hit the area in the late 70s, the Arboretum's huge camellia collection (around 900) was almost wiped out. They noticed that a c. oleifera species (later given the name i"Lu Shan Snow"), introduced in 1948 from northern China, stood up admirably to the cold temperatures. Seeking other varieties in the species, they found another one they called "Plain Jane" and set out to develop new v...

The garden is cold, the kitchen beckons. If you like chocolate and mint, I think you'll like these cookies. I've made them many times and they are especially nice this time of year. They are soft and chewy and the mint/chocolate combination is just right. I've found that Andes mints are the best candies to use for this recipe. They are the right size. I've tried larger mints and they didn't melt easily on the cookies. Enjoy! Ingredients: 3/4 c. butter 1 1/2 c. brown sugar 2 TBS. water 2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 eggs 2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour 1 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 18-20 chocolate mint candies (cut in half) Directions: Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside. Unwrap the candy pieces and cut them in half. In a heavy saucepan over low heat, warm the butter, sugar and water until the butter is melted. Add the chocolate chips and mix until the chocolate is partially melted. Remove from heat and mix until the...

I've never made toffee before and I was surprised that it is very easy to make. I made these for a goodie bag that we do for the student workers at the library. If I make it again, I think I'll use a bigger pan so the bars will be thinner - it was too sugary for me and that is saying a lot. I might increase the chocolate as well to make that layer a tad thicker. Ingredients: 2 cups butter 2 cups white sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup finely chopped almonds Directions: In a large heavy bottomed saucepan, combine the butter, sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the butter is melted. Allow to come to a boil, and cook until the mixture becomes a dark amber color, and the temperature has reached 285 degrees F (137 degrees C). Stir occasionally. While the toffee is cooking, cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Use enough to form sides so that it doesn't stick to the pan. As soon as the to...

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

The oakleaf hydrangea has something to offer in every season (flowers, leaves, bark) and they are stunning in fall with their blazing foliage. These photos were taken the day before Thanksgiving, before we started getting rain and cold temperatures. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Mrs. B.R. Cant was displaying some nice blooms this past weekend. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

The Japanese Maples got off to a late start this year with their fall color but it was so spectacular while it lasted. Last night a front came through with heavy winds and rain followed by colder temperatures. This morning 90% of that beautiful fall color is on the ground. Winter is coming!   Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

I can usually find something exciting in every gardening season. As winter approaches, the anticipation for camellias builds. Sasanqua camellias bloom in the fall and the showier japonica types will begin blooming in January and continue through early spring. One of the earliest to bloom is the hybrid "Snow Flurry". It has been blooming now for weeks in our garden. The exquisite camellia is often regarded as a deep south plant but hybridizers continue to work on pushing the envelope. As a result, more cold hardier varieties have been introduced so gardeners farther north can enjoy these beauties as well. "Snow Flurry" is hardy to zone 6. "Snow Flurry" was released in 1986 by the National Arboretum and it is advertised as one of the most cold hardy camellias available. This is one of the few camellias that I planted on the north side of the house and knock wood, it is thriving nicely. The pure white anenome type blossoms are rather delica...

This recipe comes from Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa). I made it this past weekend for my family and it was very good! I did use canned pineapple and I found that in my oven, the baking time only took 40 minutes so better aware of that and check it early. Carrot and Pineapple Cake Ingredients For the cake: * 2 cups granulated sugar * 1 1/3 cups vegetable oil * 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature * 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract * 2 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided * 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon * 2 teaspoons baking soda * 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt * 1 cup raisins * 1 cup chopped walnuts * 1 pound carrots, grated * 1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple For the frosting: * 3/4 pound cream cheese, at room temperature * 1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature * 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract * 1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted For the decoration: * 1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F...

The Home Garden blog is celebrating Fall by gathering together blog posts that showcase fall color in their areas. I was beginning to think that we would not have any color to boast about this year. It has been a bad year for the garden - bone-dry conditions from drought being the chief culprit. October is usually a gloriously colorful month here in north Alabama. This year, it is late and we've even had a few frosts already.  A lot of leaves have been lost already before they had a chance to change color. However, the last few weeks has brought about a magical change. Last night brought rain (hooray!), so I rushed yesterday to get a few shots of the garden in her coat of many colors. The first two photos were taken from the street (W. Limestone) which borders the north side of our property. Ornamental grass "Adagio" and oakleaf hydrangea "Sikes Dwarf" are planted outside the fence. In the background, you can see the foliage of Japanese Maple "Bo...

This tough little annual is still going strong after two light frosts. It is now a "must have" on my annual list. It blooms non-stop and looks great in containers. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Maple leaves on Colorado Blue Spruce Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Earlier this year, I posted about the Memphis Hydrangea Tour sponsored by the Mid-South Hydrangea Society. One of the gardens on the tour is Brad Dantone's whose striking pot arbor attracted a lot of attention. Several of you commented about it and asked for directions on how to create one. Brad graciously sent me the directions and I'm just now getting around to  posting them (sorry to be so slow!). Here is Brad next to his pot arbor - Here are his instructions on how he did it: {{{ This project is easier if two people work together.  Rebar must be small enough to fit through the hole in the bottom of the pots.Cement the rebar 2 feet into the ground.  Start the pots through the rebar and put mortar on the bottom side of each pot.  Put the next pot on top of the previous pot.  Every pot has the mortar to hold to the next pot as they are treaded through the rebar. Cement the Post in the ground in the center. Get a large 2 gallon container, cut the bottom ou...

Irene Fowler is an artist, as anyone might guess while strolling through her exquisite woodland garden. Like Pam Harper , she is a master at combining plants in striking combinations that accentuate form, texture and color. I had a field day photographing her garden because at every turn I would find perfect visual vignettes. The garden lies in a patch of trees behind the Fowler's house. They also garden in the areas surrounding their house, sunnier areas with less trees, but the woodland garden is an extraordinary treat. The Fowler's garden is often featured on garden tours. If you have the chance to see it, do it! It was well worth the drive (they live in the rural Greenhill community).