Sunday, April 30, 2017

2017 Stonecrop Gardens Alpine Plant sale

Stonecrop Gardens

New Garden Additions
 Will live in a trough with another Gentiana.
 The Edelweiss will share accommodations with the Gentianas.
 Spring blooming Cyclamen Rhodium.
 This one should bloom in the fall, Cyclamen Hederifolium Ivy leaf.
The 2 Cyclamen will be underplantings in the Peony Garden, they don't take up much real estate or nutrients so shouldn't affect the Peonies. They will be planted in bottomless pots so their whereabouts can be tracked.

 Already have wild violets, but the speckled one caught my eye. No location planned for these yet.
Heather Calluna Firefly, colorful foliage in spring and fall and purple-pink late summer flowers. Destination Heather Garden.
 Dwarf Iris with light blue flowers.
Unsure if this will go in a trough or mix it up with the heathers.

A small selection of Stonecrop Garden Displays
 Woodland plantings
 Raised Bed
Scree Garden

Pit stop at Bear Mountain on the way back home.
View from Perkins Memorial atop Bear Mountain.

Light traffic both ways, left 7:30AM and arrived at the gardens just after 9AM, the parking field was already very full. Not sure how long I stayed, but I arrived home at 1:00PM.


Sunday, April 16, 2017

Happy Easter

As Martin Luther was said to have said "Sin Boldly".  It gives God something to do, forgive you, while she is waiting to do that Rapture thing.

Beers in the Fridge (UK Version):
Mr. and Ms. Eldest came for a visit and gave me these brews from the UK.
Brixton Brewery: APA (American Pale Ale) 5.4% ABV, 45 IBU
They say "Our beers are unfiltered, unpasteurised, unfined (vegan-friendly) and full of flavour."
They are located deep in the heart of Brixton, have tours and open the brewery on Saturdays to buy beer. Tour Info
Craft Beer dot com describes an APA as "An American interpretation of a classic English style. Characterized by floral, fruity, citrus-like, piney, resinous, or sulfur-like American-variety hop character, producing medium to medium-high hop bitterness, flavor and aroma. American-style pale ales have medium body and low to medium maltiness that may include low caramel malt character."

Freedom Organic Helles, traditional Bavarian Helles Lager, 4.8 %ABV
The brewery is located north of Birmingham in Abbots Bromly, Staffordshire and they have tours. Tour Info  They also have an annoying website that asks you if you are of age every time you go to a different page.

Gypsy Hill Nomad Milk Stout  5.5% ABV. Milk Stouts have unfermentable sugars(lactose) to add body and sweetness.  The Brewery is located near Gypsy Hill train station and Crystal Palace Park, south of London.

Beers in the Fridge:

After having Birra Italia, Peroni is no longer my favorite cheap Italian swill.
The Anchor Porter (5.6% ABV) is very good, I may actually like it more than the Samuel Smith Taddy Porter, possibly more complex flavor.

Brooklyn Brown Ale (5.6% ABV, 30 IBU) from Brooklyn Brewery was very good, but I think I still like Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale (5% ABV 31 IBU) better.

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Just Spring Flowers


Current Blooms:
 Siberian Squill
 Perivinkle
 Anemone Blanda "grecian windflowers"
 Ditto
 Perivinkle & Hyacinth
 Anemone Blanda
  Chionodoxa luciliae "glory of the snow"





Squill and Perivinkle