Meyer Lemon Rosemary Cookies

Meyer Lemon Rosemary Cookies is a delightful combination of fresh flavors from the garden.  We did not have to have lemon extract but almond extract was a great substitute.

Meyer Lemon Rosemary Cookies
Bake: 350* F  8-10 minutes                Makes 80 cookies

3 C all purpose flour
1/4 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 1/12 C granulated sugar
1 egg
1 t. lemon extract
2 T. finely, snipped fresh Rosemary
2 T. finely shredd
ed Meyer lemon peel
1/4 C. Fresh squeezed lemon juice, strained
1/2 C. Powdered sugar

1.  In medium bowl stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Measure out Rosemary., finely shredded lemon peel and lemon juice.

2.  In large bowl cream butter and granulated sugar and beat with electric mixer on medium to high until fluffy.  Scrape sides of bowl occasionally.  Beat in egg, lemon peel, lemon juice, rosemary and lemon extract.  Gradually add flour mixture beating after each addition.  Is using an electric mixture beat in as much as you can with the mixer.  Then using a wooden spoon stir in the remaining flour mixture.  Chill dough in bowl for 15 minutes.

3.  Divide dough into four portions.  Shape each portion into a logs.  Wrap each log in waxed paper; twist the ends.  Chill at least 4 hours or up to 3 days.

4.  Preheat oven to 350*F.  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.  Set aside. Cut chilled or frozen logs into 1/4 inch slices.  Place slices about 1 inch apart on cookie sheet.  Bake 8_10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

5.  Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes.

6.  Place powdered sugar in a small bowl.  Add 2-3 warm cookies to the powdered sugar, turning to coat evenly,  Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Nutrition: 1 cookie - 51 cal, 2 g fat, 8 g carb., 0 fiber, 1 g protein, 7 mg chol, 36 mg sodium

Garden Club of Cape Coral helps out Habitat for Humanity

The Garden Club of Cape Coral donated time, shovels and plants to help Lowe's Women's Build establish a fresh new landscape at this year's Lee & Henry county's Habitat for Humanity. The home located at corner of 1st Pl and 19th St SW, Cape Coral, FL.

Included in the garden is a space planted just for butterflies.

How to grow Hibiscus in Fort Myers and Cape Coral FL

The Edison & Ford Winter Estates  is holding a class on growing Hibiscus and Gardenias. The local horticulturist will be doing the presentation.  Class starts at 9:00 AM on May 11, 2013.  

Link to Edison & Ford Winter Estates website

Roselle Hibiscus Jam

A roselle variety planted in Malaysia. Roselle fruits are harvested fresh, and their calyces are made into a pro-health drink rich in vitamin C and anthocyanins. (Author: Dr. Mohamad bin Osman, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), mbopar@pkrisc.cc.ukm.my) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Roselle can be easily grown in Southwest Florida including Cape Coral, FL.  Plant the seeds in March and April and harvest in Oct and November.  Roselle blooms appear starting in early October. The blossom lasts only one day but leave behind a burgundy colored calyx or sepal that when cooked up makes into great jellies, jam, syrup, a rum drink or a cranberry-like sauce.  Here is my recipe for Roselle Hibiscus Jam. 

You will need about 50 picked roselles or about 1 gallon.  Remove the calyx from the seed pod.  Wash and drain.  Place them in a large deep pan.  Add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water,  one box of pectin and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes.  Add 4 cups of sugar, or more to taste. Stir and bring to full boil for one minute.  Remove from heat and put in hot sterilized jars to seal.

Recipe provided by Helen Gearing, of Cape Coral, FL

Roselle Cranberry Sauce

English: Fruits of the Oval Kumquat, Fortunella japonica, syn: Citrus japonica. Heidi Vega Aimonetti (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Roselle, sorrell, Florida cranberry (pictured below) can be cooked up into jellies, jams, fruit topping and also served in place of Cranberrys at the Thanksgiving dinner table.  For the carnberry sauce you will need to pick about 50 roselles.   Wash lightly, then peel back the cayleps from the seed pod.  Place cayleps in a sauce pan add about 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of water.  Add sugar to taste.  I use about 1 cup of sugar.  One can add orange peel or kumquat for a more citrus taste. 

Another helpful hint is to add 5 seed pods to the sauce pan.  The seed pods have a lot of natural pectin to help thicken the sauce.  Simmer for about 3 minutes. Then refrigerate and serve. 

Roselle Hibiscus made into a Cranberry Sauce



My night blooming Angel's Trumpet tree is in full bloom.  This is the second time it has bloomed this year. The first time I had maybe one tenth of that it is doing this time.  The difference is "road apples".  The tree is a show stopper. 



We live in Cape Coral FL where the temperate zone in 10.  The tree grows easily from green cuttings and blooms about 4 or 5 times a year.  It is also called Tree Datura and Brugmansia arborea.  All parts of the tree are poisonous if ingested.  Leaves have a velvet/fuzzy texture.  The blooms start out white and last only about 3 days. This particular species the blooms change to an orange blush as it matures.  The blooms are very fragrant especially noticable in night breezes.

Related articles

• Angel's Trumpet (spotsandgreens.wordpress.com)

Brugmansia arborea flower with seed pod. Note the long green calyx typical of B. arborea. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yes, Peaches do grow in Florida. I planted this "Sun" peach tree three years ago. This year we harvest and have canned 5 quarts of peaches, made 2 peach pies, froze 4 bags of peaches to later make into smoothies. Plus I made 5 pints of peach jam. We live in Cape Coral FLorida where our temperate zone is 10.

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Related articles

• Planting a peach tree
• Taking peach cuttings
• Strawberry Peach Honey Smoothie

• Blueberry Peach Smoothie (bestfruitsmoothies.com)
• Peach Dessert Smoothie (bestfruitsmoothies.com)

In a recent Cape Coral FL garden walk tour I came upon the idea of garden art. Why not include art pieces in the garden. It can be as simple as statues, broken pieces of plates, pottery, bowls or even pots and pans. Of course wind chimes and a fountain with ceramic frogs and cranes near by is aways a delight.  I am also seeing, solar powered lamps and rocks to light up the night. Would love to see what you have recently discovered. 

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Related articles

• Sunset Celebration - May 2 - Cape Coral Yacht Club

The Garden Club of Cape Coral, FL enjoyed an afternoon tour of three of it's members gardens.  Each was quite different from the other.  The first one at Pat's home was a delight with unique a yard art interspersed in the plantings.  The Second yard (Paula's) was filled with native plantings, large trees and unique paths past her patio and too her herb garden. The Third garden (Lynne's)is where this picture was taken.  Her home is along the Caloosahatchee River.  Beautiful setting's with orchid's, Sea Grapes, palms and fountains. 

The club also enjoyed a tea togather by the view and pool.  Lovely time was had by all.

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NEW Garden & Estates Tour at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates | The Snowbird Journal - The magazine for Southwest Florida's seasonal residents!

NEW Garden & Estates Tour at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates | The Snowbird Journal - The magazine for Southwest Florida's seasonal residents!

Do you like Story Telling?

Image via WikipediaThere is a free story telling group that meets in Fort Myers every 1st Tuesday of the month.  Little Joe McCabe is a key member of the group and he also writes for Snowbird Journal which is a great online resource for what is happening locally.  http://snowbirdjournal.presspublisher.us/event/florida-s-famous-storytellers/2011-07-05

Go Native in your backyard in SW FL

I love it when I have a chance to walk in a natural setting.  So why not go native right in your own backyard.  My plan is to stop moving lawn and stop fertalizing with harmful chemicals. What great resources for going native Sue Scott offers in this video.

More Compost, Less Work - Fine Gardening Article

This looks interesting and does not seem to take up to much space. If it is all done corrently it will not smell. Just remember not to add meat items to the compost. More Compost, Less Work - Fine Gardening Article

Urban Farm Magazine

I just bought a subscription to Urban Farm Magazine.  Looking forward to their articles on small-space gardening and sustainable living in cities and suburbs. In Cape Coral FL on Saturday mornings the farmers market is a well attended market with many local vendors and plenty of fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables.  The first to go seems to be bib lettuce and beets.