Saturday, June 26, 2010

Just one question

Recently I couldn't figure out what was wrong with my elephant garlic. Well come to find out nothing was wrong. It just needed harvesting.
So my question is, what do you do with this much garlic? I hung it up and let it dry and have given some to neighbors. I used a little in one dish but I still have too much left. Any suggestions would be helpful.This is a zinnia I grew from seed this year. It's one of the Benary Giants. I had no idea when I planted it but love it. I has bloomed it's pretty little head off.My Rudbeckia maximas have done well this year. This particular plant is about 7 feet tall. I like the big cone heads. I hope the birds do as they dry up.This is another favorite this year. My perennial hibiscus. It was just covered in blooms. Now I'm just trying to keep it going in this dry heat.As you can see the bees love it as much as I do.One last question. Uh-oh, I guess this makes two questions. Has anyone grown a Desert rose before? The tag said it could get 8 to 9 feet tall. Of course, I guess that would be in the desert. I planted it in a pot. It has pretty pink blooms and a fat trunk which is one reason I like it. It's just different. Kind of like me I guess!!

Happy gardening everyone!


27 comments:

Becky said...

Man, those are some big ole "elephant" garlics!!! Wish I had some sissy girl!

As always, your flowers are gorgeoso!!!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pictures of your plants Susie. I have no idea about the garlic. You sure had a bumper crop! Love the hibiscus especially. Do you have problems with Japanese Beetles?

D said...

Susie, the zinnia is gorgeous and such beautiful garlic!

One thing we like is a Roasted Garlic Spread as an appetizer: Cut off top ends of some of the garlic bulbs so you can see the garlic; place them upright on aluminum foil and drizzle with a little olive oil; fold the foil over to seal and bake in the oven for about an hour at 400°. Once the garlic cools, squeeze it into a little bowl, add a little more olive oil, salt, and you can mash it to serve on a crostini (thin toasted bread slices) as an appetizer. Just made myself hungry. ;)

Connie said...

Hi Susie! I've never grown a desert rose before, and I have no idea what to do with all that garlic, so I'm afraid I'm not much help. Your plants look like they are doing well. I love Zinnias. They are such bright colors, and they usually bloom very well.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Gee ---I can't answer any of your questions, Susie.. I know nothing about growing garlic... I also have never heard of a Desert Rose... Pretty though!!!!

Love your hibiscus. Our neighbor has 2-3 hibiscus bushes in his yard. They are very pretty.

Love that big Zinnia... Reminds me of my mother's zinnias...

Hope you have a good weekend. It's very hot here also.
Hugs,
Betsy

Dorothy said...

Last year I dried some of my garlic and it kept well for a long time at room temp. in a basket. Beautiful flowers! That first Daylily matches your blog colors! Very pretty!

Jacquie said...

I have never seen the Rudbeckia maximas before... but I LOVE them!!!

I'm no help on the garlic, either. Sorry.

Have a great Sunday!

Kara said...

You can soak the garlic in water for 5 minutes. Pop them out of the skin and store in the refrigerator for later use. It is an easy alternative to drying them, which works well. If you have a bumper crop of basil, make some pesto! I also love to put some in my pickles when I am canning them. Roast in the crockpot-throw in some crushed garlic-yum!! I put garlic in just about everything!! Ok not everything.

The Redneck Rosarian said...

Love the zinnia!

Meadowview Thymes said...

Susie, I have a friend that has a desert rose and it is only about 2 ft tall. It is blooming...beautiful! She never said anything about it getting that tall.

Anonymous said...

Sorry I've never grown garlic before so I have no suggestions. But it looks like some others had some good ideas for you. Good luck! Your blooms are great. :)

Chloe m said...

Nobody said anything about vampires. That is just how I think.


Those zinnias are fabuloso. Love them!

Darla said...

garlic butter lasts a long time in the fridge..

George said...

Your flowers are holding up very well in the heat we've been 'enjoying' for the past couple of weeks. I can't help at all with the Desert Rose, but I do know that once garlic is thoroughly dried it can be kept for several months.

The JR said...

Maybe I'll get my zinnas planted some time soon.

Beautiful pictures. I just luv the perennial hibiscus.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Love the zinnia, pink is my color. Sorry, can't answer you question, never heard desert rose. I hope you will keep us updated on what the blooms are like.
Marnie

Tipper said...

Could you just store the garlic to use like you would the fresh garlic from the grocery?

You pics are so pretty and so amazing too : )

Rose said...

I've never grown garlic before either, but I'm pretty sure it stores well. I think just hanging it up and letting it dry naturally will keep it for a long time.

I love zinnias! They're one plant I can count on to grow directly from seed sown outdoors. Great photo of the bee in the hibiscus bloom--looks like he's enjoying himself:)

Jen said...

The only suggestion I have about your garlic is to Go Italian for awhile. yum!
Love the Zinnia- my favorite after the Daisy.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Susie...your hibiscus plant is gorgeous! And so many blooms too! Great colour on that zinnia. As for the garlic, Chinese dishes of garlic chicken/pork/fish come out really well.

Helen of My Rustic Bajan Garden has some great pictures of her tall Desert Rose. She could be the best person to answer your queries. But yours look happy:-)

Anonymous said...

I'm back cause I asked my Mom what you could do with all that Garlic. she said you can peel it, put it in a mason jar in cold water and store it in the refrigerator for awhile. :)

Together We Save said...

Your plants are beautiful!!

Leedra said...

You have me wondering if my perennial hibiscus is in bloom. I haven't even looked in that direction (been gone so much). Will have to check it out in the morning. Love your daylily in your header. Not guessing the name of it though.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

What a pretty Zinnia, I love the bright pink! We just sowed more seeds since none have come up yet. The Rudbeckia and Hibiscus are both really pretty!

Chloe m said...

I look forward to seeing those Desert Rose blooms. I haven't ever grown those. Surprise, surprise.

I like the close-up of the Zinnia. I always plant the seeds too late and it freezes them right about the time they start blooming.

Your Hibiscus is quite lush. You must have planted that a while ago. It looks like it has establisehd itself nicely.Reminds me of Hawaii!

A. Joy said...

The Zinnia is beautiful!!!
Guess you'll be putting garlic on everything huh? I hear it's great for keeping away colds and vampires ... maybe send some to Forks, WA where the Twilight fans are congregating?

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I have found my hardneck garlic I put in the basement keeps longer than the ones I have in the kitchen. Also, in the fall, September here in zone 5b, I try to remember to plant some nice sized individual bulbs back in the garden for next year. I'm not sure if you do that with elephant garlic, but you could check that out.

That's a pretty zinnia. I didn't have many come up this year, and the few I do have have not bloomed yet. I've never heard of that plant you put in the pot. It looks interesting.