Googootza or Cucuzza Squash!, July 8, 2012

July 8, 2012:
Hi everyone,

I saw something which I haven't seen since I was a little girl..... "googootza" or cucuzza squash!

Our local fruit stand market had three left and I picked up one of these and bought it.  I still don't know what I will make with this but I have been looking up recipes on the internet today.
This particular squash weighed 6 pounds.  To be honest, I don't even remember how these tasted.

My parents used to grow this on their chain-link hurricane fence since it was strong enough to support the weight of this plant, especially when it started to produce squash.

We sliced it up yesterday and I only removed the seeds from about 4 of the slices.  There are a LOT of seeds in these squash!  For some reason, they remind me of teeth.  LOL.

I don't remember how my mother would prepare her squash so I need to ask her soon.  Casseroles maybe??

If anyone has any suggestions on how to cook this and growing tips for this squash, please leave me a comment below.

Have a great day and thanks for visiting my blog!   :)
Lee Ann

Sunflower Plant

I found this strange-looking plant in my garden which I had not planted. I am figuring that a bird dropped this seed.

But anyway, it volunteered in the garden and I decided to pull up the stray weeds growing around it.

It is amazing how fast this plant is growing. Today, the large flower at the top started to open.

This is how it appeared then on May 27, 2012 to June 22, 2012:

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Kindest Regards,
Lee Ann H
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Crochet...Gotta Love It! website: http://cgli.us
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Crochet Gotta Love It! blog:
http://crochetgottaloveit.blogspot.com
(Sent via my blackberry phone)

Alligator Plant, Summer 2011 to Summer 2012

I love my alligators! No, not the reptiles, just the plants.

I found this amazing plant at a local nusery last summer and I
photographed the plant at various times until today, June 8, 2012.

Here are some pictures starting from July 2011 to now.

Also, one of these alligator plants volunteered itself in one of the
gardens. I am curious to see if this will survive a freeze or not once
winter comes. I have always brought the others inside when we have
frigid weather.

Around January 2012, the plant produced a 4 to 5 foot stalk which had
little purplish flower clusters. They didn't have any scent, but they
were pretty in their own way.


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Kindest Regards,
Lee Ann H

My new blog: http://crochetgottaloveit.blogspot.com
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My website, Crochet...Gotta Love It!: http://cgli.us
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Angel Trumpet-Spectacular Plant

Saw a beautiful plant growing and I fell in love with it!

I need to visit the local plant nuseries to see if I can find this beautiful plant.

What is interesting is that the blooms on this plant droop during the day but open to form the trumpets as the sun starts to set. The blooms range from white to a tinged light pink.

Here are some pictures I was able to take, enjoy! :)

Does anyone else have one of these magnificent plants?

Journey Of The Mint Sprig Garnish From A Local Restaurant

Greetings, everyone!

Earlier this year, I was prepared to go out and buy a mint plant for my yard.  I have been wanting some variety of mint for a long time now.

We visited a local restaurant tbis past April and I was pleasantly surprised to see a mint garnishment sprig on my iced tea glass.


Here are some photos I took of this little garnish sprig that otherwise would have gone in the trash can.
April 17,2012:

(the color is not a nice healthy green in these 2 pictures since it hasn't seen much sunlight)

Well, my first thought was that this little sprig of plant had been detached from the main plant for too long and it probably would not root.....coupled with the fact that it had been sitting is a bunch of ice at the top of my iced tea glass and was probably frozen somewhat.

A week later indoors on the windowsill:

(Still a yellowish-green color)

Time passed and here are some "progress pictures" of its growth.   :)

I have this contained to a large pot as it can be a very aggressive ground cover.  I would eventually like to get some other varieties of this herb plant.   It smells wonderful!

Happy minting!   :)

Lee Ann

Sent from my BlackBerry® PlayBook™
www.blackberry.com

My Garden and Yard, Part One

 

Quick note:  I rotated and fixed some pictures which were sideways.  They are now straightened!

Sunday, March 25, 2012:
Hello and hope everyone is having a great Sunday!

I was out in the yard taking pictures and enjoying the great outdoors and lovely warmer weather with which we have been blessed with lately.

Some of the blooms are opening or getting ready to bloom.

The Fuyu Imoto persimmon tree is leafing out nicely. Our Fuyu Imoto Persimmon tree:

We bought another non-astringent variety since the imoto tree is also a non-astrigent. This way, we wouldn't have to worry about keeping track of astringent and non-astrigent types.

The new Giant Fuyu Gosho persimmon tree is now in the ground and starting to leaf out.

Our new Giant Fuyu Persimmon sapling:

It is always fun to get out and work in the yard. Especially the type of work which involves trips to the garden center stores for plant supplies, plants and some of the pretty pots available.

I found some pretty planter pots yesterday. Ended up buying 4 different ones, but I would have liked to have picked more....maybe next weekend!

Pictured with our dog, Cora (black) and Sarah (black and white).  My favorite two of these planters is the painted desert one and the yellowish Grecian Urn.

Next step:  To figure out which plants I am going to transplant into these pots!