Welcome to The Morning Star Update!
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Greetings!
This is something that you will hardly ever hear me say (or see me write!) ... it feels like it has been a long summer. And yet, as much as I cherish autumn, I am not quite yet ready for it to be here. Though I love seeing fall foliage and breathing crisp, fresh air, I'm going to savor the warm days and the flowers in my garden while they still last.
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Plum Topping
A delicous way to eat plums! Serve warm sauce over ice cream, French Toast or waffles. (The dark purple skins impart a beautiful plum color to the sauce.)
2 c. chopped ripe black plums (such as Black Friar)
1/3 c. light brown sugar
2 T. water 1 T. lemon juice
1 t. arrowroot starch 1/8 t. ground Vietnamese cinnamon
a pinch each of ground ginger, allspice, and aniseed
Place ingredients in a medium non-stick pan. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Let simmer for about 10 minutes or until the sauce has thickened and the plums are very tender. Serve right away or pour into a glass jar, cover and refrigerate. Yields about 2 cups.
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Versatile Liriope Liriope is one of my favorite landscaping plants. It is versatile, hardy, tidy, keeps its color over winter, and it flowers in the autumn when many other perennials are winding down for the season. Liriope, also called lilyturf because the foliage resembles a short daylily, is typically used as an edging plant - but not the spicata variety which spreads too quickly - or to fill in difficult areas, such as under a tree. Most varieties of liriope will grow and bloom in sun or shade, though they grow faster in shade. Most varieties grow zones 5 - 10 and require little maintenance. We trim ours back in late winter or early spring - before new growth starts. In the spring, I look to see which sections of the plants can be divided in order to extend my liriope border. Other than that, we just water occasionally. Right now, my liriope border is in full bloom. It is a cheerful sight. Do you have any favorite landscaping plants? |
The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore Men, forgive me. You'll probably just want to ignore this book review. I'll make it up to you in October. I'm not usually a fan of romance novels, but The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore seemed like perfect end of summer reading. I was enchanted with chapter titles such as "The yellow leaves of the weeping willow in autumn," "Misty mornings that hold within them the promise of a beautiful day," and "The sweet smell of apples. The last of the ripe plums." Set in the English countryside, this bittersweet novel tells the stories of two women who, through the help of their gardener Jean-Paul, discover the love,magic, and healing a garden can inspire. The French Gardener is at times unrealistic. No big surprise there - it is fiction and a love story. It's a well written story, though, and one that gardeners should enjoy. |
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I hope that September finds you well. Have a great Labor Day Weekend!
Thank you for reading The Update!
Sincerely,
Laurie Pieper
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Late Summer Color
| I took this photo of one of the corners in my garden this morning. Foreground, liriope; right, chrysanthemums; left and background, garlic chives.
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Eastside/Westside Markets
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Now and then in my right hand column articles, I try to feature a local business that I think would be of interest to our guests. Two of my favorite places to shop are Eastside and Westside Markets. With a wide selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, and plants, going into one of these markets is a treat for someone who loves to cook and garden. (They have a fun selection of gift items, too.) I went in this morning and bought July Flame Peaches, Black Friar Plums, Gala Apples, and some other yummies ... plus pansies! I always come home with something wonderful. View more pictures.
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| Band Day |
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Dates to Remember
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through September 22nd: "Oh Really," Strecker Nelson GallerySeptember 1st: K-State football v. Missouri State September 6th: Andy McKee, Forum Hall September 7th: Cinema Sweethearts Gala, KSU Alumni Center September 8th: K-State football v. Miami September 8th: Flint Hills Daylily Society Sale, Downtown Farmer's Market
September 11th: Around the World in 20 Bottles, Gin Dinner, Della Voce
September 15th: KSU Family Day
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