The sweet aroma of fresh strawberries is what draws us to the fields every spring. We look forward to our strawberry picking tradition every spring. Over the years, this has become a Mother’s Day weekend event. We are fortunate to live in an area that has several pick-your-own berry farms located within a short driving distance. If you have never been to a strawberry patch to pick your own berries, you don’t know what you are missing. Fresh picked strawberries tend to be more fragrant and flavorful than most store-bought varieties. We have made wonderful cocktails, salads, ice cream, desserts and jam with our berries. We also love packing berries in small wooden baskets and sharing them with friends. Making strawberry shortcake is a fresh and easy crowd pleaser. We love slicing our fresh berries and seasoning them with a little bit of good balsalmic vinegar. Let the berries sit in a bowl for 15-30 minutes until ready to serve. Then, spoon the berries (and the juice they have created) over angel food cake. Top with a small dollop of homemade whipped cream. If you love simple fresh desserts, this one is a fun way to get outside with your family and create an easy dessert. We highly encourage you to find a local farm and bring some hand-picked berries home to your family! Here is a list of local farms in the Charlotte area that offer pick-your-own strawberries: Linebergers (two locations Iron Station and Dallas) Carrigan Farms in Mooresville Patterson Farm in Mt. Ulla Wise Acres in Indian Trail Hall Family Farm in Lancaster, SC We hope this post inspires you to start your own strawberry picking tradition. Later in the summer we will be picking blueberries and cherries. Check back and see where we go and what we create with these local fruits.
It’s Hydrangea Season…
For many people, spring is a time when we spend more time outdoors. With the arrival of warmer weather, we emerge from our winter hibernation eager to enjoy the comfortable temperatures and soak in the sunshine. For us, this season means taking on spring cleaning, gardening and outdoor home projects. We are fortunate enough to have a yard that is big enough to grow flowers, ornamental plants, fruit trees, and a vegetable garden. All of these areas require attention this time of year. Although there is always more work to be done, it’s also hydrangea season, which means our favorite plants, hydrangeas, take center stage in our yard. Over the years, we have added several varieties of hydrangeas to our garden. Many of the plants around our home have been propagated from cuttings. Through trial and error, we have found two successful methods to propagate hydrangeas. The first method is the best way we have found to propagate in the spring. Step one is to take a cutting from a plant that has several leaf nodes. We try to take a branch from a plant that needs some reshaping. Carefully, remove lower leaves from the branch. Then, using a rooting hormone, we dip the bottom of the branch into the hormone and place the branch in a pot filled with good potting soil. Place the pot in a sheltered location for about a month. Make sure to water the cutting as needed. The second technique is the process that we use in the late summer and early fall. This process is easily done by taking a low-lying branch, partially burying it in the soil, then placing a rock on top to weigh it down. The branch will establish roots and can then be cut from the “mother” and transplanted to a new location in the spring. If you are in the Charlotte area and looking to add new varieties of hydrangeas to your garden without propagating, here are a few resources for purchasing them locally: Dearness Gardens Pike Nursery Lowes Home Improvement Home Depot We thoroughly enjoy seeing hydrangeas blooming in our yard. As an added bonus, take advantage of cool mornings to cut flowers and use them to brighten the inside of your home and share bouquets with friends. We love this set of 5 clear cylinder vases to showcase blooms. It’s hydrangea season, so whether you are growing your own or picking some up at a florist or local farmers market, enjoy them now! Here are some gorgeous images of our favorite blooms!