Wertheim's Gardens

06/11/2022

The roses this year are so plentiful!! Even though we lost 11 others, the remaining ones have more than made up for this. 💚💚💚

And the calendula is starting to produce - we planted 4 different varieties this year. One we probably won't repeat - single petals, but definitely enjoying the show they're starting to put on. The blooms below are laid out for tea counts....

And we can't forget the culinary herbs ready for their first harvest - fennel and golden oregano. 💚

06/09/2022

Love Asiatic Lilies 💚💚💚

06/04/2022

So, what can you accomplish/plant with an amazing work crew in just one day??

* 8 Luffa starts
* 12 Rosemary plants
* 75 Basil plants
* 224 pepper plants (72 were done the day before) 😉

We're almost done, then we can relax and wait for the bounty to produce 💚💚💚

#wertheimsgardens
#peppers
#basil
#rosemary
#gardening
#gardenlife

06/03/2022

Following up on the bees.....

Richard, bee keeper extraordinare from Elkhart was able to come to relocate along with a couple of other bee keepers....

Each picture explains the process. 🐝💚🐝💚🐝

Video added in comments.....

06/03/2022

Tis the season....for honey bees to swarm!!

This amazing swarm has stopped over in one of our rose bushes.

Tried to contact several bee folks to collect them before they move on, but no one was available - so off they'll go to their selected final stop....

Travel safe little buddies. 🐝🐝🐝

05/30/2022

05/25/2022

97 calendula in.... ✅

05/21/2022

The life of a pepper in 115 days....
https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cdxj23LoMwa/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

05/19/2022

And so it begins.... 💚💚💚

05/11/2022

The Next Lunar Eclipse: Night Of The Red Moon!

A total eclipse of the Moon will take place on Sunday, May 15, 2022. (See exact times below.) The event will be visible in North and South America and may be seen without binoculars or telescopic equipment—even through the haze of a big cities! Unlike an eclipse of the Sun, no eye protection will be needed.

All times are for CENTRAL STANDARD TIME:
Moon enters umbra 9:28 p.m.
Total eclipse begins 10:29 p.m.
Mid-eclipse 11:12 p.m.
Total eclipse ends 11:54 p.m.
Moon leaves umbra 12:56 a.m.

How Lunar Eclipses Work - Earth casts a long, cone-shaped shadow that stretches into space for about 863,000 miles. More often than not, the full Moon passes either above or below this shadow. But on special occasions—when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are properly aligned—the Moon’s path will take it directly into the Earth’s shadow, which causes a lunar eclipse!

Typically, the amount of time that the Moon spends completely immersed in the Earth’s darkest shadow lasts about 50 minutes or less. But the upcoming eclipse will be unusually long. The Moon will be totally eclipsed for 85 minutes—about the length of a feature film.

When the full Moon enters the Earth’s dark central shadow (umbra), its left edge will appear to crumble away. For the next 61 minutes the Moon will move steadily into the shadow until its last remaining sliver becomes tucked inside the shadow’s outer rim. That will be the start of the “total phase” of the eclipse.

If you can’t stay for the whole show, drop in now and then. This will be the best spectacle of its kind visible in the US until March 14, 2025.

05/07/2022

2022 Summer Camp Info

After much deliberation, we have put together what we think will be a meaningful and impactful group of Summer Camp sessions.

These are ALL NEW this year, will be FULL DAY, and will only be held on Mondays.

Each camp session offers unique learning opportunities, with lots of goodies to make and take, as the campers venture into new, dynamic and challenging adventures.

Sign-up is available @ rgwcandyshop.com beginning Monday, May 9th and is limited to 8 campers per session. If a session is popular, we will consider adding additional sessions to be held on Tuesdays.

Please see below for the class descriptions and calendars for the dates. NOTE: the price is for each camp, not one price for all.

05/02/2022

It's Small Business Week!!! Here's a few fun facts and remember - do your part to support the Small Businesses in your community. 💚

04/29/2022

So excited to have these boxes delivered!!

It's pre-cut fabric for planting....no more burning holes in fabric!!!!!

Take that you nasty weeds, ha ha ha

04/29/2022

Colors of Spring 💚💚💚

04/28/2022

One of the locations you can purchase our vast number of Herbal Products is via MarketWagon.com. They are an online Farmer's Market - not a CSA. You can order every week, once a month, or whenever, no minimum order required.

And the best part ~ they deliver right to your door!!!

If you've never tried Market Wagon, use the code below to give it a try today. NOTE: Central IL ordering window is until midnight Tuesdays, with deliveries on Thursdays.

Get $20 off your first order of $40 or more with code LOCALFOOD20 at checkout.

04/21/2022

IMPORTANT AVIAN FLU UPDATE

Effective today, IDNR is recommending a halt to the use of bird feeders and bird baths through May 31, or until avian flu infections in the Midwest subside, especially those that waterfowl may visit. During spring, wild birds will have ample food sources while bird feeders are removed.

HPAI has not been detected in songbird species (passerines) at this time.

Further recommendations from the agency:

👉🏼 Clean and rinse bird feeders and baths with a diluted bleach solution (nine parts water to one part bleach) and put away or clean weekly if they can’t be moved away from birds.

👉🏼 Remove any bird seed at the base of bird feeders to discourage large gatherings of birds or other wildlife.

👉🏼 Avoid feeding wild birds in close proximity to domestic flocks.

If five or more deceased wild birds are observed in one location, an IDNR district wildlife biologist should be contacted. Contact information for district wildlife biologists can be found at https://www.wildlifeillinois.org/sidebar/contact-an-idnr-district-wildlife-biologist/. USDA Wildlife Services also may be contacted at 1-866-487-3297.

In addition, IDNR requests all occurrences of deceased or sick bald eagles be reported to the agency.

04/18/2022

26 Bible Verses for Farmers

Everyone needs a little faith when it comes to being one with the soil. As it is said, a Garden is always a series of losses set against a few triumphs, like life itself. (May Sarton)

May your triumphs be positive and profitable this upcoming growing season.

https://www.agriculture.com/family/26-bible-verses-for-farmers?did=767909-20220417&utm_campaign=todays-news_newsletter&utm_source=agriculture.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=041722&cid=767909&mid=84837826752#

Farming is fueled by science, but it is rooted in faith. These verses offer inspiration and guidance to farmers.

04/17/2022

2022 Herb of the Year ~ Viola, Violets, et al are now in bloom. 💚💚💚

Enter this year's HoY contest at the IL State Fair making your best recipe using this year's HoY.

We are also sponsoring a "throwback" HoY contest featuring 2003's herb, Basil!!

Great prize money, entries due by July 15th; contest on Wednesday, Aug 17th.

04/14/2022

Photos from The Good Life Farm Wife's post

04/14/2022

@ Longwood Gardens, inside one of the sections of their solarium. 💚💚💚

04/14/2022

Himalayan Blue Poppies...

My favorite Gardens, Longwood Gardens in PA, successfully had a major bloom of them this year. This is quite historic as they rarely bloom off the mountains.

Another "bucket list" plant to acquire and one day successfully bloom. 💚

04/07/2022

As you start to get your mowers ready for the first mowing of the season, remember dandelions are the bees first food of the year. 💚

04/05/2022

Spent the morning meeting with the El Salvadoran Consulate and his team discussing H2A & H2B contracts.

After hearing more about the program, this looks to be a viable solution to possible work shortages for the harvest season.

03/20/2022

In full bloom 💚💚💚

03/20/2022

Keukenhof is in full bloom on this beautiful first day of Spring.

For those unfamiliar with the Gardens at Keukenhof, it is the largest Spring Festival in Europe. Located just south of Amsterdam, the almost 80 acres of Gardens consist of more than 7 million flower bulbs that are planted by hand each autumn to flower in spring. Of these millions of bulbs, there are a variety of 800 different tulips. You can see all the flowers in bloom at the festival as you walk the over 10 miles of trails throughout the Gardens.

This year's festival opens on March 24 - May 15. This festival is definitely one for the bucket list!!

03/19/2022

03/11/2022

Forget that horrid old snow outside and consider a new culinary twist to try ~ Edible Flowers. 🤔

Have you ever wondered which flowers you can eat? There are many edible flowers that are good for everything from salads, to dinners, to mixed drinks.

If you always wanted to grow some flowers that are pretty enough to eat, then here are 10 favorites to get you started!

1. Hibiscus flowers mingle cranberry and citrus flavors, making them perfect in cocktails, as a salad topping, or as an addition to your favorite tea.

2. Calendula. Saffron is pricey and that is why many gardeners replicate the beautiful deep orange coloring with calendula flowers, which have a mild citrus flavor. We use it in our Sunshine Blossom Tea.

3. Nasturtiums are peppery, easily used in place of pepper or watercress, or on salads. They also work well as a pretty and edible garnish.

4. Roses vary in taste from floral to gingery but they all make great additions to salads, jam, tea and even to cakes as a beautiful decoration.

5. Daylilies are delicious and can be eaten in four different ways: The flowers, the shoots, the bulbs or the unopened flower buds — all of which have a green vegetable flavor a bit like asparagus. Note: Daylilies are toxic to pets. They are edible to humans but are not to be confused with Asiatic lilies (Lilium asiatica), which can make you sick.

6. Squash Flowers. Zucchini, summer squash, pumpkin and other flowers from the squash family all tend to have a light flavor that makes them great in salads, as a pizza topper or stuffed with herbs, rice and cheese and then baked. Our personal favorite is dredging them in flour and frying them up!

7. Chamomile. If you love herbal teas then chamomile is a must-have plant—and it doesn’t hurt that this plant’s ferny leaves and small daisy-like flowers make it stand out among your garden beds. We combine the flowers with Rosemary for a freshing Remembrance Tea

8. Chive Blossoms. The allium family of flowers is made up of plants like chives, onions, garlic, and shallots—all of which have beautiful clusters of flowers that can be used in addition to the greens and bulbs.

9. Bee Balm. This plant is a member of the mint family and as such, the flowers have a minty flavor. Dress up dishes and drinks that require mint by substituting bee balm flowers instead. Another tea favorite.

10. Borage. These brilliant blue flowers have been used for centuries in salads and their cool cucumber flavor is also an excellent addition to cocktails and other cool summery drinks. Very tasty when sugared.

***** Take Care In Identification
Before you start sampling the flowers in your garden, make sure to properly identify them. The edible flowers listed here along with many others make delicious and beautiful additions to all of your favorite foods and drinks. But some can be quite dangerous to consume!!!

Flowers To Never Eat:

Daffodil – Do not eat any part of a daffodil, which contain the toxin lycorine.
Poppy – All poppies are poisonous.
Foxglove – These contain naturally-occurring poisons that affect the heart.
Oleander – The whole plant is highly-toxic.
Clematis – Mildly toxic, but toxic nonetheless. Contact with clematis (mouth or skin) can cause irritation.
Bluebell – All parts of the bluebell contains toxic glycosides.
Rhododendron – Its toxins can impact heart rhythm and blood pressure.
Larkspur – This plant has toxic alkaloids that are fast-acting and potentially fatal.
Hydrangea – The small amount of cyanide in Hydrangeas make them dangerous.
Lily-of-the-Valley – Pretty, but they contain convallatoxin, which should not be ingested.