Midwest Gardening: What's Blooming in Mid October 24

Midwest Gardening: What's Blooming in Mid October 24

Most photos taken the week of October 7th-10th. 

After an extremely wet summer up until September and SUPER HOT,  plants and flowers are actually happiest right now, mid October here in Chicagoland. It's been dry for at least 6 weeks, so watering has been a must.

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I did water these poor Coleus after this photo. 

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My planters under the back eave were magnificent, and are still blooming. White Caladiums (from tubers) and Coleus grown from seed. The Giant Coleus were huge this year, they loved the hot and wet climate we had. 

Impatiens are still prducing some flowers...waiting for frost to end that.

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Over three feet tall, these were gorgeous, no matter where I planted them.

Leaves are already dropping with the dry weather.

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The last pot was the thinnest, but it gets the most sun and wind in this location, probably the reason the plants were smaller.

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I got a second blooming on my 'grown from roots

 Delphinium. This plant will get transplanted next year. This is a fenced area is where I cater to root/tuber starts. 

Rich ground, a fence, and some serious shade actually helps to start new plants/tubers safe from critters.

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Water, water water is all we have done the last month.

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My annuals are still in bloom, Peppermint Zinnias, 4-foot tall Marigolds and lots of other colors of Zinnias. They were ALL really late this year. The Coreopsis are already done, and I have spread their seeds hoping for more next year.

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Zinnia pod, prime for picking for seeds. I select the bigger flowers and let them dry on the stem...then pluck and harvest seeds. 

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Zinnias are wonderful and prolific, also pretty hardy for light frost, perfect for our location.

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This is the second growth of Sage...IT"S VERY HAPPY this year. Lower right is Majoram, which I have to cut back several times in the summer or it will swallow the whole bed.

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Our garden is pretty much finished, but the carrots are super lush and thick. I have 4 varieties, anxious to see what they did. This area gets partial shade during the summer, so we will see.

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Behind the carrots is my ragtag Swiss Chard, hit or miss. 

My broccoli plants  performed ZIP, we had two scant meals. Between being chewed by critters and then attacked by bugs, they were a waste of space. Same for the Brussel Sprouts. I will try a different location next year.

I emptied all the fence and patio pots last week and dispersed the dirt to: the box in the greenhouse, permanent planters, or the compost pile. That's always a big job.  later I will mix in fertilizer and new or composted dirt to freshen the soil.

I had surgery on the 15th, so all this had to be at least under control before then.

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Such a jumble of half dead plantings, time to recycle the dirt. I will have hubby bury 6 pots of peppermint in a plastic bag in the compost pile. Saving me $$$$ in Spring when I restart them in the greenhouse. Leaving them in a bag, stops them from spreading where we don't want them. 

Peppermint is my Bee protection, as I am severely allergic. We keep Peppermint pots by the grill, the dining tables, the entrances to the house. That way they don't interfere with their busy bee pollination missions.

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Here's the back porch with all the potted Coleus and some peppermint, this is total shade here.

Jumping to October 18th, I walked around the backyard and took a few more photos for the next post.

Also have a Fall project....NEXT

DEPARTING LILIES! 

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All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, unless otherwise designated. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thanks ALWAYS for visiting!

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question. Please don't use my photos without my permission.

 Sandi Magle

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Is It Really Fall?

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Beginning Fall on the Front Porch

Good Morning, is it finally FALL!?!

**This is a repost of years gone by----would you believe 8 from 2016..sometimes it's fun to look back!

I think I had 4 readers then... smiles enjoy!

Slowly I have been starting to do Fall as temperatures have finally gone down in Chicagoland. Yesterday was spent in the garden, pulling up done plants, 

and trying to find our pumpkins and squashes. 

Not the best year--all my pumpkins are very small,

except for two FairyTales (one in a tree) which are not even a bit orange yet.

So last June, I found this NEW great greenhouse garden frame for $4.00 at a craft store discount aisle,  I showed it in an early post here: Somethings Old….

 I thought this would be great for a REDO vignette for Fall, with the rich rust coloring on the metal.

I wanted to use different things this year on the refurbished porch, 

I thought this would be a great addition for cool Fall nights, an OLD kerosene lantern.

Here is a closeup of my Grandfather's watchman's lantern cleaned up from an early post:

Junkin' in the Garage

I confess the garden-shed frame was tucked away behind the settee on the porch all summer. The porch was a mess, undergoing new railings and stairs---with NEW 'out of stock' materials since May---holding up the whole show for almost six months--that's a YELP story for another day.

Still not 100% done, the porch is ready to style a bit and use now.

 We bought the larger pumpkin at the local grocery store, as ours were too small. 

The gourds are from years past; dried and left natural grown in our own, GREEN, garden. 

 Everytime I walk by, I fiddle with the gourds, and occasionally 

find a walnut stored in there by one of our local squirrels.

Do they really think the corner of the stairs and my Fall vignette is a hiding place?

 I did spray the gourds with some Johnson's Wax-Pledge when they were fully dry to enhance the color and seal in the dustiness of the gourds.

Here's our Zinnia's--oops we found out they were Sunflowers in July. I picked one of the dried blossoms and used it for the 'GREEN' element in the front.

Another sprig of smaller sunflowers was put in the back. 

Adding a few pinecones and that is pretty much it. 

I'm sure this will change when my Fall bins are delivered by hubby, from upstairs in the garage.

The craft wood Scarecrow was from a painting project I taught at Michael's back in the 1990's. I taught free-hand painting without patterns---back then, which was out of the norm. 

Somewhere I have a photo  of 14 of these all painted differently by the students.

This scarecrow is a favorite of the Grandbaby as the arms move up and down. He has long since lost his "Pumpkins for Sale" wired sign. My gosh, he is OLD and vintage now.

A straw hay bale waits over in the corner with the houseplants, for a pumpkin or two or three--

they are really small!

The pensive angel tile was a NEW rescue from 'HomeGoods' two seasons back.

The one plant that was very happy outside this summer was my Rosemary--I'm wondering where on earth I am going to keep it in the house this winter. It smells so good.

Here's a  view of the entire seating area--with a lightweight throw REDO

 for those cool nights-perfect color for the porch from GoodWill-$2. 

I added smaller mums in the summer planter box.

 Granpa's OLD lantern and a stoneware candle pot from my potter days, probably from the 1980s finish off the table top. A REDO antique crate serves as a table between the chairs. 

So Finally---beginning Happy FALL, 

from my front porch to yours.

Sharing at these great blog parties :

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All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions or posts. Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

And Always, Thanks for stopping by, 

Sandi

Family Favorite Fall Pumpkin Apple Spice Muffins

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Fall Pumpkin Spice Apple Muffins  

 

Every year I repost this recipe because it is just that good, the scents in the kitchen just send you into Fall Heaven and....

It's that time of year again. Time to sit down, pour a cup, and have a tasty muffin made with fresh seasonal ingredients and whole wheat/grains. 

This is a recipe I have adapted for the way I cook, homemade, healthy and as farm-to-table as possible. 

Though, it all begins last fall with the GREEN homegrown and sometimes farm bought fresh pumpkins and squash we roasted in the oven and froze in bags, for use all season long. (Canned pumpkin can be used)

DIY Fresh squash/pumpkin is high in fiber, low in calories, and high in flavor. For roasting, slice your pumpkins in large chunks, pile skin side-up in roasting pans, add 1/2 to 1 cup of water in bottom of pan, cover with foil or lid, and roast 1-2 at 350  degrees, until fork easily inserts and all the 'meat' is the same color or cooked through. 

You can chop in a blender or chopper at this point or just measure scraped pumpkin flesh into bags, mark and freeze. Use for soups, breads, cakes, brownies, muffins, throughout the year. 

With fresh apples in season also, I opened a defrosted bag of pumpkin and drained the excess water off. This leaves the best part...which I chopped up in the food chopper until smooth. 

Assemble your dry ingredients. I chose Crisco for this recipe instead of butter, though there are saturated fats, it has no cholesterol.  I'm having dairy sensitivities, right now so am not using butter.  But this recipe works well with butter or any oil for that matter, as it is measured after melting. I use use flours from Hodgson Mills.

Lots of spices, flours, and oatmeal measured into first bowl.

 I made a double batch which still worked perfectly.

 

Bowl #2 holds the eggs, pumpkin, chopped apples, and vanilla. Mix well.

Fold the wet ingredients of the two bowls together. 

Do not beat, this is a quick bread, so just combine. Add applesauce if extra moisture is needed.

 

You get 12-18 muffins depending on your pan size. I also baked two round coffee cakes from this double-batch, which I froze. This recipe freezes well.

 Here they are before puffed up in baking. The coffeecakes took about 35-40 minutes at 375 degrees.

  

Here is the fresh muffin, still warm on the plate.

 The texture is excellent with big chunks of fresh apple and raisins in this batch. 

You can't tell this is made with whole wheat flour and rolled oats, it is so tender.

Fall Pumpkin Spice Apple Muffins  makes 12-18 muffins (single batch)

1st bowl

1 cup of unbleached flour (I use Hodgson Mills or Cerasota)

1 cup of whole wheat flour (I use whole wheat pastry flour (Hodgson Mills) as it is ground finer than whole wheat but with the same benefits. Makes great pancakes, too.)

1 cup of long-cooking rolled oats (trusty old Quaker Oats)

1 1/2tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp  ground allspice

1/2 tsp cardamom (this is the secret to this recipe)

1/2 tsp fine sea salt

1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

2nd bowl

3/4 cup of melted stick margarine, butter, or crisco cooled.

1 cup of packed brown sugar (light or dark)

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup of roasted fresh pumpkin drained and blended smooth or canned

1 apple-cored and loosely chopped

(up to 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce if needed)
 

heat oven to 375 F. Line or butter/flour 12-18 muffin tins holes.

In large bowl whisk together flours, oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cardamom, clove, salt, raisins or cranberries, and nuts. (I add everything together---dusts your nuts and fruit at the same time.)

 

In second bowl whisk together cooled melted shortening/butter/oil, brown sugar  and vanilla, whisk in eggs until frothy and blended, then stir in pumpkin and apples. 

Gently, but thoroughly mix this into the dry bowl ingredients,  folding until well incorporated. 
Do not over-mix. If batter is too thick, add up to 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce. (Dense (whole wheat or multi grain) flours are subject to dryness which can effect the moisture content of your recipes as can weather, so applesauce is the perfect consistency to add.)

 

Fill muffin cups to desired fullness, bake at 375F for 25-30 min, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the tops are a bit crusty. These are very moist muffins.

Cool in pan for 5 minutes and then finish cooling on rack.

These are tasty, moist, and freeze well. 

The original recipe called for a crumble on top, or I have lightly frosted with cream cheese frosting or a dusting of cinnamon and sugar, but plain is excellent. 

ENJOY! and thanks for stopping by,

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All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, unless otherwise designated. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thanks ALWAYS for visiting!

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question. Please don't use my photos without my permission.

 Sandi Magle

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A Glimpse of Fall in our Kitchen

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It's been hard to think Fall when your temps are in the high 80's and 90's for the last 6 weeks here in Chicagoland. Actually it has been HOT since the second week in June. 

 I think we had 3 days of 70's last month and no rain for weeks. Today it finally rained. I put a few dried Hydrangeas in my transferware. I may still switch this out when I find my brown cottage pieces.

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Right now this container is an old porcelain tea canister I found last summer. It has transfers on all four sides...and in my favorite blue and white.  

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I have a few old this and that Fall items,  and this may change later.

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This was my cookbook counter in 2022, I try to  coordinate tablecloth in soft fall tones. 

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Then the Rex begonia I thought was dead from being chewed on,--but revived when I brought it inside. Bugs and critters have been voracious this year. The one this year is recovering also from being chewed on.

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I  love to add something natural, and here are some gourds and mini pumpkins. I only have three pumpkins this year. They just couldn't get going in the heat. Illinois is one of the top producers of pumpkins...I wonder how the crops are this year.

I have a few thrift store Halloween things that will go out soon, not before October 1, though. We have some large Skellies for the yard, which will be fun.

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The Mandillas were very happy this summer with the heat, I have 5 to bring in this year. This one is on the end of the cabinet and still in full bloom---and twining away...and a Happiness is Homemade sign. 

Honestly the seasons "HALLOWTHANKMAS"

are so rushed in the stores now...it's crazy. Life flies by and the stores are already loading up for Christmas. UGH!

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We have many a gathering here with family all year. We are having Thanksgiving this year, but not much else.

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I love Sunflowers...and pulled out a faux bush, now that they are done in the yard. The real ones are left for the birds, upside down Goldfinches are the most fun to watch.

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Normally if I serve buffet style off the island. I can't remember what it was like when this kitchen didn't have the island. It functions so well...and this little end I always have something Happy going on! 

Right now it is 'Harvest' for sure. Antique pickling crock, enamel coffee pot, grandmother's crocks a few gourds and peppers for color.

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The sink is seldom empty, and here is the basil I need to process for the refrigerator and freezer. I need to buy garlic, olive oil and pine nuts to make pesto, this afternoon.

I still have to dry a huge crop of Sage and Majoram. Also, need to dry the Thyme and Parsley plants.

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The busiest place in the kitchen is our coffee station....pumpkin spice is always nice!

Staples, actually some need filling...I don't have a walk-in pantry like some bloggers, but this works for all those essentials.

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The workaholic in the kitchen the toaster/convection oven. Use this constantly for two people...it's perfect. Plus throws off less heat in the summer. Now we turn the stove oven on for dinner and taking the chill off.

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I'm going to refresh this shelf this week, maybe with some pops of orange and yellow, or I might bring out some transferware. Depends on how much energy I have.

Almost everything is inherited or thrifted in our home.

 I love the hunt and let's face it, old stuff was made to last!

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Last bit of clean counter---more staples...in our family antique blue jars. My mom-in-law's Kitchen Aide. Love it, except it is so HEAVY! My old mixer went to my kids.

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Since my kitchen was clean enough to share and

now I'll go mess it up and making PESTO!

If You enjoyed this post please FOLLOW IT in the upper right hand corner, to get just one email of each AD-Free post.

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, unless otherwise designated. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thanks ALWAYS for visiting!

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

Thank you for your cooperation,

I will post at the following Link Parties, I hope you visit them.

Love Your Creativity

Metamorphosis Monday

Inspire Me Tuesday

 Sandi Magle

OldNewGreenRedo