Watch those hostas grow!

It's amazing to me just how fast hostas can grow.  Hostas love cool and wet weather, which is exactly how we could describe our spring here in Wisconsin this year.  Hostas are water loving plants, so instead of fertilizer they just need rain.  These pictures were snapped of my hosta beds just over the past three weeks.

Back Bed

Rhubarb Custard Pie

Rhubarb loves cool weather, so it's been a great spring for rhubarb. I decided to harvest my first batch of rhubarb tonight, and decided to make a rhubarb custard pie. I will admit that I took a short cut and used a store bought pie crust.

1. Cut up 4 cups of Rhubarb.  I always find it easy to chop up the rhubarb if I peel away the flat side of the rhubarb (see the curls to the left), and chop the rhubarb with the peeled side down.  Preheat oven to 375.

2. Place the chopped rhubarb into a pie shell.

3. Make the custard:

• 3 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 TB milk
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• Mix together in a bowl

4. Pour mixture over rhubarb.

5. Make crumb topping mixture.

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/3 cup butter
• cinnamon/nutmeg to taste (optional)
• Mix together until crumbly

6. Sprinkle crumb topping on top of pie

7. Place in the oven, it's best to place pie on top of cookie sheet so if it boils over the cookie sheet will catch it.  Bake for 40 - 50 minutes.

8. Take out of oven and let cool, usually best to cool for a few hours or overnight, if you can wait that long.

Wordless Wednesday

Pics from May 7th, 2011

Midwest Hosta Convention "Isthmus in July" Madison, Wisconsin

If you really love hosta, I highly encourage you to attend the Midwest Regional Hosta Convention which will be in Madison, Wisconsin this year.  The convention will take place July 7-9.

What's a hosta convention?
In short, it's a gathering of people who love hostas.

What can you expect to see or do?
You can expect to see hostas, of course.  There will be hosta vendors from around the country selling hostas, and opportunities to tour beautiful hosta gardens in the area.

Where can I find more information?
http://wihostasociety.com/html/2011_convention.html

Do I have to attend all days?
No, you can just come for a day.

Not to be missed?
The Friday night hosta auction is usually something to be seen, unless you have a very strong weakness for hosta and won't be able to control yourself.

What a difference one week can make

Last week we had 10 inches of snow....this week: lots of rain.

Visit to Thistledown Greenhouse

It was time once again for my early spring visit out to Thistledown Greenhouse.  I usually go the first day they open, but the weather here has not been cooperative.  Thistledown is located between Black Creek and Bonduel, and is a great place to visit.  The owners are so nice and helpful, and they carry a wide range of plants from succulents, annuals, perennials, cacti, and plants for miniature gardens.  Here are some pictures from my trip, and I am going to try to put some of my succulent containers together today.  So I might post more pictures tomorrow.  If you would like more information about Thistledown, you can visit their website or visit them on Facebook.