Summer in the Backyard! + Engaged!

Well, hello there garden lovers!

Today I wanted to share with you a few peaks into my summer garden!

It's been quite a busy + exciting summer (my significant other of 5+ years proposed!)... and even though I haven't been updating this blog lately, I have definitely been gardening!

Lemon Queen sunflower

Totally a Pinterest-inspired scene... ha, love mason jars + wine!

Italian Genovese basil

Biggest zucchini I've ever seen!

I will be posting engagement photos very soon! We had them taken last week in Lake Arrowhead, CA... literally on the lake! It was an amazingly beautiful setting, and will in fact be the location of our wedding!

P.S. If you are wondering what I did with my giant zucchini... I made these!

Flourless Zucchini Brownies!
by Lindsay

*If you end up making them... you may want to add about 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to the recipe, so that they come out a dark chocolate-brown color. :)

Have a lovely day!

xoxo,
Ashley

Sweet Summer Basil Lemonade!

Greetings garden lovers!

Today I wanted to share my new favorite summer lemonade recipe with you! It uses stevia instead of sugar, and basil from the backyard garden!

Just for fun, I served them in tiny mason jars... I figure that since 'mini desserts' have been quite the trend, why not make tiny drinks? They are fun to photograph, and even to sip from!

I was also thinking this might be a fun way to serve an 'adult' lemonade drink, by topping it off with a little vodka.

Talk about relaxing in the garden... ;)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup lemon juice (5-6 lemons)
• 5 cups water
• 30 drops liquid stevia (or 1/2 cup sugar, if you like)
• handful of basil leaves
• optional: 1 lemon, sliced, for garnish

Directions:

Juice the lemons. In a large pitcher, mix water with the stevia drops and lemon juice. Stir in a few basil leaves. Garnish with lemon slices and remaining basil leaves. 

*note: If using real sugar, it's best to first heat the 5 cups of water in a saucepan, and then stir in the sugar... before finally adding in the lemon juice and basil leaves.

Enjoy!

xoxo,

Ashley

High Desert Backyard in May!

Greetings garden lovers!

Today I wanted to (finally) get around to posting what has been growing in this Palmdale, CA backyard!

Keep in mind that Palmdale is in the high desert... so if things can grow here, I am betting you can create a backyard garden oasis almost anywhere!

Rose

Apparently this is way more fun than drinking out of the cat bowl!

Hungarian Wax Peppers

Rosemary

Another rose!

Delphinium

Emerald City Zucchini

Basil!

There were 40 strawberries between 2 small plants! (I think kelp powder is the secret...)

Tricolor Sage

My patriotic (Ron Paul) flower pot!

Snapdragon

Begonia

Lemon balm... grown from seed 2 years ago!

Love this cat!

Geranium

Mint... contained in a pot!

Lavender... hello aromatherapy!

Have a lovely weekend! I hope you get to spend time in the garden!

xoxo,
Ashley

The Last Days of Basil...

The temperatures are dropping, especially at night. It is inevitable that the basil plants will eventually see their final day...

 

So I want to enjoy them as much as I can while they are still outside growing! I know I've said it before, but I will say it again- If I had to grow just one plant... it would definitely be basil!

I came up with a list of some of my favorite ways I've used basil this year:

• Basil Lemonade
• Vegan Basil Pesto!
• Carrot Basil Salad
• Basil Tea (great for digestion!)

Let me know if you have any other ideas! I need to use up a lot before it freezes... :)

Benefits of Basil!

If I had to choose only one herb to plant... it would definitely be basil.  It has a heavenly scent and looks great in the garden!  I picked this one up at Trader Joe's... for just $2.99!  I add it to my salads almost daily.  :)  And, it is perfect for making Basil-Lemonade!  Haven't made pesto yet... but I intend to tomorrow!  By the way... did you basil has many health benefits?  According to WH Foods, it's an excellent source of vitamin K and a very good source of iron, calcium, & vitamin A.  In addition, it's a good source of fiber, manganese , magnesium, vitamin C, and potassium.  It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties!  Just make sure to "pinch" back the center set of leaves to prevent flowering (as this causes the plant to taste bitter.)  It also encourages the plant to become fuller and produce even more basil!