Your Garden ~ Plants that Deter Pests

 

Over breakfast one recent morning, a guest asked what type of plants deter bugs the best. This made me stop and think about what we have planted and why. The majority of our garden, flowers and herbs included, we use to make pretty arrangements and feed our family and guests.  While this is all important so is keeping the bugs away so that we have these great food options available.

 

Marigolds ~ This year I went on the offensive and intentionally planted flowers to help deter pests. Marigolds are great to keep out bugs and rabbits from munching on your gardens. Plus, they provide an early pollinator to attract bees and butterflies.  Just the scent of the bloom will keep away unwanted bugs and rabbits from your garden. This year I chose to plant them in various locations around our garden beds and at the ends, to hopefully help maximize my results.

 

Basil ~ We typically always plant basil because who doesn’t like basil. In the past we planted up to four different varieties, but this year only have two. Basil does a great job of being aromatic and repelling mosquitos and houseflies from your yard and home.  I’m thinking of adding some more pots with a variety of herbs to help keep the flies down in higher traffic areas and doors. All those kids coming and going can sometimes lead to doors being open to let in flies.

 

Lemon Grass ~ Lemon grass is a beautiful addition to your garden beds.  We usually place one or two on the end and watch as they sway in the wind. While also pulling double duty at deterring unwanted pests. Pests go beyond those blood sucking mosquitos to roaches, flies and other smaller insects.  Of course you can still use it in the kitchen as well.  Lemongrass thrives in a hot climate, so it works well in the Texas summer.

 

Mint ~ We pretty much always have mint growing in a pot around the bed and breakfast.  A leading herb in many of our cocktails and food dishes, it also provides the added bonus of repelling spiders, ants and mosquitoes.  Be careful when you plant, since it can spread, and you may never get a chance to get rid of it. 

 

Citronella Grass ~ Everyone is familiar with citronella being in mosquito repellents and bug repellents but do not realize that it is a grass.  Sure, there is a plant as well and you can probably find both at a local garden store.  Citronella grass can be hard to distinguish between lemon grass from afar, so get up close to help make the determination.  Citronella grass has red colored pseudostems while lemon grass has green.  Add these around your house and garden to help keep pesky mosquitoes at bay.

 

Rosemary ~ Probably another of my favorite herbs to plant for flavorful dishes and as a bug repellent is rosemary.  Rosemary will help protect your garden from a wide variety of bugs that want to feed off your bounty.  We typically have them planted at the edge of our garden like a Rosemary “hedge” of sorts and a way to keep the bugs away.

 

Chrysanthemums ~ These flowering plants are probably one of the most versatile plants to help deter bugs.  In Texas you know we love and enjoy mums later in the year, as is evidence of the giant monstrosities people create in the name of Homecoming.  In the garden they do not need to be nearly as large, to help repel ants, Japanese beetles, roaches, bed bugs, spider mites, ticks and so much more.  Plant these beauties around your house and garden to enjoy the benefits of their bug fighting prowess. 

 

This list is not a complete list of amazing plants to help fight off pests to keep your garden healthy and thriving.  There are more options that you might want to use to help keep your garden healthy or your home bug free.  Since we try to use organic means of gardening and pest repellants these options are wonderful for our garden at the Oaks Bed and Breakfast.

Around Town ~ Vintage, Treasure and Finds!

 

A new way of shopping has hit Sulphur Springs full force. Vendor shops are not a new trend but are definitely on the rise. Vintage, Treasure and Finds is one such shop that recently opened this past February at 325 S. Davis Street. The owner, Judy Heilman is no stranger to the retail shop business but she has adopted this new model in her most recent endeavor.

 

Vintage, Treasure and Finds is open five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This shop is located across the street from The Rail Yard and The Produce Stand on Davis Street just North of the Railroad tracks.

 

Over sixteen vendors have their wares in the new shop and what a great collection of options to choose from. Each vendor purchases and maintains a booth spot inside the shop which allows for the daily management from Judy and her business partner.

 

I know you might be wondering what is different from this shop space compared to the others in town with a similar business model. Well I would say the majority of items offered at Vintage, Treasure, and Finds are antique. Used books, classic games, vintage kitchen ware and so much more adorn the spaces in the shop.

 

Judy saw a need for a shop like this in Sulphur Springs and really wanted to bring the idea from Winnsboro to consumers here locally. Mostly women vendors and a few couples, operate the spaces inside. The booth rentals allow the vendors to display items for sale and not have the same overhead as from a typical brick and mortar store. It allows for people to see if what they have to offer is what the people want to purchase. So far the store has been having great success. With the vendor booths spots full, they have a wait list for when someone leaves.

 

This Saturday they are having a sidewalk sale with additional vendors popping up for your shopping experience. This outdoor market will be open from 10 am to 5 pm Saturday, May 18. Be sure to play to stop by and find something wonderful from their selection of outdoor decor, plants and so much more. They accept cash, check or credit cards on any purchase made at the store. There is no excuse to stay away, we hope to see you there.

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Spicy Citrus Basil Margarita

     

    Summer is fast approaching and we here at the Oaks Bed and Breakfast in Sulphur Springs, Texas are counting down the days until Summer Vacation becomes a reality.  Until then we are whipping up some delicious and spicy Margaritas to enjoy on the back porch.  We happened to be hosting a party last week and the signature cocktail they wanted to serve was a spicy Margarita so I figured why not make that our cocktail of the month.  

    I will say when making your simple syrup the longer you can let it set the stronger the spice level will be in your drink.  I made mine and used it right away after it cooled a bit so it took a little time to build up on the spice level.  Depending on how spicy you want your drink to be might determine how long you let your simple syrup sit.  I would even go so far as to store my jalapeno and basil in the syrup overnight to really get the flavors into the syrup.   

    Since we made these with fresh squeezed lemons and limes there is a little bit of prep work that goes into getting ready for this drink.  The salt on your rim can be another place to add a little kick to your drink.  Find the premade salt or make your own to your desired salty and spicy taste. 

    This amount of ingredients made two drinks, so be sure to have  friend or a really big cup to enjoy your Spicy Citrus Basil Margarita.

Spicy Citrus Basil Margarita

2 Lemons, squeezed

3 limes, squeezed

2 ounces Tequila

1 ounce Jalapeno/Basil Simple Syrup

Pour everything into an ice filled shaker cup.  Shake well to combine, and pour over a salt rimmed glass filled with ice.  Garnish with lemon or lime slices, basil and jalapeno slices. This drink makes enough for two glasses, or one generously proportioned glass.

    We hope that you will try and love our Spicy Citrus Basil Margarita. You can add and remove items as you wish, but these are nice and tangy with the citrus as well as a late spiciness at the back of the drink.  As always please drink responsibly and have a designated driver.  Cheers!

    

NET Choral Society ~ I See the Light

Each spring, for the first weekend in May the Northeast Texas Choral Society puts together a concert for everyone in the whole family.   The director and board work hard over the summer months during their “off season,” to make music selections that will draw in the audience and bring about emotions beyond enjoyment.  They have worked hard to create a show that is more than just a traditional choir concert but a real form of entertainment for everyone to enjoy.  This weekend NET Choral Society will be hosting their Spring concert at the Sulphur Springs High School Auditorium on Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m.

 This year’s concert is titled “I saw the Light.”  A mixture of music that draws on the themes of light and hope.  The concert includes beautiful arrangements of American sacred, spiritual, and gospel music.   Many of the pieces will be familiar to many in the audience, but with varying arrangements that the choral members cannot wait to sing for you.  Director Carol Allen stated that her favorite piece is going to be “O Love” by Elaine Hagenberg.  The “expressive, moving, human emotional side of love is shared” in this beautiful rendition of an classic hymn, titled “O Love That Would Not Let Me Go.”

 Carol Allen has been the director for the past twenty-six years and is even more excited about this group of singers than ever before. Each member works hard and is committed to the success of the group.  There are around eighty core members and the remaining members ebb and flow as the years go by, and she tries to hold membership steady between 85-100 singers.  The group has experienced it all over the years, with in their membership and many feel as though they have created a second family within the group.  If you want to join and experience this group for yourself, auditions will be held again in August. 

 

Until then the Northeast Texas Choral Society has a great program ready for your enjoyment and is set to have two shows this Saturday and Sunday.  They want to encourage you to bring the whole family.  Children are welcome to attend the performance and they hope to one day fill the auditorium and have no empty seats.  They strive to have a community that supports the arts of all kinds and to start that love from a young age.  Children under five years old are free of charge, and then 6-12 years old are $5, adults and older children are $15 each.  Veterans and first responders are welcome and encouraged to attend the concert for free, as a thank you for your service.  Tickets can be purchased from Alliance Bank and City National bank as well as from their website www.singerscount.org. 

 Each concert production cost around $35,000 to produce, and it takes multiple people to make each one happen.  Sound personnel are hired to produce the best sounding music for the whole audience.  Musicians are hired to play accompaniment with the choir for the evening.  Of course, one of the largest expenses is the music.  With a large library from years of productions, the board tries to make selections from ones they group already owns when selecting the music for the next concert.  The choices are made with the whole audience in mind to bring enjoyment for the young and old.  Your support with a purchase of a ticket helps to make each concert even better. 

 

I hope that you will choose to attend this year’s concert and listen to this wonderful show and production put on by your friends and neighbors from Sulphur Springs and the surrounding counties.  The concert will feature soloists and enjoyable music filled with hope and love.    

Your Garden ~ Hugelkultur

It is never too late to start a garden.  One of the fastest and easiest ways to get started is by using the Hügelkultur” (pronounced hyoo-gul-kulture).  A German method of creating garden beds using mounds or in our case filling raised beds.  Of course, you can always just sow your seeds or plants directly into the ground, but by using other organic material to “feed” your crops, from the start, the garden of your dreams is easier to grow with a little help from nature.

       

       

To get started, you need to decide if you are going to mound, or fill raised beds.  Determine your area of growth and then bring in your organic material.  If you are starting out in a new area and have to remove any plants in the way, the organic material you remove can be used to start the base of your mounds or fill in the bottom of your raised beds.  We also like to add a layer of cardboard to the bottom of our beds for added weed protection until our plants take control.

              

Once you have your cardboard down, now is the time to layer in the larger branches or wood pieces to the bottom of your mound or raised bed. These larger pieces of organic material will slowly break down over time and allow a slow release of nutrients into your soil, and create a natural sponge.  The older your wood pieces the faster they will break down and quicker they will “feed” your plants and absorb water.  The decomposition of this material will also heat your bed, which could extend your growing season naturally.

 

Next you can put the next layer into place, which can be dirt or grass from the area you selected to place your new garden bed.  If you use grass that still has roots, place the grass root side up on the logs at the bottom.  This organic layer is going to be packed tightly.  So, whatever you use to place here, stuff it in and add some more. 

 

The next layer will have more wood.  Add smaller piece of wood on top of the organic layer and pack it in tightly.  You can make this layer as high as you want if you are choosing to mound your garden.  If you are using a raised bed keep it below the top level, since it will take time to break down.

 

Water your layers well at this point and add in any organic material to fill in the cracks in the layers.  The addition of water at this point, will help to start the decomposition of the layers below.  We do not wait for this layer to sprout mushrooms before adding our topsoil, but that is a common practice.  We add our topsoil right way after adding water. 

 

After heavily watering the mound or raised bed, go ahead and add in your topsoil.  This product is where you will be planting your garden.  No matter if you are using food or flowers, the end product will be coming out of this top layer.  The best option is to let the mound settle for the off season and plant in the new year.  If you create your bed in the fall, let it settle over winter and then plant in the spring.  I will admit there have been a few beds that we planted right away.  No one way is right or wrong, just standard practice, of waiting after being built.

 

This is one of our favorite ways to start a new garden bed.  In the end it uses less water because the wood at the bottom become like a sponge and waters your garden naturally.  The material does break down over time so the mound or bed will “shrink” as time goes by.  In the end the beak down is worth the cost savings from water retention and natural nutrients going back into your garden. Any shrinkage from decomposition can be replaced with homemade compost to keep your garden healthy and thriving. 

 

Around Town ~ The Plant Niche, Earth Day

 

“Around Town” this month I stopped in to chat with Erika at the Plant Niche, in downtown Sulphur Springs.  The Plant Niche is tucked away at 222 Tomlinson Street.  Her hours are from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday.  This single mom is working hard for her family and has come up with some very innovative ideas to help our community and homes become greener.

 

               Not only does the Plant Niche offer classes, but you can also stop in to purchase your favorite house plant.  If you are not sure about your green thumb, put Erika’s green thumb to work and have her schedule a time to care for your indoor plants, at your home or office.  Fresh plants are so healthy for the home or office environment, cleansing the air, and providing natural color and sustainability from within.  Her plant care services can make the difference in your home and allow you to house plants that you might not have thought to care for at home. So many people think about the outside appearance of homes and forget to place plants in the home. Let Erika help you decide what plants would fit your lifestyle.

 

               One of her latest collaborations is with the Sulphur Springs Public Library, where she has been offering classes for free to the public.  Her latest class was filled to capacity with guests making fresh, live terrariums to take home and enjoy.  Space fills quickly so if you want to join in the plant fun, be sure to check out the Library’s website for more information.

 

               What we really wanted to discuss together was her upcoming event on the Square, to celebrate Earth Day.  This year’s Earth Day Celebration will be held in conjunction with the Spring Market on Main, April 20^th.  Visitors can come and enjoy learning more about the environment and how they can help make a difference by creating a greener living space.  This celebration is free to the public and there will be food vendors, live music, speakers and you guessed it, plants. Be sure to head on down to Celebration Plaza in Downtown Sulphur Springs this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  There will be something for everyone to enjoy and experience.

 

               While you explore downtown, be sure to hop on over to the Plant Niche, just pass through the Courtyard from Main street and enter her shop on the other side.  You won’t want to leave any plants behind. 

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Strawberry Mojito

 

 

               As the temperature starts to creep up in Texas, our herb infused cocktail for April is the perfect drink for sipping and enjoying together.  This month’s cocktail of the month, from The Oaks Bed and Breakfast is a Strawberry Mojito.  Our mint is looking amazing already this Spring and we wanted to take advantage of its bounty early.

               Simple in flavor and ingredients, this drink will be a crowd pleaser for sure.  Unless you are allergic to strawberries, be sure to put this drink on your must make list. If you are allergic change out with watermelon or blackberries.  This strawberry mojito is easy to scale up for larger groups to enjoy together.  If you have friends who do not drink alcohol, leave out the rum and finish off with sparkling water. 

Ingredients

 

3 fresh strawberries, diced

10-15 fresh mint leaves

½ medium lime, juiced about 1 tablespoon

1 ounce simple syrup

2 ounces of white Rum

Ice

Sparkling Water

 

Combine strawberries, mint, lime, and simple syrup into a glass and muddle the group together.  Stir in Rum.  Fill glass with ice, and then top with sparkling water.  Garnish with mint leaves, limes, and a fresh strawberry.

 

               While this is just a single serving for this drink, it can easily be made in a pitcher for friends to enjoy.  I just love how the mint really comes out in this drink when muddled well with the strawberries. The lime adds just the right amount of tart, to balance out the sweetness of the simple syrup. 

 

Mocktail version, sparkling water only.

               Let us know what you think and be sure to share your photos with us when you make one of The Oaks Bed and Breakfast, herb infused cocktails. As always please drink responsibly and have a designated driver.  Cheers!