A COMBINATION OF FLOUR AND FLOWER PICTURES

     Recently I made the sugar cookies that you see below.  They are considered not crisp, but chewy.  After the dough comes together, one simply takes about a tablespoon of dough, shapes it into a ball, and rolls it into sugar before placing on a cookie sheet.  Then lightly press down on each cookie with your fingers.  I have two sizes of scoops that I use for baking.  I used the smaller one for these cookies.  They were rolled in a decorative sugar with larger granules, but regular sugar is fine.  I found the recipe on the Internet.  It is a simple one that included butter, sugar, egg, flour, baking powder, salt, and vanilla. They go really well with a glass of lemonade!

Chewy Sugar Cookies

    

Pink and white Clematis

     These pretty pink flowers are something I look forward to seeing each spring because they are so striking.  I don't know how long I have had this Clematis, but it continues to be a favorite.  Last spring I actually remembered to trim it back after blooming as it had suffered some dryness over the years.  It had also gotten so large and disfigured from being dry.  Seems like I always forgot the correct time to trim it back was after it had flowered because it blooms on old wood.  Then it would go another year in a repeated cycle of growth and getting drier.  Truth be told, it probably needed a new layer of mulch before now as well.  That should prove to you how hardy it is though. All of that color is worth a little mulch, fertilizer, trimming and watering.  Don't you think?

     The photo below left is lemon balm.  I have grown it for many years to the point now that it pops up in a lot of places.  This happens because I have had several pots of it or I have just planted it in the flower beds.  Invariably a piece or two will find itself left behind and it roots!  I wanted to grow lemon balm to put the herb in my baked goods.  It can also be added to salads, fish or poultry dishes. I have recently found a cookie recipe that includes chopped lemon balm.  Now baking those will soon be on my agenda!

Lemon Balm

Lily of the Valley

     The photo at right was my lily of the valley for this year.  These diminutive white bells are very special to me as they were part of my wedding bouquet.  I never saw them actually growing until my mother-in-law to be showed me those she had in her front yard many years ago.  When I saw them, I knew right then that I wanted them included in my flowers at our approaching wedding.  However, we were told by our florist where we were getting married that lily of the valley would be more of an expense than we realized.  Because they did not keep these flowers on hand, purchasing them and having them shipped in at the precise time would be costly.  So, I had to drop that idea.  Boy, was I surprised on our wedding day when I reached in the box to pull out my bouquet and my pink roses had tiny lily of the valley stems accompanying them!  My mother-in-law had actually talked to our florist and arranged to pick her own lily of the valley just prior to hopping in their car to make the trip to our wedding destination.  Those fragrant beauties will always be special to me.  And I had the bouquet dried and still have it!

Magnolia in bloom

      At left is a Magnolia flower in bloom.  I grew up around Magnolia trees and always enjoyed them when they bloomed each spring -- especially their scent-- aahhh!  The unfurling of the flower is indeed a process.  The blossom has just opened in this picture and all but a few of the petals resemble the shape and size of an individual salad bowl.  We had a Magnolia tree for several years when we first married.  When raising one in your yard, there is always the decision of whether to allow the branches to grow from the ground up, or to trim the branches so as to be able to mow underneath the tree.  I remember playing underneath huge Magnolias that still had their branches growing from the ground up.  It was like having your own dark green tent to hide underneath.

      At right are white azaleas in bloom on a nature trail we visited recently at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, AR.  This is a very beautiful floral nature trail exhibit.  It is nice to be able to enjoy our natural surroundings at outdoor exhibits and parks while getting exercise.