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  • You WIll Fall For These Autumn Cocktails

    You WIll Fall For These Autumn Cocktails

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    The change of seasons has started – so why not add some autumn cocktails?

    The leaves are changing, the air is bit more brisk and sweaters and jackets are being pulled out of the closet. Summer is over and autumn is here, and with it is a desire for full, refreshing drinks that have a richer, deeper flavor. You will for for these autumn cocktails which will help brighten the evenings.

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    Pumpkin Pie Martini

    Canadians and Americans spend over half a billion dollars on pumpkin spice products annually, and Starbucks alone sells than 20 million Pumpkin Spice Lattes each year. So why not up the game and make it into a cocktail?

    Ingredients

    • 3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
    • Lemon wedge
    • 4 oz vodka
    • 3 Tbsp half and half
    • 3 Tbsp pumpkin puree
    • 2 Tbsp maple syrup
    • Whipped topping, for garnish
    • Cinnamon sticks, for garnish

    Create

    1. Combine sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a shallow dish
    2. Using a lemon wedge, wet rim of martini glasses, then dip glasses in pumpkin spice sugar to coat rim
    3. Fill cocktail shaker with ice and add vodka, half and half, pumpkin puree, and maple syrup
    4. Shake vigorously until well chilled
    5. Strain into glasses
    6. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of the remaining pumpkin spice sugar

    Black Russian Cocktails

    The Black Russian cocktail was invented in 1949 by Belgian bartender Gustave Tops at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels. He created the drink to honor Perle Mesta, the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg at the time. Mesta was a socialite known for her lavish parties and was a regular at the hotel bar. It the perfect starter drink or late night cocktail.
    • Ice
    • 2 oz vodka
    • 1 oz Kahlúa or coffee liqueur
    • Orange slice or Maraschino cherry for garnish

    Create

    1. Fill a large measuring glass with ice
    2. Add vodka and Kahlúa and stir with a bar spoon or another long-handled spoon until mixture is chilled, about 30 seconds
    3. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass
    4. Garnish with an orange slice or cherry

    Autumn Old Fashioned

    The Old Fashioned is an OG drink since it  was first created in the 1800s. First known as the Whiskey Cocktail, it followed the basic formula for cocktails which included a spirit, sugar, water and bitters. As it was quick and simple to make with just some standard readily-available ingredients, it was originally enjoyed first thing in the morning as a hangover cure. Over the years, bartenders have tweaked the drink again and again….so why not add an autumn twist to yours?

    • 1/2 oz apple cider
    • 1 tsp dark brown sugar
    • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
    • 1 1/2 oz Bourbon
    • 1 thin apple slice for garnish
    • 1 cinnamon stick for garnish

    Create

    1. In a mixing glass, combine the cider, brown sugar, and bitters
    2. Stir until sugar has dissolved
    3. Fill the mixing glass with ice and add the bourbon.
    4. Stir until chilled, about 15 seconds.
    5. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice
    6. Garnish with the apple slice and cinnamon stick

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    Pear-Ginger Shrub

    Shrubs are the hot new things a great option. These mocktails have all the flavor without the alcohol. They are an old way of preserving fruit in vinegar that has found new life in the cocktail world. The result is a sweet-tart syrup that can be added to cocktails, or served on its own with a splash of club soda or seltzer.

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds ripe pears (about 4 medium)
    • 1 1/2 cups (300g) sugar
    • 1-inch piece fresh ginger with skin, grated
    • 1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar, raw or pasteurized
    • 3 to 4 ounces club soda, chilled, to serve

    Create

    Chop pears, with skin, into 1/2-inch dice

    Combine pears with the sugar in a nonreactive container (glass or plastic), tossing the pears to evenly coat them, and lightly crushing them.

    Add the ginger and cover the pear and ginger mixture with a tea towel

    Let it sit in a cool, dark place for 48 hours, stirring the mixture twice during this period

    After the resting period, strain through a fine strainer into a jar or bottle that can accommodate an additional 1 1/2 cups of liquid

    Pour in the apple cider vinegar and stir to combine

    Seal the jar and refrigerate for 10 days, after which it is ready to use (The shrub will keep for up to 6 months refrigerated)

    Combine 1 ounce of the Pear-Ginger Shrub with 3-4 ounces of chilled club soda. Stir gently to combine.

    Hope you fall for these autumn cocktails.

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    Anthony Washington

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  • ‘Shrouded in Light’: A New Book by Kevin Williams and Michael Guidi Makes the Case for Shrubs

    ‘Shrouded in Light’: A New Book by Kevin Williams and Michael Guidi Makes the Case for Shrubs

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    Has there ever been a less rock ‘n’ roll category of plant than shrubs, subshrubs, and bushes? A new book, Shrouded in Light: Naturalistic Planting Inspired by Wild Shrublands, makes the case that woody plant communities have some important answers for gardeners trying to figure out how to design naturalistic landscapes in a changing world. Authors Kevin Philip Williams (gardener) and Michael Guidi (ecologist), argue that in the rush to embrace prairies and perennials, shrubs have fallen from grace—and our idea of a bush bears no relation to anything in the wild.

    Above: At the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Maine, fallow fields are converted into early successional shrubland habitat, through planting shrubs and initial mowing. They are crucial to the survival of dozens of animal species. Photograph by Michael Guidi.

    In his excellent essay in the book’s foreword, Nigel Dunnett suggests that shrubland is closer to a natural landscape than prairie grasslands, which remain in an early successional state with grazing and fire. Neglected by us and not much grazed, the year-round, three-dimensional structure of shrubs is appreciated by the creatures that shelter in them, and the smaller plants that they shade and protect.

    Above: “Atomic age junipers, neglected and thriving outside an abandoned mid-century modern structure in Denver, Colorado.” Photograph by Kevin Williams.

    The cultural journey of clipped shrubs, from Sissinghurst Castle and Versailles to suburban gardens and parking lots the world over, gives them a  kitsch appeal that the authors have fun with. “As society advances into post-capitalism and our hastily produced infrastructure crumbles and is abandoned, the outlines of shrubs with which we have surrounded our homes will flourish and spread, creating shrubdivisions and shruburbs,” they write.

    Above: More persuasive captioning: “On wide open dunes, shrubs act as refugia, creating microclimates and windbreaks, stabilizing surfaces and depositing organic matter.” Photograph by Kevin Williams.

    Dunes and dune marsh-elder (Iva imricata), make a genuinely stunning combination. Shrubs are caretakers of ecosystems, and the dune marsh-elder is a dune protector, growing close to the tideline on much of the North American Atlantic coastline.

    Above: Exciting, under-subjugated patterns in the mountains of Oregon. Photograph by Sean Hogan.

    Thriving in places that do not respond to a plough, and generally “under-subjugated” by people, shrublands make their own arrangements of form, color and texture, in the kind of visual patterns that we would do well to try to follow. This one, including Cascade blueberry, western azalea and hoary manzanita, occurs in Josephine County, Oregon.

    Above: A dry montane shrubland in Colorado, where a desert bioregion transitions into cooler, higher mountain conditions. Photograph by Michael Guidi.

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  • Shrub and Tree Planting tips

    Shrub and Tree Planting tips

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    Trees and Shrubs

    Most shrubs are low-maintenance plants that grow well for years with little attention. However, it is important to start with species well adapted to the local climate and soils. Thousands of shrubs range from dwarfs that hug the ground to tall, tree-like specimens. Before selecting any for your garden, it pays to look around and study those thriving in established landscapes of nearby neighborhoods. Remember that mature shrubs often look very different from their young counterparts sold in pots.

    Shrubs are essential to any landscape design. For example, evergreen shrubs are indispensable for vibrant splashes of green during the dreary days of winter.

    Other shrubs may mask the base of your house so it does not seem so bare, define your property boundaries, or screen unsightly objects or views. Some shrubs produce such attractive flowers or greenery that you will want to give them a prominent place in your landscape. More than any other group of plants, shrubs are the backbone of a garden.

    Shrubs Planting Tips

    Check plant tags carefully to determine a shrub’s mature size before you buy it. Stick with low-growing selections for planting near windows or entryways; use larger shrubs farther from your house. Avoid having to prune a shrub to keep it in bounds.

    • Set out new shrubs when the weather is likely to encourage fast rooting. Early spring is a good time to plant any shrub, but if you live where winters are mild, you may find that fall is better.
    • Most shrubs develop extensive lateral (horizontal) roots, so dig bowl-shaped planting holes twice as wide as deep. Mix in a 2-inch deep layer of planting mix, compost, or other type of organic matter as you dig.
    • Take care not to plant shrubs too deeply. Make sure that the topmost roots are covered with about 1/2 inch of soil, but avoid piling soil or mulch up around the main stem. An old recommendation for digging planting holes twice as deep as the rootball is proving incorrect. This can cause plants to sink too deeply as the soil and amendments settle.
    • Never plant a dry rootball. Always water plants the day before planting and water the ground after setting out a new shrub. When the dampened soil settles, spread a 2- to 3-inch deep blanket of mulch to control weeds and keep the soil moist. Pine needles, shredded bark, or bark nuggets are the most popular mulches for shrubs.


    Free Garden CatalogFree Garden Catalog

    Annuals | Perennials|Trees and Shrubs

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    Frederick Leeth

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  • Make This Quick Marijuana Raspberry Shrub

    Make This Quick Marijuana Raspberry Shrub

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    Looking for something different to delight the mouth and relax the brain?  Here is how to make this quick marijuana raspberry shrub.  It is a great way to relax and enjoy. a good trip. Less harsh than alcohol and refreshing to you system, this is a nice mid week or Sunday break. And raspberries are among the most popular berries in the world. They are consumed as fresh fruits and used in a variety of treats from sauces to baked goods.

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    The popularity of non-alcoholic beverages is always growing, as cola and artificial juices wane in influence, healthy, fresh, and unique beverages begin their ascent into our hearts and refrigerators. If you’re looking for something fun to serve to guests who don’t drink this, consider the shrub. This quick marijuana raspberry shrub dates back centuries, and provides a use to fruit that is on its way to rotting, preventing waste and satisfying your sweet tooth and thirst at the same time.

    Photo by Danielle Guercio

    Quick Raspberry Shrub

    • 1 cup ripe raspberries
    • 1 cup Demerara sugar
    • 1 oz alcohol cannabis tincture*
    • Juice of a lemon
    • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
    Photo by Danielle Guercio
    Photo by Danielle Guercio

    Muddle raspberries with sugar in a jar. Allow to sit for at least 15 minutes, during which time the sugar will dissolve.

    Photo by Danielle Guercio
    Photo by Danielle Guercio

    Strain seeds and solids. Add apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and tincture. Pour 2 oz of juice mixture into a glass with ice.

    Photo by Danielle Guercio
    Photo by Danielle Guercio

    Top with seltzer and garnish with a lemon peel.

    RELATED: The Most Popular Marijuana Flavors

    Photo by Danielle Guercio
    Photo by Danielle Guercio

    *Cannabis Tincture:

    Decarboxylate an eighth of finely ground cannabis by heating in an oven safe and well sealed container for 20 minutes at 225 degrees. Put cannabis and high proof spirit (like 151 rum) into a jar or vacuum sealed bag and place in a water bath at just under boiling for 1-3 hours. Strain into dropper bottle and dispense 1-5mL as a dose or use in recipes.

    This drink is gorgeous, natural, and so easy to prepare. The longer you allow the mixture to sit in the fridge, the more flavor it will develop. Up to a month should be no big deal in a well-sealed jar. Catering to your non-alcoholic friends (or just your taste for finery sans intoxication) makes every gathering more special. The continuous foisting of booze as an equivalent to fun concept is is taking its toll, since cannabis and fruit are relatively harmless compared to the 88-thousand alcohol related deaths per year. It seems like alcohol has no chill, but you can.

    Photos: Danielle Guercio  

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    Danielle Guercio

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