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November 4, 2021
The Food of Art
by Joey Bokor
by Joey Bokor
OK, so maybe that title is backwards and should say the art of food. If you've been receiving this newsletter over the years, you know that the thing we love to do when we aren't outside in the garden is to cook. From marshmallow-fluff hamburgers to our annual meatball day for Christmas, our family enjoys our kitchen almost as much as we do our gardens.
And food can also be an easy, creative medium for art. Harder to frame to be sure, but delectable and delightful at the same time. Maybe you've done a make-your-own-pizza night before. Whether it's with the kids or with some friends, it's a fun way to do something together, plus you can satisfy everyone's tastes and diet. (I won't wade into the pineapple on pizza debate. . .)
But my mom had something different in mind to do with the girls a few weeks ago, when they set out to make pizzas. They didn't just put toppings on their pizzas, they used the toppings to create a beautiful garden scene. Really cool, and as you can tell, they are quite proud of it. It was both delicious and a treat for the eyes. If we hadn't been so hungry, we might have hung it on the wall.
With the holiday season fast approaching, great recipes are probably on your mind. Whether you plan to turn them into visual art is up to you, but if you want your cooking to really shine with fresh flavor and a backyard-to-table twist, then join me this Saturday at 10am for our herb gardening seminar. I'll tell you my best tips and tricks for growing great harvests of fresh herbs and highlight some fun ways to use the huge variety of herbs that Florida has to offer. I'm getting hungry already.
P.S. With the time change coming up this weekend, we are changing our store hours slightly. Starting Monday, November 8th, we'll be open until 5pm instead of 5:30pm.
And food can also be an easy, creative medium for art. Harder to frame to be sure, but delectable and delightful at the same time. Maybe you've done a make-your-own-pizza night before. Whether it's with the kids or with some friends, it's a fun way to do something together, plus you can satisfy everyone's tastes and diet. (I won't wade into the pineapple on pizza debate. . .)
But my mom had something different in mind to do with the girls a few weeks ago, when they set out to make pizzas. They didn't just put toppings on their pizzas, they used the toppings to create a beautiful garden scene. Really cool, and as you can tell, they are quite proud of it. It was both delicious and a treat for the eyes. If we hadn't been so hungry, we might have hung it on the wall.
With the holiday season fast approaching, great recipes are probably on your mind. Whether you plan to turn them into visual art is up to you, but if you want your cooking to really shine with fresh flavor and a backyard-to-table twist, then join me this Saturday at 10am for our herb gardening seminar. I'll tell you my best tips and tricks for growing great harvests of fresh herbs and highlight some fun ways to use the huge variety of herbs that Florida has to offer. I'm getting hungry already.
P.S. With the time change coming up this weekend, we are changing our store hours slightly. Starting Monday, November 8th, we'll be open until 5pm instead of 5:30pm.
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Happy Gardening, The Kerby's Nursery Family 
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The holiday season is fast approaching and before too long, you'll be getting out your favorite recipes for turkey and dressing, herb-crusted pork roast, or whatever your family favorites are. Be ready for the season by making sure your herb garden is in shape and growing well, so that you'll have plenty of fresh herbs to spice up your best recipes. Nothing tastes like fresh-picked from the garden.
Select the Location - Herbs love sun, but sometimes the Florida sun can be a little too much. Our favorite spot for herbs is a location with 4 to 8 hours of sun. Morning sun is best, because a little protection in the afternoon will go a long way towards keeping plants happy.
Make it Easy to Harvest - When you are looking at a recipe after a long day, it is easy to get lazy and reach for dried herbs in the pantry. Make your garden accessible so that you are sure to use fresh herbs. Our herb garden is partially in view from the kitchen window and with it in view, we are reminded to go our and harvest.
Use Good Soil - The flavors and health benefits that we love in herbs come directly from the soil. It is where plants get the majority of their nutrients. When planting be sure to use a rich soil such as our Kerby's Planting Soil or FoxFarm's Happy Frog.
Plant Well - With good soil in hand, plant herbs level with the ground around them, lightly tamping down the soil in the planting hole. If the roots of the plants are a little compacted, be sure to loosen them so that the new plants can freely grow new roots.
Tend to your Garden - Planting is the fun part, but herbs won't thrive without regular care over the first few months of their lives. Watering is the key, especially with small plants. Water daily for the first month, always in the morning. Every other day for the second month and twice weekly for the third month. Thereafter, an herb garden will be happy with two good soakings each week.
Watch for Pests - Fortunately herbs are pretty good at keeping pests away, but on a regular basis, scout your garden. I love to do it in the mornings with a steaming cup of strong coffee. It is rewarding to see how your garden is doing and to make sure that there isn't anything that will cause it problems. I usually give the garden an all-over look and then go back and look more closely for signs of insect or disease. If I do find anything, I'll treat that same evening with Neem Oil.
Harvest and Enjoy - Once you've gotten your herb plants to a good size, grab your favorite recipes, harvest and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
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New Arrivals |
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Violas Cute Flowers for the Cool Season 6" Pot - $5.99 |
Coral Honeysuckle A Pollinator-Friendly Native 10" Pot - $29.99 |
White Fusion Calathea Back in Stock 4" Pot - $17.99 |
