Spring Planting and Parades

Last weekend, Memorial Day weekend, was yet another wonderful Spring day and I finally had the chance to get some new plants to put in around the inn.

I had been itching to add some colorful annuals, but held back just in case there should be a last minute frost before Memorial Day -- and there was! It was a good thing that I waited.

We have a great nursery near us in Freehold. It is Story's Nursery and it is open year around.

Really nice people and they have a terrific selection of old favorites and unusual exotics. They really know their plants. We have people who come to our inn who make a special trip down to Story's to pick up some plants before heading home.

In this first foray to the nursery I wanted to get some flowers for the various pots and planters around the inn. This pot is on the front porch of the main inn. I like geraniums with verigated leaves and paired this one with a green and pink coleus.

Here is another pot for the front porch. This one with a wonderful bright red dahlia. Love dahlias! I forget the name of the other plant, but it will have deep blue/purple flowers.

The next spot to fill in was the herb garden. I bought 2 of each - basil, thyme, sage, and oregano. Then filled in with several types of marigolds. The herb garden already has chives and mint that you just can't cut back too far!

This pot features a lovely coleus and a datura, also known as Angel Trumpet.

In this long planter outside the windows of the carriage house studio, I planted zinnias and snapdragons.

More zinnias filled the planters on the south side of the carriage house.

Our ancient lilac bush is bursting with fragrant blooms, as are all of the lilacs around our inn.

As I was saying, Story's has some interesting plants! I found these native Australian flowers called Joey's. They are suppose to do well in hot dry conditions, so I've planted them on the south side of the round garden by the pool. This garden has tall grasses in the center, so in the summer time when the grass is tall, one side is in the shade and the other the blazing sun. Anything I've planted on the sunny side has wilted in the heat. We'll see how the Joey's do!

This planter is near the back steps of the main inn. It has the varigated leaf geranium, a datura, and another of those purple/blue flower plants!

And last but not least is the rosemary in a pot by the back door - for good luck!

Now what about that parade you were talking about, you say. Yes, Greenville had it's yearly Memorial Day parade and it had a really nice turn out. It was a beautiful day.

The Green is Back in Greenville

Green, green, green. Lots of green around the Greenville Arms 1889 Inn in Greenville, in Greene County. Good thing I like the color green!

The maple trees are fully leafed out, the grass is practically growing before your eyes, and the weeds making their yearly attempt to take over the gardens!

Good thing we have a secret weapon - Vera, gardener extrodinaire!

She keeps the weeds at bay, while I do the major trimming and planting. With beautiful Spring days like we have been having, gardening is high on my list of things I want to do around the inn!

Spring Time Garden Tour

The recent rains have really given the gardens a boost of growing and greening. Here is quick little photo tour of some of the highlights.

This is the kitchen herb garden, all spruced up and ready for the new season. Last year it was over run with mint, so all of that was cleared out. After all how many mojitos can one consume in a summer. ;-)

We did leave the chives in the center, though. They've already come in handy for the Leek and Potato soup that I made for dinner on Wednesday.

We will probably be planting some Tarragon, Rosemary, Basil, and Thyme this year, as they seem to be the herbs that we use the most.

The White garden has a interloper! Who put the red tulip in there? Probably a squirrel.

Well, there is a little bit of blue in the White garden, too. A Jack Frost Brunnera. Maybe it was a patriot squirrel - wanted some red, white and blue in the garden.

This is our huge ancient lilac, which is next to the carriage house and cottage. It is magnificent covered in deep pink blooms, but also awesome covered in snow!

This is one of the pool side gardens. I'm still working on getting the right mix of perennials for this area. Because of the tall grasses in the center, one side is in full sun and the other is in the shade. Another issue to deal with is that the plants have to be very hardy - our dogs sometimes think the inner ring, between the grasses and the flowers is a great running track.

There are violets popping up all over, but I loved this little scene against the trunk of a maple tree near the main inn. Great moss on the tree trunk, too.

Happy Earth Day

It is a beautiful Spring day in Greenville today. Perfect for enjoying Earth Day.

We like to think of Earth Day all year-round at the Greenville Arms. We are continually working on implementing "Green" programs. These are some of the ways that we are keeping it green in Greenville:

• We give guests the option of reusing their towels and sheets for more than one day. This reduces the use of electricity, water, detergents, and wear and tear on the linens.
  
• We recycle all of our cans, glass, plastic containers. Also cardboard and paper.
  
• We have a compost pile for all of our yard waste. Great for creating mulch!
  

We have many more ideas but would love to hear your ideas, too.

Recipes

Goat Cheese, Cilantro, and Mushroom Crustless Quiche

I mentioned this recipe on Twitter the other day and someone asked for it. So here it is!

(I forgot to take a picture of it, but I'll come back and add that later, the next time I make this.)

This is a nice and easy dish to make and works well for breakfast and dinner. It is not quite a quiche, more like a souffle, because I make it without a crust. Who needs crust when you have all that cheese!

Serves 3 to 4

1/2 cup of sautéed button mushrooms (I like them well browned).
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 - 1/2 cups heavy cream
Kosher salt and black pepper
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
2 - 4 fresh chopped cilantro (or 1/2 tsp of dry cilantro)
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmiginao cheese
Saute the sliced mushrooms in butter until well browned. Drain and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 375 F.

In a bowl, combine the eggs, yolks, and heavy cream. Season the mixture with salt and pepper and whisk until blended. Whisk in the goat cheese, cilantro, mushrooms, and Parmiginao.

Set 3 or 4 5-inch ramekins on a baking sheet and pour the egg mixture into them, dividing it evenly.

Bake until the filling is nicely puffed and browned, 40 - 50 minutes. Let cool for at least 15 - 20 minutes before serving.

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival - July 16 to 19

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival Returns to the Walsh Farm in Oak Hill in July 2009

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival (this year from July 16-19) features four performances stages—the Main Stage, with its natural amphitheatre; the Masters Stage, where you’ll hear unique combinations of top artists in an intimate setting; the Family Stage with loads of activities for kids of all ages; and the Dance Paviliion, which features the best dance bands in the business providing music for dancers well into the wee hours.

Grey Fox 2009 headliners include Ricky Skaggs, David Bromberg, Marty Stuart, The SteelDrivers, Tim O'Brien, Del McCoury, Claire Lynch, Laurie Lewis, Mountain Heart, The Gibson Brothers, The Waybacks and a long list of others. Visit www.greyfoxbluegrass.com for complete information and to purchase tickets on line.

The festival also offers three learning venues—the Bluegrass Academy for Kids, a four day learning program for kids age 8 and up; the Grass Roots Sessions, with hands-on workshops by bluegrass music great teachers; and the Slow Jam Tent for beginning pickers at a speed that everyone can follow.

Prior to the opening of Grey Fox, Pete Wernick (aka Dr. Banjo) and his fine staff of instructors offer a four-day Bluegrass Jam Camp right across the street at the air-conditioned Durham Fire Hall. It's a wonderful way to jump into the world of playing bluegrass music. For particulars and to register for Jam Camp, visit www.drbanjo.com.

On Vendors Row during the festival you’ll find mouth-watering fresh festive and ethnic foods, handmade crafts, music vendors and shops offering top quality products. An enormous extended family comes with the package. You won’t be a stranger long at this world-class yet relaxed, friendly and impeccably organized event.

A frequent nominee for IBMA’s prestigious Event of the Year Award, Grey Fox is the subject of the full-length documentary film entitled “Bluegrass Journey” that has been featured on public television nationwide. In January 2006, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival was selected to kick off BBC World’s Destination Music, a 13-part series featuring music festivals around the world.

Let the infectious sound of bluegrass and the laid back atmosphere of Grey Fox carry you away! Leave the world behind, kick back and enjoy the music, land and fellow bluegrass lovers who gather at Grey Fox each July!

Tent or RV Camping is available on site, but if camping in a farmer's field is just not your thing, then come stay with us at the Greenville Arms 1889 Inn. It's a short hop from our place to the Walsh Farm (just off CR 22 in Oak Hill, NY).

Irish Music Festival - Memorial Day Weekend

The Irish Music Festival in East Durham is only 10 minutes away from the Greenville Arms 1889 Inn. Every year we look forward to seeing all the familiar faces of the guests who come to this wonderful event year after year.

Here is what the festival director, Tom McGoldrick, has to say about this year's festival:

Our 32nd Annual East Durham Irish Festival held on May 23rd & May 24th 2009 on the grounds of the Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre promises to be "The Event of The Year."
New music from around the US, Canada, and Ireland, along with many of your favorite groups certainly will make your visit very exciting and enjoyable.

New for 2009 will be The Elders from Kansas City. This high-energy group has become a favorite at so many festivals around the country that they headline. An act that you do not want to miss.

Also this year we will feature Searson from Ontario, Canada and Barleyjuice from Philadelphia, PA. Both are high energy groups that are patrons are sure to enjoy. These bands will be featured on both Sat. and Sun.

Back again after his 1st appearance in 2008, The Jimmy Sturr Band, winner of 17 Grammy Awards including a Grammy in 2008, along with his 5 gold albums. This group is sure to delight again, our festival goers as they did last year. The band's two shows are on Sat.

Also back again this year will be Black 47, Shilelagh Law, and Hair of the Dog. Add such favorites as The Andy Cooney Band, Kitty Kelly Band, Jameson's Revenge, St. James Gate, and the Moonshiners, ad you are sure to experience a great time.

The Albany Police Pipe and Drum Band and the Michael Farrell School of Irish Step Dancing will appear both on Saturday and Sunday.

For the children, there will be rides and games, along with their very own music tent. Featuring, Driscoll & Smith, with their sing alongs; Carol Spear, Storyteller Extraordinaire; and NEW this year,The First Steps of Irish Dance. Megan and Ronan will teach children basic steps of Irish Step Dancing.

All of this entertainment, along with the craft & product vendors, the food court, and the Children’s rides and entertainment, add up to a GREAT day or two of enjoyment for ALL ages.

Read more about this festival. . .