Monday, March 28, 2011

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. (and in my post today there is a giveaway for two readers!)

"In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful." ~Abram L. Urban

We took these photos on Saturday, when Mr. Jenny was doing a happy dance that he could harvest his first crop of three artichokes...(I'm sad to say I didn't get a picture of him dancing...sigh...)


Our beautiful daughter stopped by and helped me harvest carrots and peas...


...and rejoice in berry blossoms...


...and we had the joy of picking grand bouquets of sweet peas, ranunculus and bachelor buttons...





As for the giveaway...


...because our lemon tree still has a crazy amount of lemons on it, I would like to send some out to two lucky winners.

If you'd like to win a USPS priority mail flat rate box filled with lemons, just tell me in a comment below what you'd make with them.

Winners will be picked on Tuesday morning and notified. As long as you get your address back to me right away, the lemons will be mailed out on Wednesday.

This giveaway is for US readers only. I'm sorry Int'l and Canada.

"I have never had so many good ideas day after day as when I worked in the garden." ~John Erskine

post signature

53 comments:

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

I know you probably can't believe I'm entering this lemon giveaway, but....you'd better really count my name this time. :)

I would not make anything with them. The Source will make the World''s Best Lemonade and use them in all his cooking. My sister will make The Source some lemon meringue pie.

Count me in.

For real.

I know where you live.

Okay, so I can't get there...

.. I STILL know where you live.


PS sweet pea flowers are the sweetest, aren't they?

Kat said...

Artichokes! I'd be doing the happy dance too. And if you send me some lemons, I'll do a happy dance chorus! I would first fill a bowl with them, so the house would be filled with that heavenly scent. Then, on to lemonade. Perhaps a lemon pound cake. Cait's coming to visit, I know she could come up with something fantastic. Now I'm getting hungry. Kat

Jocelyn said...

Oh what wonderful goodies!!!!! You are so very lucky to be able to garden and bring in all these fresh flowers and veggies!!!

Fresh Lemons are so expensive here and my family adores Lemon Bars....and SOOOO do I!!! I have not been able to make them much...the cost and the little dried up lemons in the store.....equals no Lemon Bars!!!

Thanks for this chance to win!!!

Have a great one!!! :-)

Lynn said...

What a generous offer, thanks for the chance! I'd definitely make marmalade!!! How fun:@)

The Source said...

Well, she beat me to it... These lemons are the BEST!!!!! Here is the recipe for PJ's Favorite Lemonade.....

6 or 7 fresh lemons
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup Splenda
1/2 gallon of water

Make a simple syrup (bring a quart of water,sugar and Splenda, to a boil, stir and allow to cool).

Cut lemons into 1/8s and whizzzzzzzzz them around in the food whizzer (processor) for quite a while (best done 3 1/2 lemons at a time because the whizzer bowl tends to allow spray from impossibly small openings){YES, peel, pith, seeds and all}.

Strain the newly formed lemon glop into a BIGGGGGG bowl (don't forget to scrape the bits that cling to the underside of the strainer). Press all of the goodness out with the back of a spoon..

Mix simple syrup with strained lemon glop and add enough water to make 1/2 gallon...

VIOLA, lemonade!!!!! But you will need to stir it prior to each pour because the pulp tends to float on top.....

It's amazing what the oils from the peel and pith do to the flavor.

Thank you,,, Thank you,,,, Thank you for your latest contribution.... They are THE BEST!!!!!!

The Source

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

But The Source neglected to ask for more! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Terry said...

Your veggies and flowers look wonderful! Thanks for the chance to win some lemons! I'd make lemonade, and maybe a lemon cake! :0)

Paula ~ castleandcottagesigns said...

OH!! I'd make Lemoncello!! just 10 lemons for 7 cups...have you ever made it? First time I saw it was in 'Under the Tuscan Sun'~ yup, I'd make Lemoncello with my Matlock lemons!

Deb said...

wow you are getting things from your garden already...lucky girl...fresh lemons for your tree...I would definately make lemonaide from them...

Anonymous said...

WOW! you're already getting veggies,we haven't even got out soil ready!

And I would make Lemon Blueberry Bread made with bisquick and the Lemon glaze made with splenda.Soooo just send those lemons on to me!

~JO
LazyonLoblolly

summersundays-jw said...

First of all, I'd make quacamole. Then I'd make up a big container of my favorite salad dressing and finish up with a big pitcher of lemonade. I love lemons. I'm so jealous of your garden -- we had snow last night. Jan

Bonnie said...

Was Mr. Jenny wearing his new outfit when he did his happy dance! I sure hope so :)

Arizona lemons?? YUM. My Alex loves loves lemons. I would make lemonade and squeeze them into some fresh iced tea.

Terra said...

I think I need to make lemonade. Nough, Said.

Anyway...our garden is still mud...calling out to be tilled with some fresh soil...waiting for the end of may for the snow to be done...we got NOTHING.

Theresa said...

Beautiful garden... both vegetable and flower! MR. JENNY dancing, WHERE is that picture!

Lemonade for sure, that is what I would make:)

Have a blessed day dear Jenny! HUGS!

Tammy said...

What a great giveaway! I lived in southern CA for a few years and now back in the Pacific NW. I miss our lemon trees. It was such a treat to pick fresh lemons! Your vegetables look amazing and delicious! If I received a box of lemons, I would make a lemon tart along with salmon with lemon, shallots and capers. Thanks and keeping my fingers crossed! ~Tammy

La said...

Delicious fresh squeezed lemonade! Yum!

Val said...

Amazing!! I dream of having a garden!!

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

I would put the lemons in a beautiful bowl and paint their portrait!
I'm jealous of your ranunculus, throw some of those in, too.

Betty said...

I'll have to pass on the lemons right now. I'm so envious of you being able to grow artichokes. I don't blame Mr. Jenny for doing a happy dance.

Pondside said...

I can't join the giveaway, but I can see that you must have a lovely garden - all that produce. We have just two daffodils open right now, but soooooon......

Sue said...

Can I just say that Jenny's lemons are the best. When I picked those yummy lemons off of her tree...I was amazed at how the oil made everything smell so good and fresh.

I would just sit and hold them. Seriously.

Busy Bee Suz said...

Lemonade....I will totally steal that recipe from The Source!!

Your garden is just dreamy Jenny...and I adore both of those quotes.
xo
Suz

Cherloo said...

So great I would make Lemon Bars..
cher_theblondeprincess@hotmail.com

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

cool garden...

super brilliant take on nature.

Diane said...

What do I do when life (or Jenny Matlock) gives me lemons? Make lemonade, of course! ;)

GardenOfDaisies said...

I was sitting here reading your post and thinking, wow, look at all the fantastic veggies she has growing already!! (our official spring just took two steps backwards yesterday... it snowed again!) And then you showed your lemon tree and I read the line underneath it... REALLY? A lemon giveaway? I LOVE LEMONS! I squeeze lemons in my tea and in my water. I have lemon decor in my kitchen. I love having bowls of lemons sitting on the table, just so I can smell them. I clean my garbage disposal with lemon peel. I love lemonade, lemon bars, lemon pie and lemon curd on top of gingerbread. (I know I posted about that once.) When my girlfriend comes over feeling sad I make her sit down at the kitchen table and take a big wiff of lemon, and tell her she can't help but feel better afterwards. My middle name should have been Lemon, but I don't' think my mother knew that about me at such an early age. Well anyway, you get the gist. I'd love to have some of your lemons. And I'd make as many of the above as I could with the lemons. :-)

Susan Anderson said...

First, I would smile the biggest smile ever before taking a deep, delighted breath of fresh lemon!

Then, I would put several in a crystal bowl on my kitchen table, squeeze the rest, make a batch or two of lemonade, and save the rest of the undiluted juice for concentrate.

(Actually, my husband would be doing the squeezing. Like PJ's Source, he is the lemonade-maker at our house. The popcorn-maker, too, fyi.)

;)

Ames said...

Jenny I am jealous of your garden. We talked about starting a raised bed this year for veggies but missed the window. It would be too hot soon and I guess I'll shoot for fall.
I'd love more lemons and I'd make more lemonade with them. The grands thought I was the bommb!~Ames
P.S. If I win and you still need my address let me know and I'll get that to you asap.

Pat said...

Oh, be still my heart - truly fresh lemons!! I have my applique group coming for a day of stitching and lunch and for dessert, I would go back to a favorite book...The Pastry Queen and make those Texas Big Hair Lemon-Lime Tarts...they bring you up to a hover...and I even have brand new little tart pans patiently waiting in the cupboard.
Lemons in March? In snowbound Wisconsin...I can only dream...
Now about those artichokes....

Arkansas Patti said...

I am so envious that you are harvesting, My plants are just at the peeking out of the earth stage. Enjoy.

Ms. A said...

Kudos for the green thumbs at your house. Mine are black!

Girl Tornado said...

Fresh lemonade and lemon meringue pie... you know it! The best. YUM! Your harvest photo is beautiful, such a collage of gorgeous colors. We're working on doubling our garden size this year, woohoo!

(Re: the above note on comments, I agree wholeheartedly. I wish more bloggers would link up their emails!! It allows us to get to know our readers much better.)

Unknown said...

Well, besides my famous Greek Chicken and Tzatziki sauce recipe, I think I would have to learn how to make lemon meringue pie. What a neat giveaway!

Jo said...

Don't count me ... i just wanted to say, that looking at all of that goodness and sunshine is such a treat ... what a happy beautiful garden!

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

I often use fresh lemons when I cook chicken breasts, salmon, and sometimes pork chops. I feel like such a gourmet slicing fresh lemon into the pan to flavor the sauce!

Anonymous said...

No lemons for me, please - but be sure to let me know when you are having an artichoke giveaway!

Judie said...

You are so sweet! I don't really need any, though. I just wanted to comment about what a nice person you are.

jen said...

I'm not entering the giveaway, since we have our own overloaded lemon tree. I just stopped by to say, "Can you believe the way the air smells this week?" Gotta LOVE AZ in March. No better place to be!

Sandy said...

Oh My Jenny... your Artichokes are to die for!!
As for the Lemons, there is only one thing to do with them... "Lemon Merangue Pie"... I so love that pie and your lemons would make this woman so happy! What a wonderful giveaway! Thank you so much for the opportunity!
Sandy

Willoughby said...

I'm so jealous! While you're picking flowers, I'm still kicking snow off my boots.

I know exactly what I would make with the lemons. I have a recipe for Lemoncello I've been dying to try.

Gina said...

Jenny! You are fabulous!!!! I love lemons and we just bought a nice little lemon tree at Home Depot about 2 weeks ago. It will be my first, so imagine my disappointment when I looked it up online and read that it may take THREE YEARS before I have any lemons! How sad :(

OK - I could say like everyone else that I would make lemonade, but to be honest it would depend on how many lemons you can fit in that box!

First thing I would use them for would be cooking some fresh seafood, like maybe fish tacos and a shrimp cocktail. Then I would slice one up to use with my Corona Light - it is awesome with lemon (limes are usually too dry!)!

I would love to win and then share pictures with you of what I use them for :)

Thanks!
Gina

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Girl, I jump start myself each and every day with lemon water and Cheyenne. I use lemon on my face, did ya'll know it would bleach out the spots! Yep, I'm old. Ya just can't beat a great lemon pie with a fresh squeezed glass of lemonade and baby I make the best lemon bars this side of the Mississippi! I won't even go into what ya can clean with 'em!!! Heeeeehehe!!!

Ya can count me in sister!

God bless and have a marvelous Monday sweetie!

Anonymous said...

I am just crazy jealous of all that wonderful produce while I'm still waiting for the yard to really turn green. ~Big sigh.~ If I had lemons, I would love to try making a lemon pie. So kind of you to share your lemons!

Teresa

Lisa said...

Mmmmmm...fresh lemons!!! Well, I'd make lemon bars, lemon pie, and lemonade! Oh, how I love lemons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Donnie said...

I'd have to make some old fashioned lemon meringue pie for the hubbs. That is a great giveaway and so sweet of you. You must really have a LOT of lemons..lol..

Holly said...

Hi Jenny!!
I'm so jealous!!!! I'm just starting to think about putting my "cold" crops in!!! I love growing artichokes, so I can relate to Steve's happy dance!!!! I love the blooms just as much, so I often don't even pick them!

Got my new comp. and was hoping to blog today, but I realize there is no place to load my picture card...sigh.... I'll have to work on that one!

In regard to those beautiful lemons...I'd make lemonade of course!!!! What a joy to look out into your yard and see a tree loaded with those lovelies!!!

Have a great week!
Holly

Unknown said...

Wow, I'm just amazed that you are getting things from your garden already. I was just jotting things down on paper the other day, trying to decide what to plant this year.
Your gardens look beautiful.
What would I make with fresh lemons? I would can some lemon curd and freeze some zest to use in my baking. Then I'd make a lemon meringue pie or maybe some lemon blueberry muffins.

Melinda said...

Ooooooo, that could be fun to get lemons in the mail!!!
Yes, please.

Melinda

Stef said...

Lemonade, of course. Ahem...I can't say that. EVERYONE is going to be saying that.
Ummmm...Lemon bars. What! I can't say that either. Because everyone who doesn't say lemonade because everyone else is going to say it will say lemon bars.
I am going to make....
Lemons could help Hubs with his Cleansing, but that doesn't sound like the kind of thing that would win you a box of lemons. Hmph.
If I won a box of lemons, I would probably, more than likely, sqeeze them and freeze them. THat is what we did when we lived in AZ. Then I could make a pluthera of lemon stuff.
But if you sent me a box of lemons, you would make a happy momma with a good excuse to make lemonade on a lemon-ish day.
The end.

Wanda Metcalf said...

Oh I just can't get over all the veggies and flowers you have already! I woke to a blanket of snow on Sunday. I wanted to try a garden this year but we are going to be moving so I will try next season.

I would love love love fresh lemons to make my hubs his favorite dessert! "Lemon Freeze Dessert" It's like a frozen pie. If you hurry and pick me and get them here by Thursday I would make Thursday Letter Y about Yellow Lemons and show pictures of my dessert and post the recipe! Now that should make me the pick! =0)

Hope your week is going well

LeadingMama said...

I'd make homemade lemon curd filling for the sweet cake I am making for my daughter's upcoming first birthday party. What a beautiful garden you have!

Amy said...

The more I read your blog, the more appealing AZ looks to me. I used to worry about the heat, but you are harvesting fruit whereas I haven't even planted yet! :)

Your fresh lemons are the best I have ever tasted. Period. I really hope it is not too late to enter!

Dapoppins said...

You must have a magic garden, or, clearly, you don't live in my part of the world...