Garden Rant Cocktail Hour: Halloween Edition

Welcome to a special episode of the GRCH.

  

The Witch’s Jellybeantini

1 part vodka, ½ part each Black Sambuca and Cassis (or any berry liquor), 2 parts cranberry juice
Shake with ice, mutter an incantation, and enjoy.

Bulb forcing tips: All hyacinths force well, but Single Early and Triumph are the best tulip classes for home forcing. Do try other tazetta narcissus than the common Ziva for forcing. Old House Gardens and Brent and Becky’s have some great alternatives: Erlicheer, Grand Primo, Golden Rain, and Grand Soleil d'Or are some of the types. P.S. The witch is a bit optimistic—it takes hyacinths and tulips a good 8 weeks or better to come into bloom after they emerge from the chilling period.

Comments

[Deirdre]

Back in the days before witches bought their potion ingredients at Ye Olde Herball Shoppe, they grew their own, so witches had gardens. Did you know that a couple hundred years ago, one could be burned at the stake for growing Aconite? It was an ingredient in flying salve, so only a witch would grow it.

[Kathleen]

This was great. I love to try new recipes for fun. You look like you know how to have more than fun. I hope you have a Happy Halloween!

[carpetbag_garden]

The witch who lives in the big house with the crazy, overgrown garden is a pretty standard character in children's literature. Right now I'm thinking of Because of Winn Dixie. Of course, they aren't really witches, just misunderstood older women who like flowers better than most people.

[Mr. McGregor's Daughter]

I'm so glad you figured out the right proportions for the Jellybeantini. I'll have to try it with dark Sambuca instead of the clear. It looks much richer.

[Suzane]

Thank you for the Halloween special GRCH. You make a lovely witch who enjoys her flowers.

[allison]

I love a good martini.

[Layanee]

What does the broom ride do to your hair? Just wondering as I don't think that hat is aerodynamic or protective. Happy halloween.