November 15, 2014 · 7:23 AM

First hard frost…

Last night was the first hard frost.

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The paulownia tree has dropped most of is large leaves over night! They dwarf the bird bath and The Buddha.

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The Acuba plants and other evergreens also curl their leaves in a process know as abscission. It is thought that this may prevent moisture loss and prevent the leaves for freezing.

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The basjoo bananas usually are not damaged until temps reach 25f so last night was right at the point of which they may have some damage.

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The temperature will be up in the 50s by midday and 60s by midweek. This means a final leaf clean up and the beginning of winter maintenance!

atb

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November 11, 2014 · 8:02 PM

The many signs of Fall.

Here in The Middle South I enjoy the Fall. Usually, Spring and Fall are short seasons but Autumn can be very colorful!

The basjoo bananas bloom and fruit!

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Eastern Red Maple

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Chinese Pistache

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Red Twig Dogwood

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Sugar Maple

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Hardy Citrus

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And camellia sasanqua

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And walks around downtown Raleigh

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atb

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November 6, 2014 · 10:48 PM

Time changes everything – carrot cake

My biological clock wasn’t paying much attention to the time change last week so I was up early on that day! I decided to make carrot cake for the first time.

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So I graded carrots. I had purchased two pounds of carrots the day before because they were on sale and I thought I would need that much!

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I didn’t need so much but the cake was wonderful.

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I found the recipe in a book at a thrift store which was published for The North Carolina Museum of Art in 1976 to raise money.

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Carrot Cake

4 eggs
2 cups brown sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups unbleached flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups finely graded carrots

Beat the eggs and slowly add the sugar, butter, and oil. Combine the flour, soda, cinnamon, and salt and sift it into the egg mixture. Stir in the graded carrots and pour batter into two buttered and floured 8″ or 9″ cake pans. Bake at 350f for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.cool 49 minutes. Frost with a cream cheese frosting if desired.

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