5 Tips for Caring for Mums

Happy Wednesday friends!  I freshened up the Boat House 

and around the grounds with a few chrysanthemums. 

They add a charming amount of color to the fall landscape, 

and the Boat House is a great little retreat for fall.

When the days are warm, the nights are chilly 

and the leaves are just starting to think about

turning to those pretty fall colors...

then it is time to add some mums!

From the Boat House to the Front Porch, Mums add fall color 

and dress the landscape in the charm of the season. 

 Fall is appearing around the house as well.

It is hard to do, but when selecting your Chrysanthemum plants, 

look for ones with buds that haven’t bloomed yet. 

They should only have a sneak peak of color 

to confirm what color they will bloom. 

 Most mums will be have cramped roots, 

and  to get the most out of your plant,

 you should probably plan on repotting 

it in a larger vessel once you bring it home. 

If you repot your mum, use potting soil or we have

 manure from the barn that is nutrient rich. 

Mums like sun, so try to tuck your pot in a sunny area.

I have had to learn the hard way to water thoroughly and watch over the coming days to see how long it takes for the soil to start losing its moisture for you don’t want the soil to be soaking wet.   Watch daily for you don’t want it to dry out either. In my case, I water my mums every other day when it’s hot and every 3-4 days when its cooler. Again, the key is not letting the plant dry out but not to overwater either.

When blooms are sagging and are looking like they’re spent,

 clip them off so the plant can focus its energy on other blooms.

Somehow spending time in the autumn

 garden is especially satisfying this year.   

With just a little attention, your mums 

should last beautifully through the season. 

I hope you are all doing well and 

enjoying some peace and beauty

during these troubled times.  

Welcome Fall, 2020 .... Hugs!

Pssst: Did you know Alda's Magnolia Hill  is on Instagram? 

You’ll find me on Instagram here:  Alda's Magnolia Hill 

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Fall Muscadine Cake

 

We are barreling towards the official end of summer - Labor Day weekend. I've been enjoying heirloom tomatoes in Caprese salad, and lots of other summer garden pleasures from a nearby farmers market.  Since we are in a covid lockdown, our wedding season has pretty much been postponed, but I have enjoyed this time by puttering in the garden and cooking more that ever.  One of our local markets has really stepped up its game, and is having some wonderful chef cooking events to inspire us. I came home with a bag of the most luscious sweet corn, fresh peaches and put some in the freezer for winter. But in September, it is time for the muscadine grapes to start ripening and I decided to try to make the Post Family Muscadine cake  

...And it is so easy to put together. Read all about it in this post. 

CONTINUE READING

I had in my pantry stash a bottle of 

Post Muscadine Grape Juice

 and decided to try out the 

Post family recipe for Muscadine cake ! 

These easy-to-grow grapes are great eaten straight off the vine 

or when made into jams, preserves or simple grape juice.  

In our back pasture,  a few wild muscadine  
grapes grow on the vine,
 but the deer seem to love them as much as we do. 

Whether deep red or greenish-bronze, 

the large, tough-skinned grapes 

known as muscadines love 

the southern humidity and growing climate. 

The muscadines come into season along with figs 

and even make for a pretty fall wedding cake. 

 Here a simple cream cheese icing slathered onto 

the "Naked cake " 

makes a spectacular special presentation.

Simple Muscadine Cake 

1 Box yellow cake mix

one 4 ounce box instant vanilla pudding

1 stick butter

4 eggs

1 1/4 cups white muscadine juice

Heat oven 350º

Mix in large bowl, the dry ingredients of the cake mix, and the pudding mix. butter, eggs and muscadine juice.  Beat 4 minutes with a mixer. Pour batter into a 13 " x 9" cake pan. 

Bake 45-50 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Allow to cool while you make a glaze topping. 

For the Glaze:

4 Tablespoons of white muscadine juice

1 1/4 cups powdered sugar. 

Whisk powdered sugar and muscadine juice together in small bowl. Use a toothpick to poke holes in the top of the cake, drizzle the glaze over the top. 

Too, I like using a round cake pan, for the cakes look pretty on the cake stand .

I have used a cast iron skillet too, to make the cake...works great!

Ready for  the start of a wedding season again this year

 that will be on a much smaller scale,

 but our summer has ended quite sweet! 

Welcome Fall, 2020 .... Hugs!

Pssst: Did you know Alda's Magnolia Hill  is on Instagram? 

You’ll find me on Instagram here:  Alda's Magnolia Hill 

Like to know when a new blog post is up and available to read? Subscribe for email updates, it’s free and your email will never be shared. Subscribe for free post updates !

Before the Ceremony Begins

 Lori Sparkman Photography

Before the ceremony begins,

 the photographer has time to catch 

all the little details of the wedding. 

It is hard to believe that September is just around the corner

and our fall wedding season blossoms in fullness.

  

I have heard from so many of my brides

 that the day was over all too soon ...

over in a flash ...

after all the planning.

 Lori Sparkman Photography

The brides personal bouquet is to be remembered, 

and captured in a lovely photo... just sitting there looking pretty.

I especially love the magnolia leaves 

and fern fronds in this one.

 Lori Sparkman Photography

With roses in her collar, Delilah our sweetheart 

English Suffolk draft horse

 knows it is wedding day 

and she has an important job to do. 

 Lori Sparkman Photography

 Wedding signs are out, 

and this one is most appropriate 

for the day and these times. 

 Lori Sparkman Photography

 Capturing the bride and groom 

in a sweet private moment. 

 Lori Sparkman Photography

 First look ?  

Seems to put a bride at ease 

and I love this romantic 

dash across the lawn.

 Lori Sparkman Photography

 There are never too many pictures

 of just the two of you...

 Lori Sparkman Photography

And with your girls

 Lori Sparkman Photography

A few pictures of a handsome groom

 before the actual ceremony are treasured.

 Lori Sparkman Photography

 Stepping in the carriage...

Time to get in the carriage and go to the altar.

Treasure this sweet moment! 

 Lori Sparkman Photography

Such a beautiful wedding and stunning bride!  

Venue Alda's Magnolia Hill 

Planning Alda's Magnolia Hill 

Florals Alda's Magnolia Hill 

Photography Lori Sparkman Photography

Catering : Vibrant Occasions Catering

Hugs!

Pssst: Did you know Alda's Magnolia Hill  is on Instagram? 

You’ll find me on Instagram here:  Alda's Magnolia Hill 

Like to know when a new blog post is up and available to read? Subscribe for email updates, it’s free and your email will never be shared. Subscribe for free post updates !

Kayak Party Planning

Lori Sparkman photography

According to Hollywood, Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties have a wild raucous reputation ...

but parties seem to be a bit different

 as lots of soon-to-be-weds 

opt for a more acceptable style of partying these days. 

Whether Little Rock is home for you or you just want to make it a Destination Wedding Party, you can plan a perfect Party Weekend and one that will make you want to come back for another trip to Little Rock and Rock Town River Outfitters.  

 A trip on the Arkansas River should be on 

everyones bucket list especially 

when you are trying to make a 

successful and memorable trip

 for a few of your closest 

friends and family. 

This party will be fun and appropriate for 

even dad to tag along, 

especially if dad is the Best Man.

 A trip through downtown Little Rock 

might not have been on your radar before, 

but Rock Town River Outfitters 

will make sure it is the perfect way 

to send off a groom into happily ever after. 

 Relax and laid back..catching up with friends...

Typically the Best Man is the one responsible

 for planning a fun last night out with the boys, 

and a kayak trip does not have to kill the budget.

 It is really especially nice if all of the friends

 don't know each other well...

they will have an easy time getting to know

 each other on the river with this kind of a party. 

 The highlight of the evening might be a Sunset Tour

 ending in the city lights of downtown Little Rock. 

 Both boats and people 

are dressed in lights too for safety. 

 A few instructions make it easy 

for beginners and novice paddlers 

before leaving the dock.

If there is still time to make the whole weekend a party, 

bike rentals and biking the Arkansas River trail is an easy plan.  Located in the downtown River Market 

right on the River Trail !

Lori Sparkman Photography

Rock Town River Outfitters has been featured 

in many magazine articles along the way

 as it is so creative, relaxing, and simply fun. 

 The lights on Little Rock bridges

 are spectacular at night. 

 Not all Bachelor parties are just "the guys" 

for seemingly co-ed parties are becoming popular 

and this party will be fun for both

 the guys and the gals!

Bachelorette party? The girls like to kayak too!

This is not a sponsored post, but the owner 

is our son and I might be a little proud of him!

Click on Rock Town River Outfitters 

for more info. 

 Making sure the groom has a good time, 

he won't be tempted to pull out

 the cell phone except for pictures!

Favors for your favorite people !

Note to the groom....For a memorable keepsake and groomsmen gift, a RTRO tee shirt is just perfect!

Click on Rock Town River Outfitters 

for more Kayak Tour info . 

Party planning made easy...A no fail inspiring party with Rock Town River Outfitters! 

hugs!

Pssst: Did you know Alda's Magnolia Hill  is on Instagram? 

You’ll find me on Instagram here:  Alda's Magnolia Hill 

Like to know when a new blog post is up and available to read? Subscribe for email updates, it’s free and your email will never be shared. Subscribe for free post updates !