Brianna

February 2008 This month on Georgia Gardens Hosts Kathy Greene and Rob Tumlin take us on a trip to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Get a look at one of Georgia’s best kept secrets, over 300 acres of gardens and nature trails, managed by the University of Georgia, and learn how you can brighten up your garden space with native plants. Recipe Corner Easy Georgia Peach Pie For a delicious, homemade peach pie, you can make your own crust, or start with a store bought crust if you are in a hurry. The rest is easy! ------------------------------------------------- Mix together ¾ cup of granulated sugar (or use a mixture of sugar and sugar substitute- read the package for the correct proportions), 2 tablespoons of flour and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle the unbaked crust with half of the mixture. Slice up about 6-8 small-medium size fresh peaches (or use about 3 cups, drained canned peaches) and arrange in a layer over the mixture. Sprinkle the rest of the mixture on top. Cut 2 tablespoons of butter into 6-8 pieces and place around the top. Bake in a 400 degree oven for about an hour, until the juice thickens and the crust begins to brown. Xeriscape Georgia, like most states in this country, faces a water crisis. We all need to be good stewards of our natural resources, and planning a garden using xeriscape principals just makes sense. Select plants that are native to your area, as they are adapted to the natural precipitation amounts. Group plants with common water needs, keeping the plants that need the most water to small, visible areas. Use shade and mulch to prevent the soil from drying out. A few small changes and some thoughtful planning can help conserve water and save you some money, too. Kids in the garden Gardening is a great family activity. This month, as the weather warms up, is a great time to teach kids about trees. Arbor Day is celebrated on different dates in each state. Here in Georgia it’s the third Friday in February. Visit the Arbor Day Foundation’s Web site for some great activities to share with the kids in your life. Encourage your kids’ schools to get involved, too. Planting trees is a community project that can really change things for the better.