Talya Tate Boerner's Blog, page 49

How to Grow a Clematis Vine (as big as a dinner plate)

Y’all, I thought since my clematis flowers are as big as a dinner plate, this would be a good time to talk about growing clematis vines. For the beginner gardener, clematis is a great plant to start with because it’s a pretty undemanding vine. When it bursts into bloom you’ll feel encouraged and believe down deep where you live that your thumb has turned a brighter shade of green. That’s a nice thing to believe.

There’s no reason to make gardening difficult. Grow what works for your area and...

The Farm: Where Soil and Soul Intersect

Today I’m thinking about The Farm. And The Homeplace. Not my farm or the homeplace of my family but my husband’s. My mother-in-law grew up in Morrison’s Bluff on a farm that backs up to the Arkansas River. For years, I’ve heard stories about John’s childhood trips to The Farm, but Saturday was my first visit. We went for a family reunion.

Y’all, don’t miss your family reunion. It’s important to gather and connect. And we couldn’t have ordered a more perfect day. Not even from a spring weathe...

A Pop of Spring Color for the Butterflies!

[image error]

Raise your hand if you’re busy celebrating spring. (Both my hands are raised!) When I was asked to work with Monrovia again, I didn’t hesitate. The timing is perfect, too, because after traveling and promoting my book during March, my immediate plan was to spiff up our butterfly garden with a pop of spring color. Just in time for Easter.

Even though our established perennials are beginning to bloom, adding a few fresh, vibrant Monrovia plants into existing beds is the best way I know to giv...

Savoring March

Where’d you go March? In like a lion and out lickety split. One of the benefits of keeping a journal is being able to go back and revisit how my days were siphoned off into yesterdays. But seriously, 1Q2017 is over. Did you savor the month as best you could?

I tried even though I was on the go for much of the month. Savoring while “going” takes extra effort and mindfulness, especially for a homebody like me. It’s easy to get frazzled.

Here’s a quick recap of my March 2017.

Savoring FLAVOR…

...

BOOK REVIEWS: March, 2017

Book Reviews: March 2017

The books I enjoyed in March took me soaring above the clouds, from Prince Edward Island to this side of Paradise, and along dark and filthy alleyways of Argentina. I traveled from the Cold War through those magical days when all the world raced to be first into space. And then on to solve a kooky mystery on Turpentine Lane. I met a quirky boy named Frank who dressed as though he channeled F. Scott Fitzgerald. Or Charles Lindbergh.

I’ve been busy.

And these books tau...

Almost Glamping at the Jonquil Festival!

Jonquil Festival!

A couple of weeks ago I shared a booth at the Jonquil Festival with fellow Delta author, Rhonda G. Williams. This was the first time either of us had sold our books at a craft fair. In fact, it was the first time I’d had a vendor booth at any fair. (I’ve been to book fairs with my publisher, but I wasn’t in charge. Totally different.) I wasn’t sure how this event would turn out. Local books and local crafts? Why not?

Truth: sitting under a canopy for three days subject to w...

If Spring Were a Song

If spring were a song…

If spring were a song, the deep base notes would be the thunderstorms that have rolled over my rooftop the last couple of days. Northwest Arkansas needed the rain so yay!!! Rainwater makes the spring colors pop even more brilliantly than before. That’s the way it looks to me, anyway. The trees are budding bright and fresh, the tight dogwoods blossoms have burst open, and even the bearded irises have begun to bloom.

I don’t see how anyone wouldn’t be cheered by simply g...

Spicy Creamed Carrots and Cauliflower (and a colon cancer awareness announcement)

Hey everyone! If you’re looking for a healthy, flavorful substitute for mashed potatoes, my recipe for spicy creamed carrots and cauliflower is a winner. It has a back-end spicy kick and very few calories. Hello, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian.

Yes, I like mashed potatoes with cream gravy just like the next normal person. I’m a fan of mashed sweet potatoes, too. But my spicy creamed carrots and cauliflower makes a tasty side dish without all the calories. Try it with roast chicken o...

Four Garden Days

Happy Second Day of Spring! On this second Day of Spring (note my use of capitalization as though each day of spring is a holiday) I bring you pictures from the First Day of Spring. A delayed broadcast of sorts. After a weekend spent at the Jonquil Festival in Washington, Arkansas, I’m running behind on unpacking, laundry, writing, grocery shopping, most everything. Everything other than spending time outside which is what I found myself doing yesterday.

One of the first things I do when I r...

Wilson, Arkansas: How Geography Shapes a Place

(This post is sponsored by Designsensory, Inc. Opinions are my own.)

I’ve been thinking about how geography shapes a place. Not only the physical landscape, which often determines the direction a town grows (nestled within a valley or spread across the flat prairie), but also the way geography shapes the culture of a place. Over time, geographic location has certainly played a significant role in the culture of Wilson, Arkansas. From Mississippi River swampland to cotton empire to Delta town...