Category Archives: Spring

Mint Fever

Posted on May 5, 2011 by liquidfencenews| Leave a comment

The Kentucky Derby always heralds summer for me: the hats, the brightly colored jockey uniforms and of course that excessive rose-covered cape worn by the winning horse.  While I have never actually attended the derby, I feel like it is a day, for gardeners especially, to celebrate.  The summer produce will soon be coming in, warmer days are (hopefully) ahead and months of enjoying beautiful gardens are yet to come.  In honor of this year’s Kentucky Derby, I have a recipe for a more natural mint julep and, for any teetotalers out there, an equally delicious recipe for mint iced tea.

Remember to protect all of your herbs (including your mint) from nibbling deer and rabbits with Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent Spray or Granular, and enjoy the bounty of summer!

Mint Honey Julep

1 cup water
1 cup honey
3-1/2 cups bourbon
Crushed ice
Mint sprigs, for garnish

In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Remove from heat. Add mint leaves; stir until wilted. Add honey; stir until dissolved. Let mixture stand until cool; strain and discard mint.

For each julep, combine 1/4 cup bourbon with 2 Tbsp. honey mint syrup. Pour bourbon mixture over crushed ice in frosted tumbler or tall glass. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Mint Iced Tea

1 bunch of fresh mint
1 quart of water
2 cups of ice
Honey to taste

Boil the quart of water.  Add the bunch of mint, turning the heat off.  Let steep for 15-20 minutes.  Pour into a pitcher and add the ice.  Add additional cold water, depending on how strong or weak you prefer your tea.  Add honey to taste.

Optional: Top each glass with a sprig of mint.

Makes a perfectly refreshing treat for any post-gardening or Kentucky Derby-watching day.

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Posted in Animal Repellents, Deer & Rabbit Repellent, Recipes, Spring, Spring Gardening

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Posted on May 4, 2011 by liquidfencenews| 2 Comments

Strawberries and rhubarb tend to be the first “fruits” of summer in zone 5, so this pie was always the first fresh summer treat in my house growing up.  While the rhubarb has never been touched by roaming animals, the strawberries tend to be prime targets for hungry rabbits.  Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Granular is the perfect easy-to-apply repellent to keep bunnies and hungry deer off your strawberries.  I know it’s doing a great job protecting my strawberry patch this year!

If you’re looking for a yummy treat for Mother’s Day or just something fresh to celebrate summer’s fast approach, give this pie a try and let me know what you think in the comment section below.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
*Included is a pie crust recipe.  If you are short on time and not the master of pie crusts, just use a store-bought frozen or refrigerated crust (I’m sure your mom will understand).

3 cups rhubarb, cut into ½ inch pieces
1 cups of fresh strawberries, quartered
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup granulated white sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter, cut into small chunks

Pie Crust:
¾ cup of flour
½ cup of butter
¼ cup of water

Cut the cold butter into the flour.  Add the water and combine.  Pat into a round disk and refrigerate for 1 hour.  If you are short on time freeze for 15 minutes, just to solidify the fat.  Roll out into an even crust.  There should be extra to make a lattice top.

For the filling:

Cut the strawberries and rhubarb, making sure to remove the leaves and dried ends of the rhubarb stalks.  Add the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, strawberries and rhubarb to a bowl stir and let sit for 30 minutes.  Add the filling to the unbaked crust.  Top with the lattice top and chunks of butter.

Bake at 375 for 40 minutes or until center is bubbling and crust is done.

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Posted in Animal Repellents, Deer & Rabbit Repellent, Recipes, Spring, Spring Gardening

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Arbor Day

Posted on April 28, 2011 by liquidfencenews| 1 Comment

My childhood memory of Arbor Day involved my brother and I hurrying home from elementary school with twigs of evergreen trees.  We would hand off our baby trees to my mom and remind her of the importance of planting them (we took our Arbor Day duties very seriously).  Now, years later, those baby Arbor day trees are behemoth residents of my parent’s yard and welcome homes for a variety of birds, thanks I’m sure solely on my mother’s careful care of them.

As Arbor Day is fast approaching I decided to do a little research about this lovely holiday.  It turns out one of the very first Arbor Days involved school children being given trees and each grade being given the task of caring for their trees.  I don’t know if schools still give trees to students on Arbor Day, but the holiday is a great opportunity to teach children (and adults) the importance of growing and planting trees.

If you have a little someone coming home with an evergreen twig or you just want to get in on the Arbor Day planting, remember to protect young trees with Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent.  It’s the perfect way to ensure your Arbor Day investment will not be nibbled on and destroyed before it can reach its fullest potential.

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Posted in Animal Repellents, Deer & Rabbit Repellent, Spring

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Easter Bunny approved egg dyes

Posted on April 20, 2011 by liquidfencenews| 3 Comments

We are always looking for eco-friendly solutions here at The Liquid Fence Company.  Our product line is safe for the planet, your family and your pets.  Rather than use the questionable egg dyes so commonly used, try these natural egg dyes from plants and spices that are completely edible.

Lavender
1 cup purple grape juice – Add 1 tablespoon vinegar

Blue
¼ of a head of red cabbage – Cut into chunks.  Add cabbage to 3 cups of boiling water.  Stir in 2 tablespoons of vinegar.  Cool and strain out cabbage.

Dark Pink
1 beet – Cut into chunks, being extra careful because whatever the beet touches will be permanently dyed.  Add beet to 3 cups of boiling water.  Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.  Cool.  Remove beets.

Yellow
1 orange – Peel the orange and add the peel to 3 cups of boiling water.  Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.  Cool.  Remove the peel.

Green
2 cups of spinach – Boil the spinach in 3 cups of boiling water.  Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.  Cool, remove the spinach.

Gold
1 Tablespoon of Turmeric – Add turmeric to 3 cups of boiling water.  Simmer for 5 minutes.  Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.  Cool.

Tips:
Hard boil the eggs, being sure to not use cracked eggs.  Dip in the natural dyes, allowing them to sit a little longer to ensure proper color.  Use a wax crayon or candle to create a pattern on the egg before dipping in the dye.  The dye won’t stick to the wax, and you’ll be able to create a patter on the egg.  Don’t forget to check out our after-Easter recipe post for some great recipes to use up the colorful eggs once the celebrating is over.

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Posted in Animal Repellents, Recipes, Spring

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The egg fix

Posted on April 20, 2011 by liquidfencenews| 1 Comment

Whatever Easter means for you and your family traditions, hard-boiled painted eggs are probably going to make an appearance.  They are colorful and fun to create, but tend to get pushed to the back of the refrigerator once the day’s celebrations are over(at least that’s what happened in my house).

This year try one (or all) of these yummy recipes to ensure that those colored eggs get gobbled down.  And don’t forget to read up on our natural food dyes,to ensure the healthiest day-after-Easter treat.

Deviled Eggs, with Bacon: This is such a yummy twist to the classic deviled egg recipe.

2-3 pieces of bacon (fried till crispy), 1-2 chives (thinly sliced), 6 hard boiled eggs, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 and 1/2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon paprika.

Slice the eggs in half the long way and remove the yolk, being careful not to break the white.  Whip the ingredients and the yolks with  an electric mixer till light and fluffy.  Fill the whites with the yolk mixture.  Top with crumbled bacon and thinly sliced chives.

Classic Deviled Eggs: This classic picnic snack is the perfect treat for a post-holiday smorgasbord.

6 hard boiled eggs, 1/4 cup of mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, 1/8 teaspoon salt, pinch of black pepper, paprika (for garnish)

Slice the eggs in half the long way and remove the yolk, being careful not to break the white.  Whip the ingredients and the yolks with  an electric mixer till light and fluffy.  Fill the whites with the yolk mixture.  Sprinkle or dust with paprika for garnish.

Egg Salad: This simple salad is packed with protein and great for an in-a-pinch lunch.

4 hard boiled eggs (chopped),  2 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 2 stalks of celery (chopped), 1/2 small onion (chopped), 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, salt and pepper to taste

Chop and mix ingredients.  Serve on toasted bread or salad greens.  Optional: Remove the mustard and add a teaspoon of curry.

Chef’s Salad: This classic salad is a great lunch or dinner.  Like any salad it’s great to experiment and add different variations of ingredients, depending on what you have on hand.  It also uses up some of that leftover Easter ham.

1 head of Romaine lettuce, 2-3 carrots (peeled and chopped), 1 cucumber (sliced), Ham (sliced into bite-sized pieces), Parmesan Cheese (thinly sliced), 2-3 hard boiled eggs (sliced length-wise), 1/2 small red onion (diced)

Combine all ingredients and serve with your favorite dressing.

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Posted in Recipes, Spring

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The Self-Planting Strawberries

Posted on April 14, 2011 by liquidfencenews| 3 Comments

The strawberry plants are all starting to reappear in their flower bed, turned strawberry patch.  My mom and I purchased the strawberries probably about five years ago at a yard sale.  Then, as is typical of my mother’s gardening style, the strawberry plants sat in their pot in her flowerbed until the next spring.  When that spring arrived, the strawberry plants sent out runners and planted themselves.  They must have known the very busy gardener they were dealing with.

Ever since that year, the strawberries have reappeared every spring in the flower bed.  It’s probably not the most convenient location, but no one complains when the buckets of (organic and pesticide-free) strawberries begin to appear in the house.

Last year some of the strawberries were being nibbled on by animals visiting the patch.  While I understand the importance of sharing, I normally get a little frustrated when the biggest and most beautiful strawberries have just one bite taken out of them.

This year my self-planting strawberry patch will be protected with Granular Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent.  That means that not only will my strawberries be protected by America’s #1 selling repellent, but they will also remain harmful chemical-free!  And Granular Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent is so easy to apply to low-growing plants, even my mom’s haphazard gardening style can find the time for it!

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Posted in Animal Repellents, Deer & Rabbit Repellent, Spring, Spring Gardening

Spring Protection

Posted on March 28, 2011 by admin| 1 Comment

It’s that time of year again.  One day it is 75 F and sunny and the next day a late frost covers the ground in a crusty white.  Deer and rabbits have come out of hiding.  And gardeners have already begun, or are just beginning, to work their soil and bring their gardens back to life.

All of these events happening around the same time can result in a perfect storm of sorts.  So it’s important to protect your spring plants, reemerging perennials and budding trees with Liquid Fence products.

Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent will prevent the nibbling and destroying of young plants and new growth.  And Granular Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent will make planting your vegetable garden a breeze.  Just shake around low-growing plants and seedlings.

And don’t forget the FreezePruf!  This innovative product will change how you feel about frost.  FreezePruf protects the plant externally and internally by enhancing both its natural “anti-freeze” like properties and its ability to survive ice crystal damage.

With these eco-friendly, Made-in-America Liquid Fence Products, you can ENJOY your spring planting and stop worrying about nibbling nuisances and possible late frosts!

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Posted in Animal Repellents, Deer & Rabbit Repellent, FreezePruf, Spring, Spring Gardening

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To rotate or not to rotate?

Posted on March 21, 2011 by admin| 2 Comments

This is never a question with Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent!

There is an oft-repeated rumor that it is necessary to rotate deer and rabbit repellents to ensure continued repellency.  This may be true with some repellents, but it is absolutely not true with Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent Spray or Granular!

Deer and rabbits have a natural aversion to the scent of Liquid Fence, because it triggers a fear instinct.  This means the effectiveness of Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent will never diminish, making it the only deer and rabbit repellent you’ll ever need!

Spring can be a feeding frenzy for hungry deer, so now is the time to make sure your lawn and gardens are protected.  Choose Liquid Fence and don’t worry about repellent rotation ever again!

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Posted in Animal Repellents, Deer & Rabbit Repellent, Spring, Spring Gardening

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Starting Peas

Posted on March 17, 2011 by admin| 4 Comments

Generations of gardeners have perpetuated the idea of planting snow peas and other varieties of peas on St. Paddy’s Day.  I, being the skeptical daughter of a gardener who never followed this rule of thumb, decided to look into this tradition, and found some information you should know before running out to your garden to plant on this day of all things green.

Pea seeds do appreciate cold weather and like to grow when the temperature is around 40 or 50 F, but the seeds need slightly warmer weather to germinate.  If you’re dealing with a cold March, start the seeds inside and transplant them once they sprout.  This will prevent the seeds from sitting in the soil and rotting, before it’s warm enough for them to sprout.

Intense heat is only good for peas when you’re making a stir fry.  This is why the St. Patrick’s Day tradition was invented.  Peas enjoy cool weather to grow, and will stop producing once the summer heat sets in.  Be sure to plant your pea seeds early, if you live in a more temperate climate.  The downfall of planting late is that you run the risk of a smaller harvest.

You have to PLANT the peas.  I have heard rumors of people that just toss seeds into their garden on St. Patrick’s Day.  While peas are very easy to grow, they do need to be planted into the soil.  Follow the instructions on the seed packet for how deep to plant and how far apart to plant to ensure the best possible results.

While I love to promote green on St. Patrick’s Day, planting on March 17th is not fool-proof.  Watch the weather, and start the seeds inside if the next week is looking colder than usual.  Take time to prepare your garden.  Plants  grow better in fertilized aerated soil.  And remember tender young sprouts are prime pickings for hungry deer and rabbits.  Granular Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent is great to protect the peas, especially in the early stages of their growth.  If you have a serious rabbit problem, try Liquid Fence Dual Action Rabbit Repellent.

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Posted in Animal Repellents, Deer & Rabbit Repellent, Dual Action Rabbit, Spring, Spring Gardening

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When and how to trim and protect your roses

Posted on February 7, 2011 by admin| 2 Comments

Rose trimming was always a point of confusion in my house.  My mom always meant to trim the rose bushes in the spring; but, if she had more time in the fall, she would deem the fall the appropriate time of year.  Then there were those ever-more-common instances where she was frustrated by the size and legginess of her rose bushes in the middle of June and she would begin to chop, leaving the yard riddled with bright pink blooms.

This process seemed a bit too haphazard for my regimented lifestyle.  But a quick google search proved my mom was not the only one with rose trimming issues.  Every other gardening website had a different suggested date for when to trim rose bushes.  While not everyone agrees on the subject, it is safe to trim in the spring, before the rose pushes out new growth.  Some experts suggest looking for the forsythia’s bloom as a sign for when to trim.  This is a great visual reminder.

To trim the bush, remember to use sharp instruments, so your cuts aren’t ragged.  Cut at a 45° angle and remove all woody, spindly and otherwise dead-looking branches.  Prune from the base of the plant and move your way up.  Be sure to remove any leftover leaves from the previous season.

Whether you are a fall trimmer or a spring trimmer, roses need to be trimmed in order to thrive.  To make sure your roses continue to thrive all year long, protect them with  American Rose Society Endorsed Liquid Fence® Deer & Rabbit Repellent.  The scent-based formula will stop deer from taking that first nibble.  And you’ll be able to enjoy your beautiful roses all summer long!

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Posted in Animal Repellents, Deer & Rabbit Repellent, Spring, Spring Gardening

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