Murski Homestead Bed & Breakfast, Brenham, Texas » gardens

Early Summer Gardens Texas Ranch Bed and Breakfast

Pamela Murski — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:36:25 +0000

The summer brought on the grasshoppers and leaf cutters but the gardens transitioned beautifully from Spring to Summer producing zinnias, gladiolus, sweet peas, roses, flowering basils, incredible cardoon blossoms, and so much more. Our vegetable gardens at the B&B were chock full of cucumbers, squash, thyme, fennel, colorful swiss chard, bell peppers, basil, yellow and red tomatoes. We spied this fun cucumber that we had missed that was now firmly entrenched in the landscaping timbers! What were your gardens like this summer?

Texas B&B Antique Roses, Herbs & Spring Gardens

Pamela Murski — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:31:25 +0000

Our gardens at the ranch are worked year round so that we and our guests can enjoy being outside and the wild birds have plenty of food, water, hiding places and nesting material! We had a great flush this past Spring after the hard freezes of the winter helped put nature back in balance with growth patterns, weeds and bugs. We use of a lot of the flowers, herbs and fruits in our cooking classes and food preparation. There is nothing better than “farm fresh”. We encourage all our guests and cooking class participants to use anything they can find locally and fresh from the farmers markets and meat markets…..Some great photos of some of our flowers and herbs:

Intimate Country Ranch Wedding Brenham, Texas: Cheria and Kevin

Pamela Murski — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:56:39 +0000

Cheria and Kevin had a beautiful sunset wedding at Murski Homestead B&B last night! Intimate weddings are our pleasure here at the ranch….it couldn’t have been more perfect…..cool breeze, lovely sunset, late spring garden setting, delicious wedding cake & champagne, gourmet wedding dinner and most important, the much in love, romantic couple! Beautiful photos….

Local CSA Near Texas BB Provides Farm Fresh Goodies For Foodie Class

Pamela Murski — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:07:34 +0000

The monthly market day of our local CSA held at Home Sweet Farmsin Brenham TX produced some amazing tidbits to enhance our Foodie Cooking Class at the B&B. Some if the procured items included pastured duck, fresh raw yogurt, wild honey and fresh Brussels sprouts! Eat fresh, raw and local any time you can!

Herbs for Spring at Texas B&B Ranch

Pamela Murski — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:44:54 +0000

Spring at our Ranch B&Bin Brenham, Texas is just around the corner and after this crazy, wild winter we are planning on a bumper crop of spring herbs. Some of our favorites include Aussie Sweetie Basil, African Blue Basil, Biergarten Sage, Lemongrass, Rose Pelargonium, Dill, Fennel, Cilantro, Italian Flat Leaf Parsley, Mexican Mint Marigold and Lemon Thyme, to name just a few. Our Bay Laurel trees have survived the frigid temps of this winter in fine form, as well as the Thyme, Rosemaries, some of the Sages, Parsley, Fennel, Sweet Marjoram and more. If you try any of these, they will definitely get you started on the road to flavor! The Antique Rose Empirium is one of our favorite places to shop for them. It is also a great place for inspiration and reflection. If you are the least bit timid in using herbs, check out our classes where you can learn how to garden and use them in your cooking. Classes are offered throughout the year at various times…some for a quick lunch, others for an overnight stay and more in depth. We will be posting some of our incredible recipes from our spring classes using these great herbs.

Roses at the Ranch

Pamela Murski — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:20:19 +0000

OLD GARDEN ROSES: Mike Shoup, owner of the Antique Rose Emporiumin Brenham is one of the original “rose rustlers” who brought heirloom roses back into trade. Most of the roses here at the B&B on the ranch are of the antique variety and can be found at Antique Rose Emporium which is only a few miles north of the B&B. It is one of those day trips that is a must see and do when in Washington County! “Belinda’s Dream” is truly one of our favorites here at the ranch….a repeat and reliable bloomer year after year with stunning flowers. “Cramoisi Superieur” is another favorite old rose that we use in our cooking classes and dinners. Besides being a stunning deep crimson it has an ethereal smell and delectable taste! Try the recipe below for a delicious cream and serve with scones. It is also delicious when mixed with cream cheese and frosted between cake layers for weddings.

Rose Petal Cream

8 oz. heavy whipping cream, whipped stiff

1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar

1/2 cup Cramoisi Superieur Rose petals (white heel pinched off)

Chiffonade rose petals finely but gently. Fold sugar and petals into whipped cream and serve over sliced warm scones.

Winter Gardens Brenham TX B&B Guest Ranch

Pamela Murski — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:24:49 +0000

Winter gardens at the ranch are a thing of beauty even in their starkness. The Camellias and Quince are blooming which is a sure sign of late winter at the ranch and also a reminder that Spring is just around the corner! After this unusually wet and cold winter, I am anxiously awaiting a wonderful Spring full of incredible fresh green herbs and beautiful new garden growth at the B&B!

Snow At Bed & Breakfast Brenham Texas Ranch

Pamela Murski — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:34:34 +0000

Unbelievable fat white flurries descended from the sky making everything frosty white and giving us a sense of being up North experiencing a real winter wonderland! Snow blanketed the gardens at the ranch and caused even the Cardinals to see cover amongst the branches and thorns of some of our antique rose bushes. The Geese quacked their way to one of the ranches ponds seeking the safety of the water….not sure exactly what this was that was coming down all around them. Unfortunately, it was all gone by the next morning but boy, was it beautiful while it lasted!

The Big Freeze of 2010 at Brenham, Texas B&B Ranch

Pamela Murski — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:51:03 +0000

The ponds froze up this year during the big freeze of January 2010! We haven’t seen this in years. The gardens took the brute force of the below freezing temperatures that lasted for several days, looking worse for wear (even though we covered and clamped down and lit up with lights to help keep them warm!). Those that have not survived the big chill will be replaced with a new and different specimen. This is our opportunity to venture out with something new and experiment. The freeze is a definite bonus for us with bugs in that it depletes the numbers and knocks them back to a more manageable level for us. When the ranch goes years without a major freeze, it allows the bugs to multiply and winter over creating more work for us with each succeeding year!….especially for those of us who are mostly organic gardeners! Looking forward to Spring, the wildflowers at the B&B and excited to see what comes back in our gardens!

Gardening, Local Food, Cooking Classes at Murski Homestead

Pamela Murski — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:05:29 +0000

Our cooking classes feature local produce, meats and wine when available and we seek to encourage cooks to use local foods from their farmers markets and co-ops. Promote sustainability and living fresh from the farm by purchasing from local growers. You will enhance your health as well as your palate! To that end there is an event coming up for anyone who is interested in gardening, growing your own food, experiencing a local growers world or just learning something new. It is the Market Growers Symposium March 2010! To learn more about it check out the link! Come stay with Murski Homestead B&B that same weekend and double your pleasure! Book now for March fills up quickly!