For those of us who are suffering from dry conditions this year, the following groundcovers tolerate this well. Plumbago, candytuft, epimedium, lavender, liriope, thyme, santolina, thrift, and wintergreen. The plumbago and epimedium are beautiful this year in the garden. I guess that it is true they don't mind it dry.

If you are looking for fall color here are some ideas. Colchicum, Fall asters, Solidago, Japanese anemone, plumbago, Russian sage, cimicifuga, helenium, helianthus, coreopsis, chelone, hibiscus, tiarella, heuchera, caryopteris, tricyrtis, rose of sharon are just some of them. There is still time to plant and remember to mulch new plantings.

This recipe received honorable mention in our herb cooking competition.
Cheddar Cheese Crackers
3 tbls. sesame seeds, 1 c. flour, 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp. dry mustard, 1 stick butter, softened, 1/2 lb. sharp cheese.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scatter sesame seeds in a small skillet. Toast over low heat, shaking skillet constantly until golden. Combine flour, cayenne, mustard, butter and cheese in med. bowl, work with spoon until stiff dough forms. Measure dough by tbls. full. Roll into balls. dip balls in toasted sesame seeds; place on ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Press flat with a glass dipped in flour. Bake 10 minutes. Remove to wire rack with a metal spatula. Makes 2 dozen. Submitted by Kathy Bobst.

This is the winning recipe for our first herb cooking competition in the category of snacks or appetizers. CREAMED THYME MUSHROOMS -- 3-4 dozen, button mushrooms, med. to large., 4 tbsp. butter, 1/2 tsp. minced garlic, 1/2 tbsp. thyme, 8 oz. heavy cream or sour cream, salt and pepper to taste, 1 tsp. lemon juice.
In a large skillet, saute mushrooms in butter, cap side down. Add garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Cover. When mushrooms begin to soften, add heavy cream or sour cream. Simmer, covered, 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add lemon juice just before removing from heat. Spoon mushrooms into bowl or casserole, adding all liquid from skillet. Stir so all mushrooms are covered with liquid. Serve immediately.
This recipe was submitted by Norma Eckrote.

Actually, we sampled these cold and still found them very good and my granddaughter (age 13) loved them.

If you would like to participate in next months competition the information is on www.hearthstonegardens.com. Just click on the button. Our category is dips, sauces or spreads.

Need a recipe for lemon verbena? Try this Quick lemon cake. 1 pkg. yellow cake mix, 1 cup water, 3 tablespoons dried lemon verbena, crushed, 1 pkg. lemon instant pudding, 4 eggs, unbeaten, 1 tsp powdered rosemary. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend all ingredients, and beat 8 minutes. Pour into 13 x 9 x 2 pan lined with brown paper. Bake 45 to 50 minutes. Yumm!!
Of course, lemon verbena makes great tea or add to your fruit salad.
Tip--to dry quickly place on paper towel and zap with the microwave. Do it by seconds so as not to turn it to cinders!! You can also use your coffee grinder to powder the rosemary.

Did you ever wonder what someone means when they say they carry herbaceous perennials? Herbaceous means the plant dies down and does not leave behind a woody stem that will eventually grow again. These perennials store their energy in the roots.

Bergenia cilata will grow in dry soil, dappled to partial shade. Slugs, deer and rabbits hate it. Partial shade are areas that receive full sun early in the am or late in the afternoon. Dappled shade is the area under trees where the light peeks through post of the day.