Petite, pinkish Tiny Monsters are sprawling over the sidewalk and crawling toward the front porch. There seems to be no stopping these Hardy Geraniums, and I couldn't be happier.
What started with one little plant last June has spread several feet to form a perky, low-growing front border to my sunny, mixed-perennial flower bed. Talk about easy, automatic color. The Tiny Monsters began showing their dainty, cup-shaped heads in March, and haven't slowed since.
Though it took some time for them to flower, the Geraniums' eye-catching leaves have made them attractive from the start. The jagged, finger-like foliage has stayed evergreen for the most part; however, entire leaves turned deep red in the fall. Even better, the leaves don't appeal to deer and, what's more of a problem for me, rabbits and ducks!
At only six inches tall, the Tiny Monsters are a delightful, butterfly-attracting accent in front of my shrubby Aniscanthus but they're often planted at the feet of roses and can be used as ground cover. They're one of my favorite perennial finds from
Growing Zones: 4-8
Size Matters: 6 inches tall; spreading from 18 inches to 24 inches wide
Sunshine Factor: Full sun to part shade
Flower Power: Blooms March to late summer once established
Brown-Thumb Approved: No worries here. You can forget about it with great results!
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
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