If you’ve never been to a garden show like the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle, then you’re missing out. National shows like these will blow your county’s local home and garden shows out of the water! And the timing couldn’t be better. Scheduling the show in early February offers us Northwesterners a source of winter inspiration and relief knowing that spring is right around the corner. Wait until you smell the flowers!

Garden Inspiration Galore

The Northwest Flower & Garden Show has been offering spectacular show gardens, container gardening ideas for small spaces, educational seminars from well-known experts, and rows and rows of cool garden-y merchandise since 1989. Every year the show keeps getting better and better!

Meet the authors in person after their presentations – there’s over 100 free seminars! Check out the featured speakers line-up. Recognize anyone? Hint: garden hunk Jamie Durie – and many more!

From left: me, Andrea Bellamy, Ivette Soler, and Teresa O'Connor

No space? No problem! Container gardening ideas for urban dwellers.

Small space gardening ideas at the Container Show

Have that camera ready! There’s a gazillion different plant combinations you’ve never thought of.

Planting ideas for all kinds of spaces

Don’t put the camera away just yet. DIYers will be in all their glory with tons of crafty ideas.

Oversized letters are easy to find at craft stores - decoupage and add a water proof finish.

Salvage feigns will have a heyday at the display gardens.

Re-used objects add unexpected style (yes, that's a name badge used as plant tag!)

Get the Behind-the-Scenes Scoop

Teresa O’Connor, from Seasonal Wisdom, and I joined together for a special report about the Northwest Flower & Garden Show. Our special guest Janet Endsley, seminar and social media manager, shares a brief history of the show and why it was created 24 years ago, and gives a rundown of all the creativity and coordination that goes into making the NW Flower & Garden Show the 2nd largest garden show in the country – 3rd largest in the world.

Listen to our special report and Janet’s interview {link will open in a new browser window}.

Learn about Edibles from Seasonal Wisdom

• Thursday, Feb. 9, 9:30 AM (Hood Room): The Allure of Edible Flowers: How to Grow, Harvest, Cook and Enjoy Edible Flowers
• Friday, Feb. 10, 5:30 PM (Rainier Room) : Growing Food in Small Spaces: Tips & Techniques to Maximize Your Garden Harvest

Catch Me at the DIY Stage!

This will be my 6th year attending the Seattle show, and my second year presenting. I’m so in my element at the DIY stage.

• Wednesday, Feb. 8, 5:15 PM (DIY Stage): Edibles Cubed: Create a Living, Edible Cocktail Table
• Thurs, Feb. 9, 5:15 PM (DIY Stage): No Space. No Problem: Grow a Gutter Garden With Function & Style

Hope to see you there!

Enter to win! 2012 Buy Local Tea Towel + Roost Farmers' Market Basket

UPDATE: This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Shelley Crist!

In this week’s December Giveaway, we’re celebrating the Buy Local movement. The idea of keeping it local appeals to many people, not just gardeners and farmers. When it comes to buying your food locally, it’s not just about supporting your local economy. You are buying produce that tastes better and is more nutritious; transportation uses less fossil fuel; and you can enjoy guilt-free dinners knowing your meat came from a cow, chicken, or pig that grazed freely in an open pasture.

This week is a two-part question: (1) Currently, how do you keep it local, and (2) what is one way you plan to become a better locavore in 2012?

One randomly selected winner will receive one 2012 Buy Local Calendar Tea Towel + one Roost Raspberry Farmers’ Market Basket {raspberry}.

How to Enter

Click image to see more detail

• Answer the question in each blog post by submitting your answer in the “leave a reply” section at the bottom of the page – good for 1 entry.
• Answer the same on our Facebook page (you’ll have to “like” the page to make a comment) – good for 1 entry.

Yep, that’s right, you can enter your name twice for a chance to win our FREE gift idea. Keep ‘em for yourself or find some special to gift them to.

Week 3′s contest ends Sunday, December 18, 12:00 PST. The winner will be announced the following week.

Congratulations to Christina and Janis for winning last week’s December Giveaway!

UPDATE: This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Christina for winning the first prize {terrarium + book} and to Janis for winning the second prize {book}.

Terrariums are the perfect gift for plant lovers, design junkies, DIYers, and crafty minds. And when you pair our Roost Recycled Glass Wall Terrarium with Timber Press’s Terrarium Craft book by Amy Bryant Aiello and Kate Bryant, it makes the perfect giveaway! One lucky winner will win both the wall terrarium + the terrarium book, and a second place winner will win a copy of the book {pictured below}.

QUESTION: Terrariums are little scenes of nature in glass containers. What’s your favorite way to connect with nature indoors?

We're giving away 2 free copies of Terrarium Craft

Week 2 Giveaway: How to Enter

• Answer the question above by submitting your answer in the “leave a reply” section at the bottom of the page – good for 1 entry.
• Answer the same, or similar question, on our Facebook page (you’ll have to “like” the page to make a comment) – good for 1 entry.

Week 2′s contest ends Sunday, December 11, 12:00 PST. Two randomly selected winners will be announced the following week.

Congratulations Julie Lanier for winning last week’s December Giveaway!

Create the Perfect Terrarium Gift

Want to make a big impression this holiday? Think about grouping terrarium related items your gift recipient will need to create their first or 100th terrarium.

• Terrarium Tools make fiddling with plants and dirt easier in tight spaces
• Idea Books like Timber Press’s Terrarium Craft
• Organic Potting Soil
• Small bag of Crushed River Gravel for drainage
• Small bag of Charcoal to keep mold and bacteria at bay
• Water bottle for spritzing the plants
• Plant material ranging from succulents and cacti, ferns, moss, and air plants.
• Accent pieces add a nice personal touch and fill empty spaces. Look for crystals, feathers, bones, seashells, bits of wood, porcelain trinkets

WEEK 3 Giveaway: one 2012 Buy Local Tea Towel + one Roost Farmer’s Market Basket {raspberry}

Roost Hanging Terrarium

Roost Terrarium Tools

Terrariums are a great way to dip your toes – or should I say hands – into gardening without investing a lot of time and money. Maybe you’ve already tested your “green thumb” skills by growing moss in left over canning jars, or you’ve gone a fews months without your air plants shriveling up on you, and you’re ready to step up your design game by investing in a Roost Recycled Glass Hanging Terrarium {small and large sizes}.

Many terrariums can be thrown together in less than an hour. Once you’ve selected the plants you want to grow, follow these 10 easy steps to make sure your terrariums live happily ever after. Okay, maybe not forever, but these steps will help minimize mold, frying your plants in direct sunlight, root rot, and stuff like that.

10 Steps to Plant in Your Roost Recycled Glass Hanging Terrarium

1. To begin building your terrarium, place a layer of pea gravel or aquarium rocks at its base. This is necessary for proper drainage.
2. Next, layer a 1/2 inch layer of horticultural charcoal, which will help to keep your soil from developing a stinky smell.
3. On top of the charcoal, add 1/2 inch to 2 inches of relatively dry soil. You can find potting soil that is specifically made for terrariums, or just use any good quality organic potting soil mixed with one part coarse builders sand and one part humus. The soil should be dry enough that it should not stick to the sides of the terrarium.
4. Use your Terrarium Hand Tool Set to spread out your soil and create a hole in which you will place your plant.
5. Transplant your selected plant(s) into your hanging terrarium.
6. If you wish to include items from the outdoors such as rocks, shells, or driftwood, make sure to first rinse them with clean hot water. You don’t want to introduce any diseases or critters into your terrarium.
7. Hang your terrarium in a spot where it will receive sunlight, but NOT full or direct sun. Try to place it no further than 10 feet away from a window or skylight.
8. A terrarium is pretty much a set-it-and-forget it kind of thing. You don’t need to mess with them much. To water your soil plants, simply give them a misting with a spray bottle about once a week.
9. Steps 1-4 involve soil and therefore apply to plants that are not air plants. Air plants need no soil- only sunlight and water.
10. For air plants, it is best to give them a good soaking two times a week. When your plant needs to be watered, its leaves will feel soft and weak. When it has been watered sufficiently, its leaves will feel hard and strong. To water air plants, it is best to remove them from your terrarium and give them a dunk in a sink full of water. If you can’t remove the plant, just give it a good soak with a watering can inside the terrarium. Your plant should be dry within 4 hours after watering {be careful not to leave it in a swampy condition}.

UPDATE: This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Julie Lanier!

In celebration of my recent feature in Oregon Home Magazine by Vivian McInerny, I’ve decided to giveaway one Roost Hemmingway Muddler Set and my newly published book Garden Rules, co-authored by Billie Brownell.  You may be thinking, what do muddlers have to do with gardening? My new favorite obsession, Cocktail Gardening!

We’ve all heard the phrase Garden to Table or Farm to Table, but how cool is Garden to Glass? Just Google “cocktail gardening” and you find a handful of resources on what to grow in your garden, garden inspired cocktails, and there’s even a blog called Gardening While Intoxicated by one the Garden Rant ladies.

If you’ve never started your own garden before, Garden Rules is a quick way to learn the basics. One of the easiest herbs to grow is mint, and one of the easiest drinks to make with a muddler is a Mojito. Cheri Loughlin, the creative mind behind The Intoxicologist, suggests topping it with a little champagne during the holidays to add an even tastier and festive vibe.

QUESTION: You’re hosting a holiday get-together among friends and neighbors, what’s your favorite alcoholic beverage to serve your guests?

Week 1 Giveaway: How to Enter

1. Answer the question in each blog post by submitting your answer in the “leave a reply” section at the bottom of the page – good for 1 entry.
2. Answer the same, or similar question, on our Facebook page (you’ll have to “like” the page to make a comment) – good for 1 entry.

Week 1 contest ends Sunday, December 4, 12:00 PST. Winner announced next week.

WEEK 2 Giveaway: one Roost Recycled Glass Hanging Wall Terrarium {small}

We’re getting into the holiday spirit by spreading some giveaway cheer!  For the month of December, starting Thursday Wednesday, November 30, 12:30 PST, we will be giving away one cool gift idea each week.

And what will you win you ask?

Cool Holiday Gift Giveaways

• Week 1:  one Roost Hemmingway Muddler Set + one Garden Rules Book
• Week 2: one Roost Recycled Glass Hanging Wall Terrarium {small}
• Week 3: one 2012 Buy Local Tea Towel + one Roost Farmer’s Market Basket {raspberry}
• Week 4:  one jar of Natural Sugar Scrub + a selection of Graham Garden soaps

How to Enter

1. Answer the question in each blog post by submitting your answer in the “leave a reply” section at the bottom of the page – good for 1 entry.
2. Answer the same, or similar question, on our Facebook page (you’ll have to “like” the page to make a comment) – good for 1 entry.

Yep, that’s right, you can enter your name twice each week for a chance to win a FREE gift. Keep them for yourself or find some special to gift them to.

A hostess gift is a sweet, simple and thoughtful way to show your host that you appreciate his or her hospitality. A gift doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant to show your host that you are grateful for all of the all of the time, effort and planning (not to mention cleanup after) that goes into entertaining.  With fall and winter holiday season upon us, it is time to be prepared with a stock of appropriate and tasteful hostess gifts for all of your weekend stays, cocktail parties, dinners, and potlucks.

Here are our top ten favorite hostess gifts for under $25

(1) Studiopatro Natural Linen Tea Towels — $22.00. These tea towels, which are available in 4 different prints, are made of 100% natural linen and made in the USA. For a hostess gift, wrap a Studiopatro Natural Linen Tea Towel around a bottle of wine and tie it at the top with a bow. Or, wrap a loaf of homemade pumpkin bread in a tea towel.

(2) Gather by Georgeanne Brennan — $22.95. A cookbook is an excellent hostess gift for any host who likes to experiment with new recipes. Gather is a great choice because it provides a variety of seasonal and holiday menus, all gorgeously photographed.

(3) Roost Basket Bird Huts — $17.50 – $24.50. A bird hut is a cool and unique hostess gift for the outside entertainer. If your attending an backyard barbecue or potluck, this is a clever gift idea. You can choose a Roost Basket Bird Hut in one of three different shapes: egg, oval, or round.

(4) Roost Lucie Hanging Votive — $13.00 – $14.50. These hanging votive candlee holders are perfect for indoor or outdoor use. Choose one of three Lucie Hanging Votive shapes, flare, tulip, or votive, and your host is sure to appreciate its simple and elegant design.

(5) Daub & Bauble Fig and Thyme Hand Wash — $9.00. A nice hand wash is always an appropriate hostess gift because it is so practical and useful. We love this earthy Fig and Thyme scent, which is just for the fall and winter holiday season. Plus, it’s packed with moisturizing Aloe Vera and Vitamin E. Also available in hand lotion.

(6) Roost Glass Bird Tealights — $22.00. A lovely match for any interior decor, the design of the Roost Glass Bird Tealights is delicate and beautiful. Choose from cardinal, blackbird, or robin.

(7) Winter Thorn Glasses — $17.50. Each brown and frosty white etched glass is a lovely work of art. For a nice hostess gift, fill a Winter Thorn Glass with a short-stemmed cluster of flowers, or a selection of individually wrapped chocolates. Or, pair it with a bottle of your favorite lager or sparkling water.

(8) Wild Herbs Record Plantable Paper — $6.71. It looks like an album, but this sheet of paper is actually brimming with herb seeds. All your hostess has to do is plant it for an awesome herb garden. Each pack of Wild Herbs Record Plantable Paper comes with 2 sheets of seed paper, and is packaged in pop art. Cool!

(9) ChicoBag Produce Bag Starter Kit — $15.95. Perfect for your Earth-loving host, the ChicoBag Produce Bag Started Kit includes three different mesh produce bags that are specially designed to maintain optimal airflow for fruits and veggies. Plus, they come in a super cute apple shaped storage pouch, making them nice for gift giving.

(10) Roost Carved Wood Doorstop — $22.00. To say “thanks for the overnight hopitality” after a weekend stay, we love the idea of the Roost Carved Wood Doorstop. Its carved bird design and leather handle make it both pretty and practical.

Still looking for more great hostess gift ideas? Check out last year’s post, Perfect Hostess Gift for Every Occasion.

Easy ways to make an impact with your entryway

1. Use intense color. Try painting the walls of your entryway a bold color, such as chartreuse, turquoise, or honeysuckle. Choose a color that makes you feel comfortable and happy, and it is likely to make your guests feel the same way.
2. Maximize your space. We like using mobiles to add decor in particularly tight spots. Not only do mobiles take advantage of rarely used overhead space, but they are also a perfect way to decorate if you have a small entryway without room for a table or other furniture.
3. Add seasonal touches. Adding seasonal elements from your garden creates a nice transitional flow between the indoors and the outdoors for your entryway. In the summer, place some snipped Lilies or Coneflowers in the playful Jacks Vase. For spring, the Glass Bird Vases are perfect for little Pincushion flowers, or one brilliant Peony blossom. Tall ornamental grasses and Chocolate Cosmos pair beautifully with the Roost Glass Reed Vase in the fall. It’s easy to arrange flowers in a vase, so adding seasonal elements is something anyone can achieve quickly.
4. Create juxtaposition. Unexpected pairings really help to create visual interest. Try hanging a cluster of Roost Recycled Bottle Lanterns, a hard and rustic element, above an earthenware bowl of Irish moss, a soft and earthy element. Or, place a few of the Roost Lucie Hanging Votives next to a small fountain or goldfish bowl.
5. Keep things in proportion. In a small area, you can add light and the illusion of space by adding a mirror to one wall. If your space is large but lacks architectural interest, try adding a decorative wall shelf to the wall that faces you when you first step through the door.
6. Play with ambient light. Ambient light makes everything look softened and oh-so-welcoming. This makes the entryway a great place for some candlelight. Try a pretty row of the Poppy Candles and Recycled Plates along a shelf, or a Glass Tealight Log on a narrow console table.

Click to see all the decorative accessories for your entryway mentioned in this post.

Image from Garden Guides.com

The term “forcing” bulbs sounds a little bit meaner than it actually is. Perhaps if we were to rename the process, we would call it “coaxing” or “persuading” the bulbs. What the process of forcing a bulb means is that you will induce the bulb to produce its shoot, leaf and flower out of its natural environment and ahead of its normal schedule. The really awesome thing about this is that whereas you would normally plant bulbs in the fall and wait for them to flower in the spring, when you force bulbs you can persuade them to bloom earlier for you, without the long winter wait!

Forcing Bulbs Indoors

Image from Country Living.com

During the bleak and dreary winter months, the opportunity to have an array of gorgeous blossoming flowers filling your home may seem like a fantasy. But when you force bulbs such as hyacinths, daffodils and tulips indoors, you can make this indoor winter garden a reality. Just follow these steps to try it yourself.

1. Buy high-quality spring blooming bulbs from a reputable source. Pass on any bulbs that are soft, moldy, or sprouting. Inspect the bulbs as you would produce at the grocery store. Good indoor bulb choices are daffodils, narcissi, crocus, muscari, and tulips. Paperwhite narcissus is a favorite for pretty white, fragrant Christmas flower arrangements.
2. Choose a large plastic or clay pot for your bulbs. Make sure there is at least one hole in the bottom of the pot for drainage. Scrub your pot clean, and if you choose a clay one, allow it to soak in water overnight to saturate the pores.
3. Fill your pot with a mixture of equal parts potting soil, peat moss, sand, and vermiculite. Mix this together thoroughly and dampen it with water.
4. Fill your pot with this soil mixture, leaving enough room at the top that when you place your bulbs, their tips reach the rim of the pot.
5. Place your bulbs, with the pointed side up, in the soil. Place them as close together as you can without actually having their sides touch. For tulips and other bulbs that have a flat side, place them with the flat side facing the outer rim of the container.
6. Cover your bulbs with a light layer of the soil mix (not too deep), and water it thoroughly.
7. Label each pot with the name of the flower(s), the date on which you potted it, and the date on which you will take it out of cold storage. Early blooming bulbs, such as snowdrops, crocus and daffodils, need 12 weeks. Mid to late spring blooming bulbs, such as tulips, need 16 weeks.
8. Place your pots in a cool, dark place such as a cellar or an unheated garage. Ideally, the temperature should be between 35 and 48 degrees F. If needed, you can cover the pots with black plastic garbage bags in order to keep them cool and dark.
9. Take your pots out of cold storage when you see shoots of about 3 inches in height and fine white roots emerging from the drainage holes of the pots.
10. Move the pots to a location where they can consistently be in the 50s, such as an unused spare bedroom, the laundry room, or a muck room.

You’ll notice that the blooms will unfold very quickly now, much more quickly than they would outdoors.  If kept at a temperature of about 65 to 68 degrees F, your flowers will thrive indoors, even in winter!

Forcing Bulbs Outdoors

Image credit: Susan Martin

Susan Martin, who works at Walters Gardens in Michigan, recently tried forcing bulbs outdoors with much success. Here are the steps to her quick and easy process.

1. Gather a selection of mixed daffodil and tulip bulbs in late fall. Some varieties that work well are Apricot Beauty tulips, White Dream tulips, Pink Charm daffodils, and Barrett Browning daffodils.
2. Drill a few holes in the bottom of recycled galvanized metal or painted metal party tubs for drainage.
3. Fill the tubs with potting soil mix (or you can use the same potting mixture that we suggested above for forcing bulbs indoors.)
4. Place the bulbs in the tub with the pointed tip facing upwards. Make sure to plant them close together in order to get tight, dense clusters of beautiful blossoms. Cover the bulbs with another thin layer of soil. Leave just the top tip of the bulb exposed in order to discourage them from rotting.


Image credit: Susan Martin

5. Leave the tubs outside until your temperatures reach freezing, and the snow begins to fall. Then move them indoors into an unheated spot, such as a basement or a garage.
6. Take a few handfuls of snow, about once a month, and place them on top of the tubs of bulbs. Allow the snow to slowly melt into the soil.
7. Take the bulbs back outside in early spring and place them wherever you would like in your garden or on your patio.
8. Allow the bulbs to bloom and grow naturally. Enjoy them!

Image source: FineCooking.com

For all of your fall gatherings and dinner parties this year, stick to fresh local veggies, fruits and herbs, and delicious yet easy ways to prepare them. For as much as we enjoy elaborately crafted dinner parties, there is something that has always bothered us about them. It often seems that by the time the host has finished preparing an array of time consuming and fancy dishes, he or she hardly even has time to savor them! The ratio of 4 hours of prep and cooking in the kitchen to 30 minutes of consumption hardly seems fair. So you know what we would suggest? Simplify!

Four Simple Fall Harvest Recipes

Stewed Apples
Recipe from Kevin D. Weeks at About.com

These sweet and spicy apples are great wrapped in a crepe, served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, or simply on their own as a side dish. We like to use a nice tart, firm apple such as Braeburn or Granny Smith. You can use whatever is available to you locally this fall.

Prep time – ten minutes
Cook time – thirty minutes
Total time from start to serve – 40 minutes

Ingredients:
3 apples, peeled, cored, and diced
2 Tbsp molasses
1 – 2 Tbsp rum, apple brandy, or water
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
6 – 8 grates of fresh nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
pinch of salt

Preparation:

1. Add enough rum, apple brandy, or water to a small saucepan to just cover the bottom.
2. Add all of the remaining ingredients and stir them together. Place the pan over low heat, partially cover, and simmer gently until apples are tender – about 30 minutes.

Baked Acorn Squash
Recipe from Ciocia Laura at Food.com

This acorn squash recipe is practically no-maintenance. Just cut the squash, scoop out the seeds, season and bake. You can experiment with using different types of fresh herbs from your herb garden if you don’t happen to have thyme. Sage or rosemary would be nice, too.

Prep time – 5 minutes
Cook time – 1 hour
Total time from start to serve – 1 hour and 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1 acorn squash
2 Tbsp butter
2 tsp dark brown sugar
1 pinch fresh ground black pepper
1 pinch freshly ground sea salt
A sprinkle of fresh thyme, cinnamon and nutmeg

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Cut the acorn squash in half lengthwise. Scoop the seeds out of the center using a spoon or melon baller.
3. Spread butter along the cut edge and inside.
4. Place each half face up on a baking sheet.
5. Sprinkle each half with the brown sugar and spices, then bake for approximately 1 hour. The halves will be fork-tender when they are ready.

Roasted Parsnips
Recipe from Midgelet at GroupRecipes.com

Parsnips have a distinct flavor and texture that we love. And because their taste is rather mild, they carry spices and flavors well. Early in the season, around October and November, these root veggies are nice and tender. Later in the season, around February, you may want to cut out the very center of each parsnip, as this area can get a tad bit woody.

Prep time – 10 minutes
Cook time – 35 minutes
Total time from start to serve – 45 minutes

Ingredients:
2 pounds of fresh parsnips, peeled and cut on the diagonal into 1 and ½ inch chunks
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp finely chopped fresh herbs, such as tarragon and/or rosemary

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Toss the first 3 ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
3. Spread the parsnips in a single layer on a baking sheet.
4. Roast the parsnips for 20 minutes.
5. Using tongs, turn the parsnips and allow them to roast for about 15 minutes more, until they turn brown on the edges and fork-tender in the center.
6. Transfer the parsnips to a serving plate and season them with the fresh herbs.

Pumpkin Chowder
Recipe from Country Living

This pumpkin chowder is so hearty, all you need is a crusty bread for a complete meal! And if this is the first time you’ve ever cooked with fresh pumpkin, trust us, you will never want to use canned pumpkin puree again. For a pumpkin that is easy to handle, choose a small pie variety at your local farmers’ market.

Prep time – 20 minutes
Cook time – 40 minutes
Total time from start to serve – 1 hour

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 leeks, white parts chopped and tough green parts removed
3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2 medium bell peppers, chopped
2 and ¼ pounds of pumpkin peeled, seeded, and cut into ½ by 1-inch thick pieces
1 and ½ tsp chopped fresh marjoram
¼ tsp crushed red pepper
2 bay leaves
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
1 and ¼ cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
6 cups of vegetable broth

Preparation:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot of dutch oven over medium heat.
2. Add the leeks and cook them until tender, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes more.
4. Stir in the green peppers, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the peppers begin to soften, about 8 minutes.
5. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer until the pumpkin is tender, about 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaves before serving.