We've been snacking on peas in the garden. Sometimes we just run outside simply to pick a few and eat them raw. They are of course, best this way. The 'Sugar Annes' are very sweet, and meant to be eaten in their entirety- shells and all. Last night we had some carmelized shallots with pasta and pea shoots. With some raw peas on the side. Peonies and pea shoots for the vase.
Wait, wait, wait for spring in the Midwest and then blink it is gone. So this is a way for me to remember. The peonies have been blooming for two weeks and though the most recent thunderstorm has sent them bowing to the ground there are many still to cut.
I ran to the garden to pick a quick arrangement for the table. This is what's in bloom this week. This moment. Peonies, of course. 'May Night' Salvia, 'Huskers Red' beard tongue, alliums, and 'Walker's Low' Nepeta.
I made May wine last year for the first time. It's a lovely spring drink to serves guests. You need to open and use a whole bottle of wine (or more). It just makes sense to share it with friends. Here's how I made it.
I picked some sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) flowers and leaves. (Of course, it goes without saying that I don't use pesticides, so no worries on using the home grown herbs.) I dried a bunch of leaves in the microwave. The flavors intensify when you use dried leaves.
I poured a bottle of Riesling wine in a container. It just made sense to use a German wine since this recipe is of German origin. Any white wine you love will do. I added the dried sweet woodruff leaves, covered the container and chilled it for a few hours.
I then strained the wine into glasses. Garnished with strawberries, fresh sweet woodruff leaves with sweet woodruff flowers and bright purple-blue borage flowers.
Horticulture Society of Maryland
April 14, 2009 at 7:30 PM
1710 Dulaney Valley Rd., Lutherville, Md
Contact: Richard Cole 410-821-5561
Designing the New Kitchen Garden, book signing to follow
Get Gardening at Copperfield's
May 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Copperfield's Books 138 N. Main St., Sebastopol, California
Contact: Emma Alpaugh ealpaugh@timberpress.com
Designing the New Kitchen Garden, book signing to follow
Get Gardening at Chaucer's
May 14, 2009 at 7 PM
Chaucer's Bookstore 3321
State St., Santa Barbara
Contact: Emma Alpaugh eapaugh@timberpress.com
Designing the New Kitchen Garden, book signing to follow
Alaska State Fair Garden and Art Festival
July 11, 2009 at 1:00
Alaska State Fair, Palmer, Alaska
Contact: Sarah Cimino 907-745-4827 or gardenfestival@alaskastatefair.org
Designing the New Kitchen Garden, book signing to follow lecture
Ballymaloe, Ireland. Photo: Ginger Aarons-Garrison
Ballymaloe, Ireland. Photo: Ginger Aarons-Garrison
Ballymaloe, Ireland. Photo: Ginger Aarons-Garrison
My favorite landscape architecture professor used to say that every great design project began with a great vision. There is no greater visual inspiration than touring the fabulous perennial borders, kitchen gardens and castles of Ireland. I am thrilled to partner with Time Travel of Portland, Oregon to present Down the Garden Path a garden tour of Ireland.
Not just an ordinary trip, we will trek down the hidden paths, through the garden gates to see Helen Dillon's private urban garden and expansive castle kitchen gardens. The trip includes the great gardens of Ireland like Powerscourt, Mount Usher and Derreen Gardens. We'll even find something delicious and local to eat. Part of the tour will be a hands on cooking experience at the Ballymaloe Cookery School.
I'll offer a lecture at Glin Castle. We'll stay in Country Houses. Ginger has outlined a great itinerary on her website and I invite you to peruse the schedule. Join us for a monumental garden and food tour of Ireland that will refresh and inspire you. It will be an intimate group with limited space. I look forward to hearing from you. The dates are August 8-21, 2009. We'll meet in Dublin. Pack extra camera batteries.
I must say I am thrilled about the new kitchen garden that we are getting. The one on the South Lawn of the White House. Michelle, I applaud you. I love seeing the images of you digging in the dirt with children from a nearby school. It speaks volumes about what's important. The earth. The health of our children. What we eat. Self sufficiency.
The ripple effect, I hope it's far and wide. That we all plant a little bit. An organic kitchen garden at the White House. It's a great day.
I am often asked about the royal blue bamboo poles that I use in my potager. Don't be fooled by the photo; spring has not come to my garden.... yet. This was taken a few years ago, but it's a good reminder to get structures ready now. Here is what I did and maybe it will be helpful for you.
I ordered 7' x 3/4" natural bamboo poles online. (I don't remember exactly where, but do a search... there are many sources.) At least seven feet is a good height because when you place them in the garden, you will bury them 3-5" in the ground for stability.
I painted them with latex paint. I do not know the exact color. It was paint I had on hand because my dining room is painted the same color. Yes, this was deliberate. My kitchen garden is planted near my house- the dining room, kitchen and family room windows overlook the garden. So there is a continuation of the indoors with the outdoor garden and the other way around- outdoor garden brought indoors.
Pick a color that you love and think in terms of contrast. Much of the time, the vines if they are beans or peas will be green. So choose a color that contrasts with green. Red or orange come to mind but royal blue also works.
I won't mislead you. Bamboo doesn't really take latex paint well. It will take a couple of coats. I have to touch up the poles every spring but for me the effect and result is worth the trouble. Enamel spray paint would probably work better. Let the paint thoroughly dry for a few days.
Place the painted poles in the garden, pushing each pole into the earth. Lash the tops together with twine in a figure eight motion. You can create a tee pee with about six poles or line them up like I have done in the photo with a pole at the top.
With a favorite color and a little time you can personalize your garden so that is suits you. That's the point.... gardens should make us smile.
Ahhh, so what is actually growing under the cloches in my garden? What has survived the winter into mid February? Gala mache seems to be the winner. Late fall I planted a few varieties of cool season greens. I sprinkled some spinach, kale, arugula, dandelion and mache seeds on the soil, pressed them in then covered with some glass cloches. I shut the gate to the garden for the season and just peered out the window every now and again. The dandelion is doing ok but the green, rosebud lettuces growing close to the ground are thriving. This lettuce is tasty and so fun to eat on this cold day.
A photographer can put it so plainly. What do we see? What do we see out our windows. I have been contemplating this question all week. And looking. I have been looking out my window. And seeing. I have been seeing how everything changes with the time of day and with the weather. So Photographer David Perry - thanks for the fun assignment. You see it fits so well with my philosophy as a garden designer. The garden should be right outside the window for us to enjoy. Even in winter.
OK. I cheated on this image. This is not the view out my window. This is the view toward my window. In the midst of my enthusiasm for seeing and photographing I put on my boots and walked outside in the snow. Maybe that's the purpose of really seeing. Engaging just a bit.
"The Monday Talks"
February 2, 2009 @ 1:30
First United Methodist Church
Newark, Ohio
Contact Judy Riggs: 740-522-4905
Midwest Gardening Symposium: Incredible, Edible Gardens
February 19, 2009 8:30-5:30
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Madison, Wisconsin
Arkansas Flower and Garden Show
February 27, 2009 @ 11:30
February 28, 2009 @ 1:00
Statehouse Convention Center
Little Rock, Arkansas
Arkansas Flower and Garden Show
I will be signing books at all of the events and look forward to meeting you and talking about your garden.
