MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF SURPRISE & DELIGHT...

On a restless night, on a cyber stroll... I wandered into the Springmaid Garden of Surprise & Delight, and like magic, I found what I've been looking for... how to turn my blah space into an Ahhh! space. Just goes to show how flowers and gardens influence our lives. If anyone is looking to brighten up rooms with a garden-fresh theme, these flower beds are for you. www.springmaidgarden.com.

Hmmm! I think I'll have a Lemonade Tea Party!

Lemonade Tea Party

Love Me, Leave Me

Indigo Bouquet

Rose's Garden

WOULD YOU MARRY ME AGAIN...

 

Without you, would there have been a ground to till or a seed to sow... would I have seen sunflowers dance in the breeze or unlocked the secrets of an heirloom tomato... would the miracle of a green pepper turning red have enriched me or would a striped eggplant have amused me... would I have witnessed a sunrise light the mountains on fire or a sunset give way to a million-watt moon... without you, would thirst have taken the garden or would have the fullest moon been celebrated... would I have even set eyes on the dark horse running across its burning brilliance... My chosen one, you are a code undecodable... unbearable at times... impossible at best... yes, I would marry you again and again and again and again, but with a few adjustments and separate vacations every now and then.

SIGNS OF THINGS TO COME...

Brought north from a more southern field, these beauties give a sneak peak at what's growing on in Cardinal Gardens... Aunt Rubies, Mortgage Lifters, and Brandywines (just to name a few).

BLOSSOMS OF GOLD...

Summer 2011, in some ways, feels like a continuation of Summer 2010... new foods, new inspirations, new traditions. Our first harvest... golden zucchini blossoms... were the centerpiece of this past Friday's feast reminding me, once again, of a wisdom my Mom passed on to me, one passed on to her by my Grandfather: Whoever has gold, has food on the table. 

RECIPE 2:

FLORBELLA

 

Almost too forbidden to pick, the blossom's beauty on the plant is short-lived. Opening day and closing night happens in what seems like a blink, so channel your inner Eve and pluck away. Their rushed and momentary beauty, however, can be frozen in time for a day or two at the most. Both male and female flowers are edible, but even the weakest Eves should resist the temptation to remove them all from the plants. No worries if you missed your opportunity one morning; the zucchini plant is so giving, that there's always the next when the new day brings new flowers (see THE LESSON re: perfect timing). Here's just one of the many recipes readily available on the internet (and I intend to try them all). This variation takes on a twist with last year's discovery and this year's new staple... my beloved Jalapeños.

Ingredients:
Failure To Resist Temptation

5 Zucchini Blossoms
1 Jalapeño Pepper (julienned & optional)

1 Egg

3 Tbs Flour
Milk
Salt
Pepper
Olive Oil

Directions:

Inspect the flowers on the plant. The ones that are open are the ones that you want. Wear gloves! The plants will pinch you if you don't. Find your flower anatomy book... the male has the stamen (single), the female, the pistil (multiple). Pick a female only if it has a baby zuke growing where the flower meets the fruit. "Prune" the male leaving a little bit of the stem. Store in the fridge to keep them fresh (but no more than a day or two). 

Beat the egg and add the milk (for 5 blossoms, about 3/4th of a cup). Stir in 3 heaping tablespoons of flour and the juliennes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dip the blossoms into the batter and drench till they drip. Set aside on wax paper and heat the olive oil. Place the blossoms on the oiled pan and remove when golden brown. Serve (in this case) with a side of sautéd zucchini and indulge!

FOR A SONG...

A gem by Neil Diamond is strummed and sung by a local musician at the Farmers Market. With no more than 10 tables set on the town's mini municipal lot, it's fast-food shopping gone fresh and healthy. Great produce and great gab, guaranteed. This one Saturday, the last notes of a favorite song are captured at the Corn Fest, a celebration that welcomes the arrival of the upstate corn season, and for some reason, moves me.

GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK...

Deb McLean from Busy Being Fabulous posted this "Image of the Day" on her blog. Not sure if it's art or attire, but it is fabulous. And proof that a garden is for sowing the seeds of wonder. I tip my hat to its creator!

Deb McLean's Blog:
www.busybeingfabulous.com

THE LIGHT...

Beckoning as it is, you shouldn't always go into it. Just enjoy it from this side.

SURFACE BEAUTY...

Texture isn't always about what you feel when you touch something. It's sometimes about what you feel when something touches you. Some things, however, are better left untouched.

THE LESSON...

Nature leads the way in a garden, and one would be well advised to follow. With that in mind, here’s a theory: perfecting timing and alignment are predictable and both can be used to one’s advantage by either seizing a moment or waiting for the next opportunity.

As an example:

Imagine... horses out in the distant pasture... grazing in the cool earliest hours before the heat of the day and what it brings consumes them... the sun on the ascend turning the trees and mountains into silhouettes... rising higher and higher due south blasting its blazing rays on southern-exposed gardens... heading upward, horses heading inward... closing in on the run-in shed... rising even higher, getting even hotter... driving the horses to shelter. Inside. Out of the heat. The horses aligned with the sun. The missed moment. Too late... too hot. Wait for the afternoon's shade to water... to transplant... to spritz any homemade formulas.

Nature. Respect and embrace it. Observe and absorb. Understand your role in it and work in rhythm with it. There is no better fertilizer.

Zucchini

Nasturtium

Tigerella

Lime Salad Green

Cherokee Purple

Red Burgundy Okra

Basil

WEDNESDAY'S MARKET...

If just for a few minutes, I make my way there. A quick stroll brightens the day. Lavender, its abundant bees and alluring scent... farmers and good conversation... a Wednesday, a replaced fig tree... flowers in their full dress... and heirlooms more southern than me making their earlier debut... a sign of things to come in my garden of heavenly delights.