Chutney is made with fresh fruit, ginger, hot chilies, and spices, and it is simple to make. You can follow a recipe, or keep basic proportions in mind: two cups of sugar, two cups of vinegar, and eight cups of sliced or chopped fruit and wing it. Add grated fresh ginger, raisins or cranberries, and […]
Quinoa and Arugula Salad Recipe
Quinoa (or Couscous) and Arugula Salad with Lemony Vinaigrette Serves 6 For a refreshing splash of summer, use this lemony vinaigrette dressing on a variety of spring greens; it is especially good for bringing out the tart notes in arugula. I often make this salad with Couscous, yet the Quinoa makes a nice alternative. 1 cup vegetable […]
Garden Tools
This time of year I have a special thing for garden tools. Having the right tool for the job is important, and I like to keep it simple with just a few hard working tools. No need clogging up the garden shed too much stuff. Pictured here are all my favorites: a large turning fork, […]
Cutting Mix Lettuce
Is there anything more delicious than the first salad of the season? Tender, delicate, buttery. The dressing has to be ultra mild, with a hint of lemon and very little salt. When you have lettuce like this growing in your garden, it’s best to adapt your dressing to be simple in order to highlight the […]
Seasonal reading
The upside to a late spring snowstorm and unseasonably cold weather, is that I have more time to stay indoors to read. I’m reading three wonderfully different and totally engaging books about gardeners. It’s a good reminder that I can always learn from other gardeners, and not just by visiting their gardens, but through stories, […]
My Garden Secret: Twine
Most people don’t talk much about twine. But there is so much to know. For one thing, when looking for the ultimate garden twine for the garden, the key word should be “biodegradable”. Some twine contains nylon for extra strength, but it simply won’t break down in the compost pile at the end of the […]
Garden Show Temptations
Gardeners are naturally obsessive by nature. We can justify anything – plants or garden art. The key is to recognize our weakness before it takes over. Decorating the garden this time of year can be both dangerous and also uplifting. It is one way to bridge the gap between spring and mud season, and is a safer bet than buying plants.
Garden Arts
“Always keep something beautiful in your mind” — Pascal Gardens produce memories, and what I place in my garden is usually sentimental as well as beautiful. Whether you are following the latest European garden trends to discover just the right blue-green color to paint the patio furniture, or the latest on ceramic fairy houses, garden […]
Winter Gardens at Colonial Williamsburg
Next to my desk is a cork board filled with photos and postcards, and while some items come and go, one image has remained in place for close to a decade: a photo of the herb garden at the Benjamin Powell House at Colonial Williamsburg. It was the source of inspiration for my own four […]
Jr Iron Chef
It’s not often that I am asked to be a food judge, so I jumped at the chance to evaluate dishes prepared by students at the Jr Iron Chef VT held in Essex, Vermont. Hosted by The Burlington School Food Project and Vermont Food Education Every Day (FEED) a Farm to School program run as […]
Better Home Made: Mustard
Like most people, I adore condiments. All kinds, and have a pretty good collection of open jars on the ‘fridge door. Most condiments last forever, while others disappear quickly. I was hankering for a melted cheddar sandwich the other day, when I discovered that I had completely run out of mustard. Rather than rush to […]
Sketchbook for Ideas
This time of year, I am grateful that I take time to keep a garden journal. It’s not always easy to do, especially during mid-summer when everything seems a blur of activity, but when I start the planning process all over again, it is a helpful to remember what to repeat or not. In my […]
