Tuesday, June 29, 2010

In Bloom


A rose
 that is a bowl of
 sweet raspberry sherbert
 on a sultry, summer afternoon.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

In Bloom: The Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis )

We heard of it through a friend of a friend. A hurried call was made and a plan formulated to meet in the friend's garden at twilight...

When once the sun sinks in the west,


We gathered, old and young, around the small plot of soil and stared uncomprehendingly at the tall, weedy stalks. The children fidgeted with the tight buds while the adults spoke of the heat and “no rain”.

And dewdrops pearl the evening's breast;
Almost as pale as moonbeams are,
Or its companionable star,

Our friend, the gardener, murmured softly, “There's one”.


The evening primrose opens anew

And we watched incredulously, exclaiming, wondering, as bloom after bloom unfolded...in front of our eyes.


Its delicate blossoms to the dew;
And, hermit-like, shunning the light,





Wastes its fair bloom upon the night,
Who, blindfold to its fond caresses,




Knows not the beauty it possesses;



Thus it blooms on while night is by;
When day looks out with open eye,
Bashed at the gaze it cannot shun,
It faints and withers and is gone.

(The Evening Primrose by John Clare, English Poet, 1793-1864)

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Garden to Table



We planted two fingerling varieties in late February: Peanut and Red Thumb. Both were harvested this week and are perfect for roasting.

Rae's Creek Roasted Fingerlings
about 2 lbs potatoes
3 tbsp good olive oil
2 tsp lemon juice
about 1 tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp pepper
about 2 to 3 tbsp fresh rosemary
5 cloves minced garlic

Slice the larger potatoes if needed. Put all in ziplock bag and mix well. Spread in single layer in shallow pan and roast about 25 minutes at 450 degrees.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Tuesday Club


I have been leisurely searching for a ceramic garden stool for some time. Most range in price from $100 to $300 and are out of my budget...but I knew one would turn up eventually. And it did. At Ross. For $29.99. At the checkout I noticed I had received a 10% discount for something called the “Tuesday Club”. I looked at the girl, the very young girl---really a mere babe, behind the counter, “What's the Tuesday Club?” As she glanced pointedly at my gray hair she said, “Senior citizen discount.”

Wow.

I was so flabbergasted that I failed to tell the child I am ONLY 48. But I got my stool...and for $3.80 less.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

In Bloom

Fingerling potatoes---time to harvest.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

...wherever my ship sailed.


This year's sailing trip involved a crew of two grandsons with grandfather at the helm.

We rendezvoused at the Savannah Yacht Club and were entertained by tales of the high seas.



"The days passed happily with me wherever my ship sailed."
Sailing Alone Around the World
Captain Joshua Slocum

Friday, June 11, 2010

Summer Project #1



"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
Theodore Roosevelt


President Roosevelt's words sum up my guidelines on decorating: Make the most of what you're given, don't try to turn your home into something it isn't, turn your "flaws" into "focal points".

 
We purchased several of these shelves over fifteen years ago and have added more over the years. They come unfinished and in many different heights and widths, but with the same configuration of shelves so they can be mixed and matched according to your wall space. They have held toys, kitchen supplies, tools, sports equipment, sewing materials, art supplies, and of course, books. Here's a narrow version in my son's room:

Four have found their final resting place in our living room. I wanted them to look more finished and give some richness and depth to all our mismatched books, so a beautiful chestnut brown was chosen (Benjamin Moore "Lodge"). In progress:

And after:

P.S. Did I mention they cost only $160 per unit? ...Atlanta Salvage on Howell Mill Road in Altanta, Georgia.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

In Bloom

Gardenia jasminoides

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Blue skies...

...over Rae's Creek.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Life!

About two weeks ago we were excited to receive the gift of a fig tree. A friend was having some construction done in her yard and needed to remove the tree. It was much larger than we had anticipated and it was “shorn” of all its green when we picked it up, so by the time we returned it to the ground it looked like some strange stick sculpture...that had to be propped up by a cinder block.


We watered.
We held our breath.
 And we watered.
And we held our breath.
And...

a tiny bud and even...


a baby fig leaf.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

In Bloom

This little plant has turned out to be one of my favorites. In December I saw it at a local nursery, brought it home, and put it in a large basket with some poinsettias. The tiny white blooms were like snow falling amidst the velvety red. It wintered in my living room in a south facing window producing snowy blooms. With the spring, it moved onto the patio where it has continued to cascade its little flowers. It is 'Diamond Frost' Euphorbia.