Lemon Blondies
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Showing posts with label Michael Devine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Devine. Show all posts
5 Easy to Grow Flowers
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| My garden in the Hudson Valley in mid summer. |
The first thing I learned is that just about any vegetable plant that turns into a man eating vine like, pumpkins and cucumbers, are now firmly banished from the scene. They take up too much space and kill the grass.My favorite flowers, vegetables and herbs that get replanted every year and are relatively carefree and abundant producers. The five easy to grow flowers listed here, can be planted from seed after the last frost and will produce reliable blooms throughout the season. They aren't bugged by pests and aren't particularly fragile, although they do need regular deadheading. The best way around that is to pick them often and enjoy them in the house or as centerpieces. These are the back bone of my garden every year.
Every year I plant cosmos, the Sensation Mix, in the back of the garden. They grow to about 5' and make a nice background for everything in front of them. They do need staking or they are prone to toppling over. I love the simplicity of the flowers - they remind of the first flowers kids learned to draw. Their lace foliage is nice in arrangements too.
The best display of cosmos I ever saw was in a garden in the Loire.
At Les Jardins de la Chatonniere where they were planted on a hillside. In a huge patch that must have been 50' by 25'. Hundreds if not thousands of cosmos were waving in the breeze. Remarkable.
Nicotiana or scented tobacco is a plant that freely reseeds and could be considered invasive, but the smell on a summer night is heaven. What's a little weeding to keep things in check when the reward is a stately plant with a beautiful scent? It's really great in large containers.
The humble bachelor button was the favorite flower of Marie Antoinette.Available in a soft palette of blues, purples, pinks and a deep burgundy color make it perfect for my garden. They are great cut and are also edible. I use the flowers in ice cubes for water and other clear drinks as well in ice buckets. They will reseed.
The sweet nasturtiums tumbling over the ends of the beds in a profusion of blooms is a wondrous sight. They also work well in pots. There are numerous types and colors to choose from. I always opt for the dwarf types and the milky/white colors like Milkmaid. They can be trimmed back as needed and will reseed.
Christmas in the Garden
Recently I was looking through my book, An Invitation to the Garden, and was particularly mesmerized by the last chapter, Elegant Christmas Eve Dinner. It’s funny how time has a way of dimming the details of things that were once omni important. Looking through the chapter brought back many memories of that shoot that I had forgotten. Like the deep conversation about how many rock candy trees and what sizes we would need which at the time was critical.
Now with the holidays once again looming the rock candy trees still looking as good as the day they were shot. It seems like a good time to share some behind the scenes tips and tricks of my own with you for a happy and bright season. Enjoy!
To change out the look of our Bagatelle we rented Ghost chairs which we love but really wouldn’t want own. The walls were tented in my Celeste fabric that was printed in a custom metallic gold on corduroy.
The brilliant red table cloth is inexpensive felt that makes a smart looking table. Best of all the felt only requires light pressing and not a full on ironing like a linen table cloth might. A fun napkin fold, like this tree shape, can make or break a setting.
An array of small snowmen held court in a field of pine and cyclamen for a crazy cute vignette.
Lumieres lined the path to the bagatelle adding to the festive mood and preventing the guests from falling in the snow after the dinner.
Dessert was a delicious Poached Fig and Pear Beggars’ Purses with vanilla port sauce. The recipe is in the book.
You can purchase a signed copy of my book, An Invitation to the Garden, here and get free shipping in time for the 25th if you order by the 17th of December. Ho Ho Ho!
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