Southern Hospitality, Fancy Fowl & Eye-Candy Edibles

September 1st, 2010
Meander Inn - Modern Plantation Desination

Meander Inn - Modern Plantation Desination

Recently, I had the pleasure of staying at the Inn at Meander Plantation. Back in the day — that would be the early 1700s — the plantation consisted of around 3000 acres. Today the beautiful buildings are intact on 80 of the original acres. Horses graze the pastures. Tall trees provide shade. Boxwoods, reaching second story heights, line weathered cobblestone paths. Once you’re on this property, time travels backwards rapidly, and you wonder why you didn’t pack a hoop skirt and bonnet.

Mint Julips - The Perfect Southern Afternoon Cocktail

Mint Julips - The Perfect Southern Afternoon Cocktail

The Inn exceeded all of my expectations. I booked a room with two beds to share with my mom. When we arrived, our room became an enormous suite with access onto the upstairs veranda where we sat and sipped plantation-appropriate mint julips from sweating silver goblets in the late afternoon. (I’m going to try to get their recipe; it was beyond perfection!) The bedroom itself was filled with gorgeous antique furniture including two very comfortable queen sized four poster beds, a set of wing back chairs (mom’s favorite) and a few dressers, antique clocks (that didn’t tick) and desks. Nope, it didn’t feel crowded. Actually, I think that room alone was larger than my entire Seattle dining room and living room put together! Mom laughed that the suite was larger than her entire house, and I think she’s right!

Eye-Catching Okra Flowers & Pods

Eye-Catching Okra Flowers & Pods

In the evening we sat down to a five course prix fixe dinner, much of which was harvested from local, sustainable farms — from heirloom tomatoes to sweet corn soup to quail and rack of lamb. And, yes, like the three course breakfast the next morning, dinner was enough to feed me for a week. Plus, the service left me feeling like I owned the place. Everyone from the innkeepers to the housekeeper waited on us hand and foot — it was almost too much, but I think that’s the point.

In the morning, after gorging on a week’s worth of breakfast at one sitting, I wandered the grounds a bit. At dinner, one of the courses included okra from the plantation gardens. I don’t particularly like to eat okra, but I do find the plants simply stunning so I sought out the veggie gardens only to find okra plants towering over head. The innkeepers had told me it was a bumper crop okra year, and she wasn’t kidding. Spying all those ripe pods left me wishing I liked to eat them. Instead, I enjoyed snapping photos of the beautiful plants, planning to attempt growing them in my Seattle garden in 2011. (I’ll get to enjoy the eye-candy; if it actually produces pods in our cooler climate, the food bank can have the harvest!)

Guinea Hen on the Run

Guinea Hen on the Run

Then, as I was enjoying the veggie garden, from the field and nearby barn came fowl noises. It wasn’t quite a chicken noise, nor a duck, goose or turkey. A flash of red with black and white caught my eye from the weedy field behind me.

“Mom, is that a turkey?”

Mom, laughing: “Nope. Its a guinea.”

For years Mom has sung the praises of guinea fowl. I’m kind of surprised we didn’t raise them on the farm. We did have chickens that started from a pair my sister and I caught after their cage fell and broke off a truck near our farm. But no other domestic fowl lived on our farm. Mom’s love of guineas has grown over the years, especially after she contracted Lyme Disease and later found that guineas are one of the best fowl for cleaning up ticks (as well as Japanese Beetles and other insect pests in the garden.) If Mom didn’t live in a forest, she would keep guineas now to keep her garden clean. Alas, the hawks, eagles and other predators of her woods would eat the guineas right up. So, we packed ourselves back into the car and drove away — relaxed, sated, guinea and okra-free, but chatting away about how we can’t wait for another chance to meander in to the Inn at Meander Plantation again in the future.

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An Oregon Spring in Seattle August

August 24th, 2010
Nearly Ripe Oregon Springs Tomato

Nearly Ripe Oregon Springs Tomato

Late last week I flew to Virginia for a visit of several days with family. Normally, I wouldn’t choose to leave my Seattle veggie garden in August, especially to visit the east coast, which has miserable weather this time of year. But, Mom’s been sick with Lyme Disease, and my gardening business is traditionally a bit slower in late summer, so I decided to head east for a visit — despite the fact that I knew my garden produce would be at its peak right about now. That’s life, right? A series of trade-offs.

The evening before I left town, Bob and I took a walk through the garden so I could update him on caring for things. Everything potted in the garden needs to be watered daily, especially the viney, pot bound tomatoes in the greenhouse. And, all the plants need to be checked for harvest status every few days. Although we’ve been harvesting cherry tomatoes and paste tomatoes for a few weeks now, none of the bigger tomatoes had been ready ahead of my departure date. And, to make me even a bit more sad, my first big, fat slicer (an Oregon Springs) was just a day or so away from harvest.

Mom & sis ganging out at our cousin's country store; He grows the tomatoes on the land in back

Mom & sis ganging out at our cousin's country store; He grows the tomatoes on the land in back

As I pointed out the first ripening Oregon Springs fatty to Bob, I said, “Don’t you dare forget about this and let a rat or squirrel get to it first.” Pushing the ripening date on tomatoes in our garden is just asking to lose the fruit. Yesterday, Bob confirmed he’d enjoyed it on a BLT. And yes, I’m jealous. But what Bob (and my garden) don’t know is that I’ve been enjoying farm-fresh tomatoes everyday. Turns out my cousin sent home amazing tomatoes from his country garden to my Mom in the city. They were grown less than an acre away from where I grew up learning to farm as a child, and they’re as good as a tomato can get in summer.

Tomorrow I head into the country, and I’ll be visiting my cousin at his country store, and I’ll get to see his garden and meet his newborn baby. And maybe I’ll steal one of his tomatoes to eat fresh off the vine (or on white bread with mayo and pepper like I did as a kid.)

So despite missing out on one of what may be only a few red-ripe slicing tomatoes we’ll get in Seattle this summer (the weather’s just not cooperated), I’ll still get to savor summer tomatoes as well as enjoy time with all of my wonderful family here in good ole sweaty Virginia. (Did I mention there’s a cool breeze today, so maybe I should keep counting my blessings and stop moaning about what might have been!)

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Garden Blogger Bloom Day – August 2010

August 15th, 2010
Swallow Tail Butterfly Loves Fragrant White Garden Phlox

Swallow Tail Butterfly Intoxicated by Phlox Nectar

It’s not hard to find blooms in the garden in August. The hardest part is choosing which to photograph and finding a time to take photos when the light isn’t glaring or the hot, easterly winds aren’t blowing.

This morning, before the sun began blasting out all the colors and while the air was still, I captured a few shots among the many glorious blossoms including, finally, capturing a photo of one my favorite sights in summer – Swallow Tail Butterflies. They are absolutely in love with my the fragrant, white garden Phlox all over my garden. This plant can become invasive — seeding and spreading underground. But, I am in love with its fragrance — as well as the butterflies that pollinate it!

d Hummer (top left) Buzzed Me on the Way to Scarlet Runner Beans (Right)

d Hummer (top left) Buzzed Me on the Way to Scarlet Runner Beans (Right)

Aroma-rific Clerodendrum: Jasmine-like Flowers; Peanut Butter-like Foliage

Aroma-rific Clerodendrum: Jasmine-like Flowers; Peanut Butter-like Foliage

White Anemone Just Opening; these will bloom into Fall

White Anemone Just Opening; these will bloom into Fall

Summer Squash Blossoms Lure in the Bees

Summer Squash Blossoms Lure in the Bees

Rattlesnake Pole Beans Climbing Repurposed Bamboo Cuttings

Rattlesnake Pole Beans Climbing Repurposed Bamboo Cuttings

Goji Berries Finally Blooming - Will We Get Fruit?!

Goji Berries Finally Blooming - Will We Get Fruit?!

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Turf: Don’t Tread on Me

August 11th, 2010

Recently, I enjoyed a few days in Victoria, BC with my husband. On a foggy morning we hopped on the Victoria Clipper and cruised northward to quaint Victoria for a few days of R&R. Sorry, no reports of Grey or Killer Whales or even snowy mountain views from the ship — it was just to socked in. Still, the boat trip wasn’t the big draw for us. The beautiful gardens of Victoria were.

Fake Turf - no mow, no water, but still no way!

Fake Turf - no mow, no water, but still no way!

We had planned a trip out to Butchart Gardens. I mean what horty gal goes to Victoria without visiting the famed gardens? Otherwise, our trip had very little structure. So, after dropping our bags at the hotel and grabbing lunch in the harbor area, we started a walking tour toward Government House gardens. On the way, I spotted my first in a series of lawns that left me wondering, “what’s the point”?

This first “lawn” forms the central put-put golf course for some homeowner near Craigdarroch Castle. As a weedless space, shining in the sun and perfectly quaffed, it caught my eye. But, upon closer inspection, I realized it was fake! Fieldturf, Astroturf, faker-grass? Call it what you will, I’m not impressed. Sure, it doesn’t need water, requires no mowing and looks nearly perfect at all times (if you like that kind of look). But does that mean it looks good or is healthy for the planet? It’s made out of manufactured materials, and I’m guessing it isn’t something you recycle. So what happens to this stuff when the sun and time finally wear it down? Off to the landfill?

Do you push the mower up or race it down the hill?

Do you push the mower up or race it down the hill?

We took a peek at the castle from the outside. It was lovely, but I had no interest in waiting in a line to pay a fee to tour a hot castle that day. Instead, we looked around the grounds where I found another “why lawn?” moment. The grounds are perfect for adding extensive gardens, but instead they’re filled with lawn. And, in this case it was the real thing, and to their credit, it was being left to go dormant in the summer. But, it’s still mowed regularly, and who in their right mind wants to mow on a slope like the ones in their terraced areas seen here?

So onward, to Government House. Here’s where I can take a break from my grumbles and say this was the best garden of our entire tour. Not only was it free (though we did make a donation), but its realistic. Yes, they do spray the rose gardens, but their IPM advisory notices are clearly posted for all to see. Their lawns are steppable and filled with clover. Plus, there’s a native Quercus garryana meadow functioning as a preserve for these lovely trees.

Butchart Turf Rules: Don't Tread on Me

Butchart Turf Rules: Don't Tread on Me

The next day we made our trek to Butchart. I hadn’t been in many years, and the last time I went I hadn’t had nearly the horticultural training I’ve had at this point in my life. As in the past, it was simply overwhelming. The work that went into defining this space years ago is stunning. The work that goes into maintaining it today is simply outrageous — and I don’t know if I mean that in a complimentary way. Sure, it must provide employment for a lot of gardeners. We saw several of them spending hours simply deadheading annuals that barely needed deadheading. We also met a very helpful lawn maintenance guy who helped us get a reservation at the tea house. But, I’m not sure what the point of all that lawn really is, and there’s a lot of it!

When I visited Butchart several years ago, we were invited to sit on the grass and relax. On this visit, lawn was blocked off with signs and chains asking people to stay off of it. They claim it is maintained organically and even gave me the rundown on how they sand it and use “organic” fertilizers on it a couple times a year. But all day long, reel mowers were driving all over the lawn, and I only saw two children escape the masses and go running into the fields of green. So why do it?

Butchart does offer concerts, at which time visitors may tread on the turf. And, apparently, there are picnic events when patrons may sit on the grass. But otherwise, the message was: “Stay off the grass”. And, since it is a show garden destination, that grass stays as green as can be — happily watered and trimmed to perfection. Frankly, between the technicolor annual patches and their energy-sucking cousin lawn, I was disappointed with the current management of Butchart.

Lovely Moss, but not for your toes

Lovely Moss, but not for your toes

Here’s why: Lawn, especially lawn that you can’t walk or sit on, and annuals take a lot of water and other energy inputs. Historically, the family that developed Butchart grew food on site. So, I have a hard time understanding why at least a part of this huge space isn’t dedicated to food growing. Not only would it be in tune with the current locavore movement and provide educational spaces for patrons, but it would provide fresh, local foods for the fantastic chef to draw from.

If anyone has the answer, I welcome your comment.

After all that ranting, I will add that there was one garden in Butchart that I adored. And it’s turf is a turf I can get behind – rolling lawns of moss. Guess where they used it? Yep – in the Japanese Garden. This garden was stunning in its simplicity. The paths were tactile — so much so, I slipped off my sandals and massaged my tired toes walking over the embedded, polished stones. I would have loved taking a soft, spongy stroll through the mossy turf, but alas, once again, the message was “stay on the path and don’t tread on me”.

Now that I’ve gotten that rant out of my system, I hope to catch you up on some of the other cool garden-y things we enjoyed in Victoria – like the amazing children’s water play garden featuring a watering can the size of a townhouse!

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Bees v. Bears

July 29th, 2010
Sweet Honey Just Pulled from the Hives

Sweet Honey Just Pulled from the Hives

Yesterday afternoon Corky of Ballard Bee Company dropped by to check on his honey bees in our garden. They’re all doing great, and it was actually time to extract a few frames of honey from one of the hives. (The other is still catching up after swarming earlier in the year.) Of course, the bees don’t like it when anyone steals their honey — even if it is Corky who fed them through the winter. They cooperated nicely for a bit, but Corky did get several annoying stings. Honestly, I don’t know how he puts up with it. As I chatted with him while he worked, a few warning bees came after me as well. And, giving in to their herding, I ran from the angry girls. (Yeah, I know. Someday that’s just not going to work.)

Corky kept calling us “the bears”. We steal the bees’  honey just like a raiding bee in the woods. He even told us that he’s aware of studies showing that bees tend to go for the dark colors – think big, bad bears – ahead of lighter colors when they’re on the defense. And, sadly for Corky, they seem to really like to go for his face when they sting – ouch!

Gladly playing my role as honey-stealin’ bear, I did dip my finger into some of the oozing honey on the frames Corky pulled yesterday. Maybe it’s my imagination, but I think it tasted even better fresh out of the hive than it does out of the bottle. There’s a faint flavor of pine (perhaps from the wooden frames?), aromas of waxy pollen, hints of herbs and summery garden flowers, and of course it’s warm!

It’s good to be a bear! (Well, unless you’re Corky-the-bear and you get stung at least three or four times for every frame of honey you extract from the hive.)

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