Garden Gathering Recap: Wet & Wild!

We're onto the second installation of our Garden Gathering recaps!  In case you missed it, you should definitely check out Sue's "Designing with Food & Flavor".  Now it's my turn to share a little bit from my Garden Gathering topic "Wet & Wild!"... so here we go!

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Wet & Wild!

Fiberoptic Grass, Water Celery, Creeping Jenny

I've always found water to be an attractive feature in a garden.  Fountains, fish ponds, bird baths... they all add a refreshing and unexpected element to a garden of any size.  It's not difficult to incorporate a water feature into your own garden.  You can get just as much enjoyment out of a small, concrete leaf bird bath as you can from the impressive fountains at Longwood Gardens.  A bonus:  with a small feature like this, maintenance is simple.  Just wash it out and change the water when you water your plants and planters.  Easy!

But you don't have to stop here!  Just like in ponds, small water features are enhanced by adding plants.  Some of my favorite water plants are not for use in water exclusively.  There are a number of versatile annuals that can be used just as well in patio planters as they can in pond planters.  I've compiled a small collection of some of my go-to "marginals", or plants that are happy to have their roots submerged in the water.  (This is not a complete list of water plants by any means!  Just a few of my favorites.)

Colocasia

AKA Elephant Ears, these plants offer height and drama- perfect for a larger scale installation.  Colocasia come in a wide variety of heights and colors.  I especially like 'Mojito' for it's splotchy, varigated leaves.

Cypress

Perhaps a gimme, but there so many to choose from!  We often think of 'King Tut' and 'Baby Tut' as plants to use in patio containers, but they'll thrive in the water as well.

Cannas

Great for a sunnier location.  They provide height and will flower for some extra pop!

Ensetes

Similar to cannas, but these plants are all about the foliage.  They will not get a flower, but their rich, dark leaves are just gorgeous!

Asclepias

AKA Butterfly Weed.  Another flowering option, plus they attract butterflies as the name implies.

Water Celery

A gorgeous accent foliage!  Gotta love those lavender edged leaves.  (In photo above.)

Fiberoptic & Twister Grass

Texture adds depth to any planting, and what a better way to add it in than with some grass?  Two of my favorites for water use are Fiberoptic grass and Twister Grass.  Fun! (In photo above.)

Lysmachia

Perhaps another gimme, Creeping Jenny adds a nice spot of color. (In photo above.)

Lindernia

Blue Moneywart is just so sweet!  It covers itself in tiny blue flowers...irresistable!

These plants work well in mixed containers for larger water features, as well as in trios, pairs, or singles in a birdbath!  As with any other planting, I like to mix colors, textures, heights, and habits for extra interest.  Maybe even add in some other elements like shells or stones...or whatever you like!

I absolutely encourage you to try out some water plants or water gardening this season, no matter your scale!  Get you feet, hands, whatever wet and try something new!

-Anna Mary

Garden Gathering Recap: Designing with Food & Flavor

Over the next few weeks I'll be doing my best to get recaps from our Garden Gathering "talks" up here on the blog.  Up first is the fabulous Sue!  She is a traveler, and artist, and a friend.  We always appreciate the unique perspective and insight she brings.  Last year she told us all to "Get Out of the Comfy Chair!"- great advice, and worth re-reading for some springtime inspiration!  

Anyway, kicking off our roundup of the 2015 Garden Gathering is Sue, in her own words, on "Designing with Food & Flavor".  Enjoy!

-Anna Mary

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Designing with Food & Flavor

All of you know by now that the garden that is my life grows the flowers of art, travel, and teaching, to name just some of my flowers. We are all gardens. We tend, sometimes, different flowers in our gardens from each other. But, Gardens we are.

You come to the greenhouse, and we work here, to learn and grow our (G)gardens. You see what I am saying? I am talking about gardens and Gardens, the micro and the macro.

What does this have to do with the recent Garden Gathering and my chat on Designing with Food? Well there is pesto and then there is Pesto. There is the known recipe for classic Pesto Genovese which uses Sweet Basil to create a luscious sauce to use for pasta and pizza.

And then there are all the other possible Pestos. But, these Pestos require you to try new things, to experiment and sometime fail but, other times, succeed. And when you succeed your taste buds are offered something new to savor.

This is creative processing. And I have found in my Garden of art, teaching and travel that the more I expand my senses the more my mind/life expands. So I take the risk and try new things, and my Garden gets larger.

All that being said about trying new things...traditions give us frame work, from which we can begin to create. The structure of tradition creates foundation, a launching pad. The rules of cooking and art act the same way, they are the beginning. Learn them well through disciplined practice. Then break them. 

Here is a start of how to expand your use of the beautiful herbs (and your G/garden) that you will grow this summer...

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MAKE PESTO

In terms of PESTO think leaf, nut, cheese - 3 cup leaf - 1/3 cup nut - 1/2 cup cheese = 1 cup pesto

Leaf - basil (try Pesto Perpetuo), parsley, cilantro, mint, kale, arugula, spinach, romaine, watercress

Nut (toasted ?) - pine nuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, sesame seeds etc etc...

Cheese - parmesan , asiago, pecorino, manchego, cheddar, gouda etc etc...

Extras: Seasoning 1/2-1 tsp, plus a little salt

Choose garlic, lemon or orange zest, red pepper, thyme, oregano, tarragon, rosemary all chopped.  Now pulse in your food processor and slowly drizzle in a 1/2 cup good extra virgin olive oil....

Extra Finish:

Try ricotta, fresh or sun-dried tomatoes chopped up, olives, roasted red pepper, mascarpone.

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USING FRESH OR PESTO-ED HERBS

-Pizza on grill or oven - finish with fresh herbs and blobs of ricotta or mozzarella cheese. In ROME this is a perfect meal in one, or drop pesto on top of the pizza.

-Add herbs into leaf salads or salads of just veggies and herbs, dress lightly with good oil, a touch salt or squeeze of lemon or grate of lemon.

-Freeze a lemon so you will always have one to grate.

-Slather pesto on a wonderful slice of bread.

-In a sandwich layer herbs like lettuce or pesto.  Try an INDIA SANDWICH - cilantro chutney layered with cheese, chopped peppers, tomato, red onion, and boiled potatoes on buttered bread then pressed and grilled.

-Use fresh herbs in savory dishes like quiche or muffins (Like Cindy's Garden Gathering muffins!).

-Chop and freeze for soups, stews during the winter.

-On eggs, in eggs.

-Use in soups like PHO, a traditional Vietnamese soup.  Use freshly torn herbs, and lots of them!

-Chop and sprinkle on grilled meats, fish.

-Chop, blend in little oil and spread on anything!

-Ennhance the taste and look of your food... beauty matters.

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USING STEVIA

STEVIA - to the sweets!

- Grind 2 fresh leaves into a smoothie - steep with mint in ice tea, hot tea, or try a Mojito.

-Use to sweeten sauces.

-Dry the leaves (they are sweeter dried) or use fresh.

Recipe for Simple Syrup

-One cup of warm water to 1/4 cup of fresh, finely-crushed leaves

-Set for 24 hours in air tight container

-Strain and refrigerate (cook to reduce if you wish)

Benefits - no calories AND plaque retardant and anti-cavity (so they say)...

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Just some ideas to play with and help expand your (G)garden. But remember traditions are the foundation that help us build wings to fly. So...now that that leap. 

Susan

Get Out of the Comfy Chair...

A few weeks ago at our Garden Gathering, our friend Sue spoke on approaching your garden with an open mind and artistic eye.  Sue is a longtime greenhouse helper, an former art teacher, an artist, a traveler, and so, so much more!  I always appreciate her perspective and found her part of  "The Talk" at this year's Garden Gathering quite inspiring.  It's something that we all need to hear every now and again... enjoy!

-Anna Mary    

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Out of the Comfy Chair to See with New Eyes

As an artist (just happens to be my occupation but applies for any field) I have found that if I keep doing the same creative process over and over the life in my artwork diminishes. I may create a series of paintings in order to work out an idea but, once the idea has been developed several different ways then I need to move on. In other words if I become too comfortable with my art procedure, the metaphoric comfy chair, literally I stop seeing and creating new art. So I am always looking for innovative ways to communicate an idea and find new mark-making techniques in order to keep my work alive. This way my art and my mind continue to grow and evolve.

This notion of trying new things so to see with new eyes, I apply also to my backyard. My garden and containers are another creative process every season, I am always trying new things. Some work some don't. But with each failure and each success I learn more about plants. I learn more about sun and shade and wet and dry. I learn more. And in the end I have a living painting in which I find tranquility, and beauty. I love to just sit and observe the garden just like a painting. And it is wonderful to share with others.

A long time artist at this point I have studied and applied the Elements and Principles of Design over and over. ( I also enjoy going outside the rules too.) When painting or gardening I think about these compositional standards such as: repetition, visual movement, line, color, and contrast. Contrast and repetition may be my favorite Principles. I enjoy contrasting color, shape and line. And repeating a certain color across your yard, will draw the eye along the color path. Just some things to think about.  More on the E&P of design here.

This metaphor for the comfy chair and seeing with new eyes I also apply to my life. From paintings, to gardening, to living, I want to experience as much as I am able. From small feats to big feats I like to try things differently than my normal procedure. I want to have my coffee as you do, or as the nomads in Tunisia do, or as the Turks in Cappadocia do, or as the indigenous people of Northern Thailand do.....see my point? And in the end I have tasted coffee a hundred different ways. What fun is that!

Life is our greatest creation. It is up to each of us how we choose to plant our gardens. I encourage you to get out of the Comfy Chair. And do not worry about failures, that is the only way we can keep our eyes open. And I don't know about you but, I don't want to miss a thing.

-Sue

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For more about Susan Gottlieb & her art:

http://susanjgottlieb.com/

http://connectingthreads.tumblr.com/