Nasturtium Spilling Onto the Garden Path
The best path is your path. Follow your own garden path.
Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie
The Timeless Majestic Roman Pont du Gard
One day planning, and four days later hopping on a plane, my husband, John, and I were off to France in mid-March after nearly four years away. On a whim, and in the midst of the national French strike over pension, we traveled to South France and Paris in the off-season. It was one of our best trips to France yet, where everything seemed to flow effortlessly.
On a blustery day, edging towards sunset we stopped to take in the Pont du Gard once again. We had visited the aqueduct fourteen years ago on one of our first trips to Provence, on a much warmer spring day, approaching it from the other side of the river.
Taller than the Colosseum in Rome, the famed Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard, in the Gard Department in South France always takes your breath away. Built over the Gardon River, and designed to transport water to the Roman city of Nimes 30 kilometres away, it has remained timeless.
I could go on and on about how incredible an engineering feat it was 2,000 years ago; that it is estimated that it took 800-1,000 workers to construct it over three years; that there was no mortar used amongst the stones; and that it has actually three distinct levels.
It is such a place of reverence and respect. So well preserved. So discreetly tucked away, and one with the landscape. So beautiful, words can hardly describe it. To further heighten the moment, we were nearly the only ones there, just us with our thoughts.
Seeing the Pont du Gard, I felt I was actually seeing time, not experiencing, but actually seeing time. It has such an ethereal aura about it, one can’t help but think of time in many different ways. Why is that 20 years can seem like a blink of an eye, your little nephew is now an adult approaching 30, or you don’t know how you can possibly know a special friend for over 50 years. Yet, in other situations, time seems to stop or become frozen, and you don’t know why. It is our perception of time in relation to our lives.
What also immediately came to me—I was literally seeing time before me, a span of my life in years, a gift, and the sturdy foundation was my values, unshakable and steadfast, always grounding me in life, and keeping me on course to follow my dreams and desires. Gazing at the Pont du Gard, it was an homage to a life well-lived, including the ups and downs, and much more to look forward to.
Past Related Post:
Provence: Roman Marvels Endure
Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie
New Antique Mall Opening Soon
From time to time I write about “Places to Know” around San Diego County which are special and of interest. For those who live in the San Diego area, I discovered recently that a new antique mall is opening in April 2023 in Encinitas and I wanted to share this with you. For those of you who mourned the closing of the Tuesday Morning store, Encinitas location, the silver lining is that Antique Mall is opening in that exact location.
I don’t have a lot of information to share with you, other than it is another business and retail location for the owners of Consignment Classics and Consignment Classics Decor in the same retail mall (also the same retail mall where LA Fitness in Encinitas is located). Consignment Classics has two other locations in San Diego and the Sports Arena area. Judging by the success and the type of inventory offered, this antique mall too, should be a great success.
If by chance, any of you are interested in renting a space at this antique mall, please contact, Frank and Ruth Ann, with information about what you would be selling at the Antique Mall, along with your phone number and email address. Consignment Classics in Encinitas is located at 201-D South El Camino Real, Encinitas, California 92024, (tel) (760) 635-0730.
I have gotten many a reasonably priced treasure, for my home and garden at Consignment Classics. Inventory turns over quickly, so if you like something, buy it. On the other hand, if a piece has been on the floor for a certain time, it might be eligible for a 20% mark down.
The thrill of the hunt lives on!
Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie
Courtyard Vignette at Domaine de Manion
There are many vignette definitions, noun and verb, but for my writing here, a vignette is simply a grouping of objects. Interesting objects I might add. A vignette can be anywhere there is a special spot, on a table, a buffet, inside your home, or out in the garden. The beauty is you can create it with any number of objects, pieces, and things to make a person’s eye pause to catch the totality of the objects assembled.
Some things to think about when creating a vignette:
Is there something of interest or unusual? Like this French cart.
Is there symmetry and balance? Like the two pots of geranium, sweet peas, and mums.
Does color play into this? Like the delicate pink blooms of the geranium and verbena.
Is there simplicity here? Like a gathering of random potted pots.
Row of Confit Jars at Domaine de Manion
Now is a great time to create vignettes for the spring!
Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie
A Great Moro Blood Orange Harvest
I absolutely love growing my food, and cooking from the garden. It gives me so much satisfaction, besides tasting so divine and eating seasonally. I still have a long way to go, or more I can do, but I am getting there.
Vineyards and citrus don’t really mix. I was taught that in my vineyard management classes. Citrus can carry a lot of pests that are pests for a vineyard as well. Consequently, to support the health of our backyard Syrah vineyard, I have planted only a few citrus trees. I do have a lemon and lime tree, and a few years ago, I planted a Moro Blood Orange. If you are going to have one orange tree, make it a special one.
The Moro Blood Orange tree is special, and the most popular of blood orange trees. It is a beautiful self-fertile ornamental orange tree that reaches 12’ to 15’ high when planted in the ground. Blood Orange trees need a warm temperate climate. They can be grown in containers in cooler climates, and moved indoors as the temperature drops. Once planted it takes 3 to 5 years to for the blood orange tree to bear it’s crimson fruit. This year is the first real harvest for me. It was worth the wait.
The fruit is spectacular in appearance—round, medium in size, and has a red tinge color skin. To me it tastes much sweeter than a regular orange, and maybe a bit more acidic. There are only 1 or 2 seeds to each orange, and the juice is a deep beautiful crimson color. When traveling in Italy, it is common to see Blood Orange juice served with breakfast.
Simple Moro Blood Orange Beauty
Eating a freshly harvested Moro Blood Orange is a treat by itself. However, the crimson flesh and juice lends itself to many types of dishes— baked goods, sauces, salads. In fact, where ever your creativity in the kitchen takes you. it reminds me of love, hearts, and Valentine’s Day. A perfect food for February.
Please share if you grow blood orange trees.
Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie
Winter Morning Sun over Domaine de Manion
Even though it is wintertime, and not much seems to be happening in the garden—there is. The garden may be somewhat dormant, but it is not. It is resting and storing up energy for the great burst of growth and flowering in spring, and the long growing season ahead.
Structure is prevalent in the garden, and the bones of the garden much more easily seen. Are there changes you would like to do in your garden moving forward, or are you happy with your garden as it is. Now is a good time to take a good, close look at your garden.
Pruning is really important in the winter garden, while plants and trees are dormant. I pruned all of my roses in one day. I went from one garden room to the next garden room, and powered it out. I tipped and lightly pruned some of my Crape Myrtle trees, and a few of my fruit trees.
Newly Planted Sweet Peas on Willow Obelisks
I have added more bare root climbing roses this winter, and bare root roses for my cutting garden. Now is the perfect time to plant roses, water well, and apply compost around them. Apply a dormant spray within a week of your pruning (check with your local nursery for exact recommendations). Your roses will do all the work, until they need a little rose food/fertilizer at Easter.
I added a Chocolate Persimmon fruit tree, and a dwarf climbing Mulberry vine to my berry room. I planted dwarf sweet peas in containers, and climbing mammoth sweet peas for my willow obelisks.
In the potager I have Swiss Chard doing well. I planted some gourmet lettuce, and soon it will be time to germinate heirloom tomato seeds and other heirloom vegetables.
Viburnum ‘Spring Bouquet’ Happy After Our Rains
Although the garden is dormant, there are many surprising plants blooming now in February at Domaine de Manion. Most of them have been planted for a while.
Arctosis (Many Varieties)
Cherokee Rose
Eleanor Roosevelt Iris (Intermediate Bearded Purple Iris)
Landscape Geraniums
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Narcissus Bulbs (Many Varieties)
New Zealand Tea Tree
Rosemary (Many varieties)
Verbena
Viburnum ‘Spring Bouquet’ (Great for using in floral designs)
Domaine de Manion Vineyard Anxiously Waiting To Be Pruned
The winter rains have benefited our Syrah vines which are now approaching 17 years old. We have had to mow knee-high weeds, and cover crop between the rows already. Our date to prune each year is usually around Super Bowl time.
Last year we had a record high yield of 1400 pounds, which was unbelievable to us. It was an intense emergency Labor Day morning harvest, because of the intense end of summer heat. Every year is different, and every harvest, and every vintage different. We are hopeful this will be a great growing season, harvest, and vintage.
Even though it might be cool, overcast, sometimes damp, and even rainy, I urge you to get out in your garden now and observe. Make note of any changes you want to make, new plants to plant, or a list of things to do for spring. Your garden awaits you.
Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie
Prize Bull at National Western Stock Show, Denver, Colorado
Hello 2023!
Hello to you all! What I mean is, make this the year to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Do things that are different for you, out of your everyday. Experiences that push you to grow. Expand your horizon and create new interests. The very things you have put off for a while, do plan, take baby steps to begin, and do now. Start checking off your wish list, and turn your dreams into reality. The important thing is to act now, the rest will fall into place. It is never too late.
Some helpful suggestions to make your 2023 a spectacular year for you!
1) Heighten your awareness using all of your senses through your everyday. This leads to living in the present, which is such a gift in of itself.
2) Live your life with gratitude with all of the people who surround you, what you have, and the true abundance of this life.
3) Focus on those things in your life which give you joy, be it your grandchildren, your garden, your cooking, your creativity, your hobbies. True fulfillment and success comes from within, and not externally.
4) Eliminate from your life, those things, people, and circumstances that create stress and grief in your life.
5) Look a bull in the eye, and stretch yourself for growth, passion, and in turn self-confidence in all areas. You are unique, and you have one go around in this life. Take advantage of all that comes to you. Say “yes” more than “no.”
6) Keep a positive attitude, open mind, and a clarity about your life, so you can recognize it instantly, whatever it is. Sometimes life wears many coats, and maybe not exactly the one you were thinking of wearing.
7) Remember we are all connected, and we must be kind, gentle, and loving to all people, things, animals, and beauty that encompass the universe.
8) You can never give too much. Give, give, and give more. Giving uplifts you, and comes back to you in unimaginable abundance.
9) Smile, a smile is gold.
10) Focus always on what you want, not what you don’t want.
11) Set clear intentions for yourself, and review them regularly.
12) One of my dear friends shared with me this saying, “Wear Life Like a Loose Robe.” Ease up on life. Don’t fret, worry, agonize, over things. In the end, it all works out the way it is suppose to.
13) Believe in yourself, the life you create, and the life you have!
Related Post:
Bonjour January 2022 (The list is worth revisiting)
Embrace the Beauty of the Season
Thinking of all of you, thankful and grateful for the journey we have had together this year through the musings, recipes, places to know, garden, kitchen, workshops, culinary experiences, events, lifestyle tips, and above it all—the sharing.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season….Bonnie
After a break for the holidays, I will return in January 2023. Merci mille fois!