Intrigue Rose Brightens My Kitchen

“Less is more” is the message here. In my kitchen I have in a corner a marble lazy-susan on my kitchen counter. I keep different olive oils, salts, pepper, garlic, and more at handy reach. In a very simple antique vase I try and keep a favorite blooming cut rose in it.

It makes me happy. It is cheery. It is beautiful. It is often very fragrant. It speaks to me in many ways. it is a companion while cooking. It reminds me of my garden when i can’t be there. It gives me joy.

Try a simple cut rose in your kitchen, it will make you smile, and it smile back with so much more.

Simplicity is elegance. Never underestimate a single cut rose.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Jennifer Rebecca Iris Blooming

Pink Cistus Rockrose

Happy Wisteria

Sally Holmes Rose Draped Over St. Francis

Flowering Herbs

Sunset Over A Spring Garden and Awakening Vineyard

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie

The Kitchen Garden at Allt-y-bela in Wales, Garden Design 2012 Magazine

From my post last week, Down The Garden Path, followers were asking me where I got my willow fencing. I thought it might be fun to revisit the original post from June 2021, and my original kitchen garden inspiration from photos and the Garden Design article. I hunted “high’ and “low” to find willow products, and finally found them at Master Garden Products in the Pacific Northwest. I actually called them as I had several questions and needed more information to make my order. Master Garden Products couldn’t have been more helpful and so friendly. I highly recommend the company and their products.

Now is a great time to get your gardens plans in place, make an order, and enjoy the beauty of willow!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

The inspiration for my kitchen garden, or potager, came from a Garden Design, Winter 2012 magazine article, Simplicity Rules, on well-known garden designer, Arne Maynard’s rustic and historic late medieval farm, Allt-y-bella. Located in Wales, much of the rustic gardens and garden structure remind me of Provence. I envisioned borrowing a lot of the main elements featured in the article and photos, creating the look of a rustic kitchen garden. Some of these elements that caught my interest were the wattle hazel fencing, arching fruit trees with a centered bench, raised beds for vegetables, obelisks for climbing vegetables, easy pathways around the raised beds, and select spots for larger perennial plants like rhubarb and artichokes.

Allt-y-bela Kitchen Garden Pathway, Arching Fruit Trees, and Bench, Garden Design 2012

In 2015, I started creating a kitchen garden space to the north of our vineyard, with 4’ x 8’ raised bed kits. I looked high and low for hazel or willow wattle fencing for enclosing the kitchen garden similar to Allt-y-bella. I couldn’t find any source at the time. I needed about 75’ total. However, I happened to find a large amount of rolled willow fencing at Rogers Gardens at 50% off in an obscure sale corner. My intention for fencing the perimeter was to keep our chickens out of the kitchen garden as well as any random critters.

Up until 2020, my kitchen garden was good, and a work in progress. Over time, with sun exposure and high winter winds the willow fencing began to come apart and break down. This is common. I started looking for what I call wattle or willow fencing again.

My Kitchen Garden, June 2020

Last month I found willow fence panels online at Master Garden Products. They offer a nice selection and sizes of willow fencing, panels, borders, obelisks, etc. They are out of the Seattle area, and will freight orders to you. I purchased 6’ L x 3’ H woven panels for my entire perimeter, and used the same anchoring rebar and metal stakes that were already in place. I am really pleased with the look, and the material overall. I also purchased three obelisks for climbing beans. The willow panels are stronger and sturdier than the rolled fencing, but will eventually break down over time.

My Kitchen Garden, May 2021

Fine tuning the willow fence, I will put put larger rocks around the bottom of the fencing, to discourage critters from burrowing under the fence.

Starting an Outside Row of Perennial Artichokes

For more information and musing on how I create garden rooms from garden magazines, photos, and design ideas, please go to my previous post, The Making of a Garden Room.

French Fabulous! On Netflix, there is a new French subtitled drama series, Lupin. It is like a modern day “Houdini” Thriller series. Lots of twists and turns. Not only does it keep you on the edge, it is filmed mainly in beautiful Paris. Once you watch an episode or two, it draws you like a magnet. With two series completed, I see there is a third one coming.

Bon Appétit and 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

Fabulous Bareroot Selection of Fruit Trees and Roses

From time to time I write about “Places to Know” around San Diego. This time of year with bare root season in full swing for garden roses and backyard fruit trees, Green Thumb Nursery in San Marcos is a great place to know. Prices are reasonable. Garden product is well marked and organized. Nursery staff is very helpful.

Recently, I picked up a couple of my favorite climbing rose—Eden, for $24.99 each. That is a very reasonable price for that rose. Besides climbing roses, you can find all kinds of rose varieties for $24.99 up to $39.99.

The fruit tree selection is incredible with many varieties you don’t often see. I splurged on a bare root Chocolate Persimmon, which is a little smaller tree in size than the more well known Fuyu. Chocolate Persimmons are known for their brownish flesh and outstanding flavor.

Besides roses and fruit trees, Green Thumb Nursery offers many varieties of bare root berries, wisteria, nut trees, and a great selection of vegetables and herbs. If there is something you are looking for to plant in your garden now, chances Green Thumb Nursery has it.

Sign up for the weekly Green Thumb Nursery newsletter on their homepage website. Most weeks there is a nice coupon at the bottom.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie

Incredible Holiday Beauty And Photo Opportunities At Longwood Gardens

In 1906, at the age of 36, Pierre S. du Pont bought the Pierce Farm and its surrounding forest outside of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, saving it from an impending sale of trees for lumber. These were no ordinary trees, but a collection of magnificent heritage trees planted and carefully tended to for decades. He confided in a letter to a friend that he had a moment of insanity buying this property, but he couldn’t stand the thought of the trees being cut down for lumber. As with many rescue situations the rescuer is the one that is saved back. This property which eventually became Longwood Gardens and part of the du Pont family legacy, became a spot for du Pont and his family to relax, entertain, and step back from his successful business world.

Starting small, and with no initial plan, du Pont began adding and and creating areas on the property heavily influenced by his world travels, and love of beauty. Many generations have helped create Longwood Gardens, but du Pont made the most enduring contribution, and ensured its future through the Longwood Foundation created in 1946 to handle his charitable giving, operating it “for the sole use of the public for purposes of exhibition, instruction, education, and enjoyment.” It is a fascinating history story, past, present, and moving into the future.

Topiary Garden Walking Up To The Conservatory

Recently, I visited Longwood Gardens during their “Longwood Christmas” December festivities program with indoor and outdoor lights, decorations, and flowers in full swing. Here are a few photos from my visit that I thought you might enjoy. If you have the opportunity to visit Longwood Gardens, you will be astounded, and absolutely love it. Longwood Gardens is worth a visit, no matter what the season.

Entrance to Longwood Gardens Conservatory

I enjoyed seeing the different floral designs, color combinations, and ideas used this year. A great way to gain new ideas, and stimulate your senses. Would this work in my garden? Could I make this display for my holiday home? How do the floral designers do this?

Close Up Of Conservatory Entrance

Mass plantings and repetition, one of my design mottos, create this wintry wonderland.

Ballroom With Christmas Trees Decorated By Children

Rows of Christmas trees decorated with ornaments made by children groups filled the elegant ballroom in the Conservatory. I was thinking—if these walls could talk. There is a massive pipe organ in this room where a lot of concerts were held. I loved the how the original wall sconces were decorated so elegantly.

Decorating with Purple Orchids, Christmas Trees, Lemon Cypress and Ferns

A sensational vignette of Christmas trees decorated with silver, gold, and purple orchids, softened by a base of more purple orchids, tiny lemon cypress trees, and ferns. Alice du Pont, wife of Pierre du Pont loved orchids.

One of My Favorite Spots in the Conservatory, Acacia Passage

I loved these living holiday orbs, made with dried grapevines, white moth orchids, textured Tillandsia, and Spanish moss. Cinnamon Wattle Trees, or Acacia leprosa, are trained to arch and drape over the walkway.

It Wouldn’t Be Christmas Without Poinsettias

Longwood Gardens grows over 1,000 poinsettias each year for their Christmas displays. Incredible sizes, varieties, and colors—not just red.

Close Up in the Orangerie

In the end, it is all about the details. Poinsettia-decorated Christmas trees hold court with Grapefruit trees in the Orangerie.

At Sunset The Holiday Lights Begin To Appear

At sunset, dusk, and into evening, Longwood Gardens becomes dressed in outdoor holiday color. You can sense how massive these trees are in relation to the people walking through them. So beautiful!

The Moon And Red Holiday Lights Reflecting On The Water

Seeing “red” was ruby beautiful with the moon joining in and all reflecting on the water.

The Italian Garden Showing Off

“Longwood Gardens is the living legacy of Pierre S. du Pont bringing joy and inspiration to everyone through the beauty of nature, conservation, and learning.” —Visitor Center Lobby, Longwood Gardens

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…..Bonnie

An Avocado Stump Becomes a Statuary Pedestal

I love to repurpose things for other functions than they were originally intended. Usually it is vintage or antique pieces, but in this case a tree stump. I love trees, and try and nourish and manage them as best I can. Sometimes severe weather, a tree planted in the wrong place, or maybe just “the end of a life cycle” for a tree dictates that it must come down.

Such was the case with a few of our avocado trees on our property. Originally, I believe, our property was a working orchard with rows of avocado and macadamia trees. We still have our incredible macadamia trees, but the avocado trees were on their last legs when we bought our property. After a few years, I realized these avocado trees were never making a comeback.

Rather than cutting the tree at the soil level, I thought to use it as a base for a high boy table at first, and left a tall stump. This goes along with the intertwining “beauty and function” philosophy of French Country living. “It must be beautiful, and also functional.” The high boy table idea, didn’t work out for me, but ultimately it provided the perfect pedestal for my “life like” horse statuary. A tree stump is beautiful, timeless, and functional in many creative directions. I began to landscape around the horse and pedestal, planting three Italian cypress in 15 gallon pots in the ground to keep them somewhat small, and adding a climbing rose that now has support. It became a small vignette.

A Tree Stump Provides a Perfect Spot for a Resting French Lapin

With another nearby failing avocado tree, I was going to create a little garden chair with a stump, but ultimately decided it was a perfect spot to nestle and elevate a peaceful statuary French lapin. There again it provides beauty and function and a nice focal spot for this particular garden room. All timeless.

If you have a tree that has to come down, think first about what you could creatively make using its stump. It has had a history on your property, and it can continue repurposed in a different way and function. I have seen beautiful wood bars and/or furniture made from felled trees. I mentioned a few ideas, but the possibilities are endless.

My point here is not really about tree stumps, it is suggesting to you to keep an open mind about repurposing objects and things, and keep your creative mind flexed about possibilities all around you in your world. In other words, keep the concept “lemons into lemonade” flowing. You never know what wonderful unique piece or solution could evolve for you with your home and garden.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie