A taste of Blairsden!

Toonmoose takes you to Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey, to visit Blairsden, the family home of C. Ledyard Blair. The house was designed and constructed in the Beaux-Arts style between 1897 and 1903 by the firm of Carrere and Hastings, with Italiante gardens designed by James Leal Greenleaf, an associate of Frederick Law Olmsted. After being inaccessible to the public for many years, in 2014 the house is the centerpiece of The Mansion In May house and garden tour. More than 50 designers came together to showcase their ideas and style as a benefit for The Joan and Edward Foley Pediatric Intensive Care Unit & The Autism and Child Development Center at Morristown Medical Center.

Getting Underway!

     Given the hard Winter we experienced last year, with record- setting snowfalls and cold temperatures, we gardeners are hardly to be faulted for doubting that Spring would ever return. And yet, here it is, right on schedule, in all its pastel glory. After weeks – months even – when we never saw the ground beneath Winters snowy blanket, that blanket has now been lifted - stored in Natures closet - to expose evidence of life, just waiting for the right combination of temperature and sunlight for a chance to burst forth.  I have welcomed the sight with all of the enthusiasm of a NASA scientist whose search for extraterrestrial life has been rewarded. I am not alone in my anticipation of the emerging growing season, if attendance at this years’ 2014 Antique Garden Furniture Fair at The New York Botanical Garden is any indication. Eager gardeners turned out in droves to peruse the offerings of dealers from across the country in pursuit of just the right bench, cast stone planter, or sundial – the proper accent piece - to compliment ones personal growing environment. To encourage the return of growth in my own garden, I recently applied to the vegetable and flowerbeds, a layer of compost from one of our favorite plants-men, Jerry Fritz. Now, as the snowy Winter gives way to rainy Spring, I imagine the plants roots acting like vegetal IV tubes, absorbing Natures’ nutrients, drinking in the building blocks of taste, texture and what the French call “terroir.” for the new growth.

     Speaking of things French, it is more appropriate than ever that we refer to our garden as a “potager” {French for vegetable garden} as this year, many of the seeds we are growing have come from France, compliments of our good friend, Michele when she came to pay us a visit. From lettuce to cabbage, she brought us a variety of seeds that includes all the vegetables one might expect to find growing in a garden in The Dordogne, presented to us in a colorful market shopping bag. What seeds she didn’t bring us, we got compliments of Renee’s Garden, which in my opinion is one of the premiere sources in America for heirloom, open-pollinated, certified organic seed. As if that weren’t too much, our friends Anthony and Carlos also brought us seeds, from Italy and Brazil; Calendula for the flower beds and a host of natural remedies, and Cicoria, Radiccio di Treviso, a variety of bitter greens (only this one grows red), that has been favored by Italians for hundreds if not thousands of years. What bounty?! Together, these offerings give substance to our garden motto: “An American garden, reflecting a world of ideas.”

     But gardening isn’t only an activity for country life, as I was reminded recently. Coming home to the Upper West Side of Manhattan one recent evening, I was pleased to encounter a young mother and daughter, trowels in hand, planting Marigolds, Dusty Miller and Begonias in a neighborhood tree-well, long after the sun had gone down.  They graciously consented to let me photograph them, as testament to the enduring, universal, primal desire to be connected to the Earth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llGtNg6SLjQ

Setting the Stage!

Gardening Friends,
     On Friday April 25th, through Sunday April 27th, the New York Botanical Garden in The Bronx will play host to the annual Antique Garden Furniture Fair, bringing together dealers from all over the country, offering a vast selection of garden related furnishings. In the attached video clip, Toonmoose reporter Everett Scott offers a glimpse of these offerings, to encourage you to create your best garden environment ever. Have a look, and enjoy!

Happy New (Gardening) Year!!

Happy New (Gardening) Year!!

   

Photograph: Vase of Flowers, (Homage to Morandi), copyright Everett H. Scott 2014. All rights reserved.

From the cover of the Potager at Penrose Bungalow 2014 calendar. Now available to order. Please send an email for details.

Dear gardening friends,

      I appreciate that the first week of January may seem a premature moment to discuss gardening, especially as here in the Northeast there is a six-inch blanket of snow covering the landscape, rather like a white board that has been wiped clean, never-mind the temperature hovering around a frosty nineteen degrees!

     Still, the arrival of the first seed catalogues, from The Maine Potato Lady, and Burpee, reminds us that as of January 4, 2014, the first day of Spring is only 74 days away! Just selecting the vegetables and flowers that one will attempt to grow this year could consume a good chunk of that time.  Some of my choices are “perennial,” like Fish Peppers and Cosmos which are always welcome in my beds. It is nice though, to introduce something new into the mix, perhaps a native Asclepia that is preferred by the pollinators in your area, or some leafy vegetable that can be prepared in lots of interesting ways, like the Early Red Treviso Chicory seeds that my friend Carlos brought me from Italy.  I can imagine this raw in a salad, grilled or wilted in a little olive oil. Yum! And, the red color will stand out, especially among the vegetables in the potager.

     But, it isn’t only through tilling the soil and reaping the harvest that our garden interests are satisfied.  In the exhibition of jewels by JAR http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2013/jewels-by-jar, at The Metropolitan Museum through March 9, it was a small pair of earrings, one a pave set carrot, the other a pave set beet, that I found to be among the most appealing items, though the artists skill at rendering Nature in precious metal, wood and a broad range of gems and stones was, generally, awe inspiring. 

Then, when this pair of lamps showed up at a recent auction, 

I knew immediately that I wanted them.  These whimsical, decorative accents from mid-twentieth century Italy, have the power to evoke the Spring-time garden, no matter the date on the calendar or their physical setting. 

     So, whether you are reading this from the comfort of your Florida room in Palm Beach, huddled around a radiator in St. Paul, or praying for rain in California, take a moment to plan now for the gardening days ahead.  You’ll be glad you did!

          Thanks for staying “Tooned.” More soon.

The Toonmoose (Everett)

Let’s play,

“This was the Summer of________.”

     On the eve of our eighth year of gardening at The Potager at Penrose Bungalow, if there is any one important observation we have made about the garden, it is that it is never the same two years, or even two days, in a row.  New plants are introduced, 

                                 (Leonotus Leonorus)

while other plants are relocated.  Established plantings mature and spread, altering the profile of the landscape.  Color and texture materialize, then migrate from one border to another. One of the joys of a vegetable garden, is that one can vary its plantings and their location every year, and in different seasons, guaranteeing a rotating selection of treats for the eye and palate. It is in making note of these changes and this evolution, that we too are changed, and grow, giving rise to one of my favorite pastimes, namely, playing “This was the Summer of_____”

     Now, that as of September 23^rd we have officially entered into the Fall of 2013, is the perfect time to engage in this exercise. To play, one fills in the blank at the end of the sentence, the point being to take note of achievements that occurred during this year’s summer growing season.  I enjoy this game so much every year, perhaps because there isn’t any competition. There are no “wrong” answers.  Rather, it is an opportunity to be conscious of, and give thanks, for whatever notable events that have occurred, plants that were grown, or, items that were acquired, but especially those experiences that contributed to a “successful” gardening season, (however one chooses to define success), given that - depending on ones’ growing zone - there is a limited “window of opportunity” when ones’ garden can be worked in. Now I think of it, even those of you without a garden can play, so long as your responses occur within the period of time between the end of Spring and the onset of Fall 2013.

     In making reply, one might offer the name of a vegetable that is enjoying special favor, like Kale, for instance. 

(Whether one has grown it, or found it with unusual frequency on restaurant menus doesn’t matter.) But, who knows, perhaps in your garden, some other legume has stolen the garden “limelight” this year?” Nor are answers strictly limited to plant materials. A few summers ago it was finding a vintage metal garden table and chairs at auction that topped our “Summer of …” list, and this year it was acquiring the vintage “Putto wrestling a dolphin” fountain that figures prominently in my remembrances of the seasons special finds. Not only is the fountain beautiful in its own right, but the unifying effect it has on the garden over-all, places it near, if not at, the top of my list of noteworthy 2013 garden events. For our neighbors it will no doubt be the completion of a paved patio, that took fourteen rather than four months to get done, that will no doubt qualify for their list of the summers’ memorable achievements. Thus, the “rubrics” for making this list are completely up to you, dear reader, to create, bearing in mind the theme of the 2013 growing season.  

     Also high on my list of exciting activities for this years growing season was the inclusion of two of my trellis designs in the exhibition, Artful Trellises, on the grounds of Morven, the historic mansion and garden in Princeton, New Jersey. 

It was very fulfilling to see these pieces evolve from ideas in ones’ head, and materialize into structures, which in turn evolved as the vines planted around them grew and matured.  The array of annual vines that were used- Asuarina, Thumbergia and Cardiospermum (“Balloon Vine”) among others - opened up a whole new world of gardening possibilities for me, and will be featured in gardens to come.

     This year, the Peach tree didn’t produce a single edible fruit – too much rain, apparently - while the (Bartlett) Pear has produced a bumper crop of fruit that we have transformed into some of our favorite treats. My mouth waters just thinking of a salad constructed of equal parts Pear and Endive, with Blue Cheese and Walnut crumbles, with a  spritz of Balsamic vinaigrette. It is simultaneously sweet and tangy, crunchy and smooth, crisp, creamy and nutty. Yum! This qualifies as a taste of Heaven, by the fork-full, right here on Earth.

     So, do you have a recipe that you enjoyed for the first time this season? Tell us about it.  Perhaps you grew a plant for the first time? Put it on your list and share it with your fellow gardeners. Perhaps you lost a tree to one of the powerful storms that have swept across the country, allowing sunlight to reach a previously shaded area? Such a change can permit  entirely new varieties of plants to thrive in an area where previously they would not have had a chance to grow. Let us know. Maybe you visited a garden for the first time, or, had a migrating bird visit your garden for the first time? ? Add that to your list! Any and all of these things act cumulatively, as inspiration for gardening in seasons yet to come!

Speaking of Kale,…..

     Excuses, excuses! During our long drawn out Spring, it was “too cold,” to garden, leaving little to write about. Now, in mid-July, with record high temperatures, it is “too hot,” to garden, at least after 9:15 AM in our zone seven garden. The excessive heat and humidity slows my weeding to a crawl, and my writing has wilted to nearly a halt.

     Like a competitive Double-Dutch rope-jumper, I have been waiting for the perfect rhythm, the ideal circumstances, before jumping into telling the gardening stories of 2013.  Nevermind! By the time that happens, we will be onto next years gardening season, with its’ own set of challenges and rewards! Join me then, and enjoy the pictures, as I explore some highlights of this years’ garden.

     On the eve of our eighth season of gardening in this space, we have introduced no fewer than forty varieties of flowering plants and shrubs to the beds and landscape.

From Asclepia to Zinnias, a host of blossoms delight our eye, intoxicate us with their fragrances, and serve as “all-inclusive” pleasure park for the countless insects that are drawn to make this their home.

     This seasons’ edible garden got off to a slow start, but is catching up nicely, with a variety of tomatoes, carrots, beans, peppers, turnips, squash, beets and cucumbers among other vegetable treats. Also, I look forward to extending the growing season by planting for a Fall harvest.  Just this week,

I harvested a crop of Garlic that was planted last Fall. From this we are enjoying our best crop ever of Garlic Scapes, the tender green stems and flower buds of the growing bulb.  They are excellent for Pesto, though I enjoyed them sautéed in olive oil with some onions, garlic and wilted Kale.

     Speaking of Kale, it gets my vote, hands down, as the most celebrated vegetable of 2013. It seems one can’t turn around without encountering some story lauding the health benefits and flavor of this readily grown, leafy green.  It is so versatile, good raw or cooked, steamed or in a smoothie. Get it however you can! Ours’ is Lacinato, an Italian heirloom variety that the reader may remember from my last blog entry in March.  It was planted in honor of the second inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 21st. I hope our plants will keep us supplied with leafy greens through the Fall and possibly into the Winter.

     Often times, gardens progress in small, almost imperceptible ways. A few seeds scattered here, some weeds pulled there, and before one knows it, the landscape has been transformed.

Still, every now and then, one is fortunate to make a discovery and introduce an element to ones’ garden – or, another aspect of ones’ life - that elevates the entire enterprise beyond one’s wildest, most extravagant hopes. We were blessed with one such experience last weekend, when we visited our local flea market.  We almost didn’t go, owing to the wet conditions left by the thunderstorms of the previous night. Still, old habits die hard, and we were curious to see if anyone was there.  Oddly enough, there were enough people on hand, a critical mass of vendors and shoppers alike, to make it worth getting out of the car. Then,….it is true,  that John saw it first, but that is only because I was busy getting Druid, our champion Irish Terrier, out of the car. Otherwise, I am sure that I would have picked up on its’ “scent,” immediately when my car door opened. As it was, it was only a moment later that I sensed a “disturbance” in the “Force,” and began scanning the area for something unusual.  I didn’t have to look far.  Placed on a corner table at the intersection of two aisles stood the perfect garden fountain.  Approximately two feet tall, made of cast concrete, (like the pair of lions that greet one on the back of the house), it is classically modeled as a putto, wrestling a dolphin from whose mouth the water flows.

In scale, proportion, and aesthetic, it is the perfect piece, for our perfect place. We estimate it to date from approximately the 1930’s, which makes it roughly contemporary with the house. It is in excellent condition, with a gently smoothed patina. In years of experience combing flea markets and auction houses, we have never seen another quite like it. We wanted confirmation that it was indeed a functioning piece – that the water channel was not obstructed – but otherwise, it was an *“M-H-I,” a Must-Have-Item!

     This being a rather “laisssez-faire” operation, the owner of this piece was nowhere to be seen. Drat! We strolled about the market, trying to look indifferent, even as we bubbled with excitement. We got to the far end of the market, where another vendor, aware of our garden interests, asked if we had seen this fountain. Obviously, he had taken notice of it. “Yes,” we replied, “but we aren’t sure it actually works” This, an attempt to suggest lukewarm interest. It wouldn’t do to have the sellers taking us for granted. We ambled back toward the intersection where the statue stood, beckoning.  Another, neighboring vendor,  (Val,) assured us that the owner would be back soon, and quoted us a price that really was too good to be true. This had the effect of agitating us even more. We scanned the horizon, looking for the unknown vendor. Then, Val said “Here he come!” motioning to our left. The face was familiar, though we had no idea of his name. A guy with a shaggy haircut, baggy shorts, a T shirt and a baseball cap.  Sound familiar? Val repeated his ridiculous quote, which brought a scowl to the owners’ eyes. He squinted like he was having a big splinter removed.  “Make me an offer,” he suggested. I responded with the same ridiculously low price that the neighboring vendor, Val had told us. Not wasting any time, the owner replied “Add _____ to that, and we’ve got a deal. After all, I had to carry that thing all the way here from my car.” He motioned to the far end of the market, as though covering that distance justified his asking price.  Here, I raised my doubts about the water channel being clear of obstruction, a potential sale-killer.  Not to be outdone, the vendor pulled a pen from his T-shirt pocket and stuck it as far down the hole as he could without losing it.  “There’s just a bit of mud in the bottom,” he assured us. John and I exchanged glances for just a moment, then, nodded to the vendor in agreement. The vendor passed the additional cash on to Val, the neighbor who claimed to have “brokered” the sale.  “I did my best for you,” Val told the owner.

“I’ll get a shopping cart for you,” the vendor started to go on, but, despite its substantial weight, I had already scooped the fountain up in my arms, and was headed for the car. An hour later, the channel had been cleared of any dry mud, and the fountain was in place at the center of the pond in our herb garden, gurgling away, with the sunlight glinting off its dancing waters. It couldn’t be any more perfect if we had written the specs for it. It had come home.

Welcome to Spring!!!

Dear Gardening Friends,

A seed starting tray.

Nicotiana Sylvestris, "Only the Lonely"

     There are less than twenty-four hours until we can say,  “Welcome” to Spring!!!! This winter, while I have been waiting, I have attended to lots of “pre-season” activities. A list of seeds for both the “potager” and the flower beds has been compiled and ordered. I started my first round of seedlings on January 21^st, to celebrate the second inauguration of President Barack Obama, including a mix of vegetables and flowers. I started some Fish Peppers, since I know them to be slow to germinate, as well as lots of Lacinato Kale and some Portuguese Couve Tronchuda , (Collard Greens). I had hardly dropped their seeds into the soil before the Cosmos popped up.  Now, they are taller than the lights I have used to grow them! Nearly the same is true of the Nicotiana Sylvestris, “Only the Lonely,” which makes me marvel at how some of the tallest plants come from the tiniest seeds. I am excited to grow for the first time, a beautiful flowering vine, Eccremocarpus, “Tresco Gold,” seeds for which were a present from my “California family,” Malcolm, Kiki, Campbell and Xia.

Scaled down lawnmower, 30 inches high

     In early February, New Yorkers, (and quite a few out-of-town visitors), were distracted from the cold by the 59^th Annual Winter Antiques Fair, a benefit for Eastside House Settlement. Among the many desirable objets on display, was a beautifully preserved, scaled-down lawnmower, with silvered blades, perfect for the energetic six year old who wants to help neaten up the grass. My biggest thrill however, was interviewing my friend Barbara Israel, doyenne of garden furniture and ornamentation, who kindly described the pieces she brought to this years fair.

     About three weeks ago, on a warmish day for February, with temperatures in the 50’s, I had the thrill of discovering a cloud of my honeybees hovering around the entrance to their hive! I had been wondering if they survived the winter, but didn’t want to disturb them during the cold. Now, I am confident that they are there, inside, awaiting weather warm enough to stretch their wings and get about the business of pollinating the garden, gathering nectar and pollen and making honey.

     Flower shows in Philadelphia, Allentown and The New York Botanical Gardens Orchid show are happening or about to, and on Tuesday of this week, our crocuses blossomed, so start your gardening engines! The 2013 gardening season is underway!!!