A few weeks ago, at a really good restaurant, I splurged on a dessert of buttermilk panna cotta with raspberries. That ethereal creation came garnished with preserved linden leaves and fruits. I had never eaten anything from a linden tree—Tilia–before, and was intrigued. The leaves and tiny, nut-like fruits were sweet from the preserving liquid … Read more
Now that the Olympic Games have focused the international spotlight on Rio de Janeiro, all manner of things Brazilian have reached the collective consciousness. As I—and the rest of the world—glued myself to the competitive cavalcade of sprinters, gymnasts and fencers, I thought of two things—getting myself into better shape and Roberto Burle Marx—1909-1994—the great … Read more
Some things are universal—or nearly so–and show up in every culture. Chicken soup is one of them, even if the “chicken” in the soup is some other variety of fowl. Gardens are another. The urge to garden has remained strong through civilization’s many travails, including wars, natural disasters, dislocation and urbanization. The deliberate cultivation … Read more
I have just done battle with a formidable opponent—one that is tenacious, heavily armed and fully equipped to go on fighting for decades. This enemy of civilized horticulture has no scruples, guiding ethos or any closet-bound skeletons that would make it susceptible to blackmail. It is, in short, Rosa multiflora, occasionally known as “the Japanese … Read more
It is clear that plants are generally much wiser than I am. Tansy proves this point. Somehow, early on in the life of my current landscape, tansy or Tanacetum vulgare, made its first appearance by the hedge in the front garden. I overlooked the plant when it sprouted, but by mid-summer of the first year, … Read more
