tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842Wed, 23 May 2012 15:17:23 +0000spice bushShaggy Manekids gardeningboletespeoniesjellytransplantinghome brewfood preservation rainy day activitieschanterelleshopnisscarpenter beesSamaria GorgewineNovemberchicken of the woodschestnutsplant protectioncity gardeninghikingCretefragranceProspect ParkGreek catsOmalosAgia RoumeliMeyer lemonshen of the woodsdominoesoyster mushroomsMiliaLoutrocontractorbad gardeningblended gardentarget shootingCydonia oblongaBrooklynclematismarmaladeFoley SquareChicken FootrosesKyralettucespring greenskitchen gardenPhiladelphiapawpawacornsBlewitslaccariamushroomsMount VernonHoney mushroomsfetacutting gardenwatercresswild mushroomsGreek foodPortesChaniawild foodscontainersCoprinus comatusconstructionfall gardenapple wineAfrican violetsSan Franciscospicebushquinceflower showsforagingrooftop gardeningWhat's a little dirt between friends?http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/noreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)Blogger232125http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/DownDirtyhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-705639119974571377Sat, 19 May 2012 21:38:00 +00002012-05-20T08:43:15.283-04:00Something is wrong.My garden looks good.Better than it ever has.I'd like to think years of hard work have finally paid off, but more likely it's because it's May. The deer and the weeds haven't yet organized their coalition attack.We'll be away for two weeks; who knows what we'll return to. Nipped peony buds, munched elderflowers,fading foliage where the spring ephemerals once danced.For now I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/NDnAiALk1NE/slange.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/NDnAiALk1NE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/05/slange.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-5627189217020254631Fri, 18 May 2012 11:51:00 +00002012-05-18T07:58:26.906-04:00containersrosesrooftop gardeningI'm not sure how or why tastes change, but this afternoon I was forced to admit I may love roses. Sure, I've smelled a fragrant rose or two in the past and thought, hey, that's not bad. But then I've wondered if it was worth the black spot and the pruning and the thorns and always decided that no, it was not.Today I stepped out onto this Soho terrace and gasped.In the month since my last http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/Nrke_zEdgDU/spinach-mushroom-olives-and-roses.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/Nrke_zEdgDU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/05/spinach-mushroom-olives-and-roses.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-1964163206118596004Wed, 09 May 2012 11:48:00 +00002012-05-09T20:46:02.763-04:00When I was 22 I moved to Germany. I had a Rotary fellowship, a love of foreign languages, and no immediate desire to enter the workforce. So I headed for the Goethe Institute in Freiburg-im-Breisgau and hoped that during my 6 week language intensive I'd be able to find housing and make a plan for the year to come.Learning German was a lot easier than finding an apartment. After weeks of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/urxii5liSt0/liebe-suse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/urxii5liSt0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/05/liebe-suse.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-6882003133340233544Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:48:00 +00002012-05-03T15:24:37.588-04:00A macro lens lets you pick and choose. I could almost convince you that mine is a well-tended garden, when I show the best bits, carefully cropped and strategically blurred.Most of my Myosotis are white this year. Strange.Mertensia virginica, fortunately, is exactly what it should be. BLUE-bell.I'm sorry, I don't know which Hellebore this is.Or which Epimedium this is.And you know what? I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/qPS9mtjAT9Y/macro-madness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/qPS9mtjAT9Y" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/04/macro-madness.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-6305911380628712707Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:44:00 +00002012-04-30T16:29:07.358-04:00A few weeks behind NYC, spring in NH is just starting.I'd read that the flowers of sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina) are edible, not in a substantial way but in a trail nibble way. Maybe I caught them at the wrong stage because I was entirely underwhelmed. Sweet fern flowers are imperfect and the plant is monoecious, meaning flowers are either male OR female, and flowers of both types grow on http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/ZOf_-FMajso/springtime-in-nh.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/ZOf_-FMajso" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/04/springtime-in-nh.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-1888263833690701836Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:13:00 +00002012-04-18T19:13:45.261-04:00Why did I take this picture?Or this one?Now can you tell?How about now?I'm sure the landscaper didn't think about edible plants when he chose the plants for the Advanced Auto Parts parking lot. If he did, mad props. If he didn't, well he has inadvertently given me a thrill by proving that any landscape can be an edible landscape. I even forgive his choice of hideous, died black mulch.Redbud http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/K17_qvUZJaM/auto-parts-and-edible-landscape.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/K17_qvUZJaM" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/04/auto-parts-and-edible-landscape.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-154415506954767685Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:41:00 +00002012-04-15T11:12:14.916-04:00I suppose it's time to get back in the saddle. A sad winter, a busy winter, not enough time in the kitchen, in the woods, in the garden.This weekend felt close to normal after some time outdoors and a little culinary therapy. A blooming Amelanchier is a lovesome thing.I'd heard rumors that cornelian cherries (the fruit of Cornus mas) were crazy high in pectin, but I'd never had a big enough http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/x98eGt_57Lo/spring-encouragement.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/x98eGt_57Lo" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/04/spring-encouragement.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-6272483488686034109Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:54:00 +00002012-04-04T07:52:07.646-04:00We buried Sisko this weekend. He died back in January, but the ground was frozen so our vet kept him till we could dig a hole next to the Viburnum trilobum, where we hope Sisko will do for it, what Kyra has done for the Yucca baccata.It's been more than two months, but the wound is fresh. After we dug, and buried, and found the perfect marker stone, we sat on the flat rock in front of the deck,http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/XKMXTBxPeoQ/sisko.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/XKMXTBxPeoQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/04/sisko.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-9007217582980544076Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:18:00 +00002012-02-14T18:30:11.971-05:00Saturday's lunch at La Colombe was exquisite. Marie's parents treated us to three hours of fine dining, superb drinking (man, they make a lot of great wine here!), and flawless service in a location that was entirely genteel yet also relaxing. We dined en plein air, accompanied by the sounds of wind through palm fronds.crab salad dressed in yuzu, on miso and orange crema, with mirin and dashi http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/-Ia-SDf3unQ/saturdays-lunch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/-Ia-SDf3unQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/02/saturdays-lunch.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-7122439953477645910Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:23:00 +00002012-02-24T17:35:44.110-05:00Yesterday we explored the Cape, including several hours at the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. As you can see, the scenery is a lot like NYC, nothing to write home about.photo by Marie ViljoenDespite the fact that KLM will not let me check in on line, I am trying to remain optimistic about my flight tonight. It ain't easy.Addendum: For an extended look at Boulders Beach, see Marie's post. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/D_-_Qg3S-LQ/just-another-day-in-hood.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/D_-_Qg3S-LQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/02/just-another-day-in-hood.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-6184947886786099108Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:41:00 +00002012-03-04T09:10:10.917-05:00Table Mountain dominates Cape Town, everyone knows that. But did you know how many different parts and pieces and sides there are to Table Mountain? Because that has taken me entirely by surprise. I expected the classic, flat topped view of the mountain that you see from Big Bay, but yesterday Marie, Helen, and I climbed Skeleton Gorge for an entirely different perspective.Entering through http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/jMZAH5FjpEI/skeleton-gorge-and-dazzling-disa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/jMZAH5FjpEI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/02/skeleton-gorge-and-dazzling-disa.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-8575014316017341289Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:39:00 +00002012-02-11T01:40:48.224-05:00Yesterday was all about lunch.Marie drove us an hour and a half north of Cape Town to Paternoster, once a fishing village, now popular as a beach town for upscale vacation homes. Paternoster is the home of Oep ve Koep, which is dialect Afrikaans for "open for business". The chef, Kobus van der Merwe, is creative, personable, and oh-so-gifted. But I'm getting ahead of myself.The drive to http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/0IXbXA-f8bc/open-for-business.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/0IXbXA-f8bc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/02/open-for-business.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-3665330254033155739Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:13:00 +00002012-02-09T03:22:49.433-05:00Marie's mother Maureen (say that five times fast) has the most beautiful private garden I've ever seen. It's both personal and professional, and by that I mean impeccably groomed and entirely individual. Crooked paths lead to shady nooks. Large trees combine with sinuous tropical vines. The fuchsias are taller than I am! Before coffee this morning, I explored just a little.I know, I know http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/aSb0Rm33I4Y/early-morning-exploration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/aSb0Rm33I4Y" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/02/early-morning-exploration.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-8644803426075669973Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:13:00 +00002012-02-08T15:15:25.516-05:00I'm not sure I've ever met a more idealistic man than Rob Small, or anyone more committed to his ideals. Rob is the founder of Abalimi Bezekhaya, a grassroots organization that trains and supports small farmers in Cape Flats. He took Marie and me on a tour of several gardens this morning, through parts of this city I would never have seen otherwise.This is the Asande Community Garden, one of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/4RU234aEb8M/cape-flats-and-abalimi-bezekhaya.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/4RU234aEb8M" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/02/cape-flats-and-abalimi-bezekhaya.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-427659242196939437Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:53:00 +00002012-02-08T10:40:59.471-05:00I arrived at 10 pm last night (2/6) after just over three days of travel. Marie met me at the airport and whisked me home to a glass (or two) of wine and a comfortable bed.Today was lovely, and the memory of the last three days is fading fast. A few quick images before I go to sleep.TedHe lifts his ears up when you say "squirrel."MaggieWhat's so funny?BenI can't help it, he's my favorite.A http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/pfo1X5Xc-sE/you-can-stop-feeling-sorry-for-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/pfo1X5Xc-sE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/02/you-can-stop-feeling-sorry-for-me.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-1588861974995325957Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:19:00 +00002012-02-05T16:24:08.770-05:00This is still not Cape Town. Last night the Hotel Ibis @ Schipol, tonight the Sheraton @ Frankfurt am Main.The title of this post was going to be DO NOT FLY KLM, but I may have to expand my complaint.After a forced night in Amsterdam, I went back to the airport, certain that KLM would issue internet vouchers to the passengers it had stranded yesterday. When I said in my last post that KLM http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/Niex30ywt3c/still-not-there.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/Niex30ywt3c" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/02/still-not-there.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-6111765649497332430Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:42:00 +00002012-02-05T02:39:46.139-05:00Does this LOOK like Cape Town to you?If you said "no", you're right! It's my sub-compact hotel room at Schipol airport in Amsterdam, where I am spending the night.It began with a frantic call from Delta on Friday afternoon asking me if I could get to JFK right away, because my 6 pm flight to Amsterdam was 3 hours late and they wanted to get me on the 4:20. I made it, and got to Amsterdam in http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/QyvD2ZWlUMo/stranded-schipol.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/QyvD2ZWlUMo" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/02/stranded-schipol.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-66017437757581424Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:01:00 +00002012-01-16T16:03:00.940-05:00Sisko, 1995 - 2012http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/DYENKRNATzc/goodbye.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)9<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/DYENKRNATzc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2012/01/goodbye.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-1815434837698077473Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:55:00 +00002011-12-23T20:16:22.859-05:00It may be the end of the year but there are still things to forage and beautiful places to forage in.The Isles of Shoals looked closer than usual, although I'm pretty sure they haven't actually moved.Buoy beach produces a large and dependable crop of rose hips: rugosa (above) and noid (below).Sarah helped gatherwhile Solon and Nathan climbed down to the beach below. We knew they were safe as longhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/rn20niHLRls/winter-in-nhofficially.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/rn20niHLRls" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2011/12/winter-in-nhofficially.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-2862497557415259085Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:30:00 +00002011-12-16T14:57:45.849-05:00Suzanne Hart got an A in GAR 310.Molly introduced us a few years ago. Suzanne was thinking about making a career change to gardening and we had lots to talk about. She showed up in my rooftop gardening class last summer and was taking a serious course load: spring trees, the landscape design summer intensive.She was funny, energetic, and a pleasure to be with. She also worked really, really http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/tUTHHzUax5g/suzanne-hart.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/tUTHHzUax5g" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2011/12/suzanne-hart.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-3900267125977787014Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:41:00 +00002011-12-11T17:48:47.579-05:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/bYYT6oEFyh4/its-beginning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/bYYT6oEFyh4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2011/12/its-beginning.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-7031930730913763537Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:19:00 +00002011-12-04T07:54:49.336-05:00I'm exhausted, but satisfied. We cooked, styled, and shot our way through a passel of wild food recipes. Sadly I left my good camera in the city this weekend (don't ask), but fortunately Rob made photographic magic, as usual, and Carleen's editorial eye and expertise in the kitchen sped things along. Among our accomplishments:dahlia tuber bread (w/spicebush berries & wild ginger)sauteed Apioshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/L4NwIJM5ajY/r-u-hungry.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/L4NwIJM5ajY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2011/12/r-u-hungry.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-7175884707598247813Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:06:00 +00002011-11-27T15:17:04.754-05:00to make me happy.Just a few oysters on an autumn afternoon. Contented sigh.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/5m45_GVl1mY/it-doesnt-take-lot.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/5m45_GVl1mY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2011/11/it-doesnt-take-lot.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-5556845163282498657Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:53:00 +00002011-10-30T21:04:13.780-04:00But who walked through our yard on this stormy night? I shook the trees off at 9 pm, then again at 7:30 am. In between, someone left these distinctly human footprints across the bottom of our lawn. It's not like we're on the way to anywhere. Freakier than the storm if you ask me.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/DXoOgr7Indk/6000-words.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/DXoOgr7Indk" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2011/10/6000-words.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-1112612526989623157Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:25:00 +00002011-08-23T17:18:50.865-04:00(photo by Nick Adams) 1. The boat is not a democracy. 2. Never let go of the boat. 3. Always disembark upstream. 4. Aim for the V. 5. Hold onto your paddle. 6. Engage both short and long range sensors. 7. A canoe needs water to float in. Not much. But some. 8. Standing waves can be fun. 9. Barking orders is acceptable. In an emergency, politeness is a waste of time. 10. The boat is http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/IXK5vzsiH0U/rules-of-boat.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/IXK5vzsiH0U" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2011/08/rules-of-boat.html