Cornelian Cherry
Cornus mas
CORNACEAE, the Dogwood family
Cornelian cherry gelato?! This is not an opportunity to ponder for long while in line at Staccato Gelato. Or a time to start explaining to your cohorts how Cornelian cherries are not really cherries but they just came into bloom and they are not really super hardy in Minnesota but […]
Lucky
Originally uploaded by mulysa_may
A piece of plastic has changed my usual late winter habit. How can one have cabin fever when fresh greens are available for dinner? By February I am usually sick of food and longing for something fresh to eat. Produce in the stores is unappealing and road-weary. And I’m so over […]
If you can believe it
Originally uploaded by mulysa_may
Plum branches are ready for forcing. I brought an armful into the house first thing this morning and put them in a tall vase with warm water. Spring ethers are rising and it is Making Things time.
Citrus x meyeri
RUTACEAE, The Rue or Citrus family
..or hope to be at least.
The Meyer lemon tree I rescued from the compost heap last summer is living in the studio happily and blooming its heart out. I stopped in when I got back from my TC/DC odyssey and was almost overwhelmed by the scent. I […]
Diospyros kaki
EBENACEAE, The Ebony wood family
Happy new year.
Persimmons are a beautiful aspect of Portland’s abundance. When friends were giving them away by the bagful weeks ago I had no time to do anything with them. So instead of leaving them on the counter where, as gorgeous as they are, they eventually start giving me […]
or bee spiderflower
Cleome serrulata
CAPPARACEAE, The Caper family or
CLEOMACAEAE, The Cleome family, depending on how forward-thinking or backwards you want to be.
This North American annual is a great attractor of beneficial insects! Despite it’s name, it’s widespread across the midwest and west including most of Canada. It can reseed itself and is sometimes considered a […]
Originally uploaded by mulysa_may
Cynara cardunculus
ASTERACEAE, The Aster family
An arrangement for December.
This occurred almost naturally as the dried Cardoon flowers were displaced while the house was being decorated for Thanksgiving, and they ended up near the heat vent in the kitchen, where they opened and slowly started releasing their plumed seeds.
Originally uploaded by mulysa_may
October 1
Rabbit run
Berry patch
Compost tumbler and bins
Rain barrel
Rhubarb
Leafy quince
Supposedly original-to-the-house picket fence
Originally uploaded by mulysa_may
November 28
Path partially built
Low stone walls, in progress
Arbor duct
Seating area
Soon-to-be bird feeding area
Prunus dulcis
ROSACEAE, The Rose family
Slivered almonds are such a nice thing to have on hand this time of year. Lovely toasted in salads, makes cake more nutritious, mixed into crumbling topping on pies and crisps, so many uses. Tonight I made biscotti for the first time - it’s easy and has only 2 tablespoons of […]
Originally uploaded by mulysa_may
Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus
BRASSICACEAE, The Mustard family
The wind! It’s crazy out there today. It’s exhausting to be out in, but I want to take advantage of the few daylight hours I have in the garden this week. The winter vegetable seedlings are all coming up and need protection, so I made a […]
