Orchids, Oh My! January 29, 2009

Longwood is in the midst of its annual orchid extravaganza.  I took a few minutes out from my hectic class schedule to run into the conservatory and take photos.  I hope to get back in with my tripod and marco lens at some point so I can get detailed close-ups that better illustrate how much diversity and out-right wildness is exhibited in this display.  For now, enjoy these colorful snapshots in the midst of your cold winter day.   And if you’re in the area, I’d say this event is definitely worth a visit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprawling Table Centerpiece January 29, 2009

The Cutting Garden January 24, 2009

 

I’m sure every gardener has a horticultural inspiration, be it an outstanding public garden that informs designs in their own garden, a species of plants that engenders a lifelong collection, or an iconic figure in the world of gardening such as Dick Lighty, founding director of Mt. Cuba Center and plant breeder extraordinaire.  For my own work as a horticulturalist, particularly as it relates to cut flowers and vegetable production, I look to Sarah Raven’s Perch Hill Farm.  I’d go so far as to say that I have a bit of a crush on both the woman and her entire horticulture enterprise.  In a nutshell, Perch Hill is an intensively managed two-acre farm in southern England that proves to be both extraordinarily beautiful to behold and functional in its production for Ms. Raven’s  garden and cookery school. 

 

Having known about Sarah Raven’s little plot of heaven for quite some time, I somehow missed the fact that she’s a rather well-known garden writer too (as if I didn’t have enough reasons already to admire this woman) with seven books in print to date.  I greedily checked several of them out of the fantastic library here at Longwood and found them to be wonderfully composed and full or amazing photos.  The book that’s proven to be the most practical for my purposes thus far is The Cutting Garden.

 

 

Within it’s colorful pages, the reader gets a detailed picture of the activities in the cutting gardens at Perch Hill, including planning the layout, a planting calendar and techniques, selecting plants, harvesting, and designing arrangements.   I particularly like how her watercolor hued plans illustrate the plantings and layout for all four seasons so she has fresh material for arrangements all year long.  And since her farm is located in Zone 8, I can grow a good deal of the same plants here. 

Jewel Toned Hand Tied January 22, 2009

Pale Armature January 22, 2009

 

Snow at Last January 19, 2009

 

Today was the first significant snow accumulation of 2009, putting three fluffy inches on the ground.  My garden was no doubt appreciative of the blanket, considering the temperatures have been in the teens and twenties as of late.  It was nice to see the quintessential winter scene across the field where my garden lays, backlit by a stunning winter sunset.  

 

 

With snowy weather outside comes an itch to cultivate something green inside.  I started to force bulbs last week and they are already showing some tender leaves as they perch beneath my south-facing window. 

 

Light Reading for the Gardener & Cook January 14, 2009

 

 During the holiday break from classes and work, I had the opportunity to read a fun little book I got as a gift. Botany, Ballet & Dinner from Scratch is penned by Leda Meredith, a ballerina-turned-botanist who works at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  I wish I had known about her when I visited there earlier this year so we could have chatted about her lovely memoir.  Inside the playful cover you’ll find short stand-alone chapters and at least one recipe attached to each.  Leda talks of her childhood, adolescence and adulthood in the context of food, travel and relationships, among which she sprinkles some very handy gardening and botany tidbits.  Her experience as an urban forager was right up my alley.  She discusses the importance of proper plant identification in foraging situations in particular and also gives a mini nomenclature lesson that even the complete gardening beginner can understand. 

 

While I didn’t learn terribly much from this book since I’m already heavily immersed in horticulture and in cooking with ingredients grown in my own garden or other nearby source, I still recommend it for beginner and expert alike.  For the reader just starting out in either gardening or eating locally (or ideally both), Leda’s straightforward writing style is easy to understand and it’s not nearly the snooze that some other related books might be.  For the reader that’s got an existing green thumb and well-worn apron, this book will make you smile and think about long-forgotten experiences that may have shaped who you are as a gardener and cook.  It did for me.

Formal Table Center January 14, 2009

 

Biedermeier Centerpiece Green and Pink January 14, 2009

 

Floral Design Class January 14, 2009

Nancy’s Biedermeier Design for Class

 

Tuesday afternoons are my ticket to heaven for the next 12 weeks.  I have to pinch myself when I walk into the classroom always stuffed to the gills with buckets and buckets of myriad flowers in dozens of shades and textures.  It really is an honor to be under the tutelage of Nancy Gingrich Shenk, a very accomplished and respected floral designer here at Longwood and around the world.  Her design skills are inspiring, especially the speed with which she creates an arrangement.  

 

 

During our time together in the classroom, she is extending to us her knowledge of colors, historical designs, wedding pieces, contemporary trends, and hand bunches.  I greatly appreciate Nancy’s commitment to teaching us about sustainable design techniques, namely steering clear of using floral foam whenever possible.  To that end, we are learning to design in sand, chicken wire, and simply in a clear vase with a network of stems for support.  Thanks to this class, my floral design portfolio is quickly growing and increasing in quality! 

 

Nancy’s Designs and Our Copies