Summertime & The Farmers Market...

"Yesterday a child came out to wonder,
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar.
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder,
And tearful at the falling of a star."
From Joni Mitchell's song, "Circle Game"

Summertime always evokes dreams and memories of my childhood. As a child our family went to the Farmers Market almost every week. It was a scene. Mother had 6 kids, all within 9 years. We were well behaved and no one ever got lost. I remember double yolk eggs, beautiful tomatoes, piles of lettuce, the juiciest strawberries and a range of flowers that was dizzying.


Falling in love with fresh produce at a young age is a great gift a parent can give to a child. I learned about the connection between food, the earth and the humble farmer who would not only grow our food but often times sell it to us.
I was at the Farmers Market this week, as I am most weeks and decided it was perfect light to do a photo shoot. The stunning colors, shapes and textures of the bounty that is given to us from the earth inspires my imagination as a cook and an artist.

So if you haven't been to your local Farmer's Market lately create a new habit and start showing up. The food is fresh, organic, local and affordable. Take the time to say thanks to the folks who work very hard at bringing fresh produce, eggs , cheese and flowers to you on a daily basis.
Mom, thanks for the gift of understanding where food comes from, it is some kind of magic!

Putting Your Intentions Out Into the World...

Yesterday I spent the day with my nephew Geoff.
He is a charming and smart young man. He is in college now and on an endless quest for knowledge. We were talking about Buddhism and the "Eight Right Steps of Living". This subject led to a lively conversation about living an intentional and conscious life. We also talked about "Intention". Which led to "Tibetan Prayer Flags". In Tibet they have a tradition and practice of hanging out strings of prayer flags which are prayers and sometimes icons of Deities printed onto various types of fabric. They are usually, but not always very bright primary colors. The idea simplified is this, put your intentions into the world, the wind will pick them up and blow them where they need to go. In December I did a posting on "Intention Tree" ornaments which is based on the idea of prayer flags.


On the 2 hour drive home I thought about these flags and the magical/mystic quality of putting intentions into the world via a flag and the wind. I also thought it would be fun to make my own small flags, writing intentions or even drawing a picture or icon of what I wanted to put into the world outside of my own. So here is the process, cut 5 to 12 pieces of fabric all the same size. You could use muslin, silk, cotton or really any fabric that will stand up to the Sun, Rain and Wind. An indelible pen like "Sharpies" would be the optimum tool for writing on the fabric. If you want to have more of a painterly quality you could also go to a craft store and pick up paint that is made to be used on fabric. The next step is to make a list of intentions or prayers you would like to see in the world. Do a sketch on paper of what you would like to see so you have a pattern to follow. Once you have a pile of flags ready to go, attach the finished squares to a very long piece of heavy duty string or rope and tie between two trees, on a porch railing or?? You can use your imagination. I think it would be fun to have some of my favorite friends over and each of us could do a square. Kind of like a quilting party, but oh so different!
So whether you purchase some Tibetan Prayer Flags or make your own remember, as Bob Dylan so eloquently said "The answer is blowin' in the wind".

Orchids: Tips and Tricks for Growing...

Orchids are so exotic looking that they seem as if they would be hard to grow.
Well nothing could be further from the truth. The biggest trick is good light (not direct sun) and infrequent watering (every other week at the most). I also feed my Orchids one time per season with Superthrive plant food. Buying healthy Orchids is key. I pick up my orchids many places. Some of the best specimens have come from wonderful high end nurseries. I like to spend an hour or so perusing their Greenhouses which typically are filled with Orchids and other interesting plants. The upside is this, the plants have been cared for and there is usually someone who is an Orchid Expert that can answer any of your questions. Now for some "On the Cheap" buying tricks and tips. Trader Joe's and Home Depot both have selections that can at times be terrific or sketchy depending upon the day. However, when they get a good batch of Orchids in they are a true bargain.
You can pick up a Phalaenopsis Orchid for 13-20 dollars! The downside is they have not been cared for as closely as those grown in a local greenhouse so be careful with your selection. Make sure the flower stalk has healthy fat buds that will continue to give you blossoms and that the leaves are a dark and shiny green. The following tip is very important. When you get the Orchid home put it into the sink and water thoroughly with warm water. Then pop the whole container into a zip-lock bag, cover only the container, this becomes a liner so the water does not leak into the cache pot or container you are setting your Orchid into. I always place some Spanish Moss around the base of the plant, it helps to keep the soil/bark moist and it looks like you picked it up at a Florist!
There are many varieties of Orchids some of my favorites are Phalaenopsis, Cymbidium, Oncidium, and once in a while Cattleya's The photos shown in this article are all different varieties of Phalaenopsis.
Many of my Orchids have been blooming for a year or more. They are simple to grow and a joy to collect. Go ahead and start your collection today.

A Garden of Roses...

Nothing makes me happier than walking through a garden of Roses. The fragrance is intoxicating. Spicy, sweet and sometimes even a light note of citrus. Yummmm. Roses of are at their very best in the early days of summer and early days of fall. But do not discount them from your repertoire, if you grow a wide variety you will always have a few to cut and bring indoors.
Roses are easy to grow and with proper mulching only need to be deep watered a few times a week.


Feed them with a handful of Bone and Blood Meal, add a dash of Epsom Salts and a bit of Kelp Meal. You now have my organic recipe for healthy roses. When you are walking through your Rose Garden sometimes you will see some black spot or mold, I always pull the leaves off at the stem and throw them in the garbage, not the compost pile. A new leaf will grow back fairly quickly and as tempting as a quick fix may seem, poisons do not reverse the damage.



I have always believed that organic gardening mixed with common sense is the way to go. Once in a while I will see an overabundance of Aphids, my remedy is to go to the Nursery Center and purchase a box or two of Ladybugs, I release them at sunset. The Ladybugs have a great time feasting on the aphids, and I think they are oh so sweet!
In January I wrote an article about my favorite Roses. Click on this link to read "A Few of my Favorites" If you have not read this article you will learn quite a bit about the romantic history of the Rose and the many different varieties that are available and even more tips on successful Rose growing techniques.
Roses are fun and easy to grow so do yourself a favor and plant some in your garden. Yummm you will not be disappointed.