Sunday, May 24, 2009

Oh Presby Iris Gardens, How I Miss You!

From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos


Now that I live down in Central NJ, the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens (now blooming like mad, go see!), aren't just down the street. However, my friends Tanya and Ken live up in Montclair, so I have two very special reasons to go to Monclair in May.

From May 2009 photos


At the time I took these photos (last Saturday), there weren't many blooms open, but now if you go, you will be delighted by the display of color.

From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos


It's no wonder people travel from around the globe to visit the irises and paint them.

From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Garden Update on Location: Mom's Garden

Last weekend, I visited my mom and Dave and greatly admired their gorgeous spring garden. I took a load of photos both outside and inside the greenhouse. Please let me know which you think is the best!

From May 2009 photos


Under their showcase dogwood in the back, they keep lots of chairs and a teak table that stands on a leveled berm they installed a few years ago. The flattened area is covered with quartz stones and framed in landscape ties. It's a wonderful setting for a picnic.

From May 2009 photos


There are several ways to enter the garden. This is the view from the entry to the right of the house (as the house faces the road). It's also the view after you exit the Florida room and come down the deck stairs looking to your left. Right now, the azaleas are vibrant in hues of fushcia and peach.

From May 2009 photos


Mom is especially proud of her matching bleeding heart shrubs by the kitchen door. They also butt up against one of the very pink azealas.

From May 2009 photos


Mom's probably cringing because right after I took that photo she cleaned the bird bath. I should have taken an "after" photo.

From May 2009 photos


Usually, my plants bloom before Mom's do, but in this case, her irises bloom earlier. Mine are just beginning, so I'll be taking photos this week. Speaking of irises, today I'll be visiting the Presby Iris Gardens with two of my Montclair friends, Ken and Tanya. Go see the irises now, it's prime time!

From May 2009 photos


That was probably my favorite photo.

From May 2009 photos


Not a great photo, but the colors are true. You could probably see Mom's plants from space.

From May 2009 photos


On this plant, Mom said that she had thinned it out like a bonsai tree. I think it looks interesting -- more than the pink one.

From May 2009 photos


This view is from the other side of the azealas, up toward the back of the property, near the swing. You can see the pink dogwood that helps frame the garage side of the house when cars enter the driveway.

From May 2009 photos


Deep purple irises, nearly black in appearance.

From May 2009 photos


I really enjoy the hellebores. I've seen them in other colors, but not often like the ones here.

From May 2009 photos


Mom and Dave have red and yellow trilliums. They always make me think of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Yes, that's exactly what kind of nerd I am.

Now, we move into the greenhouse for a show of what's in bloom at this moment:

From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos


Rather spectacular, isn't it?

From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos


From May 2009 photos


I suggested that Mom should start her own orchid/garden blog when she retires to keep up her writing every day. I hope she does it.

From May 2009 photos


An off-season Christmas cactus.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Free on Saturday Mornings -- The New York Botanical Gardens

From NYBG


One of the best free things to do in New York is visit the New York Botanical Garden on a Saturday morning, especially now while all kinds of spectacular things are in bloom.

That building above is the Mertz Library. I'd gone on a few tours of the library (because that's what library science students do) last month and took a few photos of the gardens while I had the time. I'm sorry that I didn't take any interior photos of the library or its exhibitions, but I encourage you to go see them. They have a really interesting rare books room as well.

From NYBG


One of the lovely displays in the garden was the Auricula Theater.

From NYBG


It's essentially a stylized display for auricula primroses.

From NYBG


From NYBG


Also displayed around the garden were thousands of gorgeous daffodils.

From NYBG


These were probably the most vibrant of the showy blooms. They reminded me of eggs over easy.

If you love dogwoods and irises like I do, you'll definitely want to go before the end of this month. I might just have to get my butt out to the Bronx again myself!

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Joe's Yummy Potato and Greens Torta

From April 2009 Recipes, Reviews, and other photos


I wish Joe was my neighbor. He makes the best things, has the most gorgeous dogs, and just seems like a wonderful person. Plus, every recipe I've ever made from his site has turned out beautifully, even when I've made significant changes!

That was the story with this incredible Potato and Greens Torta. I made all kinds of changes:

1. Used 3/4 cup chopped green onion instead of garlic.
2. Used 2 cups chopped fresh parsley instead of the spinach.
3. Used 3/4 cup chopped fresh basil instead of the arugula (not that I don't love arugula, but I had fresh basil on hand).
4. Used packaged cheese blends (Italian pizza style) instead of the fontina.
5. Used Parmigiano Reggiano for the Asiago cheese.
6. Used a food processor to chop up the wilted greens.
7. I don't have a potato ricer, so I also put the potatoes into the food processor with the greens after they were cooked.
8. Mixed the cheeses in with everything else prior to seasoning.
9. Forgot to dust the baking dish with the bread crumbs, instead loading them on the top.
10. Used the leftover breadcrumbs I'd frozen from St. Joseph's Day at Pete's because they were really garlicky.
11. Didn't put any cheese on top.

From April 2009 Recipes, Reviews, and other photos


The resulting torta was nothing short of lovely. It came out of the baking dish perfectly. It tasted amazingly good. The texture was perfect. It was rich, but not overly. The greens were just right. I would definitely make this again in as many incarnations as I can. I'll make it with kale next time.

High marks to Joe, once again!