Garden Bloggers' Muse Day ~ April 2011

'I come, I come, ye have called me long
I come o'er the mountains, with light and song.
You may trace my step o'er the wakening earth,
By the winds which tell of the violet's birth,
By the primrose - stars in the shadowy grass
By the green leaves opening as I pass'


~ Felicia Hemans, 1749- 1835,  an extract from 'The Voice of Spring'


More April musing can be perused over at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago.

A Creative Plant Photography Workshop

Back in the depths of last summer I attended a most enjoyable creative plant photography workshop at Bluebell Cottage Gardens/Lodge Lane Nursery in the fair county of Cheshire. The gardens and nursery are in the excellent hands of Sue Beesley. I blogged about the morning session here and promised to come back with what happened after lunch. Well here at long last with apologies for the delay is the second installment. The afternoon session was a chance to be practical and to get out in the garden and take photos. Andrew Williams, the workshop leader suggested that we might like to come up with a theme. I had a few ideas floating around but eventually decided to focus on the various sitting areas that are dotted about the garden. Looking back on it now I would have approached this slightly differently and would have taken some close up shots too. Whilst we wondered round snapping Andrew caught up with everyone individually to discuss our proposed shots in more detail. This was most useful for me and was a welcome chance to get to grips with some of my camera's bells and whistles. Here are some of my photos on the seating theme ~ 

Gardener at work ~ 

In the shade ~

Two's company ~

Mirror images ~

Pondside ~

Finally the best seat in the house or should I say garden ~ 

It was rather hot in the garden, so it was pleasant to eventually get back indoors, where we were invited to share a few of our photos with the rest of the group. We were all I think slightly reluctant to do this but in fact it turned out to be most a constructive exercise.

I left feeling enthusiastic and eager to put what I learned on the day into practice. We were provided with a comprehensive reading list, which I hope to make my way through in time as I certainly want to learn more about this subject.
Books
Plants and Flower Photography
Photographing Flowers' - Sue Bishop

'Garden Photography - 'A Professional Guide' - Tony Cooper. I have been unable to find an online U.K. source for this out of print book. However  I bought a copy very recently for the grand total of £2.00 from the Chester outlet of Publishers Book Clearance.

'Photographing Plants and Flowers' - Paul Harcourt Davies

'The Art of Flower and Garden Photography' - Clive Nicholls

I have yet to read any of the above apart from the last title which I came across in our local library. Another book not on the list as it is a new publication is 'Better Plant And Garden Photography' by Philip Smith. I am keeping my eyes open for this one.

Macro Photography 
'Close Up Photography' - Michael Freeman

'Close up Creative Techniques for Successful Macrophotography' - John Brackenbury

'Close - Up and Macro' - Robert Thompson

The book list also included recommendations under the headings of creative photography, landscape photography and panoramas which I can forward if anybody is particularly interested.

I would thoroughly recommend this course or a similar one to anybody who would like to get to know their camera better and to take photographs in a garden setting with a professional at hand. There are courses at Lodge Lane this May, June and September - full details are here. You can search for other RHS recommended photography courses over at the RHS Event Finder.

I be back shortly with a final installment on the practical hints and tips that I picked up on the day, including the lowdown on equipment. This time I mean shortly!

Morning respite…

These mornings…when windows and doors are thrown open

to catch the nighttime breezes

we awaken to the gentle sound of burbling water

coming from a bamboo pot fountain…it has been gently pouring water for years…

through every season.

right outside our living room window in a small courtyard that is mostly ignored

allowed to wander.

There is no pretense…no pretty…just working away. Growing at will.

The ceiling is the untrimmed fuchsia of bougainvillea

in this little unkempt corner of our home.

But on mornings like this…with a cup of coffee…and some birds singing…

and the quiet of a family sleeping in…

it is a teensy slice of heaven

Gently trickling.

A glorious Sunday to you.

Tales Of The Hellebore Bank

I have been engaged in a little bit of guerilla gardening this week as we have enjoyed some perfect for gardening weather. I am usually a law abiding citizen but now and again I do stray from the straight and narrow. Our garden is bordered on one side by a surface water stream - on the other side of the stream there is a sloping bank which rises up to meet the main road. This area is about 500 square metres and contains some twelve mature trees which were there before us. I am on a mission to give this area some interest during the early part of the year before the leaves are out on the trees. I planted some snowdrops some time ago, which are slowly clumping up and being added to. Now I am bringing hellebores into the mix which as you know can be relatively expensive plants to purchase. A couple of years ago I decided to take pot luck and I acquired some hellebore seedlings via Ebay. Some of these flowered for the first time last spring and after seeing them in the flesh as it were I purchased a few more last year from the same seller.

They have all lived in pots until their first flowering after which the majority of them are destined for the bank. One or two are earmarked for the garden. I planted the first few last year on the bank and was disappointed that with one exception they did not flower this year. However they are very much alive as there is healthy new foliage appearing so I suppose they are just biding their time. In the meantime a solitary hellebore (a seedling from the garden) probably planted about four or five years ago has now made a decent sized plant. Next year it should have some company including this trio ~ 

Now what do I do about the uncultivated field behind us? Food for thought.

A recipe to warm your ears…and heart.

I received a lovely package yesterday …

A guest. an adoptee.

In brown paper. All the way from maple syrup country. Cold maple syrup country…New Hampshire.

Meet Ingrid.

She arrived in a brown paper box, carefully…even lovingly…wrapped

by Joan of from the love of a house.

Everything Joan does is with love. Truly. Go visit her amazing house…you’ll see!

And apparently, the girl, Ingrid, of the cold ears sort…loves

maple syrup.

But…who doesn’t?

She came with a recently tapped and cooked bottle of New Hampshire's finest liquid gold.

It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup…who knew?

ooohhh. Ingrid I love ya already.

So what is a girl from sunny green Florida to do with this bounty you ask?

Why, thanky for asking…

Make brunch!

Lime in the Coconut style. ‘Cause really…what is life without a little coconut?

Enter the marriage of chilly New Hampshire and warm tropical Florida…

Warm your ears Crunchy Coconut French Toast… and warm Maple Syrup.

...and do not skimp on the Maple Syrup. Ingrid is watching!

Yep. I think the girl is going to love it here. She looks warmer already.

Welcome Ingrid. Take off your scarf…stay awhile.

kisses Joan!!

Make your own Warm Your Ears Crunchy Coconut French Toast you will not:: repeat:: will not regret it:

Crunchy Coconut French Toast (adapted from Cook What You Love via Leite’s Culinaria)

scaled to serve 1

• ¼ cup cornflakes I use Uncle Sams toasted wheatberry and flaxseed flakes…makes me feel a tad healthier
• ¼ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1 large egg
• 1-2 tbsp milk
• 1 thick whole grain toast, cut in half…again…see first bullet. It’s all about healthy. umhm.
• 1 tsp butter and 1 TBSP of olive oil.
• Maple syrup, to serve. Ingrid style…LOTS.

1. Place the coconut and cornflakes in a shallow bowl and mix well.
2. In another shallow bowl, lightly whisk together the egg and milk. Dip the bread slices into the egg mixture
3. and soak for about a minute on each side. They should be well coated but not soggy.
4. Press each slice into the coconut mixture on sides, patting firmly and turning them over several times to coat thoroughly.
5. Heat the butter and oil on a griddle or in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Serve with warm maple syrup…again…Ingrid style.

Oooooh I just love a good marriage..

Thank you Joan!

Frothiness

J IS FOR?

JUMPING FOR JOY!

~ is what I have been doing this week as spring has well and truly arrived bringing with it much frothiness of blooms including cherry blossom . "Just perfick" as Pop Larkin would have put it.

You will find more on the letter J over at ABC Wednesday ~ I jest you not!

SXSW 2011

Mimi in Austin