Rose Hip Muffins

I LOVE rose hips!

I can’t quite figure out why they aren’t included in more recipes. They have bright citrus notes yet have an earthiness that is distinct and comforting. I grew up with a hot rose hip syrup drink for cold days and a sore throat. There is so much natural pectin in the fruit that making jams and jellies with them is supposedly a breeze.

Yes, they are a bit messy. There are stems and little round disks that need to get strained out, but the results are worth the bother.

Continue reading…

It’s Always Sweet to Give Flowers

My daughter’s school has its last day today, and I showed her how to snip some flowers for a cute hand-tied bouquet. And when I say showing her, that mainly means my reiterating that the flowers need to have stems attached. :)

Continue reading…

Borage is Beautiful

I love pairing edible plants with ornamentals! Here I think the herb borage plays very well with the dark purple tulips.

Cherry Blossoms and Hellebores in Washington Arboretum

While the quad at the University of Washington is famous for its blooming cherry trees in the spring, if one seeks fluttery pink petals without hallowed public ivy brick facades and a visual onslaught of girls in Uggs and tight jeans, there are alternatives! One of my favorite green spaces to visit in Seattle is the Washington Park Arboretum.

My sister (a recent transplant to Seattle from NJ) recently saw a hellebore and asked about its name, as it’s a plant that doesn’t seem to be as common in the Northeast USA as it is in the Pacific Northwest. Also commonly known as Lenten Rose, it has an elegant and unusual look to its flowers, and comes in a palate of colors from ranging from white to a carbon purple-grey, blushed pink to dark magenta. It doesn’t scream for attention, but if you’re close enough it entices you to step closer to investigate.

There is also a magic bridge, which Leila uses to fish from using a fir bough.

Tiny field daisies – spring is coming!

I took a plant identification class last spring at the University of Washington, and the main thing I learned is that plant ID is very time consuming, it’s easy to make a mistake, and there are many subtle ways seemingly similar plants are different. I don’t have a Pacific NW flower field guide at my immediate disposal, and plant ID via google is an exercise in patience, so can’t give you the exact name of this little daisy-like plant that Leila loves picking at a park near our house. However, perhaps you can use the name my Grandmother used when she was here for them. “Sto krotki”, or hundred petals in Polish.