Roasted Asparagus

Asparagus is so wonderfully abundant and affordable right now.  I try to make some at least once a week.  Fresh, steamed asparagus is my favorite, but cooking it can go very wrong, very quickly.  So, I’ve developed this more-forgiving, roasted asparagus recipe for those evenings when I’m busy or just plain tired.

You need:

1 pound fresh asparagus
Extra virgin olive oil
Lemon or lime juice
And Mrs. Dash (we prefer the Original Blend)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Rinse asparagus spears and snap off the woody bottom of each asparagus.  You can peel the spears if you like, but I seldom do.

Place asparagus in a ceramic or glass baking dish.  Drizzle with olive oil (about 2 tablespoons) and juice (about 1 tablespoon).  I usually choose lime over lemon juice.  And finally sprinkle with Mrs. Dash (1.5-2 tablespoons).

Toss asparagus with herbs.  Bake for 10-15 minutes.  Tonight’s batch took 12 minutes.  Serve warm.  Or chill completely and serve as a salad over greens.  This slightly tangy asparagus is a natural accompaniment to salmon, pork or scrambled eggs.

Roasted asparagus with beer-braised pork and onions plus potato pierogies and a pint of beer.
Those are diced prunes sprinkled over the pork.  Yummy.

You could create your own herb mixture with the following dried herbs: basil, parsley, oregano, cumin, coriander, a dash of cayenne pepper, plus 1 clove garlic, minced, a little lemon zest, celery salt and ground black pepper, or… make a similar blend of fresh herbs.  Keep in mind, the ratio is usually 1 tablespoon fresh herbs for every 1 teaspoon of dried ones.  And 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.

This recipe calls for almost 2 tablespoons or 6 teaspoons dried herbs = 6 tablespoons fresh herbs.

It sounds like a lot, but it just works out to about 1/3 cup of fresh herbs.

We’ve also used this recipe exactly to roast Brussels sprouts;

eliminated the juice to roast cauliflower;
and substituted orange juice and extended cooking time to roast baby carrots.
So why not parsnips, hearts of Romaine, slightly blanched green beans, or even something sweet, like under-ripe pears?  When working with these other vegetables, just make sure you divide them into somewhat equal pieces, so everything cooks evenly.  And experiment a little.  The possibilities are actually endless.

Inspiration from Sohan Qadri

I know I have been remiss in my blogging duties.  Although, I’ve not been writing lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about writing.  And I’ve been waiting for inspiration to strike.

Inspiration is a funny thing.  I consider myself a marginally creative person, which means I rely quite a bit on truly creative people.  And I am always interested in what inspires them.  Sohan Qadri is one of my favorite artists.  He died just a little over a year ago.  But the works he left behind remain alive… vibrant evidence of his being… in every sense of the word.

Megha II

Sohan drew inspiration from within.  He submerged in deep meditation before painting or writing.  His resulting “canvases” are beautifully textural with swathes of color, intensely-dyed, saturated color, on wrinkly-fibrous, handmade paper.  Meditation enabled him to envision and artistically interpret… what do you call it?  The world’s energy?  A spiritual state?  The life force?  And he taught others how to meditate to expand their creativity.

It may sound hokey.  But Sohan’s paintings are pure abstraction and incredibly emotive.  Of course, they bring to mind Mark Rothko’s large color fields.  But they are something very different.  I suspect it has to do with their slightly smaller scale and the way color collects in the pockets and ridges where the paper has been serrated, almost carved, in very rhythmic patterns.  The paintings could be capturing landscapes or maps or conversations or heartbeats.

Dissolution III

Which leads me to think that Sohan also drew inspiration from his life.  And how could he not?  He probably drew inspiration from the lush Punjabi farmlands where he was raised; from what he learned in school and from yogis and monks; from his formal artistic training and friendships with fellow artists; and from travels in other parts of Asia, Africa, North America and Europe.  But perhaps he drew inspiration from just being aware and noticing things.  Noticing the interconnectedness of all things.

A recent visit to the Conservatory at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden reminded me of Sohan’s paintings.  The lush colors of many orchids, the linear repetitions of tropical foliage, the intricate structures of spring blossoms… all of these reminded me of his work and the first time I experienced it several years ago.  Plants and paintings are somehow exotic, primordial and universal all at the same moment.  Not to mention so very gorgeous.  Does that make sense?

Abhasa I

Agni II

Bija II

Purusha VI

Puskara II

Stambha II

Sumaru

Sohan Qadri’s paintings featured here are available at Sundaram Tagore Gallery.  Sundaram Tagore specializes in the “exchange of ideas between Western and non-Western cultures” and has branches in New York City, Beverly Hills and Hong Kong.  They also participate in major art fairs throughout the world where they usually exhibit Sohan’s work.

From Confluence at Sundaram Tagore Gallery

You can learn more about Sohan from books: Sohan Qadri: The Seer and Seeker: The Art of Sohan Qadri.  And if you happen to be in Hong Kong this weekend, stop by Sundaram Tagore for Confluence: Sohan Qadri - Zhang Yu.  The exhibition runs through Sunday.

Hale and Hearty, well actually... Hale and Hardy

It’s March 1, and if you are like me, you are probably…
reviewing books and catalogs;
looking at others’ gardens;
tidying up the ruins and residues of winter;
searching for signs of life under leaves and mulch;
and finalizing your wish list of plants and projects to add to the garden.

Whether your garden is established or you are just breaking ground, there is always something to do.  And you have to decide, what can I accomplish?  Where do I start?  Where can I find what I need?  And how much will it cost?

"Plants in waiting"... I sometimes grow perennials in large containers until I can find a spot for them in the garden.

I have about two more weeks to finalize priorities.  (This time of year kind of has the frenzy of an all-night exam cram!)  And one of the things I’m taking into account is the Department of Agriculture’s new Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

The map was unveiled in January and compiled from almost 30 years of data.  The first thing you might notice is that the map is interactive and best used online.  You can view and download static maps of your state, your geographic region and the whole country.  But you can also find your hardiness zone by zip code.

Because the map was created with GIS technology, it includes greater, in fact, truer detail, especially in urban areas and communities close to natural features that often affect winter weather.  So, large cities, like New York and Chicago, or even Pittsburgh and Portland, now belong to warmer zones than their surrounding vicinities.  For example, Manhattan, previously 6B, is now 7A; downtown Chicago, previously 5B, is now 6A; parts of Pittsburgh, previously 6A, are now 6B; and Portland, Oregon, previously 8A, is now 8B.

The map shows that many communities immediately around the Great Lakes enjoy milder winters than their neighbors just 15 to 50 miles “inland”.  Leadville, Colorado, at an elevation of over 10,100’, is in Zone 4B, while Aspen, Colorado, at an elevation near 7,900’, is in Zone 5B, even though they are about 30 miles apart as the crow flies.  And in the past, the landscape around Brownsville was always lumped with the rest of southeastern Texas.  It is now distinguished as Zone 10A.  The new map also provides more definition to our tropical zones of Hawaii and Puerto Rico, which now include Zones 12 and 13 instead of maxing out at Zone 11.  Of course, gardeners in these locales have probably experienced and recognized these subtle differences for years.

It’s important to remember the “coldest” temperatures listed for each zone are not the coldest possible temperature for that region.  They are averages of the coldest temperatures recorded at each location from 1976 to 2005.  So, you still need to watch daily temperatures during the winter for out-of-the-ordinary cold snaps, particularly if you are trying to grow plants at the limits of their hardiness.

Definitely, check out the new Plant Hardiness Zone Map before purchasing plants this spring.  My guess is that this updated information will influence what is available at your local garden center.  And who knows?  Maybe you could be growing a wider range of plants than you realized.  I think all gardeners love to hear that!

Museums on Us

There was a time when I could easily (if not generously) support the artistic and horticultural organizations that interest me.  But things are financially tight right now… as they may be with you… and I give careful thought to every expense.  I look out for special “community days”, coupons and partnerships that discount admission or purchases at museums and gardens.

Bank of America’s Museums on Us is one of those benefits that exists whether you use it or not!  As you can imagine, Bank of America contributes to many cultural institutions throughout the world, and they’ve asked over 150 of these museums to offer free admission to B-of-A customers every first weekend of the month.

You can view a complete list of participating sites online.  Keep in mind… Museums on Us sometimes corresponds with free “community days” at these organizations and not every site is open both Saturday and Sunday, so do a little homework before heading out.  But basically, you just need to show your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit/debit card and a photo ID to receive free admission.  I’ve benefitted once a year since the program started, specifically, to visit the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in D.C.  But I hope to take even greater advantage of Museums on Us this year.

Bank of America has one of the largest and most diverse corporate art collections in the world.  And about three years ago, they started lending out works for free.  Through their Art in Our Communities program, museums and art centers can borrow individual pieces or complete exhibitions.  Bank of America even covers the cost of packing and shipping works of art, restoration and framing, shipping insurance and some exhibition literature, so that organizations of all sizes can participate in Art in Our Communities.  Click here for a list of current traveling exhibitions.  You can also view some pieces from the Bank of America collection online.

And finally, Bank of America displays their collections in public art galleries at their headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina; Boston; Los Angeles and San Francisco; Wilmington, Delaware; and London.  These galleries are open, for free, usually during regular business hours.  But they sometimes host special events and tours after hours.

Our hometown Bank of America branches provide “gallery” space for area artists and extra wall display for a local art gallery.  Yours may too.  It’s a nice way to emphasize the neighborhood feel of these offices and promote arts in the community.  Bank of America Corporation is one of the biggest financial companies in the United States, and in some ways, programs like Museums on Us and Art in Our Communities are simply good public relations.  But they also expand our idea of community.

And isn’t it great to get a little freebie from your bank?  Check out Museums on Us for something to do this weekend.

Green and Gold in the Garden: Aucuba and More

Nothing is quite as cheerful as the combination of green and yellow in the garden, especially this time of year when everything is looking rather ragged.

Himalayan Pine 'Zebrina' has yellow and blue-green needles.

Euonymus fortunei 'Moonshadow'

I’m lucky enough to walk past this charming Aucuba every morning on my way to work.  It has been particularly lovely over the last few weeks as Daffodils have slowly emerged at its feet...  first as dark, blue-green foliage, then in bud and now with sulphury yellow trumpets.

Commonly known as Japanese Laurel or Gold Dust Plant, Aucuba is a slightly rounded, evergreen shrub originally from Asia.  It grows easily in Zones 7 to 10 and will survive, if not prosper, further north.  I’ve always loved the tropical quality of Aucubas with their large glossy green leaves that seem to be splattered with golden yellow paint.  But there are varieties with almost solid green foliage.  All are cultivars of Aucuba japonica, which produce miniscule purple flowers.  Female plants will also yield clusters of small red berries if a male plant is grown nearby.

Aucuba definitely prefers lightly shaded, protected spots in the yard.  Too much sun or winter wind can weaken specimens, leaving them susceptible to fungal diseases and nematodes.  Aucuba responds well to pruning, so just cut back any damaged foliage and shape the shrub in the spring.  Don’t over-fertilize, over-mulch or add too much organic matter to the soil when planting.  Aucuba actually thrives as an understory or foundation plant in urban and seaside gardens and, once established, is drought-tolerant.  Most Aucubas eventually reach about 7’ tall by 5’ wide in Central Virginia.

This beautiful Aucuba inspired me to seek out other examples of green and gold brightening our landscapes right now, and I found… an absolutely perfect Winter Daphne or Daphne odora.

The dark rose-pink buds open into much softer pink blossoms.

This particular cultivar is called ‘Aureomarginata’ for its yellow-bordered leaves.  The color combination is a creamier, calmer version of Aucuba but is just as effective at illuminating a shady corner.

Daphne includes several species of small, rounded shrubs, mostly native to Asia and Europe.  Daphne odora is known for its dark pink buds that blossom into amazingly scented, pinkish-white flowers, at the end of winter.

I’ve never grown Daphne odora myself, because I really don’t have a good spot for it.  It definitely needs partial shade; something that mimics an open woodland with very little root competition; well-drained, fertile soil and regular moisture.  It also grows fairly slowly and struggles if transplanted.  Difficult, I know.  ‘Aureomarginata’ is supposed to be less temperamental.  And it’s so very sweet, both in appearance and fragrance, that I am tempted to try growing it in an enormous planter surrounded by Hellebores and Cyclamen.  Perhaps near my basement door where it would be shadowed by the house and I could enjoy it every day.

I also discovered these stunning variegated Boxwood or Buxus sempervirens.  This particular cultivar is called ‘Aureovariegata’ for its dark green leaves edged in pale yellow.

I know some gardeners have a love-hate relationship with Boxwood.  But I am fan.  Boxwood bring back memories of childhood visits to old Colonial gardens... the play of light and shadows, the musky scent, the sound of crushed oyster or pebble paths.  Boxwood come in a wide range of luxurious green foliage, which bestow a sort of visual calm in any landscape.  Variegated cultivars provide subtle excitement.

Buxus sempervirens, also known as Common or American Boxwood, performs best in partial shade in Zones 6 to 8.  (Mine grow in direct, morning sun, which means they bronze a lot in the winter.)  It prefers a slightly sweet, neutral soil, pH of 6.5 to 7.2, and its shallow roots don’t like to be over-mulched or over-watered.

Like all Boxwood, ‘Aureovariegata’ is evergreen and does flower in spring with the tiniest yellow-green stars.  It is slow-growing and responds well to shearing, but ‘Aureovariegata’ can eventually reach 8’ tall by 6’ wide.  These particular shrubs have been shaped into rather fat pyramids.  Gorgeous!

Luckily, we live close to one of the best Boxwood growers in the East.  Saunders Brothers is a third-generation family business that supplies shrubs, fruit and ornamental trees, perennials and annuals to nurseries and landscapers throughout the Mid-Atlantic.  They initiated and coordinate The National Boxwood Trials to assess Boxwood performance in various habitats throughout much of the U.S. and even in other parts of the world.  You can view the 2011 Report on their website, which is a great resource for anyone who currently grows or wants to grow Boxwood.

Saunders Wholesale Nursery is open to the public three times a year.  And they maintain a retail Farm Market from spring to autumn.  If you don’t have room for Buxus sempervirens ‘Aureovariegata’, the Saunders family recommends B. sempervirens ‘Elegantissima’, which is beautifully variegated but remains only about 2’ round.

A much smaller example of green and gold is Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’.

Commonly called Sweet Flag or Japanese Rush, Acorus gramineus is an ornamental grass native to Asia.  ‘Ogon’ is literally striped bright green and yellow and its foliage remains evergreen in Zones 5 to 11.  The colors are especially vivid on new growth.  Sweet Flag loves moisture, light shade and organically-rich, almost-muddy soil, so I’ve planted it around one of my rain barrels where it can regularly catch overflow.  But several books recommend adding Acorus to mixed container gardens.  And I’ve transplanted rhizome divisions to much drier parts of the yard… still softly-shaded, but much, much drier.  I just water these younger plants by hand during the hottest part of the summer.

Acorus sends up citrusy-yellow flower spikes, or spadices, in summer.  These spikes are nestled among the strappy leaves, unlike well-known plants, such as Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Peace Lily, which protect each spadix with a curved spathe or hood.  Acorus grows about 10” tall and will continue to spread if happy.

And finally, I found a Hamamelis, or Witch Hazel, and Cornus mas, or Cornelian Cherry, in full bloom.

To be honest, I’m not sure if this Witch Hazel is Hamamelis virginiana or H. mollis.

Both species are large deciduous shrubs with open branching, essentially understory trees, that grow well in partial to full sun, in Zones 5 to 8.  Each could eventually reach 20’ tall and 15’ wide.  Witch Hazels are famous for their spicily-aromatic blossoms that look a little like clusters of ribbon or funny mop-heads and bloom in late winter.  Depending on the cultivar, flowers range in color from yellow to peachy-pumpkin to brick red.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diana'

H. virginiana and H. mollis sport bright sunshine-yellow fringe with purple-brown centers.  These Witch Hazels provide year-round interest in the garden.  In addition to early, fragrant flowers, they produce little brown berries that attract wildlife, have distinctive, smooth gray bark and turn brilliant colors in the fall.  Hamamelis virginiana is native to moist woodlands of eastern North America.  As you probably know, Witch Hazel astringent is made from an extract of its bark and twigs.  H. mollis is native to similar habitats in China.  Its leaves are more silvery-green.  Both species can handle heavy clay soil.

Cornelian Cherries are related to our native Dogwoods but originate from Europe and Western Asia.  They develop into large, upright shrubs, either grown with multiple stems or trained to a single stem… a small ornamental tree, really, that can reach 25’ tall and 15’ wide.  They enjoy sun to partial shade in Zones 4 to 8, and both the plant and its blossoms are exceptionally hardy, hence the mas part of the botanical name.

Cornus mas provides so much pleasure.  It is one of the earliest bloomers in the garden.  The tiny trumpet flowers cluster on bare branches, rather like old-fashioned chenille pom-poms, and are more primrose in color than those of Hamamelis.  Its summer cherries mimic small, red coffee beans and are delicious cooked in desserts or preserves… if you can get to them before the birds and squirrels.  It comes into leaf early, and foliage remains green well into the fall, before turning a muted, purple-red.  Some cultivars even have variegated foliage.  And its grayish, exfoliating bark creates a lovely winter silhouette.

Perfect, right?  The main problem for me is that Cornus mas and all Hamamelis require space I just don’t have.  In my small city plot, I contend with close power lines, adjoining houses and municipal right-of-ways and these shrubs would never reach their full potential.  But imagine them in a suburban garden with a backdrop of evergreen hedges for a beautiful scene of green and yellow at the start of every year.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, it is

Aucuba as in…
Ah-KOO-bah   (like Aruba with K in place of R).
The emphasis is on KOO.
Some folks say Ah-KEW-bah (like a cue ball with H instead of LL).

Daphne as in…

DAF-knee        (like a combination of Daffy Duck and knee).
The emphasis is on DAF.

Buxus as in…

BUCKS-us        (like male deer and us).
The emphasis is on BUCKS.

Acorus as in…

ah-KOR-us      (just like a chorus of angels).
The emphasis is on KOR.

Hamamelis as in…

ham-ah           (like gamma with H instead of G)
MAY                (the very merry month)
lis                   (like lisp without a P).
The emphasis is on MAY.

Cornus as in…

KOR-nus          (very much like cornice).
The emphasis is on KOR.