Author Archives: Ann Lovejoy

Gorgeous Garlic Scapes

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Ann Lovejoy

A surprising number of gardeners toss the trimmed off garlic scapes on the compost heap, but these days, many people are catching on to what European cooks have known for centuries. The curly scapes can be treated much like asparagus; steamed, roasted, pickled, stir fried, added to soups or minced into salads and wraps. One of my favorite ways to enjoy them is in a fresh tasting raw salad. For the best texture, slice scapes thinly on the diagonal so there’s plenty of surface area to take up the dressing. Almost any kind of dressing will be delicious, from spicy Asian peanut to a perky citrus vinaigrette. This salad combines garlic scapes with creamy goat cheese, crunchy pumpkin seeds, velvety marinated mushrooms and a lively lime vinaigrette. Continue reading →

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When Bees Ignore Blossoms

Posted on June 11, 2018 by Ann Lovejoy

As a rule, bees will snub flowers that are low in nectar and pollen. Even favored blossoms like cherries can be lacking and the bees are evidently able to detect (nobody quite knows how) blossoms with low levels of these important substances. Sometimes this is because other bees have already been there and done that. There is some evidence that foraging bees leave behind a scent marker that other bees can sense. A study done at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California found that when bees approached flowers, then flew away without foraging, the rejected blossoms had about half the nectar of an average bloom.

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Foxglove Magic

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Ann Lovejoy

Developing a (more or less) stable seed line can be a pleasing project for the home gardener, though the selection process can take years. I treasure a lovely strain of California poppy developed by the late Connie Caunt in her tiny garden in Victoria, B.C. The strain includes many shades of cream, pink and lavender, from palest baby ribbon pastels to vivid rose and near purple. However, even after many years of Connie’s patient work and my continuing efforts, genetically dominant orange poppies recur every season and must be removed lest they overtake the rosy ones. Similarly, creating a reliably peloric seed strain is probably not the work of a few seasons, thanks to that tendency to revert to the norm. Continue reading →

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Winding The Spirit Spiral

Posted on May 28, 2018 by Ann Lovejoy

This particular garden had winding beds between the path loops, filled with herbs and traditional medicinal plants. The gravel path was just wide enough for one and the beds were about the same width. With a few modifications, the same modest amount of space (about 12 x 20 feet) can hold a labyrinth, a pattern of sacred geometry that was often incorporated into the stone flagged floors of medieval European cathedrals. Unlike mazes, which seek to deceive with blind alleys and false turns, labyrinths use a single continuous path that winds in usually circular patterns into the heart of a space and back out again without retracing or crossing itself. You can’t get lost or led astray. You always find your way to the very core of whatever has you walking and you always come safely home. Continue reading →

Posted in Drainage, Easy Care Perennials, Hardy Herbs, Health & Wellbeing, Sustainable Gardening, Sustainable Living | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment