Winter Grazing

Sure, it's cold and wet out. But that's heaven for some plants, and heaven for the kitchen in winter. Over the past couple of days we've had some delightful nourishment from the garden. Enough to make me remember that whatever the season, there's always something good to eat in the five course garden.

These are Yugoslavian lettuces, free range and popping up in every nook and cranny in the garden. The seeds that were smart enough to land in the citrus pots have had plenty of food and care, so they're buxom and gorgeous.

These are the poor cousins who fell in with the leeks. I'm not sure what nature vs. nurture lesson is in front of me here, but something is up. They are reluctant to do anything but sit there and look scared. They're very cute though. I suppose I could transplant them to a happier lettuce place.

Sorrel is firmly established as the year-round garden lush. That means year-round pesto and year-round salad. Today I put a big bunch into a simple miso soup (oops, no photos) and it was lemony delicious.

Not ready to harvest yet, but I love this little tableau of favas and spring onions. They look like ballerinas on a stage, up on their toes, balancing, elegant.

Fennel and peas soldiering on.

The last passionfruit, still hanging on in spite of the wind. It's going to be hard to cut it off and eat it, but, well, not that hard I guess when I think of the amazing burst of taste inside that tough skin.

Lots of budding action on the blackberry. It's going to be another battle of the wits between me and the birds this year... unless of course we have so many berries we all get sick of the sight of them.

It's mid winter, only a few days from the shortest day, but still so green, so delightful to wander and nibble, and smell, and harvest. On days like today I stop longing for summer and just love the garden as it is.