More Paradise: A Nice Lunch, Warmth, and the First Radishes!

I started this weekend having lunch on Saturday with some friends. We went to Old Angler’s Inn on the C&O Canal and had a lovely time on their terrace with catkins of oak pollen falling on us. Luckily no one was allergic–and no one else seemed to be either. If my memory serves me correctly, the 150 year old establishment began as a stopping point for canal boats. Canals such as the Erie and the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) were once the major form of transport for market goods. Roads weren’t that good where they existed, so shipping by sea, river or canal was the best way to go.

I came back from lunch and cut some lilies of the valley for the house.

Mother Nature was exceedingly good to us this weekend, beginning with the warm Saturday and getting even warmer today–about 80 degrees. Today I managed to get to the gardens and weed. The two Plot Against Hunger gardens and my own look good. I was expecting maybe some radishes and some columbine blossoms and I was not disappointed.

These provide lavish blossoms every year. They started from a wildflower mix and seem to thrive in this border.

The radishes peek above the soil when they’re ready to pull.

I’ll get you, my pretty!

And a few were. They were lovely and spicy.

Bread and butter here we come!!

I also had lettuces that will be ready to be thinned next week.

Soon I’ll be in the salad days.

I picked a small bouquet of the columbine. There are three colors in my border.

Sometimes I don’t remember to bring a vase, but today I did.

What a treat. Lilies of the valley in the living room and columbine in the bedroom. I hope your gardens are blooming if you’re in the northern hemisphere–and if you’re not, that you’re having a well-deserved rest and a warm fire.