June view 2009

June view 2009
View of rose and herb garden, June 2009

Small Garden Story

Over some 15 + years, I have been photographing the evolution of my small (85 x 15 foot) garden and it seems a waste not to put these records into some sort of context. Beginning here in April 2010 this Blog is intended to both act as a diary and to share past and present successes (and some failures), pleasures and disappointments with fellow garden-lovers. In due course, I intend to fill in some of the background and early days but that will have to wait until the winter months!

Wednesday, 20 April 2011

Special spring herbs

I Love Lovage and Sorrel too...

There are two slightly unusual herbs which grow well in my garden and whose first emergence always inspires me to cook my favourite recipes with them.

One is Sorrel which I make into the easiest possible of soups - tomato and sorrel - with the added bonus that it is equally good hot or chilled with a little crushed ice added. 

The other is Lovage - a rather large and potential thugish plant resembling celery in appearance but with a decidedly aniseedy flavour.    While the young leaves are edible, the stems are best used for flavouring.    I use it in another very easy but delicious casserole with onions, garlic and dry Martini(!) - adapted from a Judith Hann recipe for Guinea fowl - which works equally well with corn-fed chicken.  
I have just discovered Hann's Herbs:   http://www.hannsherbs.co.uk/tours.php   Looks like the most wonderful day out either to the garden or cookery classes - and she was lovely to work with.

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