Innholdsfortegnelse for March - April 2009 i Victoria

CELEBRATING SPRINGTIME From coast to coast, we’ve highlighted the best and most beautiful flower and garden festivals. From roses to ranunculus, you can get your fill of spring’s bounty with a visit to one of these celebrations. FASCINATED WITH FERNS The hardy green plant was especially popular in the Victorian era. Immerse yourself in the storied and captivating history behind these frilly fronds and their use in decorating, arts, and gardening. GOSSAMER PINK PETALS The blooming of the cherry trees around the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., has come to symbolize the beginning of spring. Explore the rich history of these lovely trees and the festival that celebrates their splendor. GO ONLINE and discover a wealth of resources at your fingertips. Victoriamag.com includes exciting new features—print and e-mail options, related…

“Edna dabbed the powder upon her nose and cheeks as she looked at herself closely in the…mirror.Her eyes were bright and wide awake and her face glowed.” —KATE CHOPIN, THE AWAKENING…

Although I have friends who are master gardeners, I have never claimed to have a “green thumb.” I do have some degree of luck with indoor plants, but the massive outdoor efforts, I have found, are best left to the expert care of others. That is, until the season I was challenged with transforming my hilltop backyard into a flower-filled wedding chapel. When my niece, Beth, asked if I would host her spring wedding, how could I say no? The event provided perfect inspiration for a new look at my backyard. With sketchbook in hand, and Beth in tow, I walked around the expanse of lawn, dreaming aloud about where the guests would sit in borrowed chairs, where the groom would await his beloved, and where the bride would enter…

CHICAGO FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW Navy Pier Chicago, Illinois March 7–15 Gardening novices and experts alike will find inspiration at this fifteenth annual botanical extravaganza hosted in the exhibition facility at Navy Pier, on Chicago’s beautiful lakefront. Designed by acclaimed landscapers and horticultural experts, more than twenty-five exquisite gardens boast a variety of exotic blooms and foliage, ornaments, paving stones, decks, and ponds. New to the show this year is a special themed midway featuring gardens created by some of the city’s most famed cultural institutions, such as the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Chicago Botanic Garden. The event also offers handson demonstrations and in-soil workshops, educational seminars by local and national botany experts, floral tablescape ideas, green industry initiatives, and…

CHARMING BOUQUETS Simple yet stunning bouquets of fresh flowers are easy to display with these delicate cones designed for adorning walls and doorknobs. Get creative, and add whimsical ribbons to emphasize the uniqueness of each arrangement. Soaps-n-Suds Add elegance to your bathroom, and indulge in the sweet almond scent of lavish soaps that celebrate the gardening season. Delicately embellished with intricate botanical designs, the soaps look beautiful displayed in a guest bathroom. “I’ve always thought my flflowers had souls.” —MYRTLE REED, LAVENDER AND OLD LACE BLOOMING NOTECARDS Keep in touch with loved ones, and brighten their day with a handwritten note penned on lovely stationery illustrated with vibrant tulips and elegant peonies. Neatly boxed and ribbontied, these notecards are perfect for corresponding with friends and family near and far. OUR…

THE NEW TERRARIUM: CREATING BEAUTIFUL DISPLAYS FOR PLANTS AND NATURE by Tovah Martin (The Crown Publishing Group) We all have an innate desire to connect with nature at some level. To nurture living things and to experience the outdoors is the premise of this guide created by Tovah Martin. Martin firmly believes in building a bridge between the outdoors and indoors throughout the year, and the terrarium may be among the simplest and most creative ways to do so. Readers with various shades of green thumbs know that terrariums need minimal attention. Although sophisticated gardening skills may not be required, a thirst for creativity certainly is. Describing the terrarium as a method to color and calm her life, the author invites readers to share her love of this segment of…

Winter wanes, and slowly the fresh green of spring buds and new grass enlivens the parks and city streets of the District of Columbia. Washington awakens to a landscape transformed, as if overnight. The bare branches and stark tree forms are now heavily laden with fluffy, full, burgeoning blooms. This gorgeous annual spectacle is a gracious symbol of the friendship forged between the citizens of Tokyo, Japan, and those of Washington. The beautiful tradition harks back to 1912, when First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, the wife of the Japanese ambassador, together planted two of the 3,000 cherry trees that Tokyo’s mayor gifted the city. The trees flourished throughout the years, and the ritual of giving continued. Lady Bird Johnson accepted a gift of an additional 3,800 trees…

In some areas of America several decades ago, ladies described elegant garden parties as “pearls and peonies.” Dressed in smart frocks and wearing pearl necklaces, these women gathered to delight in the sight of peonies that graced late-spring gardens. Flower specimens wax and wane in popularity, and so it is with peonies. But Michael Hsu is spearheading a revival of the blooms in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. What began as a hobby in celebration of his family’s Chinese heritage is now a flourishing floral wonderland named PeonyLand. In 1998, Michael and his father, C.K., bought a 50-acre farm in Richlandtown. They wanted to grow something unusual, so they selected Chinese peonies. PeonyLand features 20,000 plants imported from China, comprising 450 different varieties of the flower. The spectacular display is open to…

During the Victorian era, there was a widespread, fervent passion for ferns. Gardens overflowed with them, and decorators used them with abandon. But the most popular method of expressing this admiration was to press the fronds and frame them for a lovely display. CREATING A FERN PRESSED PRINT Begin with clean, dry ferns that have no tears or blemishes on the leaves or stems. Position the ferns between two sheets of plain white paper, leaving ample space between each frond. Insert the sheets between the pages of a large, heavy book, and place several books on top; store in a cool, dry place for at least one week. Alternatively, you can use a wooden flower press, which applies gentle pressure using screws and wing nuts. When dry, carefully transfer the…

CELEBRATING CITRUS Begins on page 42 Blood-Orange Curd Tartlets Makes 6 tartlets 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup fresh or bottled blood-orange juice 4 egg yolks 2 teaspoons fresh blood-orange zest 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon salt Spiced Tartlet Shells (recipe follows) Garnish: Candied Citrus Zest (recipe follows) 1. In a double boiler over medium-high heat, combine the sugar, orange juice, egg yolks, orange zest, vanilla extract, and salt. Cook, whisking periodically, until mixture thickens, about 30 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve. 2. Cool slightly; pour into a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic to the surface of the curd, and chill for 4 hours. 3. Evenly spoon curd among the Spiced Tartlet Shells. Using a culinary torch, hold the flame about 2 inches above…

Located in historic downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lola’s was inspired by and named after owner Missy Bradley’s grandmother, who decorated her home with a French country theme. The shop features lovely gifts, home décor, jewelry, and handbags that echo the feminine atmosphere. Vintage Scout Interiors in Centerville, Ohio, is a unique interior design shop that adds a twist of whimsy to its projects, says Jean Winham, one of the four owners. The business specializes in uniting modern and eighteenth-century French decorating. See their works at www.vintagescout.com. Filled with whimsical vintage-inspired pieces with a modern spin, Perch Home showcases original art, jewelry, letterpress cards, and fine linens. Found objects, such as iron fairies, and bottles of gold dust mix a little magic into the store, says owner Michele Bessey. Deena Warner began…

The air and the earth interpenetrated in the warm gusts of spring; the soil was full of sunlight...and the grass under foot had a reflection of the blue sky in it.” —WILLA CATHER…

In early March, after months spent reading gardening magazines and studying our landscape through windows sealed against the cold, I begin venturing outside not simply to retrieve the newspaper or climb into my car, but to breathe crisp, fresh air and think about spring. I barely can abide the first weeks, still damp, gloomy, and dispiriting, as I seek subtle signs of the coming season. Then, one day, a robin alights on a frozen patch of lawn in my yard. “Look! We Have Come Through!” I think, recalling the words of the poet D.H. Lawrence. The robin’s head darts swiftly—left, right, left, right; open areas are never entirely safe for a little bird. But the ground provides good vantage points from which to search for food or scout out locations…

Once upon a time, the fork was used primarily as a serving piece. Its path to popularity as an everyday utensil was riddled with social objections; at times being either too common or too effeminate. Not until the early sixteenth century did the fork take its rightful place at the table, thanks to Italian nobility and the upper class. The fork’s acceptance spread to England in the seventeenth century. As it shed its image as a mere utensil and gained ground as a practical and curious place-setting addition, variations evolved, among them, the strawberry fork. Also known as a berry fork, this piece often found itself in the shadow of the wide berry spoon, which was grouped frequently with a set of six berry forks. The forks were designed for…

Return to a bygone era, where superior service, heavenly cuisine, and exquisite décor envelop your every sense. The romantic European ambience of the Blantyre Estate’s luxury country house hotel is an experience you will not soon forget. When Robert Paterson acquired the 220- acre property in the late 1890s, he had a vision to build nothing less than a castle— complete with towers, turrets, and gargoyles— modeled after his mother’s ancestral home in Blantyre, Scotland. Construction began in 1901, oftentimes with more than three hundred people working to complete the structure. Unfortunately, decades of economic setbacks and ownership transitions took their toll. By the 1970s, the property had been abandoned. But in 1980, Ann Fitzpatrick Brown became the eighth owner and set about restoring the estate to its premier splendor.…

Born and raised in Paris, Catherine Watters began taking art lessons at a very young age. She continued her studies throughout high school and college, but never concentrated on a particular type of art. “After being an artist for years, I started thinking I wanted to find something specific to focus on,” Catherine explains. “I sort of stumbled into botanical art; after taking one class on the subject, I was inspired. From there, I studied the old masters and taught myself.” The high level of detail that characterizes botanical art was born of a desire in the days before photography to accurately portray every nuance of flora. In the seventeenth century, as members of European royalty began collecting plants they acquired from worldwide expeditions, they commissioned artists to document the…

“A little madness in the Spring Is wholesome even for the King.” —EMILY DICKINSON Cooking with flowering fruits and young vegetables is a singular pleasure of spring—the flavors are so new, so light that we are immediately reminded of the rebirth happening in the world outdoors. Set a table with a gossamer cloth, flowered china, and a vase full of pastel-hued blooms for a first-of-the-season celebration. Peas, a gardener’s favorite, are sweet and earthy. Pureed with aromatic herbs and just the slightest hint of cream, the green jewels are transformed into a luscious soup. Halibut, a mild whitefish, is enlivened by smoky bacon and honeyed orange. Its accompaniment, orzo dotted with tender grape tomatoes and spicy-sweet basil, gains crunch and texture from pine nuts. For a light dessert, buttery shortbread…

My face was a finger painting of dirt and sweat as I bent to tug yet another knot of grass from the soil. I grabbed up, the roots grabbed down, and after three hours I’d barely converted one-third of my little plot from old meadow to new garden. But that part lay ready, the soil as rich as brownie batter. For a moment, I leaned on the pitchfork, contemplating my vision of bounty. Two rows of lettuce here, spinach, certainly green beans—and, later, lots of tomatoes. That spring, I wanted a vegetable garden almost the way, years ago, I had wanted a baby—a sort of ache of instinct, a turning of the heart to something so basic I hadn’t even known it was there. My sons were 7 and 9…