Roger’s Red Through the Autumn Morning Sun

Roger’s Red grapevine is something to roar about. An ornamental grapevine that is thought to be a natural hybrid between the native grape, Vitis californica and the European wine grape, Vitis vinifera.

This grapevine is absolutely stunning with red foliage for your autumn garden. It can produce small grapes, although mine hasn’t yet. I really can’t say enough about the foliage, sometimes chocolate in some light, sometime warm red to burnish orange leaves in other light. And a dash of green color, too.

Roger Red Grapevine Climbing Up My Outdoor Patio

It does like to climb on fences, gates, or some kind of support, which is perfect for a garden setting. It will take full sun to light shade with regular to moderate water. Allowing this grapevine to climb will allow it to move and dance with the wind.

I found my Roger’s Red grapevine at Tree of Life Nursery. Sometimes you can find it in nurseries, in their native plant section. You can probably find it online, too.

A very hardy grapevine, it did take me a few years to get it started and growing.

Another View of Roger’s Red Grapevine

I like the idea of decorating your autumn table or buffet with this fabulous grapevine. A trick to doing this is clipping your grapevines in advance, and soaking the ends in a watering can overnight before your intended use. This will help keep your leaves from wilting during your special occasion.

You can even totally immerse individual leaves in water overnight, dry them, and press them flat for a few hours before needing to use them on your table or in your vignette.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Grilled Summer Squash with Roasted Pistachio Sauce

Are you up to your ears in summer squash from your garden, and need a recipe lifeline to save you? Well, here comes Grilled Summer Squash with Roasted Pistachio Sauce to the rescue (created by Rob Rubba at Oyster, Oyster restaurant in Washington, D. C., featured in the Food & Wine July 2023 issue). I have made pastas, muffins, cakes, gratins, salads, and more with my garden zucchini over the years, but this recipe is a welcome and delicious twist to reignite your taste buds for summer squash.

This recipe has a lot of flexibility. It calls for grilling the zucchini on the grill, but I have roasted the zucchini in my oven and the recipe is just as delicious. Simply prepare the zucchini according to the recipe. Roast in a 400 F. degree oven for 15-20 minutes until the squash is soft but not mushy. Turn your squash over once during your roasting time.

You also can tweak your pistachio sauce, for instance if you are not a fan of cilantro use basil or parsley. Please note: The pistachio sauce can be made a day ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. If thick, mix in a small amount of olive oil.

Grilled Summer Squash

With Roasted Pistachio Sauce

Lovingly Adapted from Rob Rubba, Food & Wine Magazine, July 2023

Ingredients

• 5 medium scallions, root ends trimmed

• 3 medium tomatillos (about 6 ounces), husks removed, tomatillos rinsed

• 2 medium serrano chiles, stemmed

• 8 garlic cloves (unpeeled), plus 1/4 teaspoon grated garlic, divided

• 1 cup unsalted dry-roasted pistachios, plus chopped pistachios, for garnish

• 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus whole cilantro leaves, for garnish

• 2 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

• 1 1/2 pounds medium-size mixed summer squash (about 3 squash), halved lengthwise and cut crosswise into 3-inch pieces

• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more for drizzling

• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

• Flaky sea salt, for garnish

Directions

1. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high just until smoking. Add scallions, tomatillos, chiles, and unpeeled garlic cloves; cook, flipping occasionally, until mixture is charred in spots and slightly softened, 4 to 6 minutes for scallions, 8 to 10 minutes for chiles and garlic, and 10 to 12 minutes for tomatillos. Transfer to a cutting board, and let cool for 5 minutes. Coarsely chop scallions, tomatillos, and chiles. Remove and discard garlic skins, and add garlic to scallion mixture; set mixture aside.

2. Pistachio sauce

   Process whole pistachios in a food processor until very finely chopped, about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape down sides of processor bowl after 15 seconds. Add charred scallion mixture, chopped cilantro, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Process until mostly smooth and creamy, about 1 minute and 30 seconds, stopping to scrape down bowl after 45 seconds. Transfer mixture to a small bowl, and press plastic wrap directly on the surface of the sauce. Set aside at room temperature until ready to use.

3. Preheat grill to high (450°F to 500°F). Toss together squash, 1 tablespoon oil, and remaining 11/4 teaspoons kosher salt in a large bowl. Place squash, cut sides down, on oiled grates; grill, uncovered, until deeply charred, 5 to 7 minutes. Flip squash, and grill just until squash is tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a small baking dish. Stir together lime juice, grated garlic, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a small bowl. Pour mixture over squash, and gently toss to combine; let marinate 15 minutes.

4. Spread 1 cup pistachio sauce on a large platter. Top with grilled squash, and spoon any remaining marinade in baking dish over squash. Garnish with chopped pistachios and cilantro leaves. Drizzle with additional oil, and garnish with flaky salt. Serve remaining pistachio sauce on the side, or reserve for another use.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Welcoming Roses at Domaine de Manion

Cultivated Boxwood Curves

Blooming Sweet Peas on Willow Obelisks

Rambunctious Nasturtium on Coop de Manion

Riot of Blooms in White Garden

Olive Allée at Domaine de Manion

Profusely Blooming Privet at Domaine de Manion

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Stopping To Smell The Roses in Mollans-sur-Ouvèze, Provence, France, Photo by Debbie McGowan

The French love their roses, just like they love their dogs. May is a perfect month to catch France in full bloom and especially the stunning peaking roses that adorn their front homes, gardens, and stone walls. A On a recent trip I tried to capture some of these beautiful roses to share with you all.

I couldn’t identify many of them, but I did see quite a few of the traditional Eden, and Pink Eden. Enjoy these photos, and let them take you to France a moment!

The Village of Siran in Languedoc, France

Welcoming Roses Greet You at a Village Home in Caunes-Minervois, Languedoc

Matching Eden Roses Adorn the Front of a Village Home in Caunes-Minervois, Languedoc

A Fairy Tale Village Home in Caunes-Minervois, Languedoc

Never Mellow Yellow for a Village Home in Trausse, Languedoc

A Beauty in a Garden in Uzès, Gard

Rambling Rose in Caunes-Minervois, Languedoc

Bonus, have you ever seen a field of naturalized poppies blooming. It will take your breath away.

A Field of Poppies Blooming Outside of Uzès, Gard, Framce

Hoping your garden is happy, blooming, and giving you a smile!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Intrigue Rose Brightens My Kitchen

“Less is more” is the message here. In my kitchen I have in a corner a marble lazy-susan on my kitchen counter. I keep different olive oils, salts, pepper, garlic, and more at handy reach. In a very simple antique vase I try and keep a favorite blooming cut rose in it.

It makes me happy. It is cheery. It is beautiful. It is often very fragrant. It speaks to me in many ways. it is a companion while cooking. It reminds me of my garden when i can’t be there. It gives me joy.

Try a simple cut rose in your kitchen, it will make you smile, and it smile back with so much more.

Simplicity is elegance. Never underestimate a single cut rose.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Jennifer Rebecca Iris Blooming

Pink Cistus Rockrose

Happy Wisteria

Sally Holmes Rose Draped Over St. Francis

Flowering Herbs

Sunset Over A Spring Garden and Awakening Vineyard

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie

The Kitchen Garden at Allt-y-bela in Wales, Garden Design 2012 Magazine

From my post last week, Down The Garden Path, followers were asking me where I got my willow fencing. I thought it might be fun to revisit the original post from June 2021, and my original kitchen garden inspiration from photos and the Garden Design article. I hunted “high’ and “low” to find willow products, and finally found them at Master Garden Products in the Pacific Northwest. I actually called them as I had several questions and needed more information to make my order. Master Garden Products couldn’t have been more helpful and so friendly. I highly recommend the company and their products.

Now is a great time to get your gardens plans in place, make an order, and enjoy the beauty of willow!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

The inspiration for my kitchen garden, or potager, came from a Garden Design, Winter 2012 magazine article, Simplicity Rules, on well-known garden designer, Arne Maynard’s rustic and historic late medieval farm, Allt-y-bella. Located in Wales, much of the rustic gardens and garden structure remind me of Provence. I envisioned borrowing a lot of the main elements featured in the article and photos, creating the look of a rustic kitchen garden. Some of these elements that caught my interest were the wattle hazel fencing, arching fruit trees with a centered bench, raised beds for vegetables, obelisks for climbing vegetables, easy pathways around the raised beds, and select spots for larger perennial plants like rhubarb and artichokes.

Allt-y-bela Kitchen Garden Pathway, Arching Fruit Trees, and Bench, Garden Design 2012

In 2015, I started creating a kitchen garden space to the north of our vineyard, with 4’ x 8’ raised bed kits. I looked high and low for hazel or willow wattle fencing for enclosing the kitchen garden similar to Allt-y-bella. I couldn’t find any source at the time. I needed about 75’ total. However, I happened to find a large amount of rolled willow fencing at Rogers Gardens at 50% off in an obscure sale corner. My intention for fencing the perimeter was to keep our chickens out of the kitchen garden as well as any random critters.

Up until 2020, my kitchen garden was good, and a work in progress. Over time, with sun exposure and high winter winds the willow fencing began to come apart and break down. This is common. I started looking for what I call wattle or willow fencing again.

My Kitchen Garden, June 2020

Last month I found willow fence panels online at Master Garden Products. They offer a nice selection and sizes of willow fencing, panels, borders, obelisks, etc. They are out of the Seattle area, and will freight orders to you. I purchased 6’ L x 3’ H woven panels for my entire perimeter, and used the same anchoring rebar and metal stakes that were already in place. I am really pleased with the look, and the material overall. I also purchased three obelisks for climbing beans. The willow panels are stronger and sturdier than the rolled fencing, but will eventually break down over time.

My Kitchen Garden, May 2021

Fine tuning the willow fence, I will put put larger rocks around the bottom of the fencing, to discourage critters from burrowing under the fence.

Starting an Outside Row of Perennial Artichokes

For more information and musing on how I create garden rooms from garden magazines, photos, and design ideas, please go to my previous post, The Making of a Garden Room.

French Fabulous! On Netflix, there is a new French subtitled drama series, Lupin. It is like a modern day “Houdini” Thriller series. Lots of twists and turns. Not only does it keep you on the edge, it is filmed mainly in beautiful Paris. Once you watch an episode or two, it draws you like a magnet. With two series completed, I see there is a third one coming.

Bon Appétit and Bon Weekend….Bonnie

A Great Moro Blood Orange Harvest

I absolutely love growing my food, and cooking from the garden. It gives me so much satisfaction, besides tasting so divine and eating seasonally. I still have a long way to go, or more I can do, but I am getting there.

Vineyards and citrus don’t really mix. I was taught that in my vineyard management classes. Citrus can carry a lot of pests that are pests for a vineyard as well. Consequently, to support the health of our backyard Syrah vineyard, I have planted only a few citrus trees. I do have a lemon and lime tree, and a few years ago, I planted a Moro Blood Orange. If you are going to have one orange tree, make it a special one.

The Moro Blood Orange tree is special, and the most popular of blood orange trees. It is a beautiful self-fertile ornamental orange tree that reaches 12’ to 15’ high when planted in the ground. Blood Orange trees need a warm temperate climate. They can be grown in containers in cooler climates, and moved indoors as the temperature drops. Once planted it takes 3 to 5 years to for the blood orange tree to bear it’s crimson fruit. This year is the first real harvest for me. It was worth the wait.

The fruit is spectacular in appearance—round, medium in size, and has a red tinge color skin. To me it tastes much sweeter than a regular orange, and maybe a bit more acidic. There are only 1 or 2 seeds to each orange, and the juice is a deep beautiful crimson color. When traveling in Italy, it is common to see Blood Orange juice served with breakfast.

Simple Moro Blood Orange Beauty

Eating a freshly harvested Moro Blood Orange is a treat by itself. However, the crimson flesh and juice lends itself to many types of dishes— baked goods, sauces, salads. In fact, where ever your creativity in the kitchen takes you. it reminds me of love, hearts, and Valentine’s Day. A perfect food for February.

Please share if you grow blood orange trees.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie