Pear blossom

A four block radius near home, and we are covered in pear blossom, with its dusty white scent.

Regardles of the month (usually April), pear blossom means that field garlic (Allium vineale) is ready. So that is where we'll be: in the woods of Inwood, looking of our annual pickle supply. Hopefully we'll find good garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), too.

And then we'll come, whee whee whee, all the way home on the A train. To eat a supper of roasted onions and spare ribs, with a side of intense greens. With war stories of foraging at Manhattan's northern tip, high above the wide Hudson River.

Japanese knotweed and lamb curry

Chances are, there's some coming up near you. Knotweed, that is. Grab it while it is good. Young, juicy, up to 12"-14".

Recipe and story over at 66 Square Feet (the Food)

At night on a roof in a big city

It's the weekend, and we may have more of these. This was last night, on the roof.

I had watered my greens (peas, and mesclun salad are up, fava beans are still thinking about it), and the cat had joined us.

The runoff headed down the roof like our own Ganges delta.

Stars and planets appeared. Jupiter and Venus right above us. Planes landing and passing, invisible satellites crossing. Ferries and pleasure boats out on the water.

Lying back, heads on pillows, the hum of the city around us, the light-scattered sky above, Vince said, checking his constellation app on his phone, This makes it all worth it.

Red Hook's maritime influence

Funny that the early summer we have been having in late winter and early spring has been accompanied by creeping fog over New York harbor, nightly fog warnings and a slow-departing mist every morning.

Right on the water in Red Hook spring has been held up. It's colder, here. An off-duty paramedic sat in the sun, her ambulance and sleeping partner resting in the car park beyond. On the pier nearby, the perennial fishermen cast their lines.

(For a Wow!-contrast, look at what this Pier 44 park looked like last June.)

Botanical confusion. A little wind-bitten, but in early white bloom, and scented. Possibly semi-evergreen, I thought. I had no idea what this was. It was only when looking at those summer pictures that I thought...Could it be? The chartreuse leafed Spiraea thunbergii? Really?! 

Yes, said Google.

 I had no idea it bloomed this early. Berber' eenteresteen', as the cat would say. Even more reason to like it. Not only that fine, willowy golden-green foliage, but this early taste of perfume. If you have space for it, tuck in in, somewhere. Good near blue and grey and silver.

Central Park now

I was on a Japanese knotweed mission. That's another story (knotweed risotto for supper last night).

On my way to The Ramble, I found spring. The fence pictured here is below The Shakespeare Garden. Early, species tulips are opening. The big ones are still a long way behind - which feels like a relief: Big surprise for us - my mother is visiting from Cape Town in April, just in time for Easter. And I am worried that there will be no spring left. She might miss cherries entirely, but there should be crabapples and dogwoods.

We booked her into a hotel opposite the Battery Park Bosque and Conservancy gardens, which I hope will be a green and flower-filled treat. The Frenchman works a few minutes away and we plan to have many picnics under the old plane trees in the Piet Oudolf-designed garden, with a view of the vast and busy harbour.

The weeping loveliness of this cherry...This is beside the Great Lawn. Picnics planned here, too. We must get some folding chairs. Vince and I need them for our silvertop roof suppers, anyway.

These magnolias are near East 86th Street.

Luscious, lickable Magnolia soulangeana. And perfumed. Highly.

Wish I could roll in them.

Walking home

The pear blossoms opened yesterday. 

Early in the evening I walked home underneath them, up the hill on Bergen Street.

And along Congress.

Everything is happening at once.

Magnolia Plaza

In full and very fragrant bloom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. 

Go as late as possible in the afternoon for the best scent.