http://sweet-vitriol.com {the garden chronicles} Fri, 01 May 2009 14:42:28 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've mentioned that you can cook with weeds before, and many are familiar with including young dandelion greens in salads and braises. Since it's dandelion (and violet) season here in the Ether Garden, I figured I'd share my favorite ways to enjoy the flavors of spring using these lovely spring ... http://sweet-vitriol.com/homegrown-food/cooking-with-spring-wildflowers-part-1/ The Ether Garden knew long before we did it seems. It was last winter when we started discussing the possibility of getting a small urban flock, but we figured we'd best wait until we'd been in the new house for a while before starting down that road. Then one morning ... http://sweet-vitriol.com/garden-planning/chickens/ It's that time of year again- the native woodland plants are already popping up and reminding us that spring is indeed here. Unfortunately, along with our lovely natives such as the lovely Jack in the Pulpits and Violets, invasive species are setting up camp as well. The most vigorous of ... http://sweet-vitriol.com/nature/invasion-of-the-garlic-mustard/ We've had a dry time of it lately, much to the dismay of the Ether Garden and its stewards. Fast is approaching the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club's annual Morel foray, and I'm beginning to fear there won't be many Morels (or much else) to be found. Such is life ... http://sweet-vitriol.com/gardening/april-bloom-day/ The lettuces are pushing along in the cold frame, I've been nipping a leaf here or there for salads already. Not too much though, I'd like to let the romaine head up a bit if I can. Radishes went in along with the lettuces not too long ago, and are ... http://sweet-vitriol.com/gardening/state-of-the-ether-garden/ Anyone who has ever tried to travel to Washington D.C. to see the cherry blossoms is well aware that they are fickle creatures, if you can call a flower a creature that is. Despite the amazing beauty of a cherry in full bloom, it is a brief moment indeed. Last ... http://sweet-vitriol.com/gardening/the-fleeting-delight-that-is-cherry-blossoms/ Saturday eve we tucked in to have a relaxing time of starting seed and watching a movie. Or so we thought at least. There we were, flats and pots, starting mix, water, our movie, all ready to go. But wait a minute- where are the SEEDS?! So we start hunting. ... http://sweet-vitriol.com/garden-planning/seed-crisis/ Bloom Day is here, and just on time! We had our first blossoms here in the Ether Garden about two days ago, in the form of our dwarf irises. They even beat out the crocus blossoms this year, which have yet to be seen even in bud! Of course, we've ... http://sweet-vitriol.com/gardening/garden-blogger-bloom-day-march-edition/ Every year the Ether Garden starts off with all sorts of beautiful ideas and a pile of seed packets and plant starts. Then we remember that despite our deepest dreams, the Ether Garden is after-all a terrestrial thing made of soil and loam. Not everything intended is planted, and not ... http://sweet-vitriol.com/vegetables/plant-varieties-2009/ Bad garden blogger, no seed-sharing for you! I know, those of us here with the Ether Garden have been terrible and vanished into the mists just when the getting was good last year. We apologize from the depths of our hearts and hope you'll forgive us. Such is the way ... http://sweet-vitriol.com/blogs-and-blogging/the-ether-garden-re-materializes-from-the-mists/