Brand new rose: Huntington's Hundredth First Bloom

The Huntington library and gardens celebrates its centennial year in 2019 and a brand new rose was hybridized for this occasion.  In January I went to the gardens and after listening to the lecture purchased this new rose in bare root form.  It's name is Huntington's Hundredth. Well it's blooming:

Huntington's Hundredth

In full bloom on the bush:

Huntington's Hundredth

It starts out as a red tipped bud:

Huntington's Hundredth

It's first day bloom is yellow:!

Huntington's Hundredth

and the second day it this fun yellow and pink ruffled bloom:

Huntington's Hundredth

Yes it is fragrant.....a must in my garden.  What a nice way to turn 100!

Happiness is.....the fragrance of orange blossoms

orange blossom

I live on Orange Street which was probably named for the Orange grove that was here when I was growing up in the 50s.  The fragrance of orange blossoms is absolutely "home" to me.  It is intoxicating, sweet, pungent---the best.  Thursday I was at Disneyland with Kate and Ryan and as we were walking through the park I could smell the orange trees in blossom.......as I take my afternoon walk in my own neighborhood I am gifted again with this fragrance and now when I wake up in the morning and go outside to start my barnyard chores the odor hits me first thing and I LOVE it.  Happiness is the fragrance of orange blossoms.

orange tree

My Uncle Ed and Aunt Jeanne moved to their forever property in Buena Park in 1952.  This tree was already there.  That makes this tree at least 67 years old  and is headed for a record year of production based on the abundance of blossoms:

Amazing!!!

great old orange tree

Go find a citrus tree that's in blossom this week.  Or if you're not in a region where citrus grows go to a garden center and look for the citrus trees there.  Breathe in and enjoy one of nature's true gifts.

Happy first day of spring!!! I love it!

wisteria

Even though the vernal equinox hits us all at the same time  Spring comes a lot earlier in Southern California.  This wisteria is a beauty   I wish you could smell her fragrance.  AND

it's a full moon rising!  All is good!

Did you plant your peas yet?
In Denver the rule of thumb is to plant your spring peas on St Patrick's Day.  Well I'm in California now and I planted mine in January.  Here is today's harvest:

sugar snap peas March 25

Thursday at Seal Beach

While Denver and most of the country were blasted by the "Bomb Cyclone" my friend Nanci and I enjoyed a day at the beach:

Nanci and me Seal Beach Pier

Yes there are people playing at water's edge, palm trees catching a bit of a breeze and snow on the local mountains ( right above our heads).  It has been so good to visit with my friend from dental school.  We both are California natives but today we were tourists in this little beach town of Seal Beach.

Dyed it!!

I was looking for a "lilac" denim jacket the other day to kick off my Spring wardrobe accessory.  Darn it I looked everywhere on line, on my typical favorite store websites and found nothing even though I had seen this in some fashion promo so what else can you do but DYE it at home.  Hey I'm a child of the 60s. Dyeing is not new to me...and it's fun:

Lilac denim jacket

selfie in lilac

I went to Michael's to see if they had the appropriate Rit dye and figured out I could mix up something fabulous and then I went to Old Navy and bought a white denim jacket.  Gap is good too.

white denim jacket

I picked up this pink and another blue to mix to lilac:

Rit dye for natural fabrics

I figured Rit dye would have a website to tell me how to do this and when I found it I found a link to their color chart.  Paydirt!!!! https://www.ritdye.com/color-formulas/?type=197&hue=0&collection=0&pantone=0&f=3719

Oh my there were so many choices and the best part is that they give you the formula for each color.  I chose Lupine: 1/2 cup Petal Pink and 2 Tbs aquamarine.  The instructions are pretty simple but it's always a good idea to test the color before you put your item in.  You can just use a white paper towel.  I used the bucket method:

in the bucket

I also picked up a $20 lightweight white hoodie at ON and both went into the bucket.  I followed the instructions on the website and I was thrilled with how easy AND my color was perfect.  I had a stained ugly color pink shirt and some old white linens that I put into the bucket after my jacket and hoodie were finished with their bath..  Oh what fun.  Great project for one of these rainy California days.  I can't wait to start another project:  maybe overdye wool or cotton fabric or even an old wool skirt.

$19.95 Old Navy white hoodie- now "lilac"

Happy dyeing!!!

There is also a previous post on dying:https://messyroomstudio.blogspot.com/2012/11/to-dye-for.html
from November 12 2012

Blood orange and Passion fruit sorbet

blood orange and passion fruit sorbet

I found some passion fruit at the Downey Farmers Market last week and brought them home wondering what I could do with them.  Hmmmmmm.

Alice Waters helped me out with this recipe from her Fruit recipe book.  Here's the recipe:

Passion Fruit Sherbet:

Ingredients:

3 pounds of oranges (enough to make 3 cups of juice)..I used blood oranges

8 passion fruit (I only had 4 so made that do)

3/4 cup plus 2 Tbs sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla extract ( I mistakingly used 1 full tsp and would repeat this)

optional 1 tsp Cointreau

 Method:

Juice the oranges, stain and measure 3 cups

Cut passion fruit in half and scoop out the pulp and seeds into a small saucepan.

Add the sugar and 1 cup of the orange juice

Heat gently and stir until sugar is dissolved

Press and scrape through a fine meshed strainer with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula

Add the remaining orange juice, the vanilla and the Cointreau if using

Chill thoroughly

Freeze in your home ice cream freezer

Remember I used blood oranges,  They are pretty much only available in January and February.  But the blood orange juice gives this sorbet a gorgeous color:

passion fruit

blood oranges cross sectioned

sorbet liquid ready for the ice cream freezer

Fruit

This sorbet is not too sweet but enough..has a nice sour "bite" and would go well following a spicy dinner.  Alice suggests serving it with a delicate butter cookie or  coconut macaroons

I think I'll just go and have some all by itself.

Bon appetit!

footnote:  I am taking Alice Waters' Masterclass available at https://www.masterclass.com/homepage

               

8140 salad- original and 2.0

I live at 8140 Orange Street. I moved here 5 months ago with a very long "to do" list...it's still very long.  A couple of months ago I planted my inspiration garden.  I planted 3 very small citrus trees and then sprinkled flower and lettuce seeds to fill the space.  Now just a few weeks later my lettuces are mature enough to harvest along with a few other goodies from my garden.  I have a pomegranate tree.  My next door neighbor has a blood orange tree with a generous branch hanging over my wall.  I planted radishes AND I have a small herd of goats.  This salad came from my garden.  I'm going to call it the 8140 garden since all ingredients came from the property (well I guess I need to call it the "8140 salad with walnuts"

8140 salad

Start with the arugula:

arugula

Add some sliced blood oranges:

blood orange tree-January

blood orange slices

Well thin slice a couple of radishes:

radishes

Pomegranate arils, goat cheese and walnuts.  I used a little orange juice in the vinaigrette.

So last night I made a 2.0 version:

8140 2.0

My red oak leaf lettuce was ready, sugar snap peas and these lovely nastursiums...yes they are edible.

So my "8140 salad" is any combination of food items that come directly from my property and add a handful of California nut meats.

Bon Appetit!