Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Celebrate Truffles! Napa Truffle Festival


My knowledge of truffles has its limits, despite the delight I take in savoring cuisine boasting the flavor of the extraordinarily renowned fungus.
The Second Annual Napa Truffle Festival promises to add to my familiarity of all aspects of the strangely beguiling yet homely truffle, be it the black Perigord winter truffle or the summer species known as Burgundy: 

In botanical nomenclature, that's Tuber melanosporum or Tuber aestivum/uncinatum.

The Westin Verasa, Napa hosts the festivities that bring together expert scientists and shining stars of the culinary realm. Participants will have opportunities to partake in the culinary bliss of gourmet meals and in stimulating seminars out and about at Robert Mondavi Winery, Raymond Vineyards and Robert Sinskey Vineyards.


Michelin Chefs working their own magic at lunch & dinner events are certain to draw serious food aficionados and wine lovers to reserve a place at the table to they'll in elegant menus prepared by Ken Frank of La Toque; Suzette Gresham-Tognettini, Chef/Proprietor of San Francisco's Acquerello; Michael Cimarusti of Providence, Los Angles; Italy's Marco Gubbiotti of La Bastiglia; and Andrew Zimmerman of Sepia, Chicago.


Images, Courtesy Napa Truffle Festival / American Truffle Company


Monday, December 19, 2011

Glorious Great Dixter ..

Spring Display .. Great Dixter
The Legacy of Christopher Lloyd 
Celebrated garden writer, the Dean of British Gardening passed away in 2006.
I will always remember these magnificent gardens on a tour led by CL himself.
Though I returned whenever travel to England allowed, 
it was that rainy day in May that stands out in my memory.

Springtime Array of Containers ... Maximum Visual Impact!
More to see and read on Alice's Garden Travel Buzz:

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

A Most Romantic Garden...

Romantic gardens abound in the English countryside...


One garden visit that remains etched in my mind's eye is the beautifully serene, lush landscape
of   Cothay Manor.



Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Opulent Epoch .. Wordless in Italy


Hadrian's Villa

Dreaming of Italy....

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Citron Cachet! AIC Ptrizker Garden

Modern Wing of the Chicago Art Institute


I love the sharp tang of citron, or maybe I should say, chartreuse - the color of the chairs
in Chicago's Pritzker Garden.

It's the structure and evergreen forms of the landscape architecture that I'm drawn to when I visit this downtown setting.....

Friday, November 25, 2011

A Quiet Spell in my California Garden

The holiday season has arrived, with a Happy Hour time-out at a local restaurant.
This is a quiet period in my garden, although there are a few treasures in bloom. A remarkable plant, commonly called Australian Fuchsia, Correa 'Carmine Bells' blooms on and off for months on end.


The spreading shrubby specimen grows in our enclosed front patio outside my office window, its flowers visible when I shift my head just a bit to the left of the computer. In late Fall and during the Winter, this evergreen plant is visited by hummingbirds, much to my delight.

During this reflective time of year, I'm taking an opportunity to reprise memorable garden sojourns.
My visits to Portland never cease to amaze. Such a vibrant city, with an avid population of gardeners.
 Here's a link to a post from my travels in Portland, musing on... 'what is a garden?'
For my U.S. friends, I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving Day!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Malibu Musings .. Getty Villa





Monday Musings on Malibu
Looking back on my most enduring garden travels ... The Getty Villa

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Morning Dew on Grasses: Kenzo Winery

In a reflective mood....

...as I look back on my 2011 sojourns. I pore over thousands of photographs taken this year and think about the highlights of my gardenwalks. In touring California wine country, a visit to the elegant landscape of Kenzo Winery, Napa stands out.

Arriving in late-morning, the sight of dew on a grass meadow caught my eye immediately. Here, the landscape has been designed to encompass just such sublime vignettes. Shortly after being greeted, I learned that Kenzo Winery's lovely white wine...  Asatsuya Sauvignon Blanc is named for the dew's sparkling display.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Longwood Gardens' Indoor Living Walls

A Series of 2011 Round-up Posts .. Stories & Photos
Longwood Gardens indoor living walls installed by Ambius, winner of the Hall of Fame Judges Award for creativity and execution at the 19th annual Plantscape Industry Expo 2011. 
Landscape architecture - Conservatory Plaza: Kim Wilkie 
These lush walls comprise more than 47,000 plants covering some 3500 square feet, including many fern species: Holly, Rabbit's Foot, Button, Asparagus and Maidenhair ferns. 

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

A Garden Landmark: Mexico City

via Wikimedia Commons
Wordless Wednesday
Photographer: Anna Maj Michelson - Portland
Cactus fence at the House of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, Mexico City