Out & About: Cornell Plantations, Ithaca

I love going to Ithaca every other month. This trip was a bit dicey as I had left my wallet at home and was traveling with an often-hungry nine-year-old. Reenie Baker saved me by feeding us both a delicious lunch (a million, billion thanks).

Here are some pictures from our stop at Cornell Plantations.

The Robison Herb Garden:















































Bluestem joint fir, a.k.a horsetail, a.k.a. ma-huang, a.k.a. Ephedra equisetina:
























The hardy kiwi vine. It's growing on the highest-class porta-potty structure I have ever seen.

















Pineapple in container:
























More containers:

















Clematis:

Out & About: Genesee Country Museum

I stopped by the museum yesterday because my friend Michael Warren Thomas and his (adorable) family were there, living as pioneers for the weekend. This is a new program and they were the first to be accepted. Another friend, Pat Mead, was their guide, helping Joan especially with the cooking. (With Pat in charge you know it was dee-licious.) They had a great time and I have to admit that I wished I could join them. Maybe you'll see the Millimans on display in the cabin some weekend in the future.


This beverage is made by smashing sumac flowers into a paste and steeping that in cold water. Michael and Joan's daughter Martine made it, adding a little brown sugar and then more water to taste. She made these cool straws, too, out of lovage stems.

















Michael's dinner. Peas, new potatoes, a chicken "twirled" by the fire, purslane salad (with vinegar), stuffing Joan made with leftover sourdough bread from the day before, and gravy that smelled heavenly.








Here's Michael looking handsome with his way-beyond-five-o'clock shadow.














Joan in the cabin. She was having a wonderful time, but I think she prefers the division of labor she enjoys in her everyday life. Not quite so divided down gender lines.






























I'm not sure how to spell her name, but this is Corinna. Or Karina. Sorry. She's darling! And I heard she was the belle of the ball the night before at the dance.











The gravy. Here's my best Homer Simpson: "Mmmmmmmm"

Here are the rest of the pictures I took.

OMG, my MIL was right!

It IS a weed, and a noxious one to boot, according to Internet reports. Once it started blooming and I could see it was yellow, I narrowed it down to Carthamus lanatus, the saffron thistle, an invasive weed all over the world. It must have come in with the nyger. I think I'll leave it���������it's more of a problem in places like New Zealand and California���������and see if I get any finches nearer the house when the seed ripens.

















'Mardi Gras' looking fastastic this morning.














It's nothing personal. I'm just not in love with 'Laura Bush'. I think she's a terrible color. Pope John Paul II���������now there's a rose. Pure white, as you would expect, and with a heavenly scent (sorry). I'll post a picture next time I get a blossom.

What's in Bloom - July 6

Acanthus spinosa in the background, veronica 'Eveline', tiarella, heuchera, big fuzzy lambs' ears.





















Acanthus mollis. First year blooming, no winter protection. Yay!















Bunny tail grass, sedum, and more sedum, or is it spurge, I always gets them confused.



















'Mardi Gras'















Lady's mantle with euphorbia in front. Gorgeous in the morning.












I believe everyone should have perilla. It self-sows all over the place, but you can easily yank the ones you don't want. The plants you do keep add this beautiful, purply-black background to the mix.









Helianthus 'Loraine Sunshine'














Jupiter's Distaff (Salvia glutinosa)

What is this?

This prickly thing has appeared in my garden in a few spots. I think it's something I planted last year and then forgot about, and then if self-sowed, because it's not placed where I would normally plant something, but it doesn't look like a weed either (desipte my MIL's opinion!).

Anyone know?