Innehållsförteckning för Gardens of Bliss 2011 från Victoria

Every garden in every season is an adventure. However, spending spring and summer surrounded by a profusion of sprightly blooms seems like perfection to me. I have happy memories of digging in the soil and dropping tiny seeds into the moist dirt, supervised by my mother. Our yard, overflowing with flowers typical of an English lawn, was always a riot of color. The air was sweet with the fragrances of peonies, primroses, lily of the valley, and snapdragons. My sister and I spent many hours and used a lot of imagination creating a fantasyland at the base of boxwoods, hydrangeas, and towering hollyhocks. This served as our outdoor playground for our Barbie dolls. I still have a fondness for English-style plantings, and I always enjoy touring public gardens when I…

This menu is ideally suited to outdoor dining—a greatly anticipated pleasure after months indoors. Flowering herbs embellish the setting as a fragrant centerpiece. As a finishing touch at each place, a small beribboned bundle of fresh herb sprigs makes a dainty presentation and keepsake. The meal begins with a delicate tart, a light beginning that gently tempts appetites. Thinly sliced potatoes and flavorful leek with tender thyme leaves tuck into a sour-cream pastry crust. Parsley, rosemary, thyme, and mint combine to flavor the first-of-the-season lamb chops. Counterpoint to the entrée, bright vegetable colors, true to the season, offer pretty tones: clover honey glazed baby carrots and garlic and chive roasted green beans mixed with heirloom baby tomatoes. Lemonade refreshes, made ever so slightly floral with the addition of lavender. Linger…

The rose reigns supreme as queen of all flowers in the garden and in the hearts of gardeners everywhere. It is easy to see why. The alluring charms of roses give credence to their regal stature. Graceful and glamorous, they perform as well as they please, repudiating their reputation as demanding plants. With informed choices and basic care, there’s a rose to crown any garden. Heirloom roses defy age; having withstood the elements throughout generations, they possess a tough, versatile nature. Modern varieties offer the enhanced qualities of refined breeding and just keep getting better. The delights that begin in the garden can be extended indoors with the enticing fragrance of the flowers. Go ahead—take a whiff. Join in the world’s love affair with the most magnificent of blooms.…

Freeze fresh petals in ice cubes, and serve as a pretty garnish for herb teas and fruit drinks. (Use organically grown flowers only—not florist roses.) Sprinkle petals into a steaming bath, and bask in the delicate fragrance as you soak. (Scoop up the petals before draining the tub.) Toss a handful on your sweetheart’s pillow as a way to say “I love you.” Rose petals dry easily once removed from the plant and placed in an airy environment away from light and heat. To use dried petals in sweet-scented sachets, tie perfume-spritzed petals into a hankie, and tuck the sachet into a linen closet or a dresser drawer. Or use dried petals as packing material for a small, romantic gift. “Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, a box…

Celebrate the garden’s splendor with captivating displays of your favorite posies. As the first harbingers of spring make their debut, harvest armfuls to bring indoors, where you can savor their beauty in the comfort of your home. Nothing announces the arrival of the season quite like a cheerful assemblage of yellow daffodils and blue grape hyacinths or an assortment of tulips. With each passing month, the garden offers a limitless array of possibilities for bouquets. Whether you cherish the classic elegance of roses or the charming abundance of lacecap hydrangeas, you can design an artful arrangement that captures the best of your garden’s glory.…

Like a painter’s canvas, a garden comes to life with an inspired imagination executed with artful brushstrokes of color. Paint a glorious picture in your landscape with harmonious blends of flowers and foliage. Whether you want to create a vivacious border of blooming delights or a restful backyard retreat, color sets the mood. Tranquility takes flight in a garden of white and green, while saturated shades of pink and purple set a more vibrant stage. If you’re drawn to a particular type of flower, let it be the muse when devising a palette for your garden portrait. The many hues of Mother Nature offer a multitude of wondrous possibilities.…

With their exquisite properties of scent, color, shape, and form, it seems only natural to envision flowers at the dining table—not just as a decorative accent, but also as part of the feast. Although recently back in vogue as darlings of haute cuisine, flowers are by no means new to cooking enthusiasts. Many cultures, from ancient Rome to Elizabethan England and beyond, have experimented with the taste and texture of blooms, from sugared rose petals used for garnish to wine made of dandelions. Edible flowers became most popular during the romantic and creatively daring era of Queen Victoria’s reign, after which they fell out of favor with chefs. In recent years, however, the use of a broad range of flowers—primrose, violets, honeysuckle, pansies, geraniums, hibiscus, lilacs, and many more—has found…

The hectic pace of everyday life slows to a soothing cadence in the garden, where tranquility reigns amid beguiling beds of sunkissed blooms. The only sounds that permeate the fresh air are the sweet serenade of feathered friends, the whisper of rustling tree leaves, and the trickling tempo of a fountain. With its restful sights and sounds, the garden invites moments of quiet reflection and replenishes weary souls. Whether it is a simple bench nestled beneath a canopy of trees or an enchanting gazebo surrounded by a hedge of English roses, an outdoor sanctum has the power to transport us to a calming oasis.…

“A profusion of pink roses bending ragged inthe rain speaks to me of all gentleness and its enduring.” —William Carlos Williams CLIMBER: For dramatic effect, the long, arching canes of these vigorous growers can be guided to ascend fences, scale walls, and twine over arbors, pergolas, and trellises. FLORIBUNDA: These bushy 2- to 4-foottall plants put on a summerlong show of flowers in abundant, colorful clusters. Plant them in beds or borders, and see why they’re so popular—especially in smaller gardens. HYBRID TEA: A single, perfectly elegant blossom on a long stem distinguishes the most widely grown of all roses. Choose from among more than ten thousand types of hybrid teas. They bloom repeatedly throughout the growing season and provide fabulous cut flowers. GRANDIFLORA: These shrubs reach 4 to 6…

Fragrant Rose Splash Handful of fragrant rose petals (1 to 1½ cups) 3 cups distilled water 10 to 20 drops rose oil (adjusted to personal taste) 1. Rinse rose petals in tap water, drain, and place in a bowl. Boil distilled water; pour over rose petals. Allow to steep for 2 to 3 hours. Strain liquid and discard petals. 2. Stir rose oil into liquid, adding drop by drop until desired fragrance is achieved. 3. Pour Fragrant Rose Splash into bottles or jars, closing tightly. Store in refrigerator. Cooling Rose and Herb Footbath Handful of fragrant rose petals (1 to 1½ cups) 8 cups distilled water 20 to 30 sprigs of desired combination of lavender, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, and mint 1 tablespoon vodka or brandy 1. In a Dutch oven,…

A stunning bouquet begins with the freshest blooms. To capture them at their best, harvest when it’s cool—in early morning or evening. Look for flowers with firm petals and buds that are just opening, and keep the cuttings hydrated by bringing along a bucket of water to immerse them in immediately after gathering. Once indoors, select a container that suits the character, scale, and proportion of the blossoms to be placed within. An elegant arrangement of Asiatic lilies might call for an ornate urn, while a casual spray of cosmos may best be showcased in a simple mason jar. In general, a container that is one-third to one-half the height of the floral display tends to achieve the most symmetrical look. Use taller vases for statuesque beauties such as gladiolus…

Dressed in shades of the same color, monochromatic gardens can be every bit as alluring as their multihued counterparts. The famed all-white English garden at Sissinghurst, created by celebrated garden designer Vita Sackville-West in the 1930s, continues to enchant today. Carefully composed havens such as Sissinghurst reveal the many shades within a single color family. Pink alone, for example, can range from soft salmon to bright fuchsia. “The greatest gift ofthe garden isthe restoration ofthe five senses”. —HANNA RION In the absence of marked color contrasts, bloom shapes and textures take center stage. To create a multidimensional composition, spotlight an assortment of flowers within the same color family, and incorporate plants of varying heights and shapes. For example, the stately spires of purple delphiniums weave a rich tapestry of textures…

Fresh Berries with Toasted Pound Cake and Pansy-Mint Cream Makes 6 servings 1 frozen prepared pound cake, thawed 1 recipe Pansy-Mint Cream (recipe follows) 3 pints raspberries ¼ cup clover honey Garnish: fresh mint 1. Preheat oven to 350?. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Cut the pound cake in half horizontally. Using a 3-inch round fluted cutter, cut pound cake into rounds. Place rounds on baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly toasted and golden brown. Set aside to cool completely. 3. To serve, spoon Pansy-Mint Cream on tops of toasted cake rounds. Layer raspberries over cream. Drizzle with about 1 teaspoon clover honey. Garnish with fresh mint, if desired. Pansy-Mint Cream Makes about 3½ cups 1½ cups heavy cream ½ cup sour cream ¼…

Although Mother Nature paints a picture of serenity within a garden sanctuary, it is the structures that help set the stage for a comfortable and inviting retreat. Elements such as arbors, fences, and statuary create a sense of place within the greater landscape, lending a framework for garden rooms. As you design your own outdoor haven, take some cues from your home’s interior. Large structures such as arbors, gates, and pergolas mimic doors by announcing an entry. Strategically placed, the curvaceous silhouette of an arched arbor can serve as an intriguing portal to a quiet enclave of blooming delights within your garden. Gates further the sense of anticipation and mystery by revealing only a glimpse of what lies beyond. And pergolas, with their series of arches, work best for accentuating…

“To be overcome with the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat.” —BEVERLEY NICHOLS Instead of reaching for a typical vase when fashioning floral displays, let your imagination take flight. Chances are you have a host of charming possibilities on hand throughout the house. CHINA: Teapots, teacups, and other serving pieces set a gracious stage for fresh-cut blooms. Imagine a delicate demitasse cup filled with a blush-pink miniature rose or a sugar bowl laden with the dainty bell-shape blossoms of lily of the valley. For a dazzling tabletop centerpiece, consider using a compote or a soup tureen to spotlight a still life of old-fashioned flowers. BOTTLES: Breathe new life into an empty wine or perfume bottle with a spray of blissful blooms. Colored bottles look festive when paired…