I draw a bit of inspiration from cranefly and putty root orchids. While ephemerals have "found" ways to tiptoe deeper into the challenging winter chill (admirably so), these orchids seem to say, "What do you mean, challenging? We were made for this." 

Rather than illuminating like a bright torch, a mugwort bundle smolders, releasing more smoke and aroma than light. Though a Festival of Light is lovely, a Festival of Slow Smolder is more my speed.

This was my first season growing cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) in the garden. What a beauty!

A few weeks ago, I prepped, jarred, and froze my first 2023 batch of pesto. My husband asked how it went. "I feel whole again," I joked.

Pesto tops my list of favorite foods. Combining the most decadent, tasty flavors--garlic, basil (or other greens), olive oil, cheese, nuts, salt--into a savory, creamy paste almost feels like cheating.

Though shamrocks shine on St. Patrick's Day in the US, I think of this clover species on May Day in particular. In Ireland, May 1 is Bealtaine (or Beltane), an ancient celebration of the sun's life-giving power and fertility.