Crabapple and rhododendron

Unfortunately for me, the crabapple tree was at peak last weekend while I was in Claremont for my five year reunion. Luckily for you, however, my wonderful husband obliged me by taking pictures. I tried taking a few more yesterday, but they were so obviously inferior to the ones he took (in the beauty of the tree, hopefully they were comparable in quality of photography) that I deleted them from the computer. As you can see in both the pictures of the whole tree and the details, the flowers on this beauty are fuschia: gorgeous, bold and striking. By now, about a third are on the ground and the remaining blossoms have started to fade to a nondescript pink. Nothing lasts, but I do know what I'm looking forward to next year.



The rhododendron had just started to bud before I left for California, but when I came back I was greeted by the welcome sight of its delicate pink blossoms. We bought and planted this rhododendron last July, so I didn't know exactly what color it would be. I find it to be quite lovely (the blossoms remind me somewhat of those of the pink cherry tree we planted). Unfortunately, the leaves are a bit brown at the edges (and have been since the end of winter...or more likely since sometime during the winter). I'm not quite sure how to rectify this particular situation.

Various dinners from a while ago

Pictured on the left (on the fine china!), we have lemon-rosemary chicken (grilled) with roasted potatoes and balsalmic asparagus.  This meal took place almost a month ago and I've been too busy to write it up.  The chicken recipe is from the (small) Williams-Sonoma Grilling book (which is highly recommended by Matt & I--we haven't had a single bad thing from it).  The chicken had great flavor and the marinade was fairly easy.  If you're interested in the recipe, I'd be happy to pass it on.  The potatoes are quartered red potatoes, roasted in olive oil with garlic, salt, pepper and rosemary.  The asparagus is cooked the way I cook asparagus (sautéed, with balsalmic vinegar drizzled over it at the last second of cooking.

Another entrée from Grilling is pictured here on the right.  This shrimp is grilled on skewers (see below) alternating with big chunks of blanched garlic (the recipe calls for cloves of regular garlic, we used thirds/quarters of elephant garlic cloves) and basted with a spicy tomato sauce.  It's delicious and fun.  As pictured, we served it over a wild rice blend and with asparagus (I cooked it the same way described above--I like it that way).  As with the chicken, I'm happy to pass on the recipe if you actually want it.

Tulips, a bit late

I've had these pictures for a couple of weeks now.  I'm sorry I haven't posted.  I have been busy busy busy, but it's been a good sort of busy (thesis proposal out the door--my oral exam is scheduled for May 14th!)

The tulips pictured above are actually completely past now (but I have others that are still going strong and a whole new set that is just beginning to bud--so more to follow hopefully).  I am a particular fan of gently multicolored tulips and these completely fit the bill.  (I used to hate tulips since I associated them with regimented rows of bright red and bright yellow.)

These pink and pale yellow tulips to the left are among my favorite groupings.  (There were also two white ones in this group, but they had not yet bloomed as of this picture).  These tulips, like the first set, are in the beds in front of the house, but unlike the first are still hanging on for a little longer.

Down by the evergreens, the tulips are not yet passed but the daffodils shown in some of the pictures are. Below is my favorite tulip picture. It makes a great background for my computer desktop. 

The tulip groups in the evergreen bed are predominantly pink and pale yellow, although I saw one yesterday that I would describe as "orange sorbet".  In any event, they're lovely.  With regards to the daffodils pictured below, I love seeing the dew glint on the grass in the background.

 

Coming soon: flowering crabapple and the now blooming rhododendron!