Pic Today 4/30/14

DOGS ARE IN THE WOODS

Flowering dogwoods, that is.

As the woods come alive,

before leaves cover each branch,

a white blizzard of wild dogwoods

are snowing throughout the forest.

The dogwood flowers are beautiful this year.

Pic Today 4/29/14

SPRING FRESH

WATERCRESS SALAD

A morning visit to a secret watercress patch

in an ice-cold spring.

Shoes off, picking tender tips,

tasting along the way.

(So refreshing, so peppery.)

Deliver a cooler full of greens

to the waiting chefs.

Final salad:

Spring lamb medallion with

local watercress, and black garlic sauce.

Amazing flavors.

Perfect combination.

Pic Today 4/28/14

SHAKESPEARE MEETS ROGUE

All of Shakespeare's 38 plays are performed

by actors in a variety of locations

in different neighborhoods throughout St. Louis,

to celebrate Shakespeare's 450th birthday.

And one very special celebration was celebrated

in conjunction with the Rogue Underground Dining's

39th gourmet dining event Sunday evening.

And what an event it was!

Acts from Romeo & Juliet were performed

in between a 9 course meal.

"Shake 38" has become an outstanding annual event.

Attendees were spellbound,

and well fed!

Pic Today 4/27/14

FARMERS MARKET

AT TOWER GROVE

This wonderful farmers market

is once again open on Saturday mornings,

in St. Louis' Tower Grove Park.

It's early, of course, for summer's fresh bounty,

but growers are already offering garden greens,

as well as wild collected mushrooms, ramps,

watercress, sorrel and chard.

This market features vendor/farmers,

who grow and produce what they sell . . .

which include eggs, artisanal cheeses

and fresh made crepes.

(Yum.)

No wonder children's favorites

are always Amish made fruit pies.

(Double yum!)

Pic Today 4/26/14

BUTTON COLLECTORS

ARE COMING TO TOWN

The Missouri State Button Society

(yes, there is one)

is having it annual Button Show this weekend.

133 collectors and dealers are meeting

to show off their rare collections

at the Wildwood Hotel, in Wildwood, Mo.

The public is also invited to view their

collections and entries in the competition.

(Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am - 4:00pm)

Rare displays include 17th and 18th century

hand enameled, carved and forged buttons

from around the world, 

including handcarved netsukes from Japan,

French porcelains and wartime coppers.

Bring your jars of old buttons for free appraisals.

(Just kidding.)

Pic Today 4/25/14

DEADLY MAY APPLES

These lovely little umbrellas

that cover the forest floor in Spring

are the toxic American mandrake,

commonly known as "may apples."

Mandrake is the famous herb

of legends and sorcerers.

The roots are poisonous.

The leaves are poisonous.

The buds and flowers are poisonous.

But the ripe fruit (come June)

is a sweet, delicious and edible treat.

Native Americans boiled its lethal roots,

and used its broth to cure stomach ache.

And in Shakespeare's MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM,

mandrake was used to make drops

to put on eye lids to produce

hallucinating effect for deception.

(Such an attractive little plant.)

Pic Today 4/24/14

MARVELOUS MORELS

Even with our long, bitter cold winter,

it's always nice to find morel mushrooms

after an April walk in the woods.

A tasty addition to a gourmet meal.

Pic Today 4/23/14

OH, TO TURN 21 AGAIN

Rowena's 21st birthday bash

was a hit at Plush in St. Louis

with a fancy birthday cake,

and the amazing musical energy

of Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy

from Wichita, Kansas.

Wow!

Pic Today 4/22/14

REDBUDS ARE IN BLOOM

There's no mistaking the pink

in the woods this time of year.

Before most trees have a chance

to show their leaves,

the Eastern Red Bud tree is sprouting

brilliant pinks on its branches,

and along its trunk.

This has long been a sacred tree

for Native Americans.

(Good choice.)

Pic Today 4/21/14

FIELDS OF PURPLE

Missouri farm fields are covered

with vast fields of brilliant purple,

a sign that this year's alfalfa crop

will be bountiful.

Alfalfa is an important and nutritious

forage crop for livestock,

and is breathtaking to behold

in mid-April.

Pic Today 4/20/14

EASTER GREETINGS

Here's hoping the Easter Bunny

brought you sweet surprises

this Easter Sunday morning.

He's been visiting lots of boys & girls,

hiding colored eggs, and

giving sweet chocolates and prizes,

and carrots, too!

Carrots???

What are we supposed to do

  with carrots?

(Hmmm, they're yummy too.)