THE VILLAGE VOICE

"With the first gleam of morning rays, the garden is a prism of a thousand hues refracted in tiny does of crystal dew, a dazzling quilt of millefleur colors covering the sleeping flower beds." ~ Duane Michals ( The Vanishing Act) This morning's garden prism ANNABELLE HYDRANGEA GAILLARDIA ( Blanketflower ) OAK LEAF HYDRANGEA CONEFLOWER ( Echinacea purpurea 'Prairie Splendor') CONEFLOWER ( Echinacea ) VARIEGATED TOAD LILY ( Tricyrtis ) Oak Leaf Hydrangea, Sedum , Annabelle Hydrangea, Nasturtium, Coleus, Heuchera , Anemome , Verbena, Streptocarpus , Turtlehead , Sedum , Alyssum , Hydrangea, Oxalis , Coleus, Phlox, Coreopsis , Japanese Painted Fern- Heuchera , Hydrangea, Coneflower , Phlox, Cyclamen CYCLAMEN A hint of September's many garden miracles ________________ "But no w in September the garden has cooled, and with it my possessiveness. The sun warms my back instead of beating on my head ... The harvest has dwindled, and I have grown apart fr...

"No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace As I have seen in one Autumnal face." ~ John Donne Basket of Mums ______________ CARAMELIZED ONION PORK TENDERLOIN with CRANBERRY/CHERRY CHUTNEY ~ A 'winner autumnal dinner' adapted from April 1999 COOKING LIGHT magazine ____________ 2 (1 lb. or more) well-trimmed pork tenderloins coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper Marinade: 1 thinly sliced onion juice and zest of 1 lemon 6 Tbsp. dry red wine 2 crushed garlic cloves Dried Cranberry/Cherry Chutney: 4 cup dried cranberries and/or cherries 1 cup sugar 2 cups orange juice 1 1/2 cups red wine vinegar 1 cup diced Vidalia (sweet) onions 1/2 cup raspberry vinegar 2 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger 1 Tbsp. minced jalapeno pepper 2 Tsp. cilantro 1 tsp. cardamom 1 tsp. ground cumin juice and zest of 1 fresh lemon 1 tsp. ground cloves 2 (3-in.) cinnamon sticks Caramelized Onions: 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter 3 cups thinly sliced onions (red or yellow) 1 tsp. sugar ...

"There is a harmony In autumn, and a lustre in its sky, Which through the summer is not heard or seen, As if it could not be, as if it had not been!" ~ Percy Bysshe Shelle y Hubbard Lake Sunset ( Autumnal Equinox ) _____________ "Equal dark, equal light Flow in Circle, deep insight Blessed Be, Blessed Be The transformation of energy! So it flows, out it goes Three-fold back it shall be Blessed Be, Blessed Be The transformation of energy!" ~ Night An'Fey ( Transformation of Energy)

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within ." Elizabeth Kubler -Ross COLEUS ( Solenostemon ) 'Mint Chocolate' "In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. " ~ Aaron Rose

"But thy eternal summer shall not fade." ~ William Shakespeare ANNABELLE HYDRANGEA PISTACHIO PESTO PASTA with GRILLED LEMON SCALLOPS ~ Before the frost hits, harvest basil for this deliciously sweet meld of flavors ___________ PESTO: 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves 1/3 cup roasted pistachios 1/3 cup grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese 2 Tbsp. chopped green onions 2 Tbsp. chopped red onion 2 cloves chopped garlic 1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper pinch coarse salt 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 lb. linguine 1 cup grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese chopped green onion for garnish pistachios for garnish Combine basil, pistachios, Asiago cheese, green and red onions, garlic, salt and pepper in food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add oil and incorporate into pesto until smooth. Adjust seasoning. Cook pasta into boiling salted water until tender but firm. Scoop out 1 cup pasta water and reserve if needed. Drain pasta and stir in pesto and Asiag...

"Beauty without colour seems somehow to belong to another world." ~ Murasaki Shikibu Asiatic Lily (popping potted lily for late summer interest) ________ " We only part to meet again." ~ John Gay

"A late summer garden has a tranquility found no other time of the year." ~ William Longgood TURTLEHEAD (Chelone obliqua) _______________ ROASTED EGGPLANT and RED PEPPER PENNE PASTA ~ Sunny combination of rich harvest and herb flavors, fresh basil, a must. ( Sutter Home Napa Valley Cookbook ) ___________________ 2 medium globe eggplants , peeled if desired, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 red onions, sliced vertically into thin strips 3 seeded red sweet peppers cut into narrow strips 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tsp. minced garlic 1 Tbsp minced fresh rosemary (1 tsp. crumbled dried) 1 1/2 tsp. minced fresh oregano (1/2 tsp. dried) sea salt freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup pine nuts 1 lb. penne pasta (or other favorite short tubular pasta) 1 cup chopped/shredded fresh basil 1 cup crumbled mild goat cheese or feta cheese Preheat oven to 375º. In roasting pan, combine eggplants, onions, and peppers. Add oil, garlic, rosemary, oregano, salt to taste, and generous sp...

"A dead hydrangea is as intricate and lovely as one in bloom." ~ Toni Morrison Hydrangea macrophylla Gifts from my garden _______________ I have loved flowers that fade, Within those magic tents, Rich hues have marriage had made, With sweet memoried scents. (Robert Seymour Bridges) ________________ Note: Drying Hydrangeas Naturally _________________ But now in September the garden has cooled, and with it my possessiveness. The sun warms my back instead of beating on my head ... The harvest has dwindled, and I have grown apart from the intense midsummer relationship that brought it on. Robert Finch _______________________ Join Carolyn @ Sweet Home and Garden Chicago for Garden Bloggers ' Muse Day