THE VILLAGE VOICE

"In the garden, after a rainfall, you can faintly, yes, hear the breaking of new blooms." ~ Truman Capote DAYLILY (Hemerocallis) "Life is short, God's way of encouraging a bit of focus." ~ Robert Brault "Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing? Can one really explain this? No." ~ Pablo Picasso HOSTA & FERNS ___________ "When I was a boy, I thought scent was contained in dewdrops on flowers and if I got up very early in the morning, I could collect it and make perfume." ~ Oscar De La Renta

"Gardening is what we gardeners like to do: digging, fussing with our plants, weeding, deadheading ~ all the soothing creative labor that goes into maintaining our personal Edens." ~ Page Dickey Late July Daylily ( Hemerocallis ) Garden Phlox (P. paniculata ) Chinese Astilbe Late July Daylily ( Hemerocallis ) Favorite July Daylily ( Hemerocallis ) Hydrangea (Annabelle Hydrangea - H. macrophylla ) Black-Eyed Susan ( Rudbeckia ) Shasta Daisy ( Leucanthemum ) Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus ) "Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are." ~ Alfred Austin

"One of the most attractive things about the flowers is their beautiful reserve." ~ Henry David Thoreau DAYLILY ( Hemerocallis ) BEEF BURGERS with DRAMBUIE ONIONS ~ Honey added to the goat cheese cuts its tanginess and makes it spreadable ... delicious grilled burger clipped from July 2 (2008) Detroit Free Press __________ 1 1/4 lb. mix of well-chilled chuck of lean chuck steak and lean sirloin 1 tsp. garlic powder favorite AP seasoning 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 Tbsp. olive oil 8 oz. cleaned and sliced cremini mushrooms 3 cups sliced onions 1/3 cup Drambuie (honey-herb flavored liqueur) 4 oz. goat cheese 1 1/2 Tbsp. honey 1/4 cup mix of fresh chopped herbs of choice (thyme, basil, oregano) 1 Tbsp. chopped chives 4 mini (3-4 in. diameter) pita pocket breads Bibb or butter lettuce zucchini ribbons Place beef chunks in food processor fitted with steel blade. Pulse mixture to combine and coarsely grind. Do not overprocess . Season mixture with garlic powder, a...

Sometime since I've been in the garden I've looked up through the trees at the sky and I have had a strange feeling of being happy as if something were pushing and drawing and making me breathe fast. Magic is always pushing and drawing and making things out of nothing. Everything is made out of Magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all round us. In this garden ~ in all the places . ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett ~ Early August magic

"A garden really lives only insofar as it is an expression of faith, the embodiment of a hope and a song of praise." ~ Russell Page ~ Welcome visitors while away _________________ SHRIMP & AVOCADO SALAD ~ Summer delight ... buttery avocados balanced with the sharpness of endive (adapted from Gourmet (June 2002) ________ 1 lb. peeled and deveined large shrimp 2 tsp. salt 3 or more Tbsp. fresh lemon juice zest of 1 lemon 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh tarragon 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 firm-ripe Hass avocados 1 lb. Belgian endive (4 heads), cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces Bring 2 quarts water, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice and 2 tsp. salt to boil. Poach shrimp at a bare simmer, uncovered, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Transfer with slotted spoon to a bowl of ice & cold water to stop cooking. Let shrimp chill for 2 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Whisk together tarragon, mustard, pepper and remaining 2 Tbsp....

" SMALL CHEER AND GREAT WELCOME MAKES A MERRY FEAST." ~ SHAKESPEARE ___________ ________________ GRILLED HERB TENDERLOIN ~ Succulent beef smothered in fresh herbs adapted from Food & Wine (July 2006) * (4 1/2 lb.) trimmed beef tenderloin 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 6 cloves minces garlic 2 Tbsp. coarsely cracked black pepper 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh marjoram 2 tsp. coarse salt Fold thin end of tenderloin under roast to make meat an even thickness. Tie at 1-inch intervals. Transfer to large rimmed baking sheet. Combine olive oil, garlic, pepper, thyme , rosemary, marjoram and salt. Rub the herb oil over roast and refrigerate 2-4 hours. Bring to room temperature before grilling. Grill roast over moderate high heat coals, turning occasionally until nicely charred, about 30 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer to carving board and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice roast 1/2-inch thick and place on large platter surrounde...