THE VILLAGE VOICE

June is bustin' out all over ...  Carefree Shrub Rose (June 'Flower of the Month' ~ the rose)

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

" Lord make us mindful of the little things that grow and bossom in these days to make the world beautiful for us." ~ W.E. Dubois

"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....