Nature Palettes

I thought it would be fun to look for new color inspirations outdoors since it's spring and everything is so vibrant these days. Here's my first...

Iowa

We went to Iowa last weekend to play on the farm with Chad's family. Brutus had a blast, as you can see! He loves asparagus and riding on golf carts. He tried to make friends with the cows too. On Saturday we went morrell mushroom hunting and found a ton of them! They grow on and around dead elm trees and are sooo yummy! We also went asparagus picking on a cold windy Iowa morning. I'm going to pickle some asparagus today. I can't wait! 

Driftless Folk School

Cheese making class - this is my calling. I'm originally from Wisconsin (and my husband loves cheese) so I think we need to go back to the homeland to learn the ways of homemade cheese making. The Driftless Folk School is in beautiful Viroqua, Wisconsin. On June 27th they will teach you how to make butter, feta, mozzarella and several soft cheeses. That sounds like an amazing day to me. You'll also head home with samples of the cheeses and a culture to make some at home. I'm in!

Shade Perennials

Hakonechloa/Japanese Forest Grass

Tufted Hair Grass

Cohosh

Elderberry Sambucus 

(sun or part shade)

Black Chervil

Palm Sedge

Gray's Sedge

Angelica 

(sadly, friends school had a crop failure on this one so none at the sale this year)

Maiden Hair Fern

Hakonechloa/Japanese Forest Grass

Hakonechloa/Japanese Forest Grass

Lily of the Valley

Hosta

Japanese Painted Fern

I found some good shade/part shade perennials this year and had to share them. It's hard to find shade plants for zones 4 and 5 that have some flair. So, enjoy! And don't forget to go to the Friends School Plant Sale this weekend. I'll be volunteering in the rare plants area Friday from 3:30 til 8:00. Stop by and see me!

Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles

Just had to post about my favorite band ever! The first time I heard Lucy sing was last year at the Hootenany in Java Jack's basement. There was a big crowd so I couldn't see the stage, but heard the most beautiful voice singing the most amazing songs ever! Her voice is loungy without the chain smoker raspyness plus a hint of innocence. As if it couldn't get any better, the band is based here in mpls so live shows are a plenty! They have a Cinco de Mayo (that's May 5th) show this week at Eclipse Records in St. Paul.