Mon Jardin

Now that we’ve finally gotten the last freeze behind us, it’s time to garden…and I couldn’t be happier about getting my hands dirty again.

This year, I’m focusing on planting only what I can eat, which means tomatoes, herbs, yellow squash, jalapeño peppers, and a variety of lettuces. I’d like to get some cucumbers in, too, but every time I’ve gone to the nursery, they’ve been out.

Cukes, you will be mine. I’m not giving up yet.

I’m particularly excited about the tomatoes, all heirloom varieties and all grown here in New Mexico. I’ve put in a black cherry along with a red and a yellow cherry tomato plant, and two different medium-size tomatoes, both of which are beefsteaky, but not too grande, apparently.

My basil is already bushy and needs to be propped up. Dill and oregano are doing fine. Sage, rosemary and lemon verbena — which I still remember Daniel Rose of Spring put in his ceviche one summer — all need to find a home. And soon.

I’m planning on planting some lavender, too, something that grows easily here and always reminds me of Provence and Paris, too, because my upstairs neighbor  always grew lavender, and bits were always blowing off of her plants and landing in our garden below, perfuming the air. It’s funny how when it comes down to it, it’s the little things that connect you to a place. In my case, I keep finding similarities between the two places, as different as they may seem. My front yard is filled with pebbles, which reminds me of so many jardins in France. It also happens to  be a smart landscaping choice for this climate.

Now that we’ve just turned the page into June, we’re looking at highs in the low and mid-80s. Hot, people. But with cool, windows-open nights and sweatshirt mornings with my coffee. Love that.

Last night I made an herby salsa with mint, cilantro, and flat-leaf parsley, and put it on top of some roasted yellow squash. Testing new recipes for some upcoming cooking classes…right here, in my little adobe. Coming soon.