Rhubarb Festival

Ingredients for Cafe Flora’s Chef Nat and his rhubarb cooking demonstration at the Columbia City Farmers Market

Seattle’s Columbia City Farmers Market held a Rhubarb Festival yesterday afternoon, and I headed down there on the Light Rail to check it out.  Part of the festivities included a cooking demonstration by Chef Nat of Cafe Flora, and he made a rhubarb compote served as an accompaniment to nettle ravioli with cashew cream sauce and sautéed vegetables.  He also made Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble and a cordial called Strawberry Rhubarb Fizz.  After his cooking demonstration, we got to sample all the recipes — I loved them all.

Jar of Rosemary-Rhubarb Chutney

There was also a Sweet vs. Savory Rhubarb Contest, and I entered a jar of Rosemary-Rhubarb Chutney using the recipe from one of my earliest blog posts.  (You can link back to it here.)  My entry won the Savory Division!  (I was awarded a subscription to Edible Seattle Magazine and a $15 farmers market gift certificate.)  Other contestants made rhubarb ceviche, rhubarb shortcake, rhubarb ice cream, tarts and quiche, pies, cakes, chutneys and compotes, etc.  The winner of the Sweet Division made rhubarb pop tarts, and the Best of Show was a rhubarb cardamom cake.  The staff at the Columbia City Farmers Market said that the winning recipes would be posted to their Facebook page.

Here are some photos from my day at the Columbia City Farmers Market:

The bell that opens the market at 3:00 p.m.

Flower vendor

This is a well-attended neighborhood market, one of several in Seattle.

Shopper

Another shopper

Mushrooms for sale

Vendor arranging produce

Another shopper

Potatoes for sale

Cooking demo: rhubarb compote with homemade nettle ravioli, cashew cream sauce and sautéed vegetables

Rhubarb Contest entries

Contest judges Leslie Kelly (food writer) and Jill Lightner of Edible Seattle Magazine

Judge’s taste test

Another look at the contest table

Columbia City Farmers Market

The Blue Trees

The Blue Trees, Westlake Park, Seattle

One of the things on my “Life List” is to see and experience an  Andy Goldsworthy sculpture in its natural environment.  He is well-known for creating transient, ephemeral sculptures of natural materials that are designed to weather and disappear over time.

I’m not aware of any Andy Goldsworthy pieces in Seattle, but when I heard about Konstantin Dimopoulos’s Blue Trees, I made a special trip to downtown Seattle to see them.  Dimopoulos, an Australian artist, uses special environmentally-safe pigments to paint trees brilliant blue.  The color wears away over time, leaving the trees unharmed.  Dimopoulos has now made his way to Seattle, and has two installations in the area — at Westlake Park in the heart of downtown and along the Burke-Gilman trail in Kenmore.

Dimopoulos uses the startling blue to attract attention and awareness to the problem of global deforestation.  The blue is so unexpected, it does stop you in your tracks.  You might want to see these installations before they disappear.

The Blue Trees at Westlake Park

The Blue Trees

Blue tree with park benches

Blue Trees with park bench, Westlake Park

The Blue Trees at Westlake Park

Seattle Space Needle is 50 Years Old

This year is the 50th anniversary of Seattle’s 1962 World’s Fair.  That means the Space Needle is also celebrating its 50th birthday.  Here are some photos of that iconic structure — it seemingly hasn’t aged a bit!

Seattle’s Space Needle at 50 years of age

Space Needle

Space Needle (1962) and Experience Music Project building (2000)

Space Needle over the Experience Music Project building

Experience Music Project building, designed by Frank Gehry, and the Space Needle

 

It Was the Morning of the Sixth of May

“It was the morning of the sixth of May,
And May had painted with her soft showers
A garden full of leaves and flowers.
And man’s hand had arranged it with such sweet craft
There never was a garden of such price
But if it were the very Paradise.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer, from The Canterbury Tales

A man’s hand crafted the lovely grounds of the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle, and it has become one of our city’s paradises.  The city of Seattle hired the Olmstead Brothers (successors to Frederick Olmstead, who designed New York City’s Central Park among other famous commissions) to develop the landscaping plans for the Arboretum.  The Olmsteads were proponents of connecting urban dwellers to wild and natural spaces.

Here are some photos of my Spring visit to the park:

Signpost for Seattle's Washington Park Arboretum

The paths are perfect for strolling, jogging, and walking the dog.

Magnificent trees and wild spaces

Mushroom along the path

Bottle-brush plants in a low spot

A bed of ferns

Ferns

Ferns

Bench along the path, Washington Park Arboretum

Bluebells

Green foliage

 

 

 

 

Local Flower Growers Market Celebrates Its First Anniversary!

Snowballs and callas displayed by Oregon Coastal Flowers inside the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market warehouse

Yesterday the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market celebrated its one-year anniversary with a festive party at their Georgetown warehouse.  It was a joyous occasion, full of color, supportive buyers and friends, fresh blooms, and good food.  Debra Prinzing and David E. Perry, author and photographer, were on hand to sign copies of their new book, The 50 Mile Bouquet.  (The New York Times recently wrote an interesting article about the book and the “buy local” flower movement.  You can link to it here.)

Starting June 1st, the market will open its doors to retail buyers on Fridays from 10 – 2 and will charge a $5 fee for this privilege.  I appreciated getting an invitation to the Anniversary Party, even though I am not a wholesaler or florist.  I am proud to know this group of local flower growers who are working so hard to promote sustainability and local markets in the flower industry.  Small is beautiful!

Here are some photos of the day:

Twig baskets on the loading dock, from Oregon Coastal Flowers

Bucket full of calla lilies, Oregon Coastal Flowers

I simply cannot resist including another photo of these gorgeous calla lilies.

Buyer selects individual blooms from the choice inventory of J Foss Garden Flowers.

Janet, owner of J Foss Garden Flowers

Janet writes up a sale.

Another buyer

Casual seating area

Diane Szukovathy of Jello Mold Farm flanked by author Debra Prinzing and photographer David E. Perry with their book, The 50 Mile Bouquet

Debra Prinzing signing book

Debra Prinzing signing copies of her new book, The 50 Mile Bouquet

Photographer David E. Perry signing copies of his book, The 50 Mile Bouquet

The focus is on super fresh, seasonal flowers like these tulips.

Flower arranging demonstration

Flower arranging demonstration

Diane Szukovathy speaking passionately to local buyers and florists

Diane talking with her hands

Jello molds at the warehouse from Jello Mold Farm

Reflections in a mirror at the warehouse

Purchases on the loading dock

Diane Szukovathy, President of the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market Cooperative

A Seattle Spring Destination: Washington Park Arboretum’s Azalea Way

Azalea Way, Washington Park Arboretum

The azaleas at the Washington Park Arboretum are just now starting to bloom and will likely be in full splendor by Mother’s Day.  Azalea Way is the main walking thoroughfare in the park, a grassy expanse dotted with park benches and lined with trees and flowers.  It’s a relaxing place for a stroll or a picnic.

Bench tucked in by azalea bush, Washington Park Arboretum

One of several viewpoints, Washington Park Arboretum

Azaleas in the morning sunlight

Azalea buds and blooms

These azalea buds will be opening in the next couple of weeks.

Azalea buds

Azalea bud, unopened

Azalea in bloom

Azalea Way in late April

Purple azaleas

More buds

Another view of Azalea Way

Southern end of Azalea Way

Azaleas, Washington Park Arboretum

 

 

 

 

 

Painting with Pollen

"Pollen from Hazelnut" by Wolfgang Laib (1995-96)

You wouldn’t think that a patch of yellow would be so mesmerizing.

Wolfgang Laib’s “Pollen from Hazelnut” is currently installed at the Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington.  This unusual piece of art is a square “field” of pollen collected from the area around Laib’s home in Germany.  It is part of the collection of the Henry Art Gallery, and the pollen is stored in a glass jar when it is not on exhibit on the floor for patrons to view from a doorway.

It reminded me of Rothko’s abstract “Red” paintings, only done in brilliant yellow.  Your thinking mind has to constantly remind itself that it is looking at pollen, not paint.  You just aren’t accustomed to seeing pollen applied as an art medium.

If you are intrigued, you can read more about this installation in a recent Seattle Times review at this link.

Soft edges

Pollen viewed from across the hall

"Pollen from Hazelnut" at the Henry Art Gallery

(Special thanks to my friend, Carol, for telling me about this exhibit and urging me to see it.)

Powwow Photos Posterized

I’ve been playing around with some of the special effects on Picasa’s photo-editing program.  I particularly liked how some of my powwow images looked with the posterized effect.  I found that some of my blurred photographs were “redeemed” in this format.  Some of the strong designs in the native regalia translated into striking shapes on the posterized version.  Take a look and tell me what you think:

 

 

 

41st Annual First Nations Spring Powwow

Two young girls with braids

This weekend was the 41st Annual First Nations Spring Powwow at the University of Washington in Seattle.  It was held indoors at the Hec Edmundson Pavilion on campus.  I attended both Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.  I loved every bit of the pageantry, color, drumming, skills and talents that I observed.  Here are some photos:

Young dancer, shawl dance

Jingle skirts

Young jingle dancer

Dancer in full regalia

Energetic footwork

Getting ready for Saturday's Coastal tribes Grand Entry

Button blanket

Impressive carved whale head gear, Coastal tribes

Saturday's opening ceremony performed by Coastal tribes

Bearing the flags, another Grand Entry

Powwow portrait

Grand Entry

Processing in, the Grand Entry

The floor was full of dancers in colorful regalia

Dancing

Following the feet during the Grand Entry

Another powwow portrait

Powwow portraits

Powwow portrait, Caddo tribe regalia

Caddo dancer (breastplate incorporated shells from his military service)

 

Spring Views from the Path around Green Lake

Spaceneedle on the horizon across Green Lake

Spring has sprung around Green Lake, and the sights from the walking path around the lake are just lovely.  Warmer weather brings more people out to our cherished city park.

Beds of long-blooming daffodils separate a parking lot from the lake path

Green Lake tree (photo with Orton-ish effect)

Cherry blossoms, Green Lake (photo with Holga-ish and HDR-ish effects)

Cherry blossoms at Green Lake (photo with Holga-ish and HDR-ish effects)

Park bench along the lakeside path, Green Lake

Victorian home overlooking the lake along Green Lake Way

Victorian house with Lomo-ish effect

Looking into the canopy, Green Lake (photo with Holga-ish effect)

Landscaped yard on a residential street I pass on my way home from Green Lake (photo with Orton-ish effect)