Everyone knows that April showers
bring May … collard greens. And kale. And beets. And peas and lettuces and
fabulous arugulas—but did you also know that, in some cases, and in some years,
in certain parts of the world, April showers have also been purported to bring
May … mustard greens?
It's
true—but only if you do your part and plant the necessary veggie seeds or
starts to catch those April showers in the first place. Otherwise, you'll be
left with nothing but May mud. Fortunately, here at Ravenna Gardens, we can
help you with all the logistics of turning drizzly Spring into delicious
Summer. Whether you're simply looking to grab your old-favorite sugar snap peas
or you woke up this morning with an itch for something a little crazy (why,
what have we here, are those reddish-purple Brussels sprouts?), we've got you
covered. Crazy plant itches are our specialty.
Er
… that came out wrong.
But
seriously, the purple Brussels sprouts are amazing.
What
I mean to say is that our store is positively bursting with edible awesomeness.
This year, I daresay, we have assembled the mightiest, most dazzling, most
drool-inducing collection of fruits, herbs and veggies on record. From old standards
to oddballs; from brand new to rare heirlooms, there's a little something for
everyone.
There
is, in fact, a lot of something for everyone, if everyone feels so
inclined. And I wouldn't blame you if you were. There are just too many
temptations to walk away empty handed; my own shopping list looks something
like this: one of everything. For veggies, that means goodies like
purple broccoli, blue leeks, red cabbage, scarlet kale, rainbow chard, all
colors of heirloom lettuces, and, my personal favorite: wild Italian arugula.
It's spicy; it's perennial (yes, mine has come back from last year) … and I
can't stop eating it. Seriously. I may or may not be eating wild Italian
arugula even as I write this.
But
let's not forget about the fruits. I have heard rumors, from a credible source,
that Ravenna Gardens currently has in stock espaliered apple trees, each limb
of which sports a different variety of apple. And if that doesn't blow your
mind, we have white strawberries that taste like pineapple! I couldn't make
this stuff up if I tried. Then there's the hot-shot dwarf berry that's taking
the world by storm: Raspberry Shortcake. These feisty little plants pump out
scrumptious fruit all Summer long, without ever growing more than a couple feet
tall. If you have room for a pot on your patio, bingo, you now have room for a
raspberry plant. And how could we ignore those most elegant of fruiting shrubs:
the blueberries? Equally at home in the container, ornamental or edible garden,
no garden is complete without a couple of blueberry plants. I may even amend
that to state that no person is complete without a couple blueberry
plants.
Audacious?
Perhaps, but here at Ravenna Gardens we are nothing if not passionate about our
plants. Especially this time of year, when the excitement is not only palpable,
but palatable as well. So stop by soon and join in the fervor.
Your
salad awaits.
-
L.R.
