You Grow Girl™

I have searched high and low in Canada for a place that sells ‘Meyer’ lemon trees. No such luck. Whenever I visit the U.S I am taunted by all of the trees I find for sale in various garden stores. It doesn’t matter whether I am in a warm southern state, a temperate state, or a cold, Northern state. ‘Meyer’ lemon trees are sold in every city.

It’s like America is sticking its tongue out at me and laughing.

If you have have occasion to smell a ‘Meyer’ lemon blossom or taste a fruit, do it. You will not be disappointed. It is the happiest smell in the world.

While in Austin I made a trip to the Saturday Farmers’ Market. I love visiting markets in other towns to get a sense of the variety that is local to each area. We’re just coming out of winter here in Toronto so the selection at my weekly market is meager. Austin, on the other hand, is well into spring so the selection was very exciting.

One of my favorite purchases were these green tomatoes. I fully intended to indulge in fried green tomatoes, until I realized that, oops, most of the ingredients come in large bags and I wasn’t going to be able to use them up in a 6 day stay. In the end I did not make the tomatoes but did order a plate at the local BBQ joint.

I left the tomatoes behind hoping that the next group to stay in the little cottage will use them up. Probably wishful thinking on my part.

Also commonly known as Chinese Fringe Flower. This particular plant was growing up against the wall of the little cottage we stayed in while in Austin. It’s very pretty, and the color of both the flowers and foliage is just stunning; however, it lacks the fragrant scent of common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) flowers.

I’m currently in Austin where it is now warm and sunny after a few days of cold rain and gray. There are flowers here! And I can smell the soil. Hooray!