Arctic Bells is a hoop-petticoat (miniature) daffodil with exquisite little blooms that open a pale cream and slowly turn to ivory white. Helen Chesnut photo. Garden column Saturday, April 10.
Dwarf irises like this Katherine Hodgkin are among the many small bulbs that are easily tucked into pansy and viola planters in the fall. Helen Chesnut photo. Garden column Saturday, April 10.
One of the food gardens late winter and early spring treats is tender young side shoot clusters and broccoli-like flowerbuds on kale plants. Helen Chesnut photo. Garden column Saturday, April 10. Early last autumn, I felt very fortunate as I ambled through the impressive selection of spring-flowering bulbs at a garden centre close to my home. A considerable number of them were marked as new releases on the retail market.
Lavender Shortbread 2/3 cup sugar 1 Tbsp chopped fresh mint 2 1/3 cups flour 1/2 cup corn starch 1/4 Tsp salt Cream first four ingredients together, until light and fluffy. Add flour, corn starch and salt. Beat until combined. Divide the dough in half, flatten into squares, and wrap in plastic. Chill until firm. On a floured board, roll or pat out each square to a thickness of three-eighths inch. Cut the dough into one and one-half inch squares or rounds, and transfer to baking sheets that are covered with parchment paper. Space them one inch apart, and prick each cookie several times with the tines of a fork.