Barefoot Contessa - Ina's Blog

Friday, May 17, 2013

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

I secretly love the garden in winter because there’s absolutely nothing to do! But then Spring comes along and I remember why I love gardens so much – the flowers pop out of the warm soil and the trees get bright green leaf buds. This week is my favorite week of all – when the crabapple trees bloom – it’s as though they’re ready for their “close-ups” dressed in their billowing white ball gowns. The bed in the front of the photograph is planted with deep blue “Scilla Siberica” bluebells combined with white and green “Spring Green” tulips; in the back of the photograph is a grove of white “Snowdrift” crabapple trees. I hope the weather is gorgeous where you are so you can be outside enjoying a garden somewhere!

Photos: Mallory Samson

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Rose Parade!

I’ve never met an apricot rose that I didn’t love. My friend and gardener Cathy Warren (we call her the “rose whisperer”) is my enabler. Right now I have Autumn Sunset roses climbing on my fence, Pat Austin roses climbing on my wall with clematis and lavender, and my favorite of all is Just Joey hybrid tea roses in my cutting garden. For an arrangement on the coffee table on my screened porch, instead of making a perfect round ball of roses as some florists do, I like to arrange them with leaves and buds so they look more like they do growing in the garden – it’s so natural and has a more country look. If you want to find my secret rose whisperer, Cathy is at Broadview Gardens, 651 Sagg Main Street, Sagaponack, New York or you can contact her at Broadview Gardens. In the fall, if Just Joey roses are available, you can order them from Edmunds Roses.

Photos: Mallory Samson

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Ina in "BLOOM"

Over the years I've bought lots of wonderful furniture and tableware at my friend Mona Nerenberg's design store BLOOM in Sag Harbor, New York. So I'm thrilled she's just opened a kitchen store next door that has antique bowls, olive oils, jams, kitchen towels - and big baskets filled with my favorite cedar cutting boards, which I use to serve everything from Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta to my French Apple Tart. In fact, I'm holding Mona's board with the crostinis on the cover of my new book that comes out this Fall! The handmade Moroccan cutting board is 21 inches long and costs $125. To order, call BLOOM at 631-725-5940. Click here for the recipes for Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta and my favorite French Apple Tart.

Ina's blog