SPRING IN A BOWL

Bibimbap-
Healthy and Delicious !

Spring conjures up thoughts of fresh greens and veggies and no other dish I know of says it better than Korean bibimbap. Spinach , bean sprouts, shredded leaf lettuce, cucumbers, and carrots topped with an egg and served over rice is just like spring in a bowl .While the preparation is a bit involved the results are well worth it.

Bobbie Flay of Boy Meets Grill on the Food Network cooks up this dish on one of his shows and you can find the recipe there. This is one of our family favorites.

Traditionally bibimbap was served over rice with a dallop of kochujang ( hot sauce ) but it can also be used with noodles as well.

URBUS UN HORTO -CITY IN A GARDEN

Looking down at Millenium Park from the 21st floor

Aha ! A green roof in the heart of Chicago

Entrance to Millenium Park
( off Michigan Ave. )

The redbuds and tulips are in bloom.

Got any extra money you're not using?
Donald Trump Tower isn't finished yet.

A secret garden ( and the only one in the building ! )
I found behind the public one on
the 19th floor of my friend's high rise overlooking
Millenium Park.

This garden is on the 9th floor and is for use of all
residents of the high rise.

I had a belated birthday lunch with my friend who has a condo overlooking beautiful Millenium Park in the heart of downtown Chicago. What a wonderful day we enjoyed strolling down my old haunts on Michigan Avenue.

BETTY IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER

Last April my beautiful Betty magnolia was frozen in the bud and I wasn't able to enjoy her beautiful blooms.

This April has passed without a hard freeze and so Betty has now graced us with her beauty for more than a week now. The purple you see behind Betty are my neighbors Lilacs.

May is a wonderful month in the garden. Almost everything has emerged from its long winter's sleep. My Asian pear and Olga Mezitt rhodo are in full bloom. The dwarf iris are almost ready to send out their blues and yellows and the Weeping dwarf Crabapple is a beautiful scarlet until it unfurls its pink flowers. Blue creeping phlox and the Korean azalea are in bloom.

It's too cool now but it won't be long until we can sit out in the garden until the sun goes down. I hope to catch a glimpse of the hummingbird that visits my Olga Mezitt Rhodo every year. The bees are buzzing around it already.

Welcome Spring and welcome back, Betty .