The GARDEN POST (You Knew It Was Coming)

Lloyd Page is an efficient garden helper. He chases away even the snakes he doesn't eat!

Tiny pearl onions are ready. The long thin stems boast more flavor than scallion greens and are garnishing everything except oatmeal at Cafe Drake HRV this week.

Growing micro-greens so we can garnish like da fancy restaurantz! Above, a planted mixture of Beet Bull's Blood, Cabbage Red Acre, Kohlrabi and Pak Choi seeds.

The best Vietnamese restaurants (see the trend here in the HRV) always provide rau ram in the leafy herb condiment platter served with soupy entrees. We're growing our own, all from Asian supermarket cuttings.

The oregano, a creeping variety, was looking splendid before the heavy, saturating rains of the last 72 hours. Hopefully it will dry off and return to its bushy glory seen here (last week).

So happy to tell you this thriving shiso also came from supermarket (Japanese markets of course) cuttings. We put the store-bought herbs in small shot glasses of water after trimming and waited for them to sprout roots before planting.

Strawberries are growing. Let's just hope Monsoon Weekend (a/k/a/ Memorial Weekend 2013) hasn't drowned them all.

Cafe Drake HRV is so proud of this baby - thriving dill stalks grown from seeds started inside in frigid March 2013.

The garlic is high! How much do we love free garlic scapes in our back yard?

Rhododendron bushes brutally hacked back during four months of constant snow survived to bloom another day.

Spring irises have grown up to 3 feet tall.

Borage seeds planted judiciously are peeking through the soil. We can hardly wait to harvest their bright blue blossoms for cucumber-flavored salad garnishes and cocktail simple syrup.

Up and Down with Lovage. One day it's fine, the next it's on its last leg. Able to hit heights of 8 feet we're betting on this one. The thick hollow stems can be used as straws for Bloody Marys and other savory drinks or cocktails. Leaves are the prize with a gentle celery flavor perfect for those of us who don't love celery.

Poor sad crazy Chervil. Who knew an herb existed that couldn't stand too much water, too little water, too much sun, too much shade. Vastly trimmed of 90% dead growth, this poor plant struggles on . . . If only we didn't need it so much for cream sauces and fish dishes.

Lloyd emits a warning cry to birds swooping too close to the ground.

Heavenly Blue Morning Glory heirloom seeds from Hudson Valley Seed Library are holding on through the rain and wind. Our mother gifted us with several packs from this amazing company. Check out their site, linked above, for inspiration. Bonus: they're standing strong with us all in the fight against Monsanto.