Form and colour

One of the residents in our small block left a strange piece of sculpture (a protype) in the courtyard garden that was obviously suitable for being transformed into a planter. I had several ferns that I had rescued from going to landfill in Cornwall and they had outgrown their pots. My neighbours donated a similarly pot-bound hoster.

The courtyard at Ribaucourt doesn't get many hours of sunlight so for the rest I went for shade tolerent plants - focusing on contrasting forms rather than colourful flowers. The elongated fern leaves and generous roundness of the hosters have been interplanted with grasses and cineria (the silvery-blue plant with crenalated leaves, that shines more in winter). The pink campion thriving in the background was a volunteer that was in the soil with one the ferns and adds a bit of colour. There are one or two other wild flowers struglling to break through from under the ferns. A couple of bulbs, left over from last summer, with spiky leaves (that may or may not flower) complete the landscape. I'm rather pleased with my 'installation'.

Meanwhile in the kitchen I have been playing with colour. I recently came across black pasta for the first time and just had to try it. It's organic (coloured with squid ink) and I have been playing with it since. This dish combines the black past with seafood and vegables cooked in red palm oil and tumeric. The mozarella and chives were more for more show than an integral part of the recipe but they did add intesrting new flavours