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The Garden Awakens

Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett

Blackberry-Lemon Pound Cake


Last week our neighbor gave us a big bag of blackberries. Michael said he would like a blackberry pound cake so I set out to find a recipe. I ended up adapting a Lemon Blueberry cake recipe and hoped for the best. It turned out great and Michael loved it.

2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
Zest of one large lemon
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Juice of one large lemon
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 cups blackberries (frozen or fresh)

Lemon Glaze

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 TBS. lemon juice
1 TBS. lemon zest
1 TBS. milk
1/4 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour 2 large loaf pans or a Bundt pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.

Cream the butter. Add the sugar, sour cream and lemon zest and beat for about 5 minutes.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well.

Add the vanilla and lemon juice.

Mix in the flour mixture alternatively with the buttermilk in two or three additions.

Fold in the blackberries.

Bake for 45-55 minutes until a tester comes out smooth.

Allow the cake(s) to cool completely on wire racks. Whisk the glaze ingredients together and pour it over the cooled cake.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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