Ciao Tutti!

This weekend we will travel to Piemonte to taste the “Fosche” Piemonte DOC Chardonnay ($20.25) from the Vite Colte winery in Barolo. Vite Colte (Cultured Lives) was created under the patronage of the Terre da Vino Cooperative which was founded in 1980 and has approximately 5,000 hectares under vine. Vite Colte was founded in 2010 with the goal of identifying the best growers and vineyards in Piemonte, a lofty goal since Piemonte contains some of the most prized vineyards in Italy that produce Barolo and Barbaresco!

Vite Colte quickly rose to be the flagship producer for Terre da Vino and key to their success was that one of the most knowledgeable agronomists about Piedmontese indigenous grapes, Daniel Eberle, came on board to work closely with winemaker Bruce Cordero. Vite Colte’s 180 growers devote part of their vineyards to the Vite Colte “Project” . They must adhere to strict protocols from planting to vinification on their 300 hectares of land that results in very high standards of consistent quality that is maintained from year to year. Behind each bottle of Vite Colte wine is a story, a family and a face.

I have been searching for an Italian Chardonnay  to replace my fondness for California’s Monterey County Chardonnay and this one may be “The One”, since the tasting notes mention a taste of honey crisp apples, my fave apple variety.  “Fosche” translates as “gloomy”, which probably refers to the fog that descends from the mountains to cover the grapes and allow them to reach their full potential. Come join me at Piazza Italian Market Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 and see if my search for an Italian Chardonnay will end with Fosche- it may be “The One” for you too!

Cin Cin!

Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

The answer to last week’s mystery is skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus, pictured in photo below.

The large spathe surrounding the spadix cabbage gets its name from the unpleasant odor it emits.

The skunk cabbage exhibits thermogenesis, or the ability to metabolically generate heat. Its spadix can generate temperatures on average 20 degrees warmer inside the spathe than the surrounding air temperature for nearly two weeks. It can also bloom while there is still snow and ice on the ground.

Skunk cabbage attracts pollinators that are drawn to rotting meat, primarily carrion-feeding flies and gnats. It is also visited by bees, beetles, and other insects, possibly because of the warmth.

Skunk cabbage has a massive root system, with roots which pulls the plant deeper into the soil each year. A few inches below the surface, a thick mat of unbranched, fibrous roots grows out in all directions from the elongated rootstock, terminating in an extensive system of fibrous rootlets. The roots and rootstock store large amounts of nutrients necessary for thermogenesis and to produce the lush foliage the following year.

Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.

Now in its 195^th year, the award-winning PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is a one-of-a-kind marquee event known the world over for its exquisite and immersive floral exhibits, world-class plant competitions, family-friendly activities and educational offerings. It is a top destination and a must-experience horticultural event. On Mon., March 4, join Adkins Arboretum for an unforgettable trip to this year’s show, “United by Flowers.”

“United by Flowers” is a celebration of the community that blooms each spring at the annal Show—a moment with hundreds of thousands of visitors share in a week-long magnification of the transformative power of gardening. In this fragmented world of consistently changing landscapes, everyone who participates brings their passion and enthusiasm to co-create this unique event that proudly puts this vibrant and colorful collective on display.

The Philadelphia Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event. The show will be packed with a variety of flowers and plants at the peak of seasonal perfection. Visitors can expect spectacular floral and garden displays, educational areas, plant exhibits, shopping, a play area for families and plentiful food and drink options. Hundreds of spectacular native butterflies can also be experienced in the Butterflies Live! exhibit. The Arboretum group will be admitted to the show at 9 a.m.—a full hour before it opens to the public.

The trip is $150 for Arboretum members and $185 for non-members. The bus departs from Aurora Park Drive in Easton at 6:45 a.m. and will stop for pickups at the Rt. 50 westbound/Rt. 404 Park and Ride near Wye Mills and the 301/291 Park and Ride in Millington. Return time is 4 p.m. Advance registration is required at adkinsarboretum.org or by calling 410-634-2847, ext. 100.

Ciao Tutti!

This weekend we travel to Piemonte to taste the Dolcetto d’Alba ($17.25) from the Azienda Agricola Fratelli Seghesio vineyard. Wine made from the Dolcetto grape is dry, never sweet, for its nickname “little sweet one” refers to the fact that only the grapes are sweet. Dolcetto was the favorite grape of both Luigi Einaudi, Italy’s President from 1948 to 1955, and Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, who served as Italy’s first Prime Minister, beginning in 1852.

Dolcetto is considered the third of Piedmont’s Big Three Reds but third place behind the stellar Barolo and Barbaresco is quite an accolade!  The majority of Alba’s gentle slopes are covered with vines arranged in neat rows as if they had been combed by a giant rake. There are seven Dolcetto DOC wines in Piemonte and Dolcetto d’Alba is one of the best known and has the fullest body.

Seghesio’s Dolcetto is dry with a bright ruby red color, fresh black cherry and red fruit taste, soft tannins, in short, very easy to drink. Pair with antipasti or other starters, cold meats, pasta and pizza. Today, Piazza’s  prepared dinners of Bucatini all’ Amatriciana, Hand Made Gnocchi, or Pasta alla Norma would all taste great with a glass of Dolcetto.

Many of you enjoy this winery’s Barbera d’Alba so come join me to taste its grape “cousin” at Piazza Italian Market on Friday from noon to 5:45 and Saturday from noon to 4:45.

Cin Cin!

Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

The answer to last week’s mystery is sweet birch, Betula lenta, pictured below.

Also known as black or cherry birch, this native species is present throughout much of eastern North America. It is found in moist ravines and cool forests with well drained, deep, rich soil – although, occasionally it can be found in rocky or shallow soils.

Birches frequently have catkins in winter. Unlike most other birches, mature Betula lenta can develop hard, scaly plates. Sweet birch is valued for its wood, which when exposed to air darkens to resemble mahogany.

The inner bark of sweet birch has a strong wintergreen scent, which led to its use in the production of oil of wintergreen. Interestingly, the wintergreen produced from sweet birch is identical to that produced by the wintergreen plant. At one time, sweet birch was the only source of oil of wintergreen, an essential oil known for its antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal, and antioxidant properties.

Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. for more about Adkins Arboretum, please go here.

Adkins Arboretum received a 2023 Chesapeake Bay Trust Outreach grant to partner with ShoreRivers on a “Naturally Better Landscaping” project that strives to educate and empower local homeowner associations to adopt environmentally-friendly landscaping practices. The project was prompted by the passage of Maryland House Bill 322, which prohibits HOA governing bodies from restricting homeowners who employ landscaping techniques that benefit the environment.

By using native plants in conjunction with other environmentally friendly techniques such as leaving the leaves, reducing turf, and finding alternatives to toxic fertilizers and pesticides, homeowners can help support wildlife and keep our waterways clean. Land, water, and wildlife are inextricably linked, and the choices homeowners make play an important role in safeguarding our environment.

During the initial “Naturally Better Landscaping” project year, Adkins and ShoreRivers have provided field experiences, site visits, and community presentations to Bay Bridge Cove and Chester Harbor HOAs in Queen Anne’s County, as well as Back Creek HOA in Talbot County. They have also developed garden concept designs and online and print resources. The project was featured in the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council’s “Turning a New Leaf” conference in December.

Queen Anne’s County officials have welcomed the “Naturally Better Landscaping” project as a way to raise awareness about best landscaping practices and stormwater management. With their encouragement, Adkins has applied for a second year of funding in hopes of working with three new HOAs in addition to the HOAs currently engaged. Mallard Run HOA in Stevensville has already expressed interest.

To learn more about the Naturally Better Landscaping project, visit adkinsarboretum.org.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. For more information, visit adkinsarboretum.org.

Leslie Harris

The Talbot County Garden Club announces its 2024 winter lecture series featuring opportunities for you to learn the most current local and regional approaches to florals and gardens. Presenters will offer expert insights and tips that you can apply at home and in your own private garden.

These presentations, which begin at 11 am at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton, are free and open to the public:

Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Garden consultant and podcaster LESLIE HARRIS, LH Gardens, Charlottesville, VA
“Thoughtful Gardening: How to Combine Sustainability with Beauty in the Garden”

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Horticultural consultant, garden coach and award-winning educator/author/podcaster EVA MONHEIM, Verdant Earth Educators, LLC, Glenside PA

“Shrubs and Their Ecological Function in the Landscape”

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

TCGC’s Talbot County Tour of the Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage co-chairs ZANDI NAMMACK AND KIM ECKERT, Easton, MD

 “Shhh…Want a Sneak Peak??? – Preview the Talbot Tour, coming on May 11, 2024.”  

Questions about the programs should be directed to [email protected].