An indelible imprint of the season

Sweet woodruff is a rambling ground cover that colonizes shady nooks in the garden, forming a companionable carpet beneath other plants. It is a pleasing but unremarkable herb. Except for a moment in spring when its tender stems, stacked with whorls of green leaves, are topped by constellations of starry white blossoms. Then it is exquisite.

In the garden or when freshly picked, sweet woodruff has little scent. But as the plant wilts, it releases an aroma of vanilla and straw—sweet with an earthy undertone. Fragrance may be unseen, but it is one of the garden’s most potent elements. An indelible imprint of the season.

—from my new book, Color In and Out of the Garden posted to IG on May 23rd

(You’ll find all of my daily posts and garden musings here on Instagram.)

Flavor & Fragrance

While harvesting rhubarb and picking the first flowering stems of sweet woodruff in the garden, I was inspired to combine the two in a very garden-forward sip. Let me know what you think if you try this.

• Chop rhubarb and layer with freshly harvested sweet woodruff flowers and stems in a container

• Top ingredients with sugar, as sweet as you like—or not—and pound with a muddler or a wooden spoon to get the juices flowing.

• Macerate mixture in a cool location for 24 hours then strain syrup into a glass jar and refrigerate.

• Mix with sparkling wine or water — the first backyard strawberry would make a delightful garnish. 

It’s shaping up to be a busy month with workshops, talks and travel — details below.

I’m so glad you’re here,

xo
Lorene

Each hand-bound accordion folio is made up of 4 original color studies within a protective cover wrapped in vintage gardening text. Each one-of-a-king booklet is signed. #6 pictured here and in painting detail above in header.

Limited quantities—subscribers get first dibs.

Recent writing: “Think Pink,” GROW in The Seattle Times
You can’t go wrong by picking a Dianthus for sweetly scented garden beds, vase displays—or just because you can.

Reading: “Life in the Studio, Inspiration and Lessons on Creativity” by Frances Palmer. I’m so excited to meet Frances, along with Ronnie Nicole Robinson, another artist whose work is grounded in the garden, at this month’s Slow Flowers Summit in the Hudson Valley - are you going?

Find this book, along with a selection of my favorite authors and titles in my a handmade garden Bookshop

Upcoming Events & Workshops
June 15 -  MOLM (Meeting of Like Minds) Seeing Color in the Garden, a virtual lecture open to all. Follow link to register

June 20 – Now is the Time for Trees, Dan Lambe in conversation with Lorene Edwards Forkner at Third Place Books. The event is free and open to the public. Advance registration required.

June 24 -  Color In and Out of the Garden, an in-person, hands-on workshop (!!!) at the New York Botanical Garden. I’m, what’s the word... oh yeah: THRILLED to be gathering at this remarkable garden. Hope to see you there. Follow link to register