twilight picnic

In my ever-editing mind's eye, this outing might have looked more like some serene magazine spread than the creased picnic mat and hunks of leftover cheeses that we had on hand. But it was plenty indulgent, because it was a dusky weeknight outing and we were in the dahlia garden and had a thermos of hot port.

That beverage idea comes from Ireland last Christmas. It was kind of weirdly sweet-savory-good (half port, half hot water, some fresh oj and some crushed thyme) but I still glugged down two teacups to stay nice and toasty as the sun set over these crazy colorful beauties.

When I grow dahlias, these little crunchy bugs with pinchers that I call earwigs (but I don't think they really are) burrow deep inside the petals and scare the bejesus out of me when they fall out on the kitchen floor. These do not appear to be hiding any such creepy crawlies. Try this outing on a Thursday night and you will go to sleep with visions of huge flowerheads floating through your port-soaked dreams. In a good way.

Comments

[Janice Hawkes]

Yes, indeed those creatures are called earwigs!
Absolutely love the dahlia garden, cheers.