I put together this mixed lettuce bouquet from my garden as an unconventional hostess gift. I picked the lettuce 30 minutes before leaving the house to preserve as much freshness as possible. The leaves were washed and rolled in a moistened paper towel and aluminum foil. The gift tag is a wooden fork with the inscription, “Shirley’s Garden.” With a garden outside, I have food, gifts and beauty to share at all times.
My cousin Joanna Breckner was surprised by the bouquet and used some of it in the salad she prepared for us that day. Joanna loved the fact that the bouquet came with some “built in love from Shirley” and was both beautiful and healthful.
I was tempted to leave some of the soil on the lettuce to show its authenticity, but then I thought, “Yuck, I wouldn’t like someone to bring dirt into my kitchen, especially when I am entertaining!” Burlap ribbon gives the wrapped bouquet an organic finishing touch.
The colors from the different gourmet lettuces created a beautiful mixed lettuce bouquet! Next time you need to give a gift, check your garden first for a fresh idea before running out to the mall. What do you “gift” from the garden?
Love it! Had I found this earlier, I would have included it in my own blog post about lettuce bouquets… http://www.lettuceshare.com/2011/02/10/lettuce-bouquet/
Thanks very much for that! My dad recently harvested a garden full of tomatoes , and I find myself the proud owner of two or three buckets worth! Of course I couldnt eat them all like that, but I did find a website full of lots more tomato recipe at that site. A website dedicated the topic!! Crazy what you can find on the internets nowadays!!
i love to eat freshly picked lettuce.-‘:
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Hi Phillip, great to see you back.
Hi Kathy. Welcome to Eden Makers! I enjoyed your post on soil yesterday. Please visit again.
Shirley
Love it! I usually gift from my garden some cut flowers and sometimes a bundle of my lavender – but you have inspired me to think outside the traditional.
That is a great gift!!!
The wooden fork is the perfect touch. Good point about the soil.
We are drying herbs now and will give them as gifts in mason jars for christmas.
Regards,
Philip
I’ve been your fan for a long time! Years I guess….and I’m wishing you the very best. Things here are good cause we got rain and wishing that for you too. I’m so sorry for the fires. It breaks my heart.
I took my new award you gave me over to my gardening blog—I filled up my one blog with genealogy stuff. I needed a blog just for gardening and the Proven Winners articles I’m writing off and on. I’m expecting a shipment any day now. I’ve got them convinced I can garden;) I’m working on the writing part. It’s my dream to have one of everything they have growing in my yard. I’m not nearly there.
So good to see you and I can see you are busy as all get out….loved the end of the slide show on the Workman’s house and you all got fed. Now isn’t that nice!! When you get to NC, I’ll feed you too. Some day—we will be sitting on my front porch–guarantee it.
Dear Anna,
I have to say, you are giving my mom a run for her money as my biggest fan. Thanks for all your warm support. I truly look forward to meeting you some day! How’s everything in your neck of the woods?
shirley
Shirley—we( me and the friends that won’t leave my house at this late hour) were just looking at the Workman’s makeover you did on Garden Police. That is awesome and so much work!! You really transformed their yard in to beautiful curb appeal. Is that a new episode? I’ve got Discovery Home on my wish list for the new cable company!!!
Hey–I’m back, I brought a friend to see your bouquet. Showed her your gardens too. Now everyone is looking and praising your efforts. We are all huddled around the computer and it all looks grand. We can’t wait for you to tell us what you are working on and we’ll have a new cable company before too long—whoo hoo…What channel are you going to be on…I am going nuts wanting to know!!
Hi Shala, Nancy, Donna and Anna!
Thanks for the visit.
Shirley
That is a grand idea! I like the added burlap too. It’s simple but elegant.
This is a unique and charming idea.
I can’t think of a more welcome or appropriate hostess gift! You can come to my house any time! 🙂
Now that is a unique and wonderful gift! I would be so happy to receive a gift like that. Very thoughtful!