The Dewdrop World

Farmers Market in "Winter"

We hadn't been able to go to the farmer's market in about six weeks. I was so curious to see how farmer's market in California would reflect "winter." According to the old calendar, this is the season when winter can first be felt (立冬).  In Japan, things would start to feel quiet and water would freeze (海凍、滝凍) . In fact, even the moon begins to freeze (月凍)!

In Tochigi, by now tomatoes, peaches and plums would be no longer delicious, even if you could find them. But autumn is my favorite season for eating, so we would pull out the nabe for hotpot and all the winter foods would be discussed and plans made for eating.  Gingko nuts, oysters, mushrooms, persimmons...

Today I discovered that even in California, the market reflected the approaching winter. There was not a peach or plum in sight. Instead, it was persimmons and apples. And some strawberries. Pomegranates aplenty. 

We don't eat enough fish anymore for me to notice the season.

The only time we buy it is at the farmer's market, where sustainable comes at a price ($67 for a pound of swordfish and a pound of salmon). There were small heirloom tomatoes though.... but mainly it was lettuce, potatoes, root veggies and radishes everywhere. 

And no more dahlias. The tequila guy had heaps of chrysanthemums!

And, for the first time ever, safflowers! (They have stalks like bok choy). 

On Flowers

I just finished a wonder celebration of flowers by Amy Merrick, called: On Flowers: Lessons from an Accidental Florist.

I loved reading about how she longed for Japan--and even felt homesick for this place--to which she had never been. But looking at her arrangements, they were such perfect expressions of Japanese tea flowers (茶花 chabana). My tea teacher was much more well known as an ikebana teacher and she specialized in chabana. I loved her arrangements every week adorning the tokonoma in the tea room.... always dewy and arranged so naturally to appear just as they would in a meadow--out in nature. Like me, she is also drawn to English gardens-- Sissinghurst, which is my favorite garden in the world. 

One more thing that is wonderful about her book, she encourages us to "forage."

In japan, we always did that! Like "maple leaf hunting" (紅葉狩り）.. in Japan, there are things you are meant to appreciate from a distance and there are other things which you need to gather and bring home... I purchased a tiny pair of Japanese scissors to keep in my walking bag for foraging (My neighbors should love that!) Really, in LA, everything now is private property... it is so sad. I press flowers regularly and always have fresh flowers at home.. but I think it is time really to learn how to garden. 

(Today is the first day of winter 立冬 according to the ancient calendar, when The First Camellia Blossoms)