Thursday 20 May 2010

Seed Cathedrals and blossom cordials


First I want to share with you these fantastic photos of Tom Heatherwicks Seed cathedral.
This is Britain's entry to Shanghai's 2010 expo.
What an incredible building made out of 60,000 transparent rods each containing a different single seed currently being held in Kew gardens seed collection.
Kew have been frantically trying to preserve as many of earths plants as possible due to whole plant species disappearing every year .
some of these tiny seeds that make up this amazing hairy building could have been used to make medicine that keep your granny alive for an extra five years, or hold the key to curing cancers.


The inside is just as spectacular, with the light shimmering through the rods to illuminate the cathedral like calm inside.
Isn't it spectacular, lets hope we win this years expo and that we get to see it over here in Britain.
Back to The seeds of my labour, which are proving fruitful in the garden. My mint and herb beds are explode into life. I made these yummy lavender biscuits and have been making various blossom cordials for the store cupboard.
My favourite has been the dandelion cordial which was drunk so quickly i only had half a bottle left for the photo.
I think every one should have a go at this one. Bottle that blossom to remind you of the summer sun in the depths of winter ,here is the recipe:
1/4 carrier bag of dandelion heads
3 lemons (zest and juice)
500g sugar
1.5 litres boiling water
shake the blossoms as you pick them to free any bugs.
Pore into a large container ,add the boiling water and continue to boil on the hob for 15-20 mins.
Turn off the heat, cover with a clean tea towel and leave over night.
Strain the mixture to remove the flower heads, add the lemon juice, zest and sugar.
Boil for 1/2 hour then pore into sterilised bottles while still hot and screw tight.
These should last at least 6 months unopened and 1 month once opened if kept in the fridge after opening.
This recipe also works with other blossoms such as crab apple blossom, elderflower and meadow sweet.
Give it ago you will be hooked.

Fin made some glasses whilst I was busy picking crab apple blossom of my tree.
And I found this unfortunate fellow inside the poly carbon roof sheet which will be our new conservatory.
Cooked alive in the sun, poor thing.
Preserved in plastic a bit like the seed cathedral, now that's a thought?