Today it is raining in Seattle. My garden is finally quenching its thirst and the air outside smells like wet earth and worms. I let the smuggled (thanks Gi!) Achicoria (Chicorium intybus L.) grow wild in the garden. Besides the leaves, it turned out to have long convoluted stalks with buds all over, so I let them grow to see what the flowers look like. Wild chicory is sold as Dandelion leaves at our co-op, it is related to the daisy family and the leaves are more tender than the Dandelion's. It turns out that the buds along its crooked stalks burst into beautiful sky blue flowers. Aside from having pretty flowers, Chicory leaves are good fresh and cooked and the root is roasted as a coffee. Its medicinal benefits are said to be liver cleansing, anti-inflammatory and digestive.

In other news, a new family moved into the house next door. They are 7 kids, grandma and a dad.
Gi and I met 6 of the kids this weekend. We planted potatoes in my garden, tasted all the herbs and strawberries, played with cameras and hung out on the porch.
When Gi and I finally told the kids that we had to go inside and eat dinner, they asked if we could come out and play afterwards. I haven't heard that question in a long time and I have to admit that I liked it.

I look forward to coming outside to play this summer.