Lunch with Patsy Pollack

May 17, 2017

Spring is a wonderful time to get together with friends.

Last weekend, after our morning at the Trade Secrets rare plant and garden antiques sale in Sharon, Connecticut, we drove to a tranquil town in New York State, where we enjoyed a lovely lunch at the weekend home of former colleague, Patsy Pollack. It has become a tradition to go to Patsy’s after Trade Secrets - in fact, we all look forward to the day’s events every year. Trade Secrets is such a fun affair, and it draws great gardeners and horticultural experts who bring unique and unusual varieties of plants, objects, and accessories for the garden and home. Plus, the funds from Trade Secrets aid the Women’s Support Services in that area, which offers free and confidential services to victims of domestic violence.

At Patsy's cottage, she served a delicious buffet of Greek-themed dishes. Despite a day of rain, we all enjoyed a delightful luncheon and walk through her pristine country gardens. Enjoy these photos.

: Patsy’s New York State weekend cottage is nestled among tall trees and lots of green foliage. It is always so relaxing to come here after a busy morning at Trade Secrets.

: There are several quaint seating areas on the property, including this unique bench at the edge of Patsy’s shade garden.

: Here is another serene sitting area among the woodland ferns and other plantings.

: The ferns are doing so well this year – look how beautiful they are in this area near Patsy’s garden shed. Planting multiples of one plant in a section of a garden can look so stunning.

: Across from the main house is a charming garden shed. The walking paths are covered with quarter-inch round stone – a beautiful ground cover for the bold green of the boxwood.

: The boxwood garden looks very lush and healthy. While the most familiar forms of boxwood are commonly referred to as “American” and “English” boxwood, there are about 90-species and more than 365 different cultivars.

: Patsy’s upper patio is covered with a beautiful wood pergola.

: Here are a few of Patsy’s collection of stone and cement planters. Stone garden pieces are very alluring in any outdoor space. In areas where temperatures dip below freezing in winter, turn containers over to drain or bring them indoors. A winter freeze can crack or crumble any kind of stone.

: This stone bench sat nearby. Flanking it are more of Patsy’s beautiiful stone vessels.

: This charming round iron planter is used for growing chives. Chives is the common name of Allium schoenoprasum, the smallest species of the onion genus. It is a popular edible, and used to flavor many dishes.

: On the porch is a very inviting space with a large, comfortable sectional for cool summer evening chats.

: This is a stack of river birch logs with its interesting curling bark. The bark of some birches can be peeled in continuous strips and makes for an excellent waterproof paper.

: Also on the porch is a stack of wood for the fireplace – everything is so charming and cozy.

: Outside the front door is this relaxing and inviting sitting area – I loved the stone footstools. Between the chairs – a silver lace begonia – an easy and elegant decoration.

: On a rustic wooden table on Patsy’s expansive wrap around porch is this vase of tulips – it adds just the right amount of color.

: Inside Patsy’s home are so many beautiful and interesting decorations – there was something to admire on every table.

: On the stairwell landing sits this faux fur covered stool with a photo of a cow on top.

: A lovely vase of fresh lilacs adds such wonderful spring color to this table.

: A French candle-lit chandelier hangs above the sitting area of Patsy’s sunroom.

: A whimsical arrangement of stone woodland animals – Patsy has been collecting stone garden pieces for many years.

: In the dining room, a side table is decorated with orchids, stone fixtures and lamps.

: Patsy collects all sorts of pottery from her travels and has an impressive collection of French ware. She designed this storage space for many of her plates and saucers.

: Lunch was served buffet style – a delicious Greek themed feast including lemon hummus, tabouleh, tzsatziki, a bulgar salad, a Greek salad, and a tapenade.

: In the center of the table, another gorgeous container of lilacs – all the lilacs are blooming so wonderfully this season. Did you see my recent blog on the lilac allee at my farm? http://www.themarthablog.com/2017/05/my-blooming-lilacs.html

: Here is a traditional Greek salad – complete with lettuce, onions, olives, peppers, tomatoes, cucumber and topped with feta cheese.

: Greek salad is always a huge hit with guests, so Patsy had two large bowls of it on the table – so delicious.

: There were also two bread baskets filled with warm, fresh pita breads.

: The chicken shish kebabs were so tasty – Patsy cooked these outside on the grill.

: Here is a wonderful lemon hummus – homemade by Patsy. Hummus is a dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. Today, it is popular throughout Middle Eastern cuisine. It can also be found in most grocery stores in North America and Europe.

: Perfect wheat crackers for the hummus

: Tabouleh is a Mediterranean vegetarian dish, sometimes considered a salad, and traditionally made of tomatoes, finely chopped parsley, mint, bulgur and onion. Originally from the mountains of Syria and Lebanon, tabbouleh has become one of the most popular dishes in the Middle East.

: This is a bulgur salad. Bulgur is a cereal food made from the groats of several different wheat species, most often from durum wheat. Bulgur is a kind of dried cracked wheat that is most common in European, Middle Eastern, and Indian cuisine.

: And, tapenade is a Provençal dish made with puréed or finely chopped olives, capers, anchovies and olive oil.

: Everything looks so delicious – everyone went back for seconds, sometimes even thirds.

: Dessert included these chocolate chestnut cookies. The recipe is on my web site. Everyone loved them. http://www.marthastewart.com/315927/chocolate-chestnut-cookies