Capital Beans

Last week the Mister and I ventured to D.C. for some legume tourism*. Saturday at a bridal shower I had my first ever edamame and radish tea sandwich (the filling had the color of this paste from the Artsy-Foodie blog), which was very good but not as tasty as the basil and bacon or mushroom butter sandwiches.

Sunday we went to the US Botanical Garden (on the National Mall, not to be confused with the giant National Arboretum away from downtown) and I was impressed by the number of legumes in flower. There were forced redbuds in vases, brooms in the bulb display, several economically important legumes in the "plants and people" hall, and fairy dusters in fruit in the desert. The plant which impressed me the most, however, was an Australian vine dripping with deep purple bean flowers. Hardenbergia violaceae 'Happy Wanderer' is evergreen, drought tolerant and can take freezing temperatures down to about 23 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the San Marcos Growers website from whence the image is taken. (Karen's Flicker Photo and another capture the depth of color very well).

Sunday night we introduced Mervivian to Ethiopian seasonings and were reminded that we should prepare yellow split peas along with our favorite red lentils in berber.

We drove home on a gusty sunny day through the battlefield at Manassas and Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park where mud season has not visibly given way to spring in legumes or any other plants.

This morning the Mister planted peas.

*Okay, the intent of the trip was to see a dear friend who will soon by moving and take in city life for a weekend , but legumes make it sound much more interesting.