Feeling sort of sad, that Franklin’s on his way to London and I’m not.

However, the sun is shining this morning, and the Aran sweater is finished. I discovered an errant stitch as I was laying it out, so I can’t officially declare it Finished until it’s dry and the stitch secured. I’m pleased with it, except for the design fault I mentioned yesterday.

Not much progress yesterday with the pink Araucania. I got the shoulders i-corded together and some pinning done, is all. Actual sewing should begin today.

Before that, however, today’s actual excitement: some old friends are coming to lunch. They will get Jamie Oliver’s tray-baked salmon with olives, green beans, anchovies and tomatoes (from “The Naked Chef”) which is probably what they had last time, three years ago. Easy to cook, easy to eat.

But I’ve got to flutter about, including rushing down to Tesco’s where fruit and vegetables are fresher than on Broughton Street.

Good King Henry

If I ever get back to the USofA (unlikely, now) I’ll have to go to Plimoth (the link in the NYTimes article is wrong) and have a look at their GKH. I think the quickest and easiest test would be to taste a leaf, and see if it really is bland.

But is it still there? Reading the article again with more care – you’re right, of course, Tamar that the gardener says she didn’t save seed, but bought it from catalogues every year – it sounds as if it may be based on research-done-by-email rather than an actual visit, and also as if GKH may not be there any more: “Ms Wall grew Good King Henry for years”.

I had always understood that GKH fell out of favour as true spinach came in (just as the article says) but that it happened because spinach tasted better. I have a Dover reprint of a wonderful book called Sturtevant’s Edible Plants of the World. I’ll have another look at the chenopodia when we’re next in Strathardle (where the book lives).