It’s the time of year where we wish our April days away for the warmer weather that lies ahead. I have noted on my daily stroll to and from the train for work that there are signs all around me that Spring is indeed trying to burst through: new growth, daffodils in bloom, the chorus of birds greeting the day, the buds on the trees overhead and those crisp, sunshine filled mornings that awaken my senses.
It all has me thinking about a place I love, where I simply do not enjoy spending time during this season. However, it’s oh so inviting through late Spring, Summer and into Fall. This place is presently a stranger to me: my deck!
An outdoor space in Chicago that you can call your own, is a true luxury. I decided this past Wednesday to make the pilgrimage to what has become a barren, colorless and lifeless space over the winter months, to see what work I truly needed to. I was delighted to see that some of my perennials had already sought the warmth of the spring sunshine, yet other planters showed no sign of life; here’s where my work lies.
Last season I was not as committed to my garden as I could have been, preferring to keep to the color of annuals in bloom, and tall grasses that took little to no maintenance. The year before, I had tried my hand at an assortment of herbs and vegetables, randomly selected for their color or variety, but rarely supporting any real use in my kitchen. But that was before my time here as a member of The Chopping Block team! I now understand the difference fresh herbs and seasonal produce can make to the results in my kitchen. Just last 
week, I took a Julia Child class that celebrated the recipes of Spring and used fresh herbs in all of the dishes with the exception of dessert. Always a lover of steak, this past week saw me create a simply splendid Chimichurri sauce right at home for the first time.
These recent experiences have help me confirm that this season my deck and garden will at the very least be home to cilantro, parsley, tarragon, mint and basil, with a likely smattering of tomatoes, peppers in their various forms, and a generous assortment of friends with which to share the bounty of my efforts!