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10A Daily News – Saturday, March 24, 2012 Country Life & garden Kitchen a sunny, perfectly imperfect place By Mary MacVean Los Angeles Times (MCT) LOS ANGELES — Nothing is perfect in Matthew and Shelley Armistead's kitchen — which, in their case, is just perfect. The glass-fronted cup- boards have a mishmash of glasses and Cham- pagne flutes, vintage egg cups, a Superman mug, African tea cups and Beatrix Potter oatmeal bowls from Shelley's childhood. The counters are covered in fresh pro- duce and dishes in progress, some of them trials for Soho House, the private club and celebrity haven in West Hollywood where Matthew is chef and Shelley is general manager. Friends and col- leagues drop in. The cou- ple's two little boys wan- der in and out. The scene is the essence of casual and cool — perfect because it's not entirely perfect. In the three years the Armisteads have been in Los Angeles, they have had three homes, finally settling in Mar Vista, Calif., in a house with a light-filled kitchen with five windows that open onto the backyard. The yard, kitchen and adjacent dining area are the home's heart. "We have this big house and we never use it. We're always in here," says Matthew, 40, a for- mer furniture maker who started cooking as a way to fund a skiing habit. "Just messing around in the kitchen, that's what I love. You can literally home Get started on your container garden MCT photo Gerbera daisies thrive in an squared-off, 10-inch planter. MCT photo Matthew Armistead, right, the head chef at Soho House, in his home kitchen, fixes a platter of chicken piri piri, under the eyes of wife Shelley and 3-year-old son Isaac. just do something you've never done before." He is English, and Shelley is South African. They fell in love while working at the famed London restaurant River Cafe. The vintage Murano glass vases Shelley col- lected for their wedding decorate the kitchen. While he's making chicken piri piri and cauli- flower with wild rice, jalapeno and ginger, Matthew dispatches a friend outside to check on the coals. His wife leaves the kitchen briefly, reminding him to keep watch over the lentils she's cooking. The four-burner stove is gas — a requirement, Matthew says. Nearby are jars of tea, Maldon sea salt, a black granite mor- tar and pestle, and bottles of oils and soy sauce. "I go through gallons of olive oil," he says, standing at the stove in shorts and a shirt, a dish towel tossed over one shoulder. The kitchen walls are painted a pale pink, and the glass-fronted cup- boards contribute to the feeling of a sunny home- spun bakery. Cake stands hold muffins and bread from the Soho House; a green milk- glass pitcher stands ready. In the cupboard, there's a stack of lush Wonki Ware plates from Di Marshall Pottery in South Africa. On a wooden counter that separates the kitchen and dining area, a blue bowl holds Brus- sels sprouts. Other bowls and baskets contain squash, kiwi and pome- granates. Potatoes and limes go in a rustic wooden box. Many decisions in the kitchen are kid-centric. Joseph, 7, and Isaac, 3, eat limited amounts of wheat and dairy, but they already know their way around the spice drawer next to the stove. "Food brought us together as a family, and that's why I got into cook- ing," Matthew says. "That's what we do on the weekends now with our friends." By Kathy Van Mullekom Daily Press (MCT) A container garden makes good sense. Pots of plants are practical because you control the soil, a good thing if your soil is bad. You also eliminate critters like bunnies and voles from eating your plants. Container gardens can be a simple as geraniums in sin- gle pots lined on the front porch or as complex as an entire vegetable, herb or flower garden. Getting your container garden started is as easy as 1, 2, 3 ... here's how, according to Home Depot/homedepot.com garden experts: First things first – gather as many pots as you want to use just be sure that they can drain water and hold enough soil for the plant or plants you want to grow. Next, decide what exactly you want to plant. Pick flow- ers with beautiful, colorful blooms or plants with interesting sculptural shapes and textures. The sky's the limit so have fun with it. Then it's time to select the best potting mix for your choice. Keep in mind that different mixes work best for dif- ferent plants and flowers. You can even plant vegetables. After planting, place your containers near a window, water and fertilize regularly and enjoy! You may not want to move the pots outdoors until warm weather stabilizes. Transport your garden outside when the weather warms up by simply moving the containers. Move your garden per- manently by replanting your container plants and flowers. Container gardening is also a great option for apartment dwellers. Mexican Flame Vine sizzles with blossoms all growing season By Norman Winter McClatchy-Tribune When you hear names like Mexican Flame or Orange Glow this does a good job telling you this is a flower bold and riv- eting in color. Consider- ing it is a vine that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies and pack a fiery orange then you have an award winning plant. To be honest I think everyone should grow it if for no other reason than its botanical name Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides. Can you imagine what your neighbors would think, when they ask what's that gorgeous vine you are growing? Then you tell them the botanical name. The Mexican Flame vine is a woody tropical vine most references say is cold hardy in zones 9 and higher, however I have seen many doing just fine in zone 8. Almost everyone can enjoy it as an annual, and a lot more gardening centers in colder zones need to give you the opportunity. Like the name sug- gests the Mexican Flame vine is native to Mexico and is not that picky on soil. I've grown it in acid soil conditions more fit for azaleas and now I am growing it in alkaline soils more reminiscent of the desert. It is in the POTATOES - Red Lassoda - Yukon Gold - Russet - All Blue - All Red Red Bluff Garden Center 527-0886 766 Antelope Blvd. (Next to the Fairground) MCT photo This Gulf Fritillary finds the Mexican Flame Vine to be nectar rich. aster or daisy family in which you will quickly notice the similarities. No matter where you live you will love the ease of propagation. This is where the colder zones and always make sure they have fresh spring transplants. The vine can be layered by sticking a branch or run- ner if you please in moist soil. It will root easily and can be sepa- rated from the parent plant. It is also easy to propagate by seed that dry on the plant remind- ing you of dandelions, or by taking cuttings. I like to use a little rooting powder for this method. When you find yours at the garden center or in a specialty catalog go ahead and dig your hole about as twice as wide as the rootball. Plant at the same depth they are growing in the contain- er. Plant the vine next to a structure of support for climbing like a trellis, arbor or pergola. It is a compact vine that will only reach about 10 feet tall, and is drought toler- ant once established. You will need to do a lit- tle training to get it climbing. You'll also like that it is not a plant hammered by pests. The vine is great about re-blooming, and if you need to do a little cutting back it will quickly send out more growth and another round of blooms. The blazing orange just screams to be planted in partnership with com- plementary blue flowers. Here at the National Butterfly Center we have them in several locations. Some are growing with the blue ageratum-like Betony- leafed Mistflowers, oth- ers with the Butterfly Mistflower also known as Crucita. Then we have them in an analo- gous color scheme with yellow lantanas. All sorts of butterflies seem to like to feast on the nectar rich blossoms. Red-admirals, Fritillaries, Monarchs, Queens and Cloudless Sulphurs all visit on a regular basis. Vines play an impor- tant role in the land- scape giving a vertical dimension. It is sort of like hanging a mirror or picture on the wall indoors. The Mexican Flame Vine will be one of the most dazzling additions to your gar- den. Norman Winter is executive director of The National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas, and author of "Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South" and "Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden." Contact him at: winter@naba.org. • Everyday Cheapskate • Gleaners • Scam Alerts The Daily News - At your side when times are tough