THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Autumn has officially begun, with the evenings drawing in earlier its time to get ‘hygge’! That’s right – here at Modern Mint HQ we are all into adopting the Danish concept of all things cosy and making the ordinary things in life beautiful and warming.
Embracing Hygge
Today we fully embraced it. After a few longs weeks and weekends of working at either shows or with our garden design and topiary work, today was finally a day off.
So what did we do?
It started with a fantastic brunch. Scrambled eggs (always a winner) with wilted kale seasoned by chilli, garlic and feta (all organic), bagels and veggie sausages … and lots of tea. This really was a delightful brunch, absolutely delicious… so delicious we felt we needed to share the recipe. The rest of day was spent reading, knitting and continuing to drink lots of tea! Hmmm … hygge.
Modern Mint Brunch
Start cooking some veggie sausages in the grill. A nice easy start, yes? Then, when that is done we get to the great bit, the winner – the garlic, chilli and feta wilted kale.
Gently fry chopped garlic (a few cloves) for a few minutes in olive oil and then add about half a chilli (chopped small) into the pan. Continue frying for a few more minutes., until both are soft and smell delicious. A little pinch of sea salt will help bring out the flavours too. Add in 4 or so large handfuls of chopped kale and continue to fry for a few more minutes until the kale starts to wilt. At this point add in cubed feta and allow the feta to melt down into the kale, giving it a good stir so everything gets a coating.
Pop some bagels into the toaster, and start to prepare the scrambled eggs. For the scrambled eggs mix 4 eggs, a dash of milk, generous amount of black pepper and oregano.
Once the bagels are toasted place the kale mixture on one half of the bagel. Don’t clean the pan that you cooked the kale in. Add in the scrambled eggs and cook in the same pan so it soaks up the flavour. Once done add the scrambled eggs to the other half of the bagel.
By this point the veggie sausages should be cooked, and – Voila! – the brunch is done – enjoy!
Want to try out hygge for yourself?
You will need one or all of the following….
1. A Good Book
Nothing beats sitting down with a good book and a cup of tea on a Sunday afternoon. Our range of books from John Walker are a must for any organic gardener. Full of essential tips and ideas to make your green space even greener.
See more of these great books now.
2. Get Crafty
We have some beautiful embroidery sets perfect for beginners. You may quickly find you give up the TV a few nights a week and take this up as a hobby.
See our embroidery stitch kit now.
3. Get outdoors when the sun is shining!
And finally, hygge doesn’t just have to be indoors. When the sun is shinning get outside in the fresh air. Go for walks, plant those bulbs, and get outside before it gets dark again! Just make sure you wrap up warm. That cup of tea and cake always tastes better after being outside.
We hope you find time for some hygge in your life!
Topiary, The Art Garden at The Henderson
The Art Garden at The Henderson in Hong-Kong has now opened to the public. I joined the project last March, to work with Gillespies Landscape Architects on the topiary that had been designed for the Art Garden, which gives a calm, green space below the extraordinary Henderson skyscraper designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The garden has been designed with butterflies in mind, so lots of nectar plants, and has other art projects and installations within its footprint. The history of the site is interesting too – it was originally the first cricket ground in Hong-Kong! So still a green space….! …
ClipFest 2025
On Sunday June 22nd there will be Clipfest 2025 at Ichi-Coo Park in Surrey. It is a celebration of all things pruning and topiary, and I will be there in my capacity of teacher at the European Boxwood and Topiary Society to demonstrate tool cleaning and sharpening, and how to clip. Tickets can be found here on Eventbrite. We are hoping for great weather and to see lots of keen pruners getting their shears out and joining us at this amazing garden! And for more on topiary…
Secateur Holders
A present arrived from Norway today, from a student who visited last February to work with Chris Poole and I on learning topiary. His new hobby – a beautiful and neatly stitched secateur holder. Thrilled with this! The holder will save me keep losing my secatuers too…! Thank you Bernt! It was the same student who introduced me to the APA with whom I am doing a talk at the end of March. Tickets can be bought here for ‘Defining The Essence – Aesthetic Pruning in the Garden’. Do join the European Boxwood and Topiary Society for that!