Verde
pictures courtesy Emily G's crappy old phone, this is what happens when you let friends take your camera on vacation, ugh
On my continuing quest to find somewhere not down in South Columbus big-box land where I might purchase cilantro seedlings*, I ended up at Verde, a shmancy urban garden/chocolate shop in the Gayborhood space where Robin’s Books used to be.
It’s the fifth place on that one block of 13th Street owned by Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran; with Verde plus Bindi, Lolita, Open House and Grocery, the two of them have the equivalent of all the purples and oranges on the Gayborhood Monopoly board.
I liked this place quite a bit for a few reasons:
1. They sell plants that are still alive, unlike most Center City places at which you can only get em cut; they also stock stuff one needs to take care of plants
2. They carry a bunch of large, nice-looking, enviromentally friendly pots in bright colors that are surprisingly inexpensive for their size (that is, under $10; plant pots, like couch pillow covers and trash cans, fall fully in the category of “things you discover are annoyingly expensive when you accidentally turn into a bourgie“)
3. They had a really pretty terrarium display, although those were pricey
4. Really awesome-looking artisanal chocolate being made in a little glassed-off area in the back so customers can watch. I did not try any myself because it was spensive and I’d just eaten, and I neglected to take pictures because I was excited about the terrariums, but if you happen to be walking by it’s totally neat to see the process of chocolate making. And there’s an interesting bit from the Daily News’ Joe Sixpack about their offerings:
They’re carrying a sixpack of truffles made with local beers, including Nodding Head Grog honey peanut crunch, Philly Brewing Walt Wit pink peppercorn and Lancaster Strawberry Wheat caramelized cacao nibs.
Man, I should have taken a closer look at the chocolate! I may have to go back and check that one out.
I may do a terrarium post in the future, because I just made a couple and I’m liking them a lot (you don’t have to remember to water them nearly as much, for one), but until then this design sponge one on how to DIY is excellent!
Verde
108 S. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215.546.8700
*For whatever reason, cilantro is the only plant thus far with which I have had an unbroken series of failures both inside and outside; if anyone has any insight on why all my seedlings die or where I could buy some pre-started cilantro in Philly PLEASE tell me in the comments because it is key to making my favorite beans.
I don’t know anything about cilantro growing, but terrariums are cool! Have you seen the displays at Terrain? They are like fun miniature forests.
Actually I have not made it out to Terrain yet; I wish they had put it within reasonable public transit reach! The pictures I’ve seen have made it look really neat, though.
What are the temperatures like where you keep your seedlings? Cilantro is short-lived and likes sunlight but cool ground temperatures. I usually grow it in a container outside until May, and then move it to a bright window in an air conditioned room.
Once you get the cilantro to grow it’s one of the few herbs you can’t prolong by pinching off the flowers. Let it bolt and let the seeds drop into the pot with the plant, then work to get it into a cycle where new seedlings are coming up while the older plant is fading.
my cilantro is DEAD. see my next post.
reply: