Does the world need blue roses?

Whenever I hear the phrase “blue rose” I am reminded of Tennessee Williams’ play “The Glass Menagerie.” When the disabled teenager Laura tells Jim, a boy she has a crush on, that she was out of school for a time because she had pleurosis, he misunderstands her to say: “blue roses.” He takes to calling her “blue roses” after that.

I read the play in college in a course taught by a wonderful theater professor who recited the scene by heart, with melodramatic urgency.

Blue roses are an impossibility of nature. In some cultures, blue roses are associated with royalty. They are also associated with mystery and the unattainable, and some say that the holder of a blue rose will have his or her wish granted. For the poignant characters in Williams’ play, the blue rose is a potent symbol of unfulfilled yearning.

And yet, I recently came across an article in Horticulture magazine about a newly discovered gene-modifying technique that has the potential to create a truly blue rose. The scientific process is way too complex for me to fully understand, let alone explain, but according to Horticulture, it goes back to Monsanto and its notorious herbicide Round-Up. Apparently, the folks at Monsanto had been dumping glysophate, the active ingredient in Round-Up, into a holding pond. Not surprisingly, no living organism was able to survive in the pond. But eventually, a very hardy microorganism appeared that had developed a resistance to glysophate.

The Monsanto scientists were able to isolate the resistance gene from the microorganism and insert it into soybeans and other plants, thus producing crops that were resistant to the herbicide. This has led to the dubious agrobusiness practice of planting genetically modified seeds and then blanketing the growing plants with Round-Up, which kills everything in the vicinity except the GMO crops.

This doesn’t sit well with neighboring farmers who haven’t planted the patented GMO seed, a very expensive undertaking, in their fields, since the widespread spraying of glysophate kills their crops along with milkweed and other pollinator-friendly “weeds” that seem to have no place in agrobusiness.

It turns out that the same technology might be used to insert the blue gene “delphinidin” into the DNA of a rose. I find this profoundly disturbing. Without going into the pros and cons of GMO agriculture, do we really need to mess with Mother Nature just to create a novel horticultural phenomenon? Doesn’t nature provide enough surprise and delight as it is?

David Austin, the preeminent British rosarian has introduced more than 190 new rose cultivars in a wide range of eye-popping colors, including the apricot-yellow “Lady of Shallot,” the lush pink “Princess Anne,” the orange-red “Christopher Marlowe,” and the dark, velvety red “Mister Lincoln.” If you’re looking for color on a gray winter day, Google “David Austin roses.”

Austin is 92 this year. I can only guess what he might think about a genetically modified blue rose.

There’s a lot to be said for respecting the limits of attainability and cherishing what we have. Most of us love the rare blue flower in the garden. We have delphiniums, cornflowers, morning glories, lobelias and other “true blues” to satisfy that craving. Let’s leave the roses alone.

Gardening with mushrooms

On June 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge is hosting a hands-on workshop on how to incorporate mushroom production into your gardening practice. Willie Crosby of Fungi Ally in Hadley will show you how to use agricultural waste to grow your own food and medicine for your family and community. The workshop will focus on tree mushrooms in particular: wine caps, almond portobellos and oysters. Participants will become familiar with techniques of cultivating these mushrooms for food, medicine and mycoremediation purposes. (OK, I had to look this up: mycoremediation refers to the use of fungi to degrade or sequester contaminants in the environment.)

The workshop will include building a wood-chip bed of wine cap mushrooms (go home with myceliated chips to start your own mushroom bed), adding almond portobellos to your garden via compost, and growing oyster mushrooms in mulch. It will also cover transferring and expanding these mushrooms without buying spawn and using wine cap mushrooms in mycoremediation applications.

Willie Crosby has been growing mushrooms indoors and outdoors for over five years. He teaches online for Stockbridge School of Agriculture and Cornell as well as in person at his farm in Hadley and for the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Cost: Members: $45/nonmembers: $55. Pre-registration is highly recommended, but walk-ins are welcome as space allows.

Go to berkshirebotanical.org for more information and to register. Dress for working outdoors; bring work gloves.

The 5 Best Hair Towels That Dry Your Hair Fast Without The Damage

It's a little weird to say that my life has been vastly improved by a wad of absorbent fabric, but it's true. I recently invested in one of the best hair towels, and since then, my daily routine has gone a whole lot more smoothly. No longer do I have to bend my neck like an ostrich to keep the towel on top of my head. No longer do I feel beads of cold water dripping down my back, or end up damaging my hair by twisting too hard.

Most stylists would agree that, believe it or not, you should never dry your hair with a regular towel. That's because hair is especially delicate when it's wet, and the texture and material of a regular towel is often too coarse and dry for fragile wet hair to handle. Your average bath towel also isn't too great at absorbing water, so if you do choose to blow dry your hair after towel drying it, you're not preventing heat damage as much as you could be.

Not only is a great hair towel effective at absorbing water without damage, but it actually stays on your head while you move on with the rest of your routine. These top rated hair drying towels can help you dry your hair faster with less damage. Keep scrolling for the best hair towels that dry your hair fast.

1. A Best-Selling Hair Towel That Majorly Reduces Styling Time
The DuraComfort Essentials Hair Towel is the number one best seller in hair towels because it dries your hair quickly without getting in your way. It's lightweight, super absorbent, and one size fits all. "This towel exceeded my expectations," one reviewer commented. "With this towel, my hair was much drier that blow drying took only 10 minutes greatly reducing overall styling time."

2. A Set Of Absorbent Microfiber Turbans That Are Perfect For Multitaskers
If you like to check your e-mail, clean your room, and do your makeup right out of the shower, you need something that'll stay in place. These microfiber hair towels have a button, an elastic band, and a lightweight design to keep the towel on your head no matter what, and without pulling or pain. They also absorb water quickly and come in a pack of two. Amazon reviewers love how much value you get for the price: "We love these! The 2 pack was perfect for my daughter and I - we use them after every shower and they definitely do absorb wetness quicker. Plus it's such a small wrap vs my huge towel I used to use to wrap my hair that usually came undone if bending over. This one stays put until you remove it."

3. A Bamboo Towel That Smells Fresh For A Long Time
Bamboo is an extremely popular material right now, and that's because it's soft, lightweight, dries quickly, and prevents the growth of bacteria. This bamboo hair towel absorbs water so hair dries quickly and with minimal damage, but it also smells fresh and clean for a long time: "[The microfiber towels] start to smell bad and I have to throw them away," says one reviewer. "This bamboo towel is AMAZING!"

4. A Large, Lightweight Towel That's Perfect For People With Long Hair
This large microfiber hair towel is soft and absorbent, and it's much bigger than others on the market. It's also got a fine waffle-weave microfiber design that's lightweight despite its size, and reviewers are saying things like, "Love that it is a large towel that can cover all of my extremely thick hair."

5. A 'Dream Towel' For Naturally Curly Hair
The DevaCurl Deva-Towel is specifically made for natural curls. It helps them to dry bouncy, healthy, and without frizz, and it can even allow styling products to set better by absorbing just the right amount of water. One Amazon fan raves, "This towel dries my hair very quickly. It is very soft and super absorbent. If you have long or thick hair, you need one of these. Plenty big enough to wrap around my head and twist up. I have just below shoulder length hair that is on the thicker side."

Thomasina Miers' recipe for Persian rice pudding with apricot and pistachios

If I could tell my younger self that one day I would be encouraging people to make rice pudding, I wouldn’t have believed it. It was the dish I dreaded most at school: stodgy, lukewarm and overcooked. However, sun-soaked trips to Mexico cured me of this aversion. There, plump and tender grains bathe in chilled scented creams, and the result is subtle and delicious. Here, I have taken a Persian lean with stunning colours from the apricots, saffron and pistachios; it’s fabulous served in warm weather.

Persian rice pudding with apricot and pistachios
You can make this a day or two in advance, so it’s perfect for parties, and it’s quite rich, so you won’t need much.

Prep 15 min
Cook 1 hr
Serves 4-6

90g caster sugar
1 litre whole milk
1 cinnamon stick
Zest of 1 orange
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g risotto rice, rinsed
4 tbsp double cream
1 tbsp orange blossom water
1 pinch saffron, soaked in 3 tbsp hot water
40g toasted pistachios, chopped, to serve
1 big pinch dried rose petals, to serve (optional)

For the apricots
150g dried apricots, plus extra to serve
2 tbsp honey
6 cardamom pods, shells cracked open
1 cinnamon stick
Zest of ½ lemon

Cut each apricot in half to make two thin discs. Put them in a small pan with 300ml water, the honey, cardamom seeds, cinnamon stick and lemon zest. Bring to a simmer, cook for 15 minutes, then take off the heat and leave to cool and infuse for at least half an hour (I make this the night before).

To make the rice pudding, put the sugar, milk, cinnamon stick, orange zest, vanilla and rice in a large, heavy-based saucepan set over a medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then turn down the heat to low. Simmer very gently for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice is completely soft – watch it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan towards the end of the cooking time. Remove from the heat, stir in the double cream, orange blossom water and saffron, and leave to cool.

Once cool, cover and put in the fridge to chill – you can do this a day or two in advance if you want to get ahead. When you’re ready to serve, discard the cinnamon stick and spoon the pudding into bowls. Top with a few apricots and a little syrup, sprinkle over the pistachios and rose petals, and serve.

And for the rest of the week
If you’re serving this to grown-ups, try adding two to three tablespoons of muscat to the poached apricots, for a luxurious finish. If you, like I once did, shudder at the thought of rice pudding, consider churning this recipe in an ice-cream machine with 600ml double cream and a few tablespoons of brown sugar – it makes an extremely good ice-cream.

A Higher Level of Nonsense

The prop list for Nunsense, which opens at the Philipstown Depot Theatre in Garrison on May 17 for a four-weekend run, gives a broad hint that this is not Doubt, Agnes of God, or The Sound of Music.

There is a chef’s toque, a tricycle, a boa, a puppet, a Carmen Miranda hat, a parasol, an intravenous line, and a whole lot of wimples. Broad humor is the order of the day with this hugely popular musical, which has logged more than 500 productions worldwide and been translated into 21 languages.

In 1986, the year after it debuted off-Broadway, the production won Outer Critics’ Circle awards for best musical, book and music for Dan Goggin. He has been looking after his dynasty ever since, including from Garrison, where he owned a home, where he still stores costumes and props and where, it’s said, he has been seen ironing habits. Insiders say it would not be surprising if he attended at least one of the performances.

The show centers on five nuns (played by Ursula Anderman, Laura Danilov, Julie Heckert, Liz Keifer and Melissa Shawcross) at the Little Sisters of Hoboken who are among the survivors after most of the order succumbs to botulism from vichyssoise prepared by Sister Julia, Child of God (Linda Speziale). The sisters decide to put on a variety show to raise the funds needed to bury the last four of their colleagues, whose bodies are frozen.

The show’s nearly all-female cast (the exception is the musical director, Todd Hulet, who steps in as Brother Patrick) and director Christine Bokhour have been getting in the habit of dancing in voluminous, floor-length garments — actually, the costumes didn’t arrive until this week, so there have been some guestimates about how best to avoid pratfalls.

During a recent rehearsal, the pretend nuns answered questions while practicing balancing plates and generally being silly. Keifer, who plays Mother Superior (and who played another old mother, Mrs. Paroo, last year in the Depot’s production of The Music Man), was fine-tuning her Irish accent. “This nun’s got a bit of ‘Shipoopi’ [a song from The Music Man] in her,” she said. “It’s less intense, but it gets Mrs. Paroo-y when I get excited.”

Asked about what made the show attractive to her, a supporting nun, Kalista Sale Parrish, said: “During this time when it’s hard to be funny, this femme-centered piece means we are free to be funny, without making fun of someone else.” Asked what she has learned, Danilov said: “If you wear a hoodie under your wimple, you can’t hear anything.”

The ensemble, which besides Parrish includes Anne Kane, Lourdes Laifer, Linda Raftery and Anna Stephens, is described as “jovial.” Asked to verify that it is, in fact, jovial, Parrish said with an authority born of personal experience: “It depends if we head to Dolly’s after rehearsal.”

Cornrow Styles That'll Take Your Braid Game To A New Level

Every Sunday before school my mother would sit me down and braid my hair in cornrows. I would wear the simple, straight-back braids for a full week, until the next wash day rolled around. My story is similar to many young Black girls, but even though cornrows have been around for centuries — way before hair colour fads and insane Instagram styles became a thing — the classic braided look continues to evolve.

Cornrows are frequently misconstrued, misrepresented, and appropriated on runways, in magazines, and IRL, but when done right the style is both fashion-forward and culturally significant. And thanks to tons of talented hair braiders and stylists, there are endless iterations with intricate patterns, bright colours, and fun accessories.

The great thing about cornrows is that — no matter how you style 'em — they're super practical. You can wear your braids for weeks with minimal styling, protecting the hair from damage and maximizing growth. If you want your next protective style to involve cornrows, there are many different designs to consider. Ahead, we've rounded up some of our favourites to take to your stylist or DIY if you've got the skills.

Top tips for an all-day soft glam look

As we enter August, with most of the summer holidays been and gone, we are finding that more and more clients who are going out for the day or night want a soft glam look.

It's all about a fabulous look and making the most of your features, but subtlety is the aim.

Here are my top recommendations for creating a smokey but soft and subtle look this month.

Conceal don't feel!

If you are finding that your skin feels dehydrated and that there are areas with darkness, pigmentation and discolouration, then concealer will be your best friend. I love using Make-up Studio No.2 Concealer (£13.50). I love the creamy consistency of this product, and how it gives such full coverage - but is also so natural when it's blended into the skin.

Ace your base

If you are wanting to ace your base, then it is so important to invest your budget into your foundation. This is one of the staples of your make-up routine. I work with a variety of foundations but one I have recently picked up again after a long time is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (£42).

This luminous foundation glides on weightlessly for a flawless lit-from-within glow. Enriched with Micro–fil™ technology, it helps to sculpt and brighten your look. This foundation allows for buildable coverage, meaning that you can create the precise look that suits you. What's more, it also improves texture and blurs imperfections.

Brows

An important part of your make-up routine is filling in your eyebrows. When I'm doing this on my clients in my Make-up Pro Store, I always use powder as I find it gives me more control of the sharpness and depth of the brow. One secret of achieving the perfect defined brow is using a brow gel like that from NARS (£17).

It is a glossy, easy gliding gel to tame and groom eyebrows. It keeps brows in place with a unique precision-tapered brush that adds shape and definition to every angle while creating a fuller, smoother brow look to perfectly set the symmetry of the face. A must have for any beauty bag, then!

Powder Power

For all-day wear you'll want your make-up to have great staying power. And for maximum longevity it is important to use a mineral or lightweight setting powder so as not to overly layer the face in unnecessary make-up. For this I love NYX Mineral Matte Finishing Powder (£8). To use this use a large brush to apply and press the powder lightly onto the skin. Simply apply the powder in light circular motions and buff on to the skin for that added natural radiance.

All about eyes

I recently was invited to attend the Harvey Nichols: Fenty Beauty Pop Up shop in Custom House Square. I was absolutely blown away by their new Moroccan Spice Collection, which is an eye-focused edit, hand curated by Rihanna.

It contains the singer's favourite, richly pigmented shades, which are designed to flatter every skin tone. The only sad thing is that it's only available in Harvey Nichols stores or online, but it really is worth the hassle! The Moroccan Spice Eyeshadow Palette (£42) combines everything you need to take you from hot, humid days to sultry, smoky nights - indeed, there are no fewer than 16 shades. These shadows are so rich and have a velvety smooth texture which blend like a dream!

Lips

For all-day use, I always use matte lipsticks on my clients. For a statement lip, such as purple, red or prune, I just love the matte finish they provide, compared to that given by a gloss.

A Fling with Flowers

Spring may be officially around the corner, but it's hard to get excited when your home is still in winter mode. The simplest, fastest way to give any room a visual shot of the season is with fresh flowers. Flowers have an uplifting and calming effect and add warmth to any space.

You don't need formal training or a thick handbook to create original table settings and arrangements. You're not aiming for a perfect art piece (it's best to leave trimming a 200-year-old bonsai tree to the professionals). These 11 tips are a good place to start. So sharpen your scissors, snoop in your garage, forage the mountainsides, and prepare to be bloomin' brilliant.

* Don't be timid. Flowers are perishable, so your creative efforts won't affect their shelf life. Really work those stems.
* Take a hike into the woods and scout for any budding branches, berries, or items that may add intrigue to your arrangement.
* Create a relaxing, inspiring mood by playing some of your favorite music while you work—professional florists often have a soundtrack in their studios.
* Work on a large open surface so you have a good 360˚ view as you create your arrangement.
* Snoop around in your garage and basement, looking for unique containers and vases. Scrub them clean and pay attention to their height and width. And, of course, make sure they don't leak. (If a container isn't watertight, you can always insert a smaller glass jar.)
* When prepping flower stems, remove all leaves in order to avoid the growth of bacteria in the water. Next, cut each stem on a diagonal angle and place immediately in lukewarm water.
* You'll probably need to insert wet oasis or use transparent floral tape on top of the vase to stabilize the flowers. These are available at craft stores.
* Clip some foliage from your houseplants to add dimension and greenery to your arrangement. Asparagus fern and ivy are good choices.
* If your vessel is short and squat, select flowers with small blooms that complement the color of the vessel. Crowd the flowers together in a compact manner for impact.
* A general rule of thumb is that your arrangement should be about one-and-a-half to two times the height of your vessel. When deciding where to place it, proportion and scale are important. If your arrangement is tall, put it in an area that commands attention. If your arrangement is short, it might be best suited to a bathroom, windowsill, or side table.
* When your masterpiece is completed, help ensure it lasts. Change the water and cut the stems every other day to prolong the shelf life of the flowers.

Blending Old and New

This tabletop blends glass with copper for a wonderful transitional look. The copper-colored sheer adds a soft, fluid movement to the glass top. Place settings command attention with large copper chargers, high relief-patterned white dishes, etched wine glasses, and contemporary flatware. Centerstage, the large Turkish vessel of hammered copper overflows with hot pink tulips, blue and white hydrangeas, orchids, pink lilies, and trailing plumosa ferns. The mini beaded glass vases with tulips and alstroemeria are another detail that punctuates each place setting. It's a burst of spring, but when you look closer you'll sense the whisper of intrigue and warmth from those patinated copper chargers. Old and new stories, unveiled.

Elevated Mountain West

An organic tablescape can include your favorite colorful linens, bold dinner plates, earthy stemware, and bronze flatware to complete the mountain theme. The hand-hewn plank centerpiece, created by Annie Zivkovich, is 4 feet long and 10 inches wide. While the one shown here has a holiday theme, it can easily be tweaked for spring. For example, Annie suggests creating a rectangular or round plank that includes mini succulents, fresh mosses, and mini blooming quince branches juxtaposed with lemons, limes, and tulips. Antlers are optional.

Children's Table

Toddlers and tykes tend to nibble, sip, and run, most happily with their own playmates. Find a small bench or table and dress it up with carefree dishes, spoons, and sippy cups. But don't stop there. Mini polka dot ceramic rain boots are just their size, fun to fill with pink and purple tulips and prickly asparagus fern. Don't invest in pieces that are too pricey: Besides being colorful, these little rain boots beg to be touched, sniffed, and snagged by your toddlers. After all, isn't that the intrigue of flowers for all of us—to awaken our senses?