Spring time

Finally spring has come and this year's long winter and the low temperatures have come to an end.
The magnolias came to bloom very late this spring and the asparagus season will be shorter all due to the low temperatures in the beginning of spring.

Now festival season has started and the first beer tents are erected. Tipical food: grilled sausages and meat, french fries, don't expect any gourmet revelation, tipical drinks: water, apfelschorle, normal beer and weizen.

 A walk in the woods and a visit to the local farmer where the cows are taking a breath of fresh air..

Have a look at the small wood stand under the
electricity pole, it is one like the one above, god knows why they placed it there and if it isn't dangerous to be there..

Cannstatt Spring Festival

Still some time but not so long to go. On the 11th of April starts the Canstatt Spring Festival (Cannstatter Frühlingsfest). You will find all the things you can find at the "Oktoberfest" in Munich which will be known to most people. There are large tents catering traditional German food and - of course beer - as well as non alcoholic drinks and a large variety of other stuff. They will offer folkloric German music as well as modern Rock or Techno - just choose the tent which you fancy the most. Before that - why not take a trip on the roller coaster and have some cotton candy or toasted almonds.

Wild Garlic

Wild Garlic (German: Bärlauch; Latin: Allium Ursinum) makes part of the garlic family and is one of the wild herbs you will find in many places in our region in spring.

You can mix the leaves with cottage - or curd cheese and butter or add it to your salad or soup. It protects against high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis and other illnesses.

This herb usually can be found near broad-leaved trees, you can smell them by the distinct odor of garlic. Pay attention, it is very important when it hasn't flowered yet because the leaves are also quite similar to those of the lilies of the valley which are poisonous!

Dried they loose their qualities, however you can freeze them. It is not like the fresh stuff but not too bad for the winter season. Don't cook it with the dish like rosemary or thyme, just add it before you serve it.

You can also find it on the markets during the season if you don't want to search it yourself, however I have seen it even in the "Stadtgarten" in the center of Stuttgart.