6/30/13 10:59 AM'Drunken Botanist' explores DIY cocktails - San Francisco Chronicle

Page 1 of 7http://www.sfchronicle.com/homeandgarden/article/Drunken-Botanist-explores-DIY-cocktails-4355476.php

Home & Garden

'Drunken Botanist' explores DIYcocktailsAuthor's lush yard and patio are outgrowths of bookresearch

Amy Stewart

Amy Stewart's cocktail garden

6/30/13 10:59 AM'Drunken Botanist' explores DIY cocktails - San Francisco Chronicle

Page 2 of 7http://www.sfchronicle.com/homeandgarden/article/Drunken-Botanist-explores-DIY-cocktails-4355476.php

Sophia Markoulakis

March 19, 2013

Before Amy Stewart could plant Cuban 'Mojito' mint, she had to remove the poisonous plantslingering in her garden. True to their reputation, these toxic botanicals, left over from her researchfor "Wicked Plants," were too hardy. "I didn't want a house guest to go outside and think she waspicking parsley when she was actually picking poison hemlock," says Stewart.

Such is the life of an intrepid writer and conscientious host. Stewart, 43, is best known for herinfectious enthusiasm for the botanical world and her dedication to firsthand research. "It's weirdfor me to write about plants that I haven't grown or don't have personal experience with," shesays.

Fast forward three years and her lethalspecimens have been replaced with small shrubblueberries, Mexican sour gherkins and Johnnyjump-ups, among the plants featured in "TheDrunken Botanist: The Plants That Create theWorld's Great Drinks" (Algonquin; $19.95), instores Tuesday. Stewart's latest book profilesmore than 150 plants used to create or infusesome of the world's most intoxicating spirits,along with growing tips and more than 50garden-friendly recipes.

Stewart, who has had close encounters with giant insects ("Wicked Bugs"), earthworms ("TheEarth Moved") and the underbelly of the flower industry ("Flower Confidential"), stumbled on theidea for a book on booze and botany while chatting with a colleague. "A fellow horticulture writerhad been given a bottle of gin and - as I was talking about all the plants that go in to making it - Ithought, 'This should be a book,' " she says.

The publisher of all six of her titles, Algonquin, was immediately on board. And givenwidespread current interest in gardening, preserving, fermenting and brewing, the book is timely.

6/30/13 10:59 AM'Drunken Botanist' explores DIY cocktails - San Francisco Chronicle

Page 3 of 7http://www.sfchronicle.com/homeandgarden/article/Drunken-Botanist-explores-DIY-cocktails-4355476.php

"Backyard bartending, garden-to-glass and cocktail gardening are topics that people are reallyexcited about, and it is the next frontier beyond edible gardening," she says.

As much as Stewart enjoys a properly prepared botanically infused drink, her interest andcoverage of the plants that create alcohol go far beyond the typical garnishes of fruits and leaves.

"Everything is a botanical cocktail, even a glass of whiskey," says Stewart. "My interest forwriting the book was much broader. I wanted to cover the plants from around the world that wemake alcohol out of and the plants that have been used to flavor alcohol through the centuries."

Stewart's cocktail garden was installed steps from the kitchen door of her 1905 Victorian inHumboldt County. Coincidentally, many of the plants she profiles in the book, such as blackcurrant and sloe, were perfect fits for her cool Northern California climate. "Here in Eureka, wehave a very specific climate, and I tried to pick plants that would have success," says Stewart.

The overhaul of the Stewart's side yard required some hardscape, something she hadn't previouslytackled. After all, she says, "if I am going to plant a cocktail garden, it needs to be a place whereyou would want to sit and have a drink." She enlisted the help of Concord landscape designerSusan Morrison, owner of Creative Exteriors Landscape Design, to come up with a low-maintenance space that could serve as a garden, entertaining area and primary pathway betweenthe front and back of the house.

6/30/13 10:59 AM'Drunken Botanist' explores DIY cocktails - San Francisco Chronicle

Page 4 of 7http://www.sfchronicle.com/homeandgarden/article/Drunken-Botanist-explores-DIY-cocktails-4355476.php

Delightful Eye Photography

Amy Stewart added a patio and cocktail garden to her Humboldt County home as she wrote her book "TheDrunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks."

Morrison met the challenges of working with a narrow space that doubles as a walkway by usingcontainers, installing vertical features such as art and shelving and repurposing items such ashanging cabinets potted with plants like everbearing strawberries. She varied shapes and heights

6/30/13 10:59 AM'Drunken Botanist' explores DIY cocktails - San Francisco Chronicle

Page 5 of 7http://www.sfchronicle.com/homeandgarden/article/Drunken-Botanist-explores-DIY-cocktails-4355476.php

to create visual interest and blurred the linear lines between the growing and entertaining space.

All of the wooden planters were custom built by a local carpenter, and many scrap pieces bearingarchitectural details (this is lumber country, after all) were added for period integrity. "Many ofthe wood planters that sit on the ground are bottomless so that they drain completely," saysStewart. She painted all the wood features, selecting bold colors inspired by her growingcollection of spirit bottles. "I really wanted the garden (to) fit in; the entire neighborhood ispainted wood," she says.

Stewart collaborated with Log House Plants, an Oregon wholesaler, to produce the DrunkenBotanist Plant Collection. The offerings take the guesswork out of what to plant, depending onyour favorite drink, and include plants selected to grow in a wide range of climates - among theminteresting varieties like 'Redventure' celery, 'Fireball' pepper and lemongrass.

The resulting jumbo six-packs include Old Havana Rum Garden, Farmer's Market Vodka Garden,Heart of Agave Tequila Garden, Old Tom Gin Garden and Southern Belle Whiskey Garden. AMixologist's Simple Syrups Collection is available, too, featuring cocktail-friendly herbs.

Contemplate the drink you'd like to re-create in your own yard and use Stewart's book as yourguide. "Don't make yourself miserable trying to grow things that won't grow for you," saysStewart.

As a garden writer, Stewart says, "I'm lucky that I've been able to follow my curiosity where itleads me." Now that she has a garden full of specimens with ties to the bottles of spirits that lineher shelves, she can sit back and enjoy truly knowing what she's drinking. That is, until hercuriosity gets the better of her again.

6/30/13 10:59 AM'Drunken Botanist' explores DIY cocktails - San Francisco Chronicle

Page 6 of 7http://www.sfchronicle.com/homeandgarden/article/Drunken-Botanist-explores-DIY-cocktails-4355476.php

Amy Stewart

Amy Stewart added a patio and cocktail garden to her Humboldt County home as she wrote her book "TheDrunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks."

Book tour

Amy Stewart's national book tour kicks off in the Bay Area. Scheduled events include:

-- Today: 4 p.m. Mrs. Dalloway's, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley. (510) 704-8222.www.mrsdalloways.com

-- Wednesday: 7 p.m. Copperfield's Books at h2hotel, 219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. (707)433-9270. ttp://copperfieldsbooks.com/stores/healdsburg

-- Friday: 7 p.m. Rakestraw Books, 550 Hartz Ave., Danville. (925) 837-7337.www.rakestrawbooks.com

6/30/13 10:59 AM'Drunken Botanist' explores DIY cocktails - San Francisco Chronicle

Page 7 of 7http://www.sfchronicle.com/homeandgarden/article/Drunken-Botanist-explores-DIY-cocktails-4355476.php

-- Saturday: 10:45 a.m. San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, 2495 S. Delaware St., San Mateo.(415) 684-7278. www.sfgardenshow.com

For more events: go to www.amystewart.com/events.

Drunken Botanist Plant Collection:www.territorialseed.com/category/Drunken_Botanist_Plant_Collection

Sophia Markoulakis is a freelance writer. E-mail: home@sfchronicle.com

© 2013 Hearst Communications Inc.