Many thanks to Anne Marie Panoringan from Voice of OC for letting Ashley talk about gardens and the emergence of more chef's gardens at home and at restaurants. "Featuring a collection of garden beds coordinated by Santa Ana-based culinary gardening consultant Ashley Irene, Poppy's offerings are naturally guided by the current season's produce."

Many thanks to Claire Harper and Allison Mitchell from Riviera Orange County for talking gardening with Ashley for the May 2021 issue. "Environmental stewardship is at the very heart of our gardening philosophy at Heirloom Potager. From organic seed selections to understanding what goes into soil mixes, our goal is to nurture confidence in our clients that they ca grow delicious, healthy food without the need for synthetic intervention."

"Owner Ashley Irene's showcase garden is on the property of a 1920s French Tudor home in Santa Ana's historic Floral Park. Ashley's advice: Grow things that you really love and want to eat, and write down your experience as you go. We give all of our clients a garden journal and encourage them to take meticulous notes. This month, I recommend planting avocado, carrots, melons, summer squash, watermelon, arugula, lavender, sage, and tomatoes."

Chef Michael Reed and his wife and co-owner, Kwini, brought on Ashley Irene, founder of Heirloom Potager in Santa Ana, to create and maintain a culinary garden. During a recent visit, she showed off planter boxes filled with herbs, edible flowers and vegetables: Hatch chilies, calendula, cherry tomatoes, French beans, summer squash, sorrel, black basil and a lot more including Mexican lime, Meyer Lemon and kumquat trees.

"It's key Irene keeps her showcase garden outside her 1926 French Tudor style home in Santa Ana's Floral Park neighborhood looking good. It was her calling card when she started the business last June, and remains one of her best forms of marketing as she seeks to build her upstart company."