Cycles and Circles of Life

The leaves are beginning their transition from green to hues of golden, orange, and red. Our color is somewhat diminished by the lack of rain. My herbs have produced profusely, and it is now time to remove the plants which are finished. I have planted more of that wonderful Salad Bowl lettuce and I also planted some cluster onions which a friend gave me. I think they are yellow potato onions.

This time of year is always bittersweet - I am taking out the plants which are dead or dying, and will lose more in a few days with the first frost. I am also planting some herbs which will Winter over, and preparing my herb garden for Spring plantings.

It is time to establish my Kitchen Witch window garden. I must select the herbs I will need to grow in my kitchen window. In the Spring, they will be ready to transplant in the full, warm sunshine of Spring and Summer.

Lovely Cycles and Circles of Life!

Aine

Our Disney End-of-An-Era Vacation

This adventure started shortly before the birth of our granddaughter. We had moved to North Carolina, after several transfers by my husband's company. When he retired, our plan had been to move back to Texas. We had selected an area in the Texas Hill Country and planned our return to Texas. That Christmas, we were asked to stay for awhile to give child care to our expected grandchild. We did, and stayed on to see her grow into a lovely young woman. We enjoyed about 12 years with her, but then, she grew into a pre-teen and her interests were with her friends. She and her family live across the state from us and we seldom see them unless we pick up their dog for dog-sitting or travel to see our granddaughter in a sport event.

As time passed, we became quite elderly, and have realized we seldom see her and know very little of her life. We decided to treat her and her parents to a Florida adventure. Unfortunately, we still saw little of her, but we enjoyed the trip.

We first stopped at Kennedy Space Center for a day of exploring and reminiscing. It has been several years since we took our son there. Many improvements have been made in displays and in methods of presenting the historical significance of space exploration by the United States.

That evening, we drove to the Disney Resort area and checked into our resort. Our son and family went out for the evening, and my husband and I walked to Disney Village, and explored everything. Even if we had not planned to visit the theme parks, the Village is an adventure by itself, with free admission.

The next day, we went to Epcot Center, our favorite theme park. The above photos of China and Japan show our family, except for me. We experienced some of the rides, but the "countries" are the best of all. My husband and I prefer China and Japan. The architecture and the atmosphere truly give a feeling of being in those countries. China has a wonderful "theatre-in-the-round" and a museum. Japan has a fantastic department store which began centuries ago as a kimono shop. There is also a museum with traveling exhibits.

Although our trip was disappointing in that we really had little time to reacquaint ourselves with our grown-up grandchild, we enjoyed the trip very much. We did come away with the knowledge that it is time to make major changes in our life and visit back "home" with our friends and relatives. We are aware that we must move on, and see this trip as the end of a beautiful era.

Aine

Herb Garden Gone Rampant!

Summer of Successful Herbs

Much to my surprise while we were in Florida, (more on this), taking our son, his wife, and their daughter, for a vacation to Kennedy Space Center and DisneyWorld, my herb garden grew into a monster! The "small" tomato vine which I planted overgrew the six-foot trellis, all the way back to the ground, with another six or seven feet of vine spreading everywhere in my garden and out of my garden. It has been most prolific, with thousands of perfect little tomatoes. I had envisioned a small plant with ample growth and a plentiful supply of tomatoes, but I did not expect the attack of the killer tomato vine!

The second photo is of my moonflowers - they are blooming every evening and are 4-6 inches in diameter. The heavenly scent floats on the night breeze. The plant is beautiful with its bright green, heart-shaped leaves and makes a wonderful addition to a Summer garden.

The remainder of my herb garden, including the extremely tasty Ichiban eggplant, have grown and produced in the same way. My lettuce is, as of now, (late July) beginning to be less tender, but it is still delicious. I intend to plant the same type next Spring. I am hoping, by leaving my lettuce in place, seeds will "volunteer" and give me a wonderful patch of Autumn lettuce.

My Spring and Summer herb garden project has been a big success!

Aine

Irish Dooryard Garden

My Irish Love of Flowers

From my cherished Irish ancestry comes my love of flowers. While my herbs are growing and producing, Art and I have been adding to our front dooryard garden. We have planted more peonies and roses, and Art is now extending my flower bed to the South so that we can have the beauty and scent of a few more rosebushes near our front door. To the right of the dooryard can be seen the new extension, which is under construction.

Aine

Herbs Looking Great

Here We Grow!

My herbs have been planted, are growing, and some are ready to harvest. In the "salad section" of my garden, my lettuce is beautiful, tender, green, AND delicious. There are three tomato blossoms on my Heirloom "Tom-A-To" tomato plant.

I planted one Ichiban eggplant and it is growing fast. I am not a fan of eggplant except for Ichiban. It is very tender and sweet.

Several seeds were sown and will be up soon. On the South end of my garden, I have planted moonflowers. This Summer, they will be beautiful and will fill the night with the wonderful scent of fantastic, white blooms.

The Fairies are smiling, and so am I.

Aine

Buddha Fountain

Buddha Moved to Herbal Garden

Our Buddha Fountain has now been moved from the Rose Garden to the Herbal Garden. Buddha seems to be smiling; therefore, he must be happy with his new home. The camellias have been beautiful, but are almost gone. Our Foothills weather has been extremely warm for this time and this place, (16 degrees above normal). It is very tempting to plant too much, too soon. I am fully aware we have had killing frosts as late as May 10.

I have the Place, now there surely will be a Time and a Season for Planting!

Aine

Herbal Garden Ready

Stepping Stones in Place

Now that the lava stone, mulch, and stepping stones are in place, the garden soil is awaiting warm weather suitable for planting and/or sowing seeds. There is a small bird bath in the center for birds, butterflies, dragonflies, or any critter needing a drink. There are also fairies which will be placed in appropriate places among the herbs when ready.

Please Hurry! Hurry! Warm Weather!

Aine

Herbal Garden Beginnings

Herbal Garden

On the first day, Art cleared an area for the herb bed, relocated plants which would have been under the herb bed. He then measured, marked, and tilled the chosen area. In the background, my daylilies are beginning to sprout. Before this record cold Winter, with much snow, I had herbs planted along the wall, (which are now dead), including my huge rosemary bush.

After tilling and raking, Art cut landscape timbers, and secured them to create a bed for my herbal garden. It is my hope, by having an herbal bed, I can take measures to protect my herbs next Winter.

The bed is ready, now containing a load of topsoil, and cow manure, (sanitized and deodorized), and thoroughly mixed with the topsoil and raked. Yesterday, I planted some leaf lettuce along the wall nearest the camera, which will supply fresh lettuce as I wait for the last frost before planting herbs. Now, Art is digging a trench for lava stone around the edge of the bed, then we plan to mulch outside the stones, and place some decorative stepping stones around the bed. More photos will be posted.

This is hard work, but so much fun!

Aine

Herbal Garden

Herbal Enthusiasts...

At Last! It is time to start planning and executing plans for Herbal Gardens. Mine, thanks to Art, is underway. On the first day, he cleared a section in a large flower bed, relocated a few plants, and weeded the area. He then tilled the soil, and built the frame from landscape timbers.

Our soil is poor; therefore, Art purchased a load of topsoil and a bag of treated cow manure, and thoroughly mixed that within the walls of the frame. My herbal garden is ready, although it is too early to plant herbs in the Foothills of North Carolina. I seeded one side of the bed with two types of leaf lettuce, which will die when it gets too warm, freeing that space for herbs.

On the outside of the walls, Art will dig a small trench, and border the bed with lava rock, then around the edge of the rock, I will plant marigolds and other flowers which, hopefully, will deter rabbits. We have enough greenery in our gardens to feed them, but I would like to harvest a few herbs for our needs.

Progress, or lack thereof, will be posted.

Happy Spring Gardening!

Aine