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