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

Herbal Update

Hello Again!

We have had several frosts here in the Foothills of North Carolina, and many of my non-tender herbs are thriving beautifully and very tasty. I should have them all Winter for kitchen witchery, seasoning salads, vegetables, and soups so they pop with flavor. (For those who like meat, herbal seasoning will increase the flavor. The herbs and spices saved and prepared for storage are great, too. Such wonderful flavor added, with NO calories.

A good site for those beginning to experiment with spices in the kitchen...

Good Cooking

http://www.goodcooking.com/herspice.htm

There are many more household and medicinal uses for herbs - explore!

Aine

End of a Season

Autumn in the Herb Garden

For many of us, this time of year is always such a mix of sadness and anticipation - the vegetable garden has almost stopped producing, the trees are losing their leaves, and the flowers have mostly gone away. But, there is much work to be done and we can anticipate the excitement and pleasure of the coming Spring. .

Many herbs live through the Winter here in the Foothills - among them are chives, garlic, onions, chervil, sage, fennel, angelica, tarragon, thyme, lemon balm, lovage, oregano, anise, hyssop, sweet marjoram, and many, many more. Check with your nursery, or read the seed package for hardy herbs. Better yet - buy your very own herb book from the many selections available.

When the frosts begin, I protect whatever possible so that I can harvest into late Autumn. I pot some herbs, placing them in my kitchen, or on a basement windowsill, for use during the Winter.

Be sure to clear old growth. lifting and dividing clumps, replanting rooted plants, removing dry flowerheads or leaving them as forage for the birds.

Purchase a good herbal gardening book. I have several very old ones, and I am sure there are many new ones which have an improved approach to gardening.

Herbs make your food taste great and your home smell delightful. Plant them and use them!

Aine