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