Wow what a season

I was really unorganized and did not work in the herb garden as uch as I wishe i could have this year, but indoor projects seem to have taken most of my time. Wades bees are thriveing, and we are going to start visiting boutiques with handmade honey and herb products,, kind of fun and exciteing.
I made my first batch of dill pickles, wow they ended up great with extra dill and garlic of course.
The peaches have just come out. Wow they r huge and great. I think this weekend will be makeing peach pie filling and freezeing it. Perfect for thanksgiving.
Im ready to start trying out some herbal oils and vinegars and make some beauty products. Its been a great busy gardening season.

It's all in

Believe it or not, all of my herbs are now in, we had a rush to get it all in the ground before vacation, but between Trevor and I we made it. I thought we would lose it with the cold weather but every thing seems to be bouncing back even the dill. {Wow I really thought it was dead!} Most of the bee Balm died back but it looks like it's starting to sprout a little green at the bottom. Wow I hope summer comes soon. all of this cool wet weather wreaks havoc on my garden. If anyone has any great recipes for herbs or Honey, yes Megan I think {hope} well have plenty, let me know. Great gardening.

fresh and healthy

Ok, this is my gardening blog, but I have to talk about Jamie's food revolution. For years our kids have been eating processed over done food in our local schools. I hate to admit this but I remember a time when I ate school lunch and it was truly a meal, sliced turkey with mashed potatoes and veggies with a roll. We didn't even get a choice of milk it was just plain wholesome milk, no sugar added. I recently went to lunch with my son for his birthday and ate in his lunch room. I got a sloppy Joe I was never so shocked in my life it was wrapped in foil and made the night before who knows how long it had been sitting in the heat lamp. Under the bun was about 1 Tbs. of dried up crusty meat. I was grossed out. I proceeded to ask my oldest what a typical week of school lunch consisted of. This is what he told me, Pizza (from pizza hut) hamburgers, my kids inform me are half cooked, I am giving them a bag to bring one home in so I can be sure, ravioli (chef boy rd) Chicken nuggets. can you imagine, what a line up. I have begun to send peanut butter sandwiches. at least its healthier. I watched Jamie Oliver's food revolution and was amazed and inspired by what was accomplished. They r trying to get a petition signed to take to the USDA so that some of the bureaucracy can be taken out of the school lunch system and our kids can eat fresh home made food.

Ben and Zach watched every episode with me and insisted that they too needed to sign this petition. They have committed to drink only normal milk at school and we as a family are eating more fresh fruits and veggies. Even found a local farmers exchange that we are going to participate in.

Good luck Jamie and I commit to do all I can to help our kids live longer healthier happier lives.

Baby Steps

My garden is comeing along slowly but surely, We have put in a dwarf peach tree, a gooseberry bush a red currant bush and three roses that we pulled out of Chris and Megans yard. Next we get to work on paths, probably mulch paths, because we have a grundle of mulch.

Did you know that Roses and Herbs are traditionally paired. For centuries roses were grown for madicinal qualities, and so were a natural pair with herbs. Artemisia Mint Chamomile Sage Parsley Basil Hyssop Lavender and thyme all pair especially well with roses. I especially love the old fashioned roses like Bourbon or alba, white climbing peace. You just have to make sure your roses get extra water and feeding, they want more than your herbs, who like it dry sunny, and leaner. We just mix some compost ie rabbit poop, (we have plenty) in with the roses when we plant then add some occasionally durring the season.

Good gardening everyone..

By the way that 1st pic is of Wade and Chris Playing with their new beehives. They are haveing a great time, and I get my plants pollinated.

What is a moonlight garden (Lavender)

In the moon light most colors vanish Blues appear white and white and silver seem to shimmer. Moonlight gardens contain these colors. You can ad stones and other garden features in these colors for a greater effect.

Lavender is a great plant for a moonlight garden and one of my very favorite herbs. It was the first one I ever planted. I bought five plants by mail order and stuck them in the ground. I never really did a thing with them afterwards and they grew and bloomed every year. I brought in fr est handfuls to put in vases and dried them in our back yard shed hanging from the rafters. I have always used just a good hardy English lavender, but this year I am going to try a French.

These plants love the sun and love to be cut. The more you cut the more flowers you get. I am a heavy pruner and these plants thrive with it. I am definitely going to try cooking with it this year,(never have before) Ive found recipes for jam vinegar and cake. Old wives say that the flower in a tea will cure headaches,? and if you add it to bath water it will calm irritable children. (always good to know. It is also supposed to help with insomnia and depression. Talk about a wonder plant wow!

My New Garden

After growing herbs in pots for a few years I have decided to plant an honest to goodness Herb Garden. The dimensions are 16X22 and I cannot wait. We pulled the sod up yesterday and donated it to half the neighborhood. Today we tilled it up and planted the grapes along the back fence. (This blocks the view of the neighbors and provides a wind screen.) Next step, add manure (yuk) till again and cover it with the weed cloth. I'll keep you posted, and add some photos in a few.

Quotes to note

A good library is a palace where the lofty spirits of all nations and generations meet.
-Samuel Niger