Herbs in the Garden

Archive for June, 2009

I have found a few ambitious youngsters in need of some cash. They are digging out the raised bed concrete blocks in the flooded,weed filled garden. Here is the garden at the beginning of the makeover.

So as not to burn the kids out, the removal phase of the project has been tentatively scheduled to take two weeks,weather permitting…which leaves the next two days out.

It’s almost unbelievable how fast these weeds pop up! This  photo I took not long ago shows the garden devoid of any vegetation.

You can see where some volunteer sunflowers have taken off. I plant them every year for the birds, bunnies, and goats.

Gold Finches come around every summer eat the seeds right off the flower heads. I guess we’ll just work around the sunflowers for the time being.

I have not transplanted any herbs from this little square bed at the foreground of the photo below. They are so happy here that I am going to leave them in place and replace the concrete with a wood bed.

Garden Overhaul in Progress

See all the concrete blocks the kids have cleaned and carried to the back of the garden so far?

I am hoping to get some photos of my shy garden helpers in a future post!

Nope,this post is not really garden related this time…

Well, sort of since it’s possible I may be planting new trees this year!

Check out this video. The dogs are playing in a small area of the back yard near the barn. It rained for days and they were SO happy to get out and romp and stomp. Watch and see what the naughty scoundrels do…

Heirloom Alchymist Rose

I thought I would share some pictures of my lovely Alchymist Rose.  I wish you could see it!

This variety dates from the 1950’s, it is a once bloomer, and I really, really LOVE this rose.

The colors are amazing and these photos do not do it justice. The blooms change color every day from pale peaches, to golds, to salmon shades… Wow!  The only drawback to this rose are the positively evil prickles, but it’s worth the occasional harpooning and subsequent surgical removal to see this beauty in all her glory.

I grow several varieties of roses- including antique and heirlooms- here on the little ol’  farm, but the old ones have always been my very favorite roses.

Besides the joy of seeing them bloom and unceremoniously snorting their heavenly fragrances when I think no one is looking… I actually use them!

The petals go in to potpourri and sachets, and I use the rose hips for jams, teas, and potpourris.

In the last 5 years many of my roses have been brought down by Rose Rosette disease.

It is caused by a rotten little mite, 20 of which can fit on a pinhead.  Not only are these mites microscopic, but they blow around in the wind where they land on your poor unsuspecting roses. The little monsters then have the nerve to hang out and dine on your roses! The feeding of the mites introduces a ‘causal agent’ ( a virus-like disease) which causes -among other things- distortion of leaves and stems, a bizarre growth called a “Witches Broom” and finally plant death.

Rose Rosette is a death sentence for roses, and sadly there is no cure.  I have sworn to take LOTS of pictures of my 10 or so remaining roses since I know they will be gone in a few years.

For more information on Rose Rosette, including symptoms, pictures, and areas of infection,go here for a few reference pages I’ve collected for you.

More Alchymist beauties on the Fence