Herbs in the Garden

Stormy Weather…the ‘not so good’ kind.

These were taken a few minutes ago from my front porch. I thought I’d post them real quick… just in case we blew away and landed in Indiana.

I think Wisteria is beautiful. Sure, I know it involves much work and dedication on the part of the gardener and that it secretly wants to take over the world, but honestly I think Kudzu is doing a better job in that department.

This is what I want my Wisteria to look like.

Wisteria Being Gorgeous

Well don’t get all excited yet. It doesn’t.

I have had some planted in several locations for 5 years. Really. It can take a long time for them to bloom.

This year I finally saw what looked like buds forming on two of them.

Wisteria ALMOST Blooming

I had to go out and check on them hourly, and pinch my self to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

I was especially concerned after some big storms rolled though but all was A-OK until….

THIS.

Albus the Monster Dog

Did THIS

Gnawed Wisteria Vine

Causing THIS.

Murdered Wisteria

It was all I could do to lurch back to the house, grab the camera and take a picture of

THIS

I'm Sorry...

And no, he wasn’t, not really.

He is just pouting because I took his new stick away.

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Peony Buds

I LOVE PEONIES! Sorry, I am yelling.

But I do. I love them. And I love Springtime…and all the other ‘gardeny’ stuff  that blooms this time of year.

But I digress…

Last year these double pink babies did not look so hot, and I really feared they would rot due to all the wet weather we had.

Pink Peonies

Imagine my surprise and delight today when I was greeted with this gorgeous display!

This is just the first of the peonies to bloom, so unless I can control the impulse to take 12 squillion peony photos, be warned. You may get really sick of peonies in the next few weeks!

The Peony and her Bee

Oh, and even better? Besides their stunning good looks, they smell really good, too!

You just have to remember to watch for bees before doing a full face plant into a blossom.

No, there is not much going on in the herb garden yet- some things are sending up new growth, but that’s about it.

The weather is supposed to take a cold turn tonight with temperatures dropping back near freezing. After making sure that seedlings and tender plants were safely tucked in the greenhouse I decided to take a few pictures of some blooming shrubs and edible landscaping. If it all gets hit by frost tonight I’ll have gorgeous photos to remember them by. You know, exactly like Better Homes and Garden’s gorgeous photo spreads… I’m pretty sure they use a little bitty Canon and a cell phone to take their best shots, too.

First up for my show and tell, my favorite lilac-Mount Baker.

The fragrance is delicious.

Honestly-I just want to shove my nose into these flowers, snort deeply and keep it there all spring.

Mount Baker Lilac

Next…

Blueberry Blossoms

Blueberries in Bloom

Most years we don’t get many berries unless I cage them early. The chickens pick off the lower ones, and the wild birds get the upper berries. They are all such little pigs.

And finally,

Apple Blossoms

This crazy tree does not know it’s been pronounced dead…twice. It has blown over, been completely uprooted and snapped at the base of the trunk. Now it simply reclines.

This photo is from a few years ago – after the second time it went over in a bad storm. We had lots of trees to clean up and I hadn’t gotten around to cutting it down when I noticed it was still producing fruit.

It’s a Zombie Apple Tree!

Recumbent Zombie Apple Tree

Although a professor of mine from some years ago would have told me to “prune it at the roots” I did not have the heart to cut down a tree so determined to live.

Today it still grows in it’s happy-yet wonky-condition and even produces plenty of gorgeous Rome apples for me each fall!

I just consider it a living sculpture these days.

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This morning I was out in the barn feeding the fat little horses, chickens and goats when I heard a car door slam and saw my friend Nancy pulling out of the drive. When I returned to the house I found this pretty little birthday bouquet on my front porch…

Pretty Little Bouquet

The white  lilacs in it smell heavenly and I think the little hen on the mug resembles ‘Saucy’ the hen strolling in the garden.

Thanks for the nice surprise, Nancy!

I love my pals

Yesterday I started to clean out this

raised bed out front in the medicinal herb garden. During the warm months this particular raised bed houses lots of Marshmallow and Comfrey.

Marshmallow and Comfrey in Raised Bed

Here you can see the grass and Comfrey in the bed coming back after a long winter…and see how the concrete bed has heaved and moved around from the ice and snow? Ick.

Comfrey is not taken or used internally now, but is still used externally for wounds and healing. I make salves and ointments with the leaves and root. This stuff will reseed and spread like CRAZY and the smallest bit of root will grow a whole new plant. Or twenty.

Comfrey Sprouting!

Yes, the grass has miraculously turned green in the time it took you to scroll down and you can see that last years dried Marshmallow stems or stalks are still standing.

Don’t worry, they will magically have been cut back by the next picture! Marshmallows produce their seeds in a wheel or “cheese” and they have a tendency to reseed all over the place. I use the root and sometimes the leaves for teas…

Marshmallow Stalks Magically Gone

Well, here it is all magically cleaned out and naked. Well mostly…and yes, I know I need to mow now. I also had to go eat some lunch before I finished so you get to see the picture of the bed at about 75% complete. You can see some wayward Comfrey plants that jumped out of the bed and have taken up residence just outside it…

And finally-

Marshmallow Emerging

When you whack down last year’s marshmallow stalks, you find this!

New growth.

It’s so exciting it’s almost overwhelming.  I think I may faint.

Remember the Sacrificial Nectarine tree?

Here it is bathed in early morning sunlight and absolutely glorious in pink.

Nectarine Bloom

Nectarine in Bloom

Nectarine Blossoms

Beautiful, isn’t it?