Herbs in the Garden

Love butterflies? Plant some herbs.

Herbs draw all kinds of butterflies and are host plants (main food source) to several.

Host plant? Dill in this case.

This is a  Swallowtail caterpillar chowing down on the last of the dill in this container.

They are piggish caterpillars and will demolish your umbel family herbs, but they are truly gorgeous butterflies.

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OK, I have done some stupid things in the herb garden.

No, not like getting rip snorting drunk and rolling around naked in Nettles or anything…heck, I don’t drink.

I mean idiotic garden plantings that seemed like a good idea at the time-but were never going to work. I am by nature an experimenter and forever want to try new things. Based on my growing location and climate you’d think I’d know better than to plant some of the stuff I do, but I still keep trying.

Insanity or Incurable Optimist? Hmmm, it’s a very fine line.

Basket Willow in the Herb Garden

Willows are my latest mishap…but I haven’t given up. Yet.

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Concrete Elephant Ear

Decorating the garden?

I am completely addicted to concrete stuff. It is SO much fun to make. Sure, it’s a little messy, but it’s fun. Seeing what you’ve created is even better!

These giant concrete leaves are pretty easy to make and they make great bird baths, and uber-cool garden ornaments.

I’ve done a lot of these this year- all from different sized Elephant Ears (Colocasia). My plan is to make a fountain with them at some point. Like next summer.

The general idea is to take a mound of wet sand, a big leaf, some plastic, fine concrete and go to town. There are a few more steps, but not many. If you have a few hours and big hosta, rhubarb, or elephant ear leaves you can create your own concrete masterpiece. Or a bunch of them!

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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.

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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…

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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…

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