Love Affair
Have I ever told you about my love affair - with herbs?? I love my garden, my fruit trees and my berries and I'm even beginning to warm up to flowers, but my true love is for herbs. I love they way they smell, the way they grow, the way they look, the way they can be used and enjoyed in so many, many ways - I just love herbs!
I had to go to the green house today - to pick up one more yellow pear tomato because dear husband broke the other one I got for him for his experimental hanging bucket. Rachel laughed at me as I walked across the parking lot and into the building talking to myself saying over and over - self control, self control, only need a couple of things, only need a couple of things... :-) I was only going to get the yellow pear tomato and a basil start because I want it sooner rather than later. But the herbs greeted me with their wonderful scent and laughter and I was lost to them, again. I managed to get out with only the following: sweet basil and cinnamon basil (a new one for me), oregano, chamomile, sage (a couple actually - the pineapple sage has such a wonderful aroma I had to have it along with the purple sage), rosemary and French tarragon. I also added a jalapeno to the plan because the Pico de gallo recipe is perfect and I am growing every single ingredient in my garden now!
As Rachel and I were enjoying our shopping John called to say he was just leaving work which happens to be immediately across the street from the green house where we were. I invited him to join us because I wanted him to see the wisteria I have been drooling over. He arrived and liked the tomatoberry I introduced him to so we'll be adding that to the hanging baskets. He did not seem impressed with the wisteria though.
While checking out he discovered the same planter I had stopped and considered when I entered. I cautioned him that it was expensive but he quickly pointed out that he could spend the money to buy it for me for Mother's Day rather than a bouquet of flowers that would quickly die. Hmm - point well taken. It would be absolutely perfect to grow my herbs on the deck!! Thanks honey! :-)
So, before all this took place I did manage to get into the backyard to plant the two blackberry bushes and the blueberry bushes that had not made it into the ground yet. I feel so much better. We need more dirt. We need more blueberries and more blackberries and more grapes.
Guess what!? The big apple tree is finally producing!!! It's a big tree and it is loaded with tiny little apples. And the pear tree is producing for the first time! Our nectarine and peach tree both have leaf curl again, how sad. Some serious pruning needs to be done and that will still have to happen even though it's a bit late. My instructor said it's never too late and she is a ferocious pruner like I am. Fungicide will have to be applied in the fall and the pruning will help keep the trees as healthy as possible for now.
Oh, oh I almost forgot!! Rachel spied a spanish peanut plant that says it will grow here [see me shaking my head with doubt] so she will have an experiment of her own. It really does say it will grow and produce spanish peanuts here that can be eaten after drying time; who knew??
We have decided that we need a couple more raised beds - honey do list grows again!
Happy gardening!!
Amazing! You have a gift for making things grow. Sounds like a beautiful, peaceful garden and I know how much joy it brings you. You are my gardening Yoda! :)R
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