Here she is, watching over the herb garden on this sunny January day! Do you ever wonder what she is looking at? What do you think is in her pockets? Is that her favorite tool?
We may have to investigate this!!!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Our Yarb Woman on a Cold January Day
Here she is, watching over the herb garden on this sunny January day! Do you ever wonder what she is looking at? What do you think is in her pockets? Is that her favorite tool?
We may have to investigate this!!!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Gardening Restraining Orders and Herb Spirals
A bit of background first.
On our 20 acres, there is only one flat area which is clear of trees. It happens to be our side yard, the only area we can entertain ourselves and guests outside. Over the past 20 years, I've tried and failed to put rock walls, ponds, garden beds, ~ anything fun in place of the grass out there. No matter what, it stays grass.
About that "Gardening Restraining Order"....
Occasionally, I find myself with too much time on my hands. One day last May, was one of those times. Who knows what triggered it; it could have been a review of perennial herbs or just an image of a circular garden but right then, I became obsessed with creating a herb spiral. In our side yard. The side yard I've unsuccessfully tried to put gardens in for the past 20 years. I was thinking HUGE ~ "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind" huge. Sketches of spirals, plant lists and material checklists littered the kitchen table. A carp pond, waterfall, flowers for all seasons: you'd be able to see it from the International Space Station! Images would be on Oprah.....
All it took was a simple "Hey Jean, what's all this?" from my husband and my "Close Encounters" dream wilted away.
"Oh, Tom, this is soooo cool! I'm going to make this really neat herb spiral! There'll be a wetlands on the downhill side - I'm thinking a bit of irrigation to run a small stream going into a small pond. I can put my salad garden - you know we keep talking about growing our own greens - in the spiral, right outside in the side yard and with it close to the house, hose, and full sun...."
"Side yard??!!"
"Well, yeah. It's the only flat spot ..."
From here, the conversation isn't worth repeating. It ended with a "Gardening Restraining Order" on me concerning anything in the side yard. Not only is any form of gardening forbidden in the side yard, tools left there are subject to confiscation and mentioning or alluding to digging is out of bounds as is even asking to bury spring bulbs in the grass. Violation of said order is subject to the cold shoulder and the toilet seat being left up in the middle of the night.
Bummer. My bet is Doris Robison never had a gardening restraining order out on her... Or maybe she did and that's why we have the Robison Herb Garden!!!
Back to the spiral.
Not one to give up on really cool garden concept, I went out and choose an overgrown bed that I'd been eying for a re-do. I dug up all the rubeckia, oregano, bee balm and daffodils and created a herb spiral. So there, husband of mine!! Take that!!!
This is the view this week. You can see the "bones" of the garden: the plants are all asleep.
Granted, it's not huge but it is functional and within the standard size recommended. Most sources suggest a spiral no larger than 6' across so that you can reach what you need. easily. My "Close Encounters" spiral, although cool, would have been a bear to weed and harvest from.
To create this garden, I used the area I had and applied the principles of a spiral to make it work. A rosemary lives in the very top area (it's currently overwintering in the shop) with sages below and lavender and thyme in the dry, shallow soil areas in the "front" of the bed. The larger center area has a peony on the downhill side: it was living in the original bed and LOVES it. I'm not messing with a happy peony! Mints, hyssop and chamomile were added in that bed. My mints are sunk into the garden in plastic pots to keep them from spreading. To control the oregano, I placed it in the small, contained area at the "bottom".
On the "downhill" side of the Rosemary wall ~ the area to the left, I started planting succulents in the rocks. This is a very visible wall and I wanted to add interest to it. We'll see how they do in a few months: I'm hopeful the majority will last and multiply. :) You can see a few in this image.
This will be year two of the spiral and I have high hopes for it this spring. As the season progresses, more pictures will be added.
Do you have a herb spiral in your garden? Tell us about it!
Alternatively, do you have or have you ever had a "gardening restraining order" out against you??!!!
On our 20 acres, there is only one flat area which is clear of trees. It happens to be our side yard, the only area we can entertain ourselves and guests outside. Over the past 20 years, I've tried and failed to put rock walls, ponds, garden beds, ~ anything fun in place of the grass out there. No matter what, it stays grass.
About that "Gardening Restraining Order"....
Occasionally, I find myself with too much time on my hands. One day last May, was one of those times. Who knows what triggered it; it could have been a review of perennial herbs or just an image of a circular garden but right then, I became obsessed with creating a herb spiral. In our side yard. The side yard I've unsuccessfully tried to put gardens in for the past 20 years. I was thinking HUGE ~ "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind" huge. Sketches of spirals, plant lists and material checklists littered the kitchen table. A carp pond, waterfall, flowers for all seasons: you'd be able to see it from the International Space Station! Images would be on Oprah.....
All it took was a simple "Hey Jean, what's all this?" from my husband and my "Close Encounters" dream wilted away.
"Oh, Tom, this is soooo cool! I'm going to make this really neat herb spiral! There'll be a wetlands on the downhill side - I'm thinking a bit of irrigation to run a small stream going into a small pond. I can put my salad garden - you know we keep talking about growing our own greens - in the spiral, right outside in the side yard and with it close to the house, hose, and full sun...."
"Side yard??!!"
"Well, yeah. It's the only flat spot ..."
From here, the conversation isn't worth repeating. It ended with a "Gardening Restraining Order" on me concerning anything in the side yard. Not only is any form of gardening forbidden in the side yard, tools left there are subject to confiscation and mentioning or alluding to digging is out of bounds as is even asking to bury spring bulbs in the grass. Violation of said order is subject to the cold shoulder and the toilet seat being left up in the middle of the night.
Bummer. My bet is Doris Robison never had a gardening restraining order out on her... Or maybe she did and that's why we have the Robison Herb Garden!!!
Not one to give up on really cool garden concept, I went out and choose an overgrown bed that I'd been eying for a re-do. I dug up all the rubeckia, oregano, bee balm and daffodils and created a herb spiral. So there, husband of mine!! Take that!!!
This is the view this week. You can see the "bones" of the garden: the plants are all asleep.
Granted, it's not huge but it is functional and within the standard size recommended. Most sources suggest a spiral no larger than 6' across so that you can reach what you need. easily. My "Close Encounters" spiral, although cool, would have been a bear to weed and harvest from.
To create this garden, I used the area I had and applied the principles of a spiral to make it work. A rosemary lives in the very top area (it's currently overwintering in the shop) with sages below and lavender and thyme in the dry, shallow soil areas in the "front" of the bed. The larger center area has a peony on the downhill side: it was living in the original bed and LOVES it. I'm not messing with a happy peony! Mints, hyssop and chamomile were added in that bed. My mints are sunk into the garden in plastic pots to keep them from spreading. To control the oregano, I placed it in the small, contained area at the "bottom".
On the "downhill" side of the Rosemary wall ~ the area to the left, I started planting succulents in the rocks. This is a very visible wall and I wanted to add interest to it. We'll see how they do in a few months: I'm hopeful the majority will last and multiply. :) You can see a few in this image.
This will be year two of the spiral and I have high hopes for it this spring. As the season progresses, more pictures will be added.
Do you have a herb spiral in your garden? Tell us about it!
Alternatively, do you have or have you ever had a "gardening restraining order" out against you??!!!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The Janurary Terrarium Meeting
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| Terrarium Barb from Michaleen's created for us |
First, we spent some time visiting and enjoying some lovely snacks provided by Jeanne. Rosemary Shortbread Cookies - Oh my goodness!! I'm glad there are no calories involved when you add herbs to a cookie: my diet would be crushed if there were!! After our business meeting, Barb, our kind host from Michaleen's, taught us all about these fabulous little gardens called terrariums. Much has changed since the fish-tank version I made in elementary school several decades ago! Barb created the one you see above. She showed us how to choose plants including why some just won't work. To maintain a terrarium, it is very important to be able to prune and do it often and ruthlessly. At one point, she was snipping, snipping and snipping this cute plant down so much it reminded me of cutting the hair on my Barbie dolls when I was a child. My heart started pounding nervously. The Barbie dolls never grew their hair back: would this poor plant suffer the same fate? Barb emphasized the importance of keeping the plants small and also how the plants she was using could handle the haircut just fine. They are not Barbie doll plants by any means!
All in all, I can see many terrariums in my future... Our basement is a low light environment, as is my son's room. My son's room probably could benefit from some oxygen producing creatures, too. What perfect places to begin another gardening adventure: terrariums!
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| Beautiful Greenhouse Plants! |
The greenhouse at Michaleen's was LOVELY!! If you are suffering from the winter blahhhh's, stop by and visit. They are open 9am - 5pm weekdays. Be sure to check out the wall planter: you will be amazed!
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| Geraniums for your eyes and nose! |
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Upcoming Meetings
Bring your lunch and a tea mug!
May 14 - 11:45 am at Sycamore Hill Gardensin Marcellus, at 2130 Old Seneca Turnpike, with your lunch and a mug. A donation of $8 is requested for the Baltimore Woods Nature Center.Herb of the Month and Program– Cathy D.
June 11 - 11:45 am at Der Rosenmeister, 190 Seven Mile Drive, Ithaca
ProgramLeon Ginenthal will tell us about his heirloom and modern roses. Bring your lunch and a tea mug!
Hostess – Melanie S.
Herb of the month Kathleen S.
July 9 - 11:45 am at Lili's Garden, 16 Dublin Hill Road, Aurora, NY
Program Some history and lore of Labyrinths. Enjoy Lili's garden and walk her classical 7-circuit boxwood labyrinth. Bring your lunch and a tea mug!
Hostess Lili M.
Herb of the month Susan H.
August 13 - 11:45 am at Terie Rawn's Woodland Wonder Garden in Newfield, NY Bring your lunch and a tea mug!
Hostess – Norma Jean W.
Herb of the month Melanie S.