Tag Archives: Flowering Herbs

Apr3

Fait Accompli

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Fait Accompli

I have radishes, beets, parsnips and bunching onions. Two flower beds,  two blueberry bush pots, two acai bush pots and a geranium/herb pot planted. Nine million and forty two seedlings ready for transplant (give or take eight million). My back is sore, my calves are tender, my arms are killing. I LOVE SPRING!

I’m trying to beat a thunderstorm that is heading our way so this will be yet again, a shorter post. I wanted to tell you about the flower beds I put in yesterday evening. This is a very simple border around our little parking area. I think it will help make this neglected looking area a bit more cheerful.

Lilliput Zinnias

Marigolds Petite Mix

Along the length is a bed 2′ wide by 25′. Here I planted:

  • Marigolds:

  • Janie Flame Marigold

  1. Janie
  2. Fiesta
  • Zinnias:
  1. Carmine Rose
  2. Envy
  3. Scarlet Flame
  4. Violet Queen
  5. Rose Cactus

Along the width the bed is 2′ by 15′. I wanted lower plants here. Here I put:

  • Thyme -because we can all use more of this, right?
  • Petite Marigolds in yellow and orange
  • Lilliput Zinnias

 

Ugh! I hear thunder. Here are some pictures of the beds before the flowers. After pictures will have to wait, I need to get outside!

It's going to be lovely, but at the moment...not so much.They'll be spectacular...someday!What will be, will be.

Have a Spring filled paisley day!~KeriAnne

Feb25

Paisley Plant of the Week: Basil

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Paisley Plant of the Week: Basil

It is possible you think I have my days mixed up and that I meant this to be a Throwback plant. After all, basil has been around for thousands of years, right? Yes. However…basil is so paisley! I mean to tell you how. I promise, you’ll be wanting to order one or two or six varieties of basil for your gardens by the end of this post! That is a bold statement but I have the basil to back it up.

 

A short history of this very interesting plant…

Basil: Ocimum basilicum

Also known as St. Joseph’s Wort. A member of the family  Lamiaceae which includes mint. Although native to India, it is grown world wide. And used in every culture (that I could find) for cooking. Most people know that it is great in the kitchen. Most people probably don’t know that in some cultures, basil is sacred.

The Greek Orthodox church uses it in the preparation for their Holy Water because it is said to have been found on the spot Constantine and Helen found the Holy Cross. In India, where it was first cultivated, basil is used in the courtroom for people to swear their truths by.

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Feb17

Busy Bees and other Busy Bodies

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Busy Bees and other Busy Bodies

We’ve had the good bugs. We’ve seen the bad bugs. Now let’s talk about the busy bugs. These are the working force bugs of the garden. Their jobs entail pollination, security, and master chef’s cooking up compost to feed the hungry veg.

The Pollinators

I guess the most common in domestic gardens would be bees. Pollination comes about when the pollen from the male anthers of a plant is transported to the female stigma of the plant. Unless you have loads of time and patience and a steady hand with a cotton swab, you’re going to want lots of bees to come and do this job for you.

The next more commonly known pollinator is the butterfly.I happen to be highly allergic to bee stings, so I live in fearful admiration of these little guys every year. I’m pretty careful about what and where I grab and wear my goat skin gloves even if I’m just moving things around. Until this year my husband has asked me not to plant things that would intentionally attract bees to the yard. Last summer he saw that I was careful, and that unless you inadvertently grab them or step on them, they just want to be left alone to do their business. So this year I am planting bee friendly plants, I have my epi-pen ready just in case. I’m sure it will all be just fine. Notice in this picture, the bee is completely covered in pollen, what a good job he is doing!

The next pollinator is the butterfly. There are a gazillion kinds of butterflies and they are always welcome in the garden. They are so pretty fluttering around. Unfortunately, they also come with baggage. Before they get to be the floating, fairy like creatures so dainty and beautiful, they start out as very hungry caterpillars. I take issue with Eric Carle though, the caterpillars in my garden never want one green leaf. The caterpillars in my garden want to eat…well, my garden! They get tossed into the neighbors yard (it’s fine, she doesn’t garden…sorry Gwen). After the transformation, they are welcome to return to the Gunz’ property.

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