dragonfly days

the garden

My herbs are really taking off this year.   From top to bottom: feverfew, mullien, comfrey, goldenrod, milkweed, and calendula.

Time to get to work harvesting and more making goodness.

 

the garden

My herbs are really taking off this year.   From top to bottom: feverfew, mullien, comfrey, goldenrod, milkweed, and calendula.

Time to get to work harvesting and more making goodness.

 

the garden

We've been on some marathon garden kicks here. I think we are finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. That is, if I stop finding things we just need to plant. Today I took a moment to enjoy while I did the watering.

The milk weed is starting to bloom. We started with one little seed and now we have quite a patch going. Love this. I hope it attracts some butterflies this year.

The roses are in full bloom right now. I have a love hate relationship with these roses. They are so beautiful when they are in bloom, but it only lasts a week or two. 

Today we made a quick trip to the nursery. I was looking for a valerian plant. I had one last year and think it might have seeded, but if it didn't I wanted another. I couldn't find it but I did pick up a pineapple sage, another comfrey, and some seeds.  The most exciting find was the quinoa seeds. Can you imagine? So excited to see if it will grow here.

I also have another big project involving gardens in the works. It started with a conversation with one of the neighbors at the wild edible class. I'm hoping I can make it come to fruition.

 

the garden

- left half of veggie garden. Front part has chard, calendula, cilantro and lettuce. Back has onion, lettuce, tomato, chard.

Right side of veggie garden. Front- lettuce, tomato, potato,  and chard.  Back part has beans, lettuce, kale, and cabbage.

Marshmallow

feverfew

evening primrose

lemon basil and lime basil

borage seedlings, lemon thyme and lemongrass.

red clover. The box with the red clover and calendula has been having a hard time. We're not sure if it is birds or bugs, but something is enjoying it. I put bird netting over it yesterday and it is already doing better.

peppermint.

Jack was thrilled to see this watermelon seedling in his box today. :)

Stevia, chamomile, lemon balm, zinnias.

lavender, fnger jade, zinnias, aloe, pineapple, freesia, false ocotillo, moon cactus.

The valerian, comfrey, pineapple sage, and lemon verbena all seem to be doing well after a week of rough wind.

 

garden update May 6

Jack is waiting very impatiently for his seeds to sprout. I have no idea where he gets that from. :)  For the past week I've been checking my clover patch at least two times a day waiting to see those little specks of green. This morning when I went out I didn't even check on them. I stood listening to Jack wishing that his garden would grow and said something along the lines of me too, my clover isn't even up yet.  Zac interupted me and told me that if I looked real close it was there.

I mean really close. Can you see that little speck of green. Sure enough they are all over the place. I may have done a happy dance after which I encouraged Jack to give it a few more days.

In the meantime, the roses are in full bloom. So pretty. Time to make some rosewater.

 

And the swing is a pretty fun place to watch and wait from.  I love that toothless grin.

herbs

One of the things I've been wanting to do for a long time is learn and practice with medicinal herbs.  I've decided this is my year. :) No putting it off.  Last week I was talking with friends, you know who you are, and I got all fired up about it again.

Today the last seed was put into the ground, for now. I mixed of few of my culinary herbs in with the medicinals due to lack of space. :)

Above we have lemon balm, chamomile, and stevia.

Zac has been busy making some grow boxes for me this week.  The box in the foreground has: borage, mullein, marshmallow,  chamomile, navajo tea, evening primrose  and lemon balm.

The plants at the far end are: two lemon grass and one lemon thyme.  The closest plants are one valerian and one pineapple sage.  Seeds: Goldenrod, milkweed, basil, oregano, and parsley.

 

In the smallest box we have: comfrey, valerian, comfrey seeds, and lemon verbena.

This box wasn't in the second picture, it's in another part of the yard. It has red clover and calendula.

In the hopes of keeping it somewhat contained I have the peppermint in a planter.

I have two calendula plants in the big garden due to lack of space.

 

Also in the second picture, you'll notice a box at the back that is about half the size of the two big ones. That is Jack's box. He requested one yesterday for his garden. :) Since we think gardening is an important life skill, we couldn't resist.

He planted: 2 strawberries, 3 onions, 6 hot poker flowers, a bunch of lettuce and 1 watermelon.  He was very specific on what he wanted and how many of each. What we find interesting is out of all of those the only thing he'll actually eat is watermelon.   He is very proud of his garden and while we were buying the strawberries was telling everyone who would listen about his box.

Here's hoping for sprouts!

the seeds are here!

My seeds came today! I am so excited to get my medicinal herbs going.

These were ordered from Horizon Herbs.

• Red Clover
• Evening Primrose
• Lemon Balm
• Borage
• Calendula
• Milk Thistle
• Marshmallow
• Comfrey
• Goldenrod
• Mullein
• Navajo Tea

I already have two lemon balm plants but this is one we already use a lot and I also picked up the two calendula plants we saw because I was excited to get going on that.  Hopefully I'll get started planting tomorrow, but I have a lot of prep to do.

Today we spent 3 1/2 hours at the drivers liscense division waiting to get Steve's learners permit, it completely threw my day into a tailspin-errands didn't get done, girls didn't make practice, chores didn't get done. 

Tomorrow I am hoping to start planting and make toothpaste and laundry detergent.