Liberty's, Geffrye Herb Garden and Afternoon Tea at St. Paul's-London, England Trip 2015!

Blue Skies in London-A Blessing!

My New Favorite Store in London!

Just the Look of the Inside Makes Me Smile!

Not a Scone but a Toasted Tea Cake and Earl Grey Tea.  A Mid-Morning Break!

The Plan of the Geffrye Herb Garden

Lots Still in Bloom in the Herb Garden

The Beautiful Water Fountain

The Knot Garden of Santolina

More Santolina at the Geffrye!

Afternoon Tea at St. Paul's

I usually have my whole trip planned out before I go, reservations for tea, gardens to see, train tickets purchased.  I didn't plan on such fabulous weather.  I was hopeful, but in England you always carry your brolly.  I only had one really dreary day when I was in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

First day I decided to go back to the Liberty department store known for its fabrics particularly.  I just love the Tudor feel of the building.  They already had their Christmas shop set up.  It was very festive.  I also carried on the tradition of having a mid-morning break for a tea cake and tea.  Scones are served later in the day!  Always enjoyable.  I knew that the next place I wanted to see again was the herb garden at the Geffrye Museum of the Home.  If you click the first link in the previous sentence, you will read my previous post about my visit in 2014 to this herb garden.  It is one of my new favorites and when I go back to England again, I will definitely be going back for a visit.  I especially love the intimacy of the herb garden as they were in earlier times, a protected garden.  I just sat and enjoyed the space as much as the last time I was there in May, 2014.

The last stop on the first day of my English holiday was St. Paul's to light a candle or two for my friends who are sick and need some blessings and to have one of my favorite things in England or just about anywhere, afternoon tea.  If you are on a budget and you still want a decent afternoon tea, you should try the restaurant at St. Paul's.  It is a very contemporary space in a very old cathedral and it was enough food that I didn't need to eat dinner that evening.  It's off to Bristol in my next England post.

Sort of a dreary rainy warm day in the garden.  Probably our last warm day until next year.  Cut some chives for freezing and lemon balm for drying.  Will try to catch you up on the garden and what has been going on in my next post.  Talk to you later.

Another Herbal Moving Day!

Had to Put The Containers In the Garage Temporarily!

It happens every year.  Shouldn't be a surprise at all.  Worked most of yesterday to get the containers moved into the garage, basement or the living room.  I secretly am always happy for this day.  Even though I didn't feel as connected to my herb garden this year, I did have a lot to harvest.  So I guess it was a success because The Herbal Husband was paying attention, herbally speaking!

The basement is getting full between containers and harvested herbs hanging from the rafters.  Lots of lemon verbena, stevia and lemon scented geranium.  Today I cut the first of the pineapple sages.  We will cover the one in my herb garden with Reemay overnight and hopefully it will survive.  I processed the first pineapple sage into six containers of leaves.  They will stay fresh for at least a couple of days until I can make the jelly.  That equals a couple of boxes of jelly!

I was thinking of cutting my tarragon to the ground, but decided to leave some plant standing because it has seemed to have found the right place to grow well.  In the past I have cut it all and it hasn't come back.  You would think I would learn from my mistakes.

So hopefully you are in better control of what's going on in your herb garden.  It is a bright cool day in the 'Burgh and getting colder.  Will definitely have frost tonight.  Indian summer will be coming.  One of my favorite times of the year.  Hope you are having a great day wherever you may be.  Have been struggling with the time change and all of the chore of the herb garden.  Not enough time to blog.  Hopefully with the weather changing, I will remedy that.  Talk to you later.

It's About Reconnection and New Connections in England!

I have been very fortunate over the last several years to be able to spend a couple of weeks in England specifically London.  Since I have been retired for so long, a beach vacation just doesn't do it for me.  I have always loved England ever since my first trip in 1966.  I was just a child but it obviously made a big impact for me.

All of my English trips aren't about the souvenirs (well, maybe a little), but of the connections and reconnections made during the time there.  I was lucky enough to see the Queen of Herbs, Jekka McVicar at her lovely and wonderful farm and herbetum outside Bristol.  Also I got to spend time with my herbal sister, Debs and her wonderful, patient husband and our driver, Simon.  We also got to spend time with the gardening dynamo, Marion Monihan, who in the smallest of worlds was a student at Pitt in her early days.  A new connection was a brief one but so reminded me of our friends, Jim and Laverne.  I will tell you about the Liverpool couple who I met at the Kensington Roof Garden.

I have missed so much in the herb garden and you have too.  I am going to try and intersperse herb garden posts with English travel ones.  Hope you will come along for the adventures.  A beautiful day in the herb garden and I am inside catching up on laundry!  Talk to you later!

Jekka and Lemon Verbena Lady in the Herbetum!

Debs, Marion, the Gardening Dynamo and Lemon Verbena Lady!

My Herbal Sis, Debs and Our Amazing and Patient Driver, Simon!

The Lovely Liverpool Couple at the Kensington Roof Garden!