Surprising Roses!

When I went out into the front garden this morning, I spied my favorite rose blooming. My 'Graham Thomas' is blooming again despite its location. One of the things I'm going to work on this winter is learning all I can about roses. I take enough photos of them. I don't always get it right when growing them. There are three more buds I can see so I will have 'Graham' in the garden for a little while longer this season!

Lots of Phlox!

Everyone who came through our garden on Sunday commented on the wonderful smell and how we grew such large phlox without powdery mildew. I don't know! I wish I did understand it! To be truthful I think I planted three phlox total in the front and this is what it has produced! I would recommend against planting 'Mt Fuji'. It is struggling in the back garden to bloom. It has reproduced itself and the reproductions don't have powdery mildew as much. Next year I will spray the 'Mt. Fuji' early in the season or try to give it more air circulation. Although as you can see in the front garden, air circulation is not a problem!

Be Careful What You Wish For! Part Two!

Yesterday I thought I was minding my own business, deadheading and pruning my herbs in my garden and containers. Then I heard a whistle from the back of the yard. The Herbal Husband was back in the way back (really not that far) pruning the old canes out of the raspberries. At least that's what I thought was happening! When I got to the way back, here were the branches of a mulberry tree that has been shading out some of our raspberries with more to come!

To make a long story short, we worked on pruning branches out of the trees and then the Herbal Husband worked on pruning out the old canes and making paths in and around the remaining canes. You see we don't have the Penn State prescribed trellising system for our raspberries! That would be too easy! We have to have a structure to it! Similar to a maze that adds character and the possibility of getting your arms and legs scraped by the canes as you pick the berries! I really can't make this up! We did accomplish a lot yesterday and The Herbal Husband said he couldn't have finished without me! Teamwork! Think twice though when you hear that whistle!

Yikes! Thyme Flies!

The Herbal Husband got the rest of the garlic pulled the other day. Good thing because we have had over an inch of rain since then! I called this posting Yikes because we are getting rain. Good we needed it, but now I need to harvest some herbs in the garden and wet doesn't cut it! As you get older in life, time (or thyme) flies by. I always heard that and thought what are they talking about? Now I know! I also wanted my herb garden to look nice for the master gardeners and the garden tour. Well, it did. Now the work really begins.

We also harvested more beets, fingerling potatoes, carrots and stray garlics that didn't get pulled last year. I love this time of year, but I need to be efficient now and cut when I can! I have to quit admiring the view!

It's Travel Friday--Our Home Town!

I have been talking about far away places in my other travel postings. I decided to go local in this one and talk about Pittsburgh, PA. Everyone has the impression that Pittsburgh is a smoky city or the steel city and those definitions are furthest from the truth! Here it is on a beautiful May day this year.
We always take company up Mt. Washington on the incline. The incline is two cars that travel in opposite directions and travel up and down the mountain. Commuters use it every day, but it is an excellent way to get back and forth from Mt. Washington to downtown Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh is also known for many famous people who lived and worked here. Andrew Carnegie, George Westinghouse and Henry Clay Frick who built and lived in a place called Clayton. They even made a replica of Phipps Conservatory on the property as a greenhouse. They have a wonderful cafe that serves afternoon tea. The Herbal Husband has taken me for my birthday.















Phipps Conservatory is a beautiful glass house in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. They have a lot of different exhibits and classes for the whole family and a beautiful herb garden as well. You know me I had to end in an herb garden! So this is a little slice of Pittsburgh and I will talk about my home town again in the future postings!

Guest Blogging for The Herb Companion Magazine!

What do tansy and Russian sage have in common? Find out when you read my latest posting for The Herb Companion magazine! Here is the link.

We Can Grow Plants Anywhere!

This mullein decided to grow right by our back door. It was in full bloom when I took this picture. It is a member of the Verbascum family, Verbascum thapsus. I'm giving you a link to an article in the latest Herb Companion magazine. I will admit that I am herbally deficient in medicinal herbs and so I will be learning along with you. I did read that the plant hairs may be irritating to some people, including me. So as always, be careful when using an unfamiliar herb! It is a favorite in our garden and I will let you know what else I learn about mullein in future postings!

A Visitor and a Friend in the Herb Garden!

Five years ago when my herb garden was redesigned, a rock wall was added. It's been called a condo for the chipmunks! So periodically we spy chippie eating or sitting on top of Mary's head. I don't always get a chance to get a photo. Mary the statue is named after our friend Mary who designed and sculpted her. I hope you have plants or ornaments in your garden that are reminders of friends and family!

Heavenly Herbal View!

The Herbal Husband was busy in the bathroom this morning. He was taking aerial views of our garden in the early morning light. It really looks nice! It is always a beautiful day in the garden.