The Calm Before the Storm!

Wanted to show that the 'Burgh does get sunny days even in the snow and cold!  We're expecting a storm tonight that may bring us ice which we don't get too often.  Hope we don't lose our power.  Hope you are staying warm or cool wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.  I'm going to steal a quote from Claude Monet for the daily quote, but make it my own.

This is Claude's quote:  More than anything, I must have flowers, always, always.

This is my take on Monet's quote:  More than anything, I must have herbs, always, always.

Talk to you later.

Making Progress, Herbally Speaking!

Had to give you another photo of my favorite, lemon verbena.  It's hanging out in the basement at the moment getting some heat!  Just have to start giving it some more sun!  Ha!  That's funny in the 'Burgh!  Not much sun here at  the moment!  Eventually we will turn the corner here.  We always do.  Hope you are having a great day wherever you may be!  The quote for today is from Mrs. Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal:

Thy loving smile will surely hail

The love-gift of a fairy tale.

- Lewis Carroll

Talk to you later.

Congrats Miss C!

It was Science Fair day and night at Miss C's school yesterday.  She got a first place and an excellence award in her category, Behavioral Science.  Not quite growing plants like last year, but she and I are left handed so it was still near and dear to my hand or heart!  I took a picture of the ribbons, but I goofed, Miss C.  We didn't cover up her name and I promised I wouldn't disclose it. 

That's her problem and it is true that right handed people have a dominant eye, hand and foot, but left handed people seem to be more adaptable and can use both hands and feet more easily than right handed folks!  It is still mostly a right handed world, but we adapt to it a little better.  That's my version of the story and I'm sticking to it!  Unlike last year, she is sixth alternate for regional competition.  It's a matter of numbers.  She is in seventh grade and only 10 are going.  She may still have a chance, but it's OK, Miss C.  You did good!  Off to see The King's Speech again.  The Herbal Husband is going to see The Rite.  Talk to you later.
I'll get you a quote later on.

My Favorite Seed Catalogs for Herbs

My master gardening friend, Shelley, thought that it was about thyme (sorry just had to) that I talked about my favorite seed catalogs.  It is prime time for ordering herb seeds, vegetable or flower seeds.   Here are six of my favorite catalogs.  Some of their websites are under my favorites list on the right.

Johnny's Selected Seeds from Maine-a perennial favorite of mine
Richters from Canada-I am going for a visit some day soon to buy plants!
John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds from Connecticut-Haven't ordered from them, but it is just a matter of time.
Pinetree Garden Seeds from Maine-Have ordered vegetable, flower and herb seeds from this company.  Very reasonable prices.
Nichols Garden Nursery from Oregon-Have ordered vegetable, flower and herb seeds from this company.  Very unusual varieties.
Territorial Seed Company from Oregon-Have ordered vegetable, flower and herb seeds from this company.

There are a couple of websites that I want to highlight that are on my favorites list, Renee's Garden.  Renee's have our favorite flat bean called 'Musica' and Hometown Seeds.  Haven't ordered from this company, but I'm looking forward to ordering soon.  There are lots of herbs and herbal flowers that are really easy to grow from seed.  They include calendula, nasturtiums, dianthus, borage, dill, cilantro, parsley, basil, anise hyssop, chamomile, chives, fennel, feverfew, salad burnet, summer savory, stevia and more that I can't think of at the moment!  This is just a fraction of the possibilities, but I hope that I have given you some ideas that you haven't explored!  What's your favorite seed catalog or website?

Hope you had a great day.  It's snowing again here.  Went to Miss C's Science Fair and I will have the results for you tomorrow.  Talk to you later.  The quote of the day is from Mrs. Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal:

Who loves a garden,

Still his Eden keeps;

Perennial pleasures plants,

Wholesome harvests reaps.

--Amos Bronson Alcott

Extreme Snowman!

I'm sort of scraping the bottom of the snow barrel today with this post!  It isn't even my yard.  It's next door!  Still snowing.  Hopefully, it doesn't stick.  Maybe I'm having brain freeze, herbally speaking that is!  Very delinquent on the quote front.  Here is today's quote from Mrs. Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal:

Show me your garden and I shall show you who you are.

-- A. Austin

Hope you are having a great day!  Talk to you later.

Guest Blogging for The Herb Companion Magazine-The Chelsea Physic Garden!

Obviously, The Garden of World Medicine!

The Rock Garden and Pool

A Contemplative Garden

Two of My Favorites, Nasturtiums and Chard!

Beans on the Tripod with a Flower Pot Hat!

Lemon Gem Marigolds, Lettuce, Corn and Chard!

A Stand of Perilla!

A Bed of Herbal Remedies or a Hedge of Lavender!

A Hedge of Green Santolina!

A Lavender Collection!

A Tropical Walkway in the Greenhouse

An Educational Cart in the Garden

A Monkey Puzzle Tree

Meadow flowers at the Chelsea

Very Exacting Flower Beds!

Just wanted to post these photos as promised in my guest blog for The Herb Companion magazine called Herbal Travels: The Chelsea Physic Garden of London.  Hope you had a great day!  Talk to you later.

A Favorite Pastime in London!

Piccadilly Circus-The Times Square of London

Looking down from my seat on a Double Decker Bus!

One of My Favorite Streets in London-Piccadilly

A Slightly Crazy Gentleman on a Bicycle Riding in Front of the Bus!

You Can Rent a Bicycle in London!

I have gotten pretty good at finding my way around London on my own.  I really enjoy getting on a double decker bus and getting the front seat upstairs and just going to the end of the line.  Even at night I go.  London is beautiful in the daytime and at night.  I need to tell you about that fourth photo is of a slightly crazy gentleman who had his briefcase hanging on the handlebars and he was well dressed.  I didn't get a photo because I was shocked at what happened.  He stayed out in front of the bus and as we were going through Green Park, he made a hand gesture to make a right turn and go under the street through a tunnel!  The bus stopped, fortunately, and let him go!  I have seen guys on roller blades hanging on to the back of a bus at night!  You see it all in London!  They have just started renting bikes in London!  I'm not that crazy.  The Herbal Husband wanted to rent bikes in Paris!  Crazy!  Not doing that any time soon!  Another cold day in the 'Burgh!  I must say we are really pleased that the Steelers won last night and are on their way to the Super Bowl!  Hope you had a great day wherever you may be.  Talk to you later! 

One of My Favorites-Rosemary!

Sometimes I forget what nice herbal accessories I have!  It also helps me talk about rosemary which is definitely one of my favorite herbs.  Taylorsoutback  asked the other day what is my preferred rosemary for cooking.  Then yesterday I got an email about a good rosemary that was in the 24 inch range.  Here is that question and my answer.

We now need rosemary that is about 24 inches and upright to add to our newly reconstructed backyard environment.  There are paths around a central circle and interwoven paths throughout the yard. We are are looking for rosemary to use around raised beds and for the central circle.  The rosemary in the circle can be taller or shorter depending if it is in the center or closer to the border.  Any insight would be appreciated

I have the Well Sweep 2010 catalog in front of me.  I do love Well Sweep.  I wish I was closer to them.  They are a great family owned herb farm.  They talk about several rosemaries that made it through the winter of 2001-2002 when the temperature was 7 degrees.  'Dutch Mill' is 14 inches.  'Blue Spears' is 18 inches.    'Blue Gem' and 'Blue Spire' are 20 inches and upright.  'Logee Blue' is 22 inches (in a slightly protected area) and 'Sissinghurst Blue' is closest to what you need at 24 inches.  These are also 24 inches, 'Franeaux', 'Hulka', 'Pink' and 'St. Andrew's'.  So there are 5 choices that Well Sweep offers in the 24 inch size depending on their stock.

Unfortunately, I don't have experience with any of them.  I have grown 'Arp' at 17 inches, 'Golden Rain' at 14 inches, 'Prostrate', 'Salem' is about 18 inches, 'Spice Island' about 12 inches or larger and I think 'Tuscan Blue' at 30 inches.  I usually have one upright and one prostrate in the herb garden each year.  Both come in in a container for the winter.  I have never had a rosemary winter over in my herb garden.  The 'Prostrate' has been a container now for two seasons and has done well in our garage that has a southern exposure.  The 'Spice Island' was taken in late in 2010 and I think it got over watered.  Hopefully it will be alive when spring comes to go back in the garden again.

Rosemary is one of my favorite herbs.  I would truthfully like one of each please!  I think 'Salem', 'Spice Island' and 'Tuscan Blue' did the best for me.  'Golden Rain' while it was unique was not a very strong plant in my experience.

Taylorsoutback, I do usually have just one prostrate and one upright.  Any more than that and I have to bring them all in and then that can lead to problems.  'Arp', 'Salem', 'Spice Island' and 'Tuscan Blue' are all fairly available in local garden centers and are very good for cooking.  If it says common on the tag, I would bet that it is an 'Arp'.   This is when I wished I lived in the southern part of the country so I could have a rosemary that was as big as a small car!  Don't forget to visit one of my favorite herb shops with rosemary, The Rosemary House and their blog, Rosemary's Sampler.  The sisters Reppert got me starting blogging and I've never looked back.  Well, I hope if you have had questions about rosemary, this has helped you.  If you have any lingering questions, please feel free to leave me a comment or e-mail me.  I love to do research about my passion, herbs!

Well, got to run.  It is still freezing here!  Getting ready for the big game!  Go Steelers!  Talk to you later!

A Natural Thermometer!

When the rhodies leaves are rolled up like cigars!  Look out!  It is FREEZING!  I think I did a post like this last year or the year before.  It was the coldest night last night.  Some of you are below zero at this moment.  We were at 4 degrees or a little less.  That is very cold for us.  Our cat a/k/a Kitty was back this morning and I got a photo of it.  I think it was under The Herbal Husband's car waiting for the birds to be fed!  We think it lives under our neighbor's shed, but it is near our house at times when The Herbal Husband comes out at night.   I guess hoping to sneak inside!  Well, I hope you are staying warm or cool wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.