Hmmm... I'll have to look into allspice, then! But since I'm the only one working in my garden, I'm thinking I need to start avoiding things that don't thrive on neglect! Nah, not really. But I sure am learning this year what I need to just say NO to -- motherwort, for one. Just too crispy about now, and I don't have shade to move it to. YET!!! Once I get some trees established (I have several willows, pears, clementines, and a pomegranate that should afford some shade in the upcoming years) I might branch back out, but until then, I have to stick with what likes lots of just plain heat.
I do love summer, but I'm really looking forward to autumn. If I get up about six, I can garden for a good hour or a little longer. After that, I can't even sit on the porch without getting drenched with sweat. I'm so glad I have ceramic tile floors -- I was out mowing recently and just stretched out on the floor so it could suck the heat away from me. I doubt it saved my life or anything, but it sure helped!
What! NO herb afficianados this summer?
It's been sweltering here too this week. Big rainstorm at present (gosh, so glad I watered this morning, LOL), so hopefully that'll pull some of the humidity out of the air?
Allspice... I can't believe you're telling me about another must-have plant that's going to want a spot in winter by the very crowded sunny windows in the morning room! But thanks! I'm always glad to hear about another great plant.
:-)
Hi everybody - I guess my new (to me anyway) favorite is Fennel 'Smokey Bronze'. I just like the foliage and the color. I haven't figured out what to do with it food-wise yet. Any ideas? Do people use the roots or seeds or both?
Critterologist, you ain't kidding about the heat in Maryland - I was down there this week and it was 101 yesterday. Lots of Maryland has a serious drought going, too. I couldn't believe all the trees withering and turning brown. And the corn and hay, just sad. I'm with you, brigidlily, fall is my favorite. Lots of good gardening then - new beds, bulbs, dividing, planting shrubs, etc. I can't wait!
Allspice. Wow! sounds so exotic. I love summer, too, but even tho it's hot we are beginning to see fall sunflowers and purple asters.The little yellow goldfinches are about and the currant bushes are turning yellow and losing leaves. Roses still blooming, tho!
Ahhh, you said sunflowers....!! Those are the greatest, the best of the season. The bigger the better!! They are a mainstay in my "favorites." They follow the sun, the birds and the bees and butterflies love them, and they make you smile!! I got some "Big Smile" seeds this year and they matured and flowered quickly. I should have planted more successively to continue the bright streak. Sunflower seeds left over are the bonus!!
Foxnfirefly ~ I agree on the smile. Our neighbor had some volunteers in his corn patch and I smile every morning seeing them looking so cheery as we are off to earn cat food, dog food, plant money,etc.
I've just joined Dave's garden today as a subscriber. I'm an herb lover and then some. Have over 250 herbs in my gardens. Our garden was certified a botanical sanctuary through United Plant Savers earlier this year. We are in the very northern Catskills in NY state, zone 5, at 1200 foot elevation. I grow arnica chamissonis and use it in my herbal products. It grows great here. I am also starting arnica montana this year. We'll see if it likes the winters. Arnica chamissonis and montana are medicinally interchangeable. I'm looking forward to talking herbs with all you folks!
Welcome herbalbetty.
I am an herb lover myself. Your place must be paradise. I look forward to hearing all about your herbs. Post often and if you have pictures of your place, please put them up for us to enjoy.
Once again welcome...to Dave's Garden
Arias
herbalbetty, Welcome, and Oh yes do post photos ,I think the herb forum needs more photos 250 herbs I guess I will have to expand again. Do tell us some of your favorites or must haves. Cinda
Howdy, herbalbetty! Welcome to the forum!!! You'll love it here... and your wisdom be put to excellen use, believe me!!!
Good to hear from you herbalbetty! Podster, I looked at various homeopathic arnica salves and at some locally made herbal ointments today. The brand I use for homeopathic stuff is Boiron; www.boironusa.com. It doesn't have any other herbs in it (the arnica ointment) and homeopathic preparations barely have any of whatever herbs they do have! This company sruck me as being one of the "cleanest". Worth checking out.
Thanks for the welcome! Here is a pic of some of the yard and a pic of a bed of arnica blooming...
And the arnica
Hello Herbalbetty ~ I am sooo glad you joined us. I have so much more to learn and I am certain you will have lots to offer. Thank you. Lovely photos, the Arnica is very pretty as are most of the herbs. I will be interested in learning of your success with A. montana. I wondered why it was indigenous to Europe only. Surely conditions could be simulated here... Obviously not by me but someone with more talent. Best wishes.
Has anyone heard of Arnica pearls? Found this reference
we also get arnica pearls, they're teeny tiny and you take five at a time
edited to add... I have read that it was not an herb for internal consumption. Rodales Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs says it exhibits toxic action on the heart as well as causing very large increases in blood pressure.
Anyone?
This message was edited Aug 10, 2007 9:34 PM
What a friendly group. Thanks again for the welcome. I imagine the arnica pearls they were discussing were homeopathic. However, I never suggest taking arnica internally. Also, you must be careful with arnica gels or salves to not apply to broken skin. Skin that is intact is totally okay as the sesqueterpines cannot cross the skin. However, if the skin is broken (open wound, cuts), there could be a problem. Why risk it?
Hope I don't make you crazy with posting photos. I can get carried away sometimes. This was taken about 2 weeks ago.
I love photos, why don't you start a thread and give us a tour of your gardens.Not quite the same as being there but right now a whole lot cooler.
Sorry Herbalbetty ~ can't resist.
Coneflys and Butterflowers with St Andrews cross in the background. : )
Podster! I love it! Okay, here we go...cue the "Dueling Banjos" music, or more appropriately the "Dueling Photos" music.
Welcome, herbalbetty!
Oh, we definitely need a new "show us your garden" thread....
Maybe a visitors to the garden thread too.
edit to say :too
This message was edited Aug 12, 2007 9:31 AM
Welcome, Herbalbetty! I recognized the Eden Park trellis that I also have for my rose garden!! Yes, the Gothic look works. Do you have sassafras? Curious what it looks like in the garden up in NY.
Love all the butterfly photos! Thanks again for the warm welcome. I've started a new thread with more photos. Foxnfirefly, I don't have sassafras here. More's the pity. We picked up 4 more of the Eden Park trellis at an end of season sale at Lowe's, for 19.99 each.
It's not the end of the season sale time already, is it? :-)
HUSH! End of season? Boooo hoooo ~ NNNOOOOOooooo!
More Echinacea fans here... But Herbalbetty I am afraid I will not be much competition. Your gardens are lovely and most interesting. Thanks pod
Podster,
I have let only one calendula flower head go to seed thus far, and now I'm allowing a second...probably why I have such profuse blooms. I don't just cut off the head, I cut down until I see the next bloom...and I sprinkle bone meal every two weeks. I grow it next to the holy basil and they seem to get along...both are grown in self watering pots..a Wal-Mart special that I love. No sign of the blooms slowing down yet...
Herbalbetty...nice pics! What aspect of your garden got you a plant savers rating?
About the botanical sanctuary, if you go to www.unitedplantsavers.org you can find lots of information about them. The biggest things to becoming a sanctuary are growing at risk native medicinal plants and having an educational component to the garden. I give lots of classes and we open our garden to the public occasionally. UpS is a great organization.
herbalbetty, your gardens are sooooo lovely!! And what a gorgeous setting. I keep forgetting there are places in the world where you can see earth without looking down...
Brigid, we live in the very northern edge of the Catskill Mountains and just love it here. Moved here November of 2001. We are surrounded by forested hills. Although I complain about the deer eating everything (neighbors across the way find this funny as deer leave them alone completely), it is a small price to pay. The deer fencing went up this year and we are hoping it is tall enough. So far, so good.
Herbalbetty--I was wondering when you were going to mention deer!! LOL!!
Potster, let's have an endless summer!! I am with you on that one.
So ~ Herbalbetty... if you had to pick from all the herbs you grow, do you have a favorite? which one? and why?
And thanks for the lovely photos.
A favorite herb? Might as well ask who my favorite kid is! The herb that I have loved the longest is thyme. I remember getting a spice rack for Christmas when I was 17 and sniffing all the bottles filled with herbs. When I got to the thyme, I couldn't stop smelling it. Swear I got high. No, really it was just plain old thyme. After that, I used it in every dish I made. I grow a scad of varieties of it now, including rose petal thyme. I'm also partial to sage. Salvia officinalis, good old everyday sage. In addition to thyme and sage tasting wonderful, they are both anti-bacterial and anti-viral. When an upper respiratory thing is going around, I make a tea of sage, fresh ginger root, lemon and honey. Or, a cup of thyme tea. Delicious and works great. Sage tea is useful for those who may get night sweats and hot flashes. Thyme was burned as an incense in French hospitals to fight bacteria (as was lavender). Devein shrimp, add a sage leaf, wrap the whole thing in bacon, roast in oven. Enjoy. Thank me later. Sage pesto is freaking good! As are sage fritters. My cranberry sage chutney is wonderful as well. Oh yeah and lemon thyme bread. I just harvested a large amount of thyme yesterday. The scent wafting up to me as I clipped was very soothing and intoxicating at the same time. As thyme filled my senses it made me pause and give thanks that I am able to have a garden in such a beautiful setting.
can i come live with you?
Brigid, too funny!
Lemon thyme bread??? Wonderful idea!! I like thyme in just about all sauces and soups. Yesssss!!!! It's a great all-time herb.
OOh. I need to harvest thyme. I like a winter squash or small pumpkin,cubed, sauteed in olive oil with thyme and a little red chile, then baked awhile with Gruyere cheese grated on top. And salt and butter. Can't forget that! I read somewhere that the secret ingredient of gourmet cooking is butter! Actually, olive oil works pretty well by itself in this dish.
Roybird, my DH would love your winter squash recipe! Here is the lemon bread recipe for anyone who cares - it is from Emelie Tolley's book, "Herbs, Gardens, Decorations and Recipes". Good grief, I've had this book 20 years. You can tell it is a good recipe by the food stains and the fact the pages stick together!
Lemon Tea Bread
Makes 1 loaf
3/4 cup milk
1 Tbsp finely chopped lemon balm
1 Tbsp finely chopped lemon thyme
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
6 Tbsp butter, at room temp
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp lemon zest
Butter a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Pre-heat the oven to 325. Heat the milk with the chopped herbs and let steep until cool. Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. In another bowl, cream the butter and gradually beat in the sugar. COntinue beating until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Beat in the lemon zest. Add the flour mixture alternately with the herbed milk. Mix until the batter is just blended. Put the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 50 minutes, or untial a toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry. Remove from teh pan onto a wire rack that is set over a sheet of waxed paper. Pour Lemon Glaze over the still-hot bread.
Lemon Glaze
Juice of 2 lemons
Confectioner's sugar
put the lemon juice in a bowl and add the sugar, stirring until you have a thick but still pourable paste. Pour the glaze over the hot bread.
I have that book and love it ~ http://davesgarden.com/products/gbw/c/2357/ even gave it rave reviews... lol
I like all herbs lemon too...
Herbalbetty -
Welcome & thank you for the lemon tea bread recipe. I can't wait to try it! I grow lemon balm and lemon verbena. I'll start looking at the local used book stores for Herbs, Gardens, Decorations and Recipes. I found my Rodale's Successful Organic Gardening in Half Price Books.
Critter -
I discovered spicy orange thyme this year from a local organic herb farmer and LOVE it. I'll be digging it up in the fall & hoping it will live indoors through the winter.
I only get to DG once every few weeks, so I try & make the best of it. :)