Now that spring has come and gone, we've been very busy keeping the garden civil. The herbal wheel has been filled in with herbal reseedings from last year, volunteers from compost, and invasions of clover, grass, and thistles. Having a garden in the middle of a wild hay field means constant weeding of prolific wind-blown seedlings. It is very humbling to leave for a week and come back to a garden that is reclaiming itself. Despite lots of sun and little water since spring, most of the beloved herbs I have introduced are thriving.

summer garden 2011

The chestnut trees have been buzzing with bees and musky flower pheremones as the flowers begin their growth into baby chestnuts
The foxglove is quite at home in its little corner it has carved out beside the wormwood

And we've got new arrivals who most likely hitched a ride over here from Carolyn's garden in the compost we spread in the spring: Poppies! Such an amazing plant to watch bloom- each bent over stem waits for its turn to pop into scarlet bloom brilliantly for a day and then fall to pieces of red confetti on the ground

And lamb's wool, that soft furry queen whose purple flowers are loved by bees and pollinators. She's made herself quite happy here.

summer garden 2011

Salvia azurea, or blue sage, coming back from last year

The chamomile (that I never planted) has come back with abundance, and I have been harvesting some for tea

Early in spring I scattered dill seeds everywhere and it made a nice green feathery groundcover

Which in a month has turned into giant yellow firework flowers, swaying in the wind

summer garden 2011

Amazing iris color display in Carolyn's English garden

So excited that the Blue Cohosh I brought back from Ohio is alive and well!

Happy garlic!

happy lettuce
happy kale!

Garden 2011

We had a lovely time watching the emergence of spring, with gorgeous iris, blooming onion, forsythia, and dogwoods

lemon balm awakening from its slumber to conquer the world!

We started in early spring with seedling trays of onions, broccoli, kale, calendula, lettuce, and 10 lbs of garlic in the ground. We had a very wet spring, which was great for the greens. I am always amazed at the power of the moment of transition from the dead, empty appearance of winter to the rapid green growth of spring. Its a season of renewal, hope, and promise. As the strength of the sun returns, and the forsythia and daffodils emerge, I can feel my energy levels and spirits start to rise. This is a time of planning for the long year ahead.