Preserving the Herb Harvest - Drying Herbs

Another easy way to preserve herbs is to dry them. There are several methods you can use to dry herbs. Choose your favorite and get those herbs drying. You won't regret it this winter when you have home-grown herbs to cook with (or use in tea)!

Preserving the Herb Harvest - Herbed Vinegar

Another super easy way to preserve your herb harvest is by making Herbed vinegars. I've been making herbed vinegars off and on for years now. They're simple to make and fun to use.

Preserving the Herb Harvest - Herbed Salt

 I enjoy growing herbs. Due to their strong fragrance, most are deer/critter resistant (well, except basil....deer LOVE it). The best part about herbs is the MANY ways you can use them.

Garden Magic

 

Just wanted to share a little "Garden Magic" with you. Above is a photo of one of my flower beds. Lots of things in bloom now.

Easy to Grow Perennials - Spring Blooming Bulbs

 

It won't be long now (it is almost July!), and the fall bulbs will start showing up in your local garden centers. I feel like this is kind of confusing for some people (I can't tell you how many customers I have to explain this to). Fall bulbs are planted in the fall. But. They come up and bloom in the Spring. You would think they would be called Spring bulbs. But, they're not. They're called Fall bulbs, because you buy and plant them in the fall.

 

Easy to Grow Perennials- Dianthus

I spent yesterday morning working in my flower garden. I got some photos of what might be one of my new favorite perennials....Dianthus Deltoides. Dianthus is a large family that includes Carnations and Sweet William. The Deltoides (also known as Maiden Pinks) form a mat similar to a ground cover. Above that mat, the stems shoot up with a small bloom.

Easy to Grow Perennials- Salvia

What can I say about Salvia (Salvia patens)? It's AMAZING! A deep, intense blue bloom. This variety is called May Knight. AND. It's stunning!

First Day of Summer

This evening, on the first day of summer, I decided I should plant some annuals. I've really been enjoying the perennials in my flower beds (which reminds me....I need to do some more Easy to Grow Perennial posts......), but, they just need the punch of summer color annuals provide.

Gift #1 is Finished!

Well, if you remember (or if you never knew), I've been participating in a "Gift-a-long" over at the Simply Notable Group.

Easy to Grow Perennials - Bearded Iris

Continuing on with my list of Easy to Grow Perennials.......Let me introduce you to the Bearded Iris. They come in a range of beautiful colors. The most prolific of my Bearded Irises is this lavender-y blue color. It was given to me when a friend had divided  her Irises.

Let the Gift Knitting Begin.....

June is here (seriously, how did THAT happen?) and over at the Simply Notable Group, we're going to start our Christmas gift knitting. EVERY year I swear I'm going to start the gift knitting in January. And, about October, I get motivated to get started on it......Yeah, that's right, I start a bunch of projects and I STILL have to buy presents!