Rosemary

According to myth, the Virgin Mary is said to have spread her blue cloak over a white blossomed rosemary bush when she was resting and the flowers turned blue.  The shrub then became know as the Rose of Mary.

In the Middle Ages, rosemary was associated with wedding ceremonies.  The bride would wear a rosemary headpiece and the groom and wedding guests would all wear a sprig of rosemary.  From this association with weddings, rosemary was thought to be a love charm.

The plant has also been used as a symbol for remembrance.  Mourners would throw sprigs of rosemary into graves as a symbol of remembrance for the dead.  Shakespeare's Ophelia said:  "there is rosemary, that is for remembrance."

Lemon and Rosemary Simmering Potpourri

• 1 lemon sliced
• 3-4 sprigs of rosemary
• 2 cinnamon sticks (or whole cloves)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-2 cups water

How I spent my summer vacation (Fourth of July)

Introducing Baby Tinnie

Earlier this spring AppleJack and I saw a tin man made by one of the Master Gardeners.  I was smitten!  A closer look at the design and construction revealed tin cans joined together.  I thought I could make one.  We began collecting tin cans.

Tin cans, pull tabs, washers, screws, coat hanger wire

Tinnie will be living in Next Year (the garden) among the herbs, pepper plants and flowers.  July has been a very rainy month and the grass and weeds are growing like crazy.  AppleJack has collected more tin cans--Tinnie may have a friend.

June Flowers

Miss Oak Leaf Hydrangea.  Our neighbor intensely dislikes this shrub.  It is one of my favorites, big bold beautiful blooms.  it smells heavenly, the bees love it, the birds love it in the fall.

Purple coneflower.  They thrive here!  I transplant them, I neglect them and they continue to thrive.  Their big bold centers and brightly colored purple petals make me smile each time I walk past them.

The peonies are recovering from an injury.  A big old limb from the black walnut tree crash landed on them during a wind storm.  

More hydrangea.  Each time I see these big beautiful blooms which range in color from blue to pink to white I ask myself why I have never planted more.  

The day lilies are just beginning to bloom.  With any luck at all, they should be blooming for about the next month.  

I spent several hours weeding today, it is amazing how fast the weeds can grow.  As a gardener I always feel one step behind the weeds.  Am thinking of renaming my garden--The Wilderness seems more of an appropriate name than Next Year.  The flowers are worth the effort and I soldier on.  Weeding good for the flowers, exercise for the body and a time of thought for the mind.  

Bloom Days

Whew!  It has been hot with lots of humidity!

 



 

So far, the flowers have been loving it.

 





In spite of the cold winter, the daylilies prove themselves to be dependable.

The rains bring a mixed bag--good for the flowers and good for the weeds.  The mosquito's have been vicious.

When I haven't been pulling weeds, I have been working on completing and finishing projects.  

I keep telling myself to enjoy the summer because I could be complaining about the cold temps snow and ice.  We humans are never satisfied!

Time for the Daylilies

Return of Spring

The good earth is coming back to life.  The dogwoods have been blooming and they have been glorious!  

Bath's Pink Dianthus is also blooming.  It has the sweetest smell and makes me want to sit outside to breathe in its scent.

The first blooms of Miss Nellie Moser, she will soon be filled with dozens of blooms.

The curbside garden--iris will soon be blooming along with day lilies and coneflowers and lavender and . . . .  The neighborhood children and birds love this garden.  This garden brings joy to this old gardeners heart to see the children stop and smell the flowers and to see the birds playing in the birdbath.  

Bright, cheerful, sunny violas greeting me in the evenings after a long day.

The garden centers are filled with endless varieties of annuals to temp me.

The tender crimson of Japanese maples--so delicate.

Time of the year for the gardener to sharpen her trowel, pull on her garden gloves and tackle those weeds before they become more abundant. Welcome back spring--I missed you!