Sisyphus Acres

Herb and his spicy sisters...

Now it’s time to talk about the herb garden….I went out to trim back the old growth from last year and was presently surprised by what’s already starting to peek back up through the barely thawed ground!  Yes, believe it or not I still have snow in parts of my yard (hopefully today will melt the last of it)

The Quince seems to have fared well, the chives are already 3” high; the chamomile is up and running, as are the oregano and thyme.  The sage looks like it weathered just fine, as does the Echinacea.  This year I can actually dig the Echinacea, so I have to by some to start making subsequent rotating plantings.  The lavender is looking great, and the catnip is outrageous!  The mints are just beginning to wake up…I have peppermint, spearmint and chocolate mint.  I also have bee balm.  I planted wild ginger and wintergreen last year, but it doesn’t look like either fared well.

This year I am adding elderberry bushes to the herb garden (flu/virus protection), arctic kiwi and the usual basil, dill and parsley.  I may also plant mustard again, but I’m not sure if here or in the veggie garden.  I am going to try to locate some lemon verbena, lemon balm, stevia, and a few other new herbs to put in to round things out.  I plan for mostly perennials, and place annuals in among them.

I make a lot of teas from the herbs, herbed vinegars, and lots of fresh cooking with them.

I am raking out the leaves this weekend, and beginning to dig the “paths” so I can lay pavers in place next week.  The herb garden is 22’ x 13’(15’ maybe), so a walkway is needed.  I am also laying some photodegradeable mulch to help keep weeds down this year ~ with the knee stuff, I won’t be able to be on top of weeding, I’ll need all the help I can get ;-)

Hi Val!

{ 12:23, 2008-Apr-17 } { Posted by CatherineAnn }

It was nice to hear from you! Yep, gardening is the best therapy for chaos and stress LOL! I'm just itching to get out there today and get my beds raked and a pathway laid. Of course, duty demands that I do at least a "little" inside first. And to make things even more interesting, my littlest Love has demanded all morning that we NOT have her party at a park, but in the front yard LOL! Fine, except that the mower is having issues, the wildflowers and other weedies are growing like mad and it will take all of the time until Saturday to get the inside of this house anywhere near "company ready".....though a party might just be the thing to put us all in high gear!
Loved reading about all of your plantings, and trying not to be a tiny bit jealous ;) .
I have a Lemon Verbena that lived through the winter and is gorgeous right now :) . Love it!
OK, I'm off to decide where to start organizing, much as I'd rather be out organizing the veggie patch!
Oh, we just moved a couple of miles down the road, so still right in the heart of Texas for now- I'd love for you to visit :) .
Blessings,
Catherine