Another beautiful, unfettered blue sky is overhead today and a slight breeze is tickling the trees. It couldn't be more lovely. The newly planted lawn survived last week's borderline heat-wave and appears to be out of that 'critical stage' now, so we are breathing a sigh of relief. Now kicking back again. Ah Summer! It's definitely in full bloom--at least here in the backyard, where Ive been spending some time puttering amongst the flora and fauna. Getting my hands in the dirt.
A few days ago I realized I hadn't taken any pictures to capture all that's been transpiring out here and decided I really must remedy that, because it's all so very fleeting you know. So here's a little tour. A few snapshots of the good spots. (Weeds, and other unruly plantings do exist I assure you, but are out of range today as we focus on the lovely bits instead.) Like this thyme border. Oh my goodness. I am really so pleased with this. I planted it last year and it is making my heart swell with happiness right now. Types of thyme? Off the top of my head--I really can't remember what different varieties went in here; though there are stick markers hidden somewhere underneath, and I suppose I could go prodding for them and report back, but the tiny flowers are covered with honey bees and I hate to disturb their industrious work. The bees do so love thyme and I plan to plant more of it.
Sharing space with the thyme are some medicinal and culinary herbs such as, bee balm, chives, borage, comfrey, artemesia, boneset, echinacea, hyssop, tall perennial sage, and those sickeningly pungent (though worthy) types of santolina. A most aromatic and colorful bunch that repel critters.
Stepping around the other side of the fence beyond the colorful herbaceous borders, you will find our vegetable garden thriving in an abundance of goodness. We've been spending a lot of time back in here, mostly weeding (it's all organic), and picking mostly lettuces, spinach, carrots, beets, and sweet spring peas--still going strong--as you can see. These are so good. We've just been eating them raw right off the vines or steaming them whole to round out our meals. The beets have also been amazing. The Mister has been roasting the beets and making some incredible salad dishes with them. The only downside, of course, is that his teeth temporarily turn a bright shade of pink. We try not to notice.
Three weeks ago, we moved our picnic table out to the herb garden while the painters did some work on the house, and we liked it so much we left it right there. This cedar table was made by a Mennonite farmer. We saw it and made him an offer he couldn't refuse. It is an ingenious design consisting of three pieces that fit together and that can easily be taken apart and stored when necessary. Out here, we have different varieties of mint, and marjoram, sage, rosemary, yarrow, st. john's wort, and silver artemisia, which has overgrown it's tidy little box just a tad. I still remember when it all looked like this. And the garden was just a dream in the making. And a little wild.
And so, the dream continues . . .
