What's popping up in your gardens!!!

March 31, 2011

Catnip ~ Catnap

I awoke to a beautiful sunny morning. Although it was cold outside, a sunny morning always helps. Enjoying a morning tea looking out into what will be a promising garden, I noticed that an old friend had appeared at the top of the hill. One of my feline friends has returned after a long, cold winter. An all black cat with a bell around its neck, I have no idea who owns this one, but as I opened my porch door, it came to greet me. I don't own any cats, I never have. But there are several that will hang around here all summer long. One reason is my catnip garden. In the garden, catnip has been found to be a natural insect repellent against aphids, making this plant perfect for the organic gardener. Its uses don't end there. Catnip has so much more to offer beyond the entertainment value of watching all these stray cats roll around in one area of my garden filled with catnip, or the way I look at it, I think these characters think it's their local bar. :)

Flowering Catnip Wreath

Catnip plants grow well in full sun or partial shade. Pinch tips throughout the growing season to delay flowering and make the plants more compact. Once the plants are almost finished blooming, I cut them back by one-half. This will encourage new growth and might prompt them to bloom again in late fall. I will divide these plants in Spring or Fall when the plants begin to look like they're going to overgrow.

Catnip is not prone to pests. However, the roots and crown can suffer from rot during cold and wet winters. Catnip plants can be used to edge borders and can be used to mix into herb gardens, along with roses. Catnip is also great for containers both big and small.
 
 
It's no mystery where this plant gets its name, cats love it. Dried leaves stuffed into cloth toys will amuse kittens for hours. I use the dried bunches in potpourri and arrangements. They can be intertwined with lemon balm, lemon verbena, marjoram, and scented geranium. They can hang in closets and pantries.
 

Shown above is flowering catnip celeriac, thyme, rosemary, and dandelion. The next photo shows catnip and greenleaf lettuce. In another area of the garden, I will have flowering catnip in a raised bed. The leaves can be steeped in boiling water to use as a stimulating minty tea. It is said that catnip tea reduces nervous tension and anxiety. Fresh leaves can be chopped up for soups, sauces, pastas, and sprinkled over salads. Obviously not just for our feline friends!

"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

I think that's what the cat's return was trying to tell me.
 
All photos were taken in 2010. I'm not too anxious to get started gardening am I?
 

March 26, 2011

WELCOME EVERYONE...

Herb thyme is fast approaching and I see we have lots of new followers...if you would like to be one of the administators (which means you can start a post and post pictures just like your own blog) please email me and I will send you an invite with the log-in information.  I would love for everyone to share their experiences, their favorite herbs, recipes...pictures....let's make this the "bestest" herb blog!!!!  
Contact me at   cinnamonstick@comcast.net     Judy

I have some serious garden clean-up to do...I sugar my "johnnies" and serve them on top of beeskep cupcakes for our Herb Faire....
ps. and if anyone wants to change the header picture ...please do...I want you toooooooooo!!!!

March 22, 2011

Quotes

Here are a few quotes from The Old Farmers Almanac;

A dream of crocuses signifies happy new beginnings.

In March much snow, To plants and trees much woe.

Spring! The beautiful spring is coming, The Sun shines bright and the bees are humming.

Have a great day!!

March 17, 2011

Wishes for All

Happy St.Patrick's Day to all my garden friends. Heard peepers for the first time last night. Spring is really just around the corner.

March 1, 2011

Courage

That's what Les said it takes to poke their heads out of the soil. The picture is of the daffodils on the South side of our house.