Just Wanted to Say Hi!

Just wanted to say hi and thank Judy for asking to me to participate in The Herbal Bouquet.  This is our front garden in western Pennsylvania.  I know it's a little crazy!  I'm a Penn State master gardener and I volunteer answering the public's gardening questions for our Gardenline.  I also guest blog for The Herb Companion magazine.   The Herbal Husband and I have a large garden and no kids or pets.  My passion is all things herbal, but I do answer a wide variety of questions for the extension.  So you will see and hear from me when I can and when I can come up with an answer for questions that's what I love to do.  Talk to you soon.

Butterflies

I read today on Lemon Verbena Lady's blog about the butterflies that are visiting her gardens. Back in early Summer I purchased a hanging pot of purple petunias and hung them on the North side of our home. They were suppose to have full sun, but like Les says, I never read the directions. They are doing just great. I dead head them a couple times a week and water them every other day if we don't get rain. But, lately (last week or so) they are covered in butterflies. Now, I don't know my butterflies, but that doesn't matter I just enjoy watching them from the screened porch and so do the cats. Enjoy your day ladies.

????????? ANY GUESSES...

I haven't a clue what this is growing....I know it looks like a sunflower BUT take a close look at the flowers that are blooming on it... Strangest sunflower I ever did see.  It is a "volunteer" - which means I didn't plant it - it just grew!!  Any ideas???

I have a lot of "strange" growings in my gardens this year....but the Fairy garden is looking great...

Honest to goodness fairies live here - and are hiding under that thyme!!!

Does anyone recognize this Herb?

I thought I would post this picture of my cat taking a nap in my little herb garden. Judy had posted some pictures of some antique wash stands and I thought I would show you what I did with mine. It makes a great herb garden.

Tomato Blight, Again

Our plum tomato plant has the same blight that the tomato plants has last year. I'm so mad I could spit (not really). But, when we bought our plants this year, we were very aware to buy local plants, supposedly the plants last year were not local. I have nursed this plant long enough. It gets these great looking RED tomatos, but don't look at the bottoms!! They are rotten and mushy, not very attractive. So, hello trash can for you tomato plant. A pepper plant might meet you there if it doesn't fly right!! Is anyone else having problems?

CALENDULA BLOOMING...

The bright orange and yellow blossoms of the herb "calendula" are a sight to behold....I went out this afternoon and picked a small bouquet and then sprinkled some petals  on my salad....it was so pretty !! I have a good recipe for" calendula butter" - makes a plain old piece of toast very festive!!!  I will find it and post it here....How are your gardens growing....???  Share some pictures....!!! 

Andrea...

Now I am sorry I didn't take pictures of my two old sage plants at the store...they were magnificient with their spokes of purple blooms!!!   I have a minature (can't think of the right name) sage plant here at home that is so pretty too....ahhhh...Dwarf Sage....(big smile- I am just old and it takes awhile !!)  LOL!!  I think my "johnnies" smile right back at me too - so maybe with are both alittle "crazy" !!!
Sadly the weeds are taking over and a whole bunch of work needs to be done in our gardens.....just so much always going on.
Share some pictures girls.....let us see how your "garden grows" !!!  If you need the Login and password just email me....   cinnamonstick@comcast.net    

AND Susan...I hope those "babies" have flown the coop and you can rest easy for a bit......!!!!