Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

Cleaning the Gardens

Today I raked the leaves of the cistern garden, which is one of my herb gardens, a good-sized square.  Already sprouting are spearmint, catnip, motherwort, chives, garlic chives, and comfrey.  I was surprised to see that some of the orange mint also survived the winter -- fancy mints tend to be delicate, so usually perform as annuals.  I think the sweet woodruff may actually have survived also.  The rhubarb hasn't leafed out yet, though.

Masses of yellow and purple giant crocuses are blooming in the little rain garden, and the columbine is well up also.  Several yellow and cream snow crocuses are blooming in the goddess garden.  The daffodils and tulips near the driveway are leafed out but not blooming yet; the giant crocuses there are blooming purple, yellow, and purple-and-white striped.  Honeybees are busy in the flowers; I checked out the bee tree and indeed the girls are to-ing and fro-ing with great enthusiasm.  If I have some time on a pretty day, I'll try to snap some pictures.

If anyone local wants some starts of herbs or other plants, let me know.  This is the season when nurseries start shipping the dormant stuff, so if you want a tree seedling or some raspberries now is a good time for that.  Herbs I usually transplant later in spring, although I could dig some up and pot them for indoor care.
Tags: gardening, illinois, personal
Subscribe

  • Fieldhaven as Habitat

    If you follow my posts on gardening, birdfeeding, and photos, then you know that I garden for wildlife. Looking at the YardMap parameters, here…

  • A Little Slice of Terramagne: YardMap

    Sadly the main program is dormant, but the YardMap concept is awesome, and many of its informative articles remain. YardMap was a citizen science…

  • Winterfest in July Bingo Card 7-1-21

    Here is my card for the Winterfest in July Bingo fest. It runs from July 1-30. Celebrate all the holidays and traditions of winter! ( See all my…

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    switch
    default userpic

    Your IP address will be recorded 

    When you submit the form an invisible reCAPTCHA check will be performed.
    You must follow the Privacy Policy and Google Terms of use.
    Help
  • 7 comments

Deleted comment

ysabetwordsmith

Yes...

ysabetwordsmith

March 17 2010, 20:46:03 UTC 11 years ago

If I have time, I'll be glad to do that. Last year I just had my cheap camera, and I didn't get it this early. This year I can borrow Doug's good camera. Just bear in mind that my descriptive skills exceed my gardening skills and both exceed my body's durability, so Home & Garden it ain't. But I get good enough results to produce some nice cooking herbs, so that's gratifying.

Deleted comment

ysabetwordsmith

Re: Yes...

ysabetwordsmith

March 17 2010, 21:07:24 UTC 11 years ago

It just occurred to me today that one thing I could do is post a sampling of pictures, and then add more if people want to sponsor them. I've seen several artist-friends do that with sketches.
sandybee

sandybee

March 17 2010, 20:53:04 UTC 11 years ago

That sounds lovely. I wish I had a garden. And, I wish I were closer so I could get some herbs from you! Enjoy the gorgeous weather!
ysabetwordsmith

Well...

ysabetwordsmith

March 17 2010, 21:05:58 UTC 11 years ago

Do you have a sunny window? Some herbs can be grown indoors. Most do quite nicely in outdoor pots, too, if you have a balcony or porch step.
sandybee

Re: Well...

sandybee

March 18 2010, 13:39:20 UTC 11 years ago

I have all of that but I also have two boys and dog. =)
ysabetwordsmith

Re: Well...

ysabetwordsmith

March 19 2010, 02:20:10 UTC 11 years ago

Perhaps a hanging basket, or a wall-mounted pot?
nimitzbrood

nimitzbrood

March 17 2010, 22:55:52 UTC 11 years ago

In some ways you're many steps ahead of me. I have seeds started in trays but haven't cleaned out the garden yet.

Partly because I need to re-do it this year and we don't have the funds for what I want to do with it. But time marches on and in a week here I need to at least have it emptied out for a fresh setup.

I need untreated wood for what I want to do and that costs money unless I can find a free local source. I need a barn to tear down somewhere...