Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts

Thursday, June 7, 2012

"And there is pansies, that's for thoughts"-Shakespeare



In our continual quest to make our yard more beautiful we have expanded our gardens. We have a flower bed spot we are working on developing. It is a long term goal. I am trying to learn more about perennials so that I know what I want.

One of the other things I wanted included in my garden was an herb garden. We made one in a wheel shape, with 8 spokes. I am so happy to have so many herbs now growing in my garden. I love cooking with them, using them in teas, etc. I also want to learn about all their health benefits so we can use them as alternative medicine.

My quest for the perfect perennials is painfully slow and so my garden is rather empty. I was at a nursery the other day and they had pansies on sale for 20 cents each. So I picked out 35 in shades of dark purple and white tinted with purple. Lovely. It took me 3 times to get them planted in a layout I was happy with. Then I realized I needed more to make my design even more luscious.

So the next day my three young ones and I headed out on a walk to the nursery- which is about a 10 minute walk from our house. My two bigger kids (ages 4 and 2) walked and baby K was in the pram. We filled up the basket under the pram with pansies. It was a bower of blooms and looked so picturesque as we moseyed home.

Now I have 55 pansies nodding their pretty faces in my garden. I love their gentle movements as the cool summer breeze swirls gently around them and sends them nodding on in pleasant agreement. The bees too have decided to come and dwell with us and summer is even a bit more delightful than before.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Like Mama

It is strange how the unspoken feelings of our mothers sink so deeply into us. Things she saw as beautiful, special, and wonderful become so to us. Without her having to press it upon us or teach us, we follow her example. 

My Mama always loved lemon verbena and lavender, she was always trying to grow them in between our many moves. She was always loving them. I remember she had lemon verbena body powder when I was a child and it was cherished and so delighted in. Lately I have found myself longing for something so elegant as lemon verbena or lavender body powder. Perhaps to others these wouldn't be anything special- but to me they are ever so dear. 

I had been wanting to find a lemon verbena plant to add to my herb collection/ garden. I have been enjoying my lavender the last few years and it has really taken off. But I have not been able to find lemon verbena anywhere.Needless to say I was utterly delighted when at the plant market the other day I found my beloved lemon verbena. It was truly just as refreshing I had remembered and I am so blissfully happy about this. 

Oh dear Mama- how special the aromas of lemon verbena and lavender are to me, and how they remind of you. 

I love you. 

Happy Mother's Day

What reminds you of you Mama? Which things she considers special were quietly passed on to you? I would love to hear your stories.