Soothing Nap Tea

A few years ago, I naively bought one little German chamomile plant, and one little lemon balm and planted them in the backyard. They would be nice herbal additions to my garden, I thought. This was before I realized their vigor and fecundity. Every year since then, these nice little herbs have spread their seed throughout the garden, establishing themselves as forces to be reckoned with--cheerful and sweet-smelling forces at that.

 

Lately I've been trying to replace my coffee and cookie nap time snack with something more healthful and soothing. I had been wanting to make tea from the backyard herbs but wasn't really sure how to go about it.

One day when I was out surveying the garden, I plucked a sprig of lemon balm and a few chamomile blossoms.  

I came inside and put on a pot of water to boil, covered the herbs with the water, and let them steep for a few minutes.  

And that was all! Fresh delicious herbal tea, reviving and calming both.  Since then I've made it in the evening, too, and my husband has started requesting it. Both lemon balm and chamomile are traditionally held to be calming for the nervous system and digestion--a helpful quality for frazzled mothers (and fathers) of toddlers.

When thinking about the effect herbs have on us humans, I like to observe the qualities of the plants themselves. It's encouraging to see how chamomile and lemon balm, with their subtle and soothing traits, are so hearty and profuse in their growth habits. We think of peace and calm as being passive and weak, but these herbs are strong and assertive. And I like to think that as they work in our bodies, they bring that strength as well as the calm--a strong peace that won't be easily shaken by the day's worries and stress. 

Wishing you peace and strength today!

Weekend Finds

It's been a lucky weekend...

...for I found

~ a fabulous stash of fabric scraps (in a cool jar) plus those four wonderful books and a few other treasures that wouldn't fit in the picture...all for a pittance at a generous crafter's yard sale

~some early morning peace and light on a solo walk through the park

~enough sunshine in these partly sunny skies to dry the sheets on the line and share a meal or two outside

~and a few unhurried moments to sit and reflect on it all.

Wishing you a bit of luck in the days ahead...

Around the garden

Joining in again this week with Farmama for a walk around the garden...

 Aren't these garlic scapes fascinating? This is our first year growing garlic, so this phenomenon is new to me. So elegant, like swans.

 The carrots are growing slowly but surely. These are Bolero, from Territorial Seeds. We tried some Scarlet Nantes, too, but their germination was very poor.

 We got the twine up for the bean teepee.

 More irises blooming, and several of these little critters (anybody know what they are? I need to do some research)

 First peas popping out!

 Sunny yarrow is blooming.

And the delicate but hearty rock rose just started blooming this week, too.

Happy gardening, everyone!

Around the garden

Time for Thursday's garden check in...

In honor of these first days of June, our June Snow Dogwoods have started blooming:

 We planted these trees in our parking strip with the help of Friends of Trees a few months after we moved in to this house 4 years ago, and they have flourished. So satisfying to feel them growing strong and establishing themselves in this place.

Here's a macro look at the backyard:

 The former lawn site is starting to take shape as a vegetable garden...still takes some imagination, though!

 Garlic is coming along! This is the first year we tried growing garlic...so far so good. Hopefully we'll be able to harvest it in another month or so.

 Kale is calling out to us--Pick me pick me!

 And I can't wait for these beets to be ready. Last year our beets (and chard and spinach) were destroyed by leaf miners...I'm hoping we'll get a few good ones harvested before the bugs find them.

 Blueberries already plumping up!

 This is the broccoli (or kale, I'm not sure which) that I direct-sowed to replace the chicken massacre. I wonder how long they will elude the slugs...

 I'm very excited about this future bean tee pee. I always saw them in gardening magazines when I was growing up and thought it would be so fun to have a tee pee made of beans! They're Kentucky Wonders.

We transplanted out the tomatoes a couple weeks ago and they seem to be recovering from the initial shock now.  It has been another long cold wet spring, and summer is being awfully coy. Please sunshine, stay awhile?

Squash would like some sun, too, please. We tried starting these inside and transplanted them out last weekend. We've never had luck direct sowing them, so hopefully this will help!

 No sunshine, but maybe this first cheery marigold blossom will do. From seed I saved last fall!

Slim pickin's in the hoop house these days. Just the heat lovers, and curious little gardeners! Have you seen the children's book The Curious Garden, by Peter Brown? Inspiring story, especially for those of us who live in the city.

Happy gardening!

Tribute to Crimson Clover

This weekend I composted the last of the crimson clover. I discovered this plant two years ago when I learned about cover crops, and I've grown to love it more and more each changing season. If it has any negative trait, I have yet to discover it. It is altogether helpful, wholesome, benevolent. The seed is inexpensive and can be purchased at most local garden stores or from mail order seed catalogs. In the fall, after harvesting summer crops, we toss it onto the bare soil and gently work it in with a fork, or not, depending on how much time we have. The seed sprouts and establishes roots, hunkering down for a long winter's dormancy. It tolerates our mild winters with a bit of wilting, then grows vigorously through early spring, cheering us with new growth when most everything else is still sleeping.  All this time, it captures nitrogen from the air and fixes it into the soil where other plants can make use of it. It provides fresh nutritious greens for the chickens, and thus nutritious eggs for us. It also keeps our soil from eroding and washing away with the winter rains, and prevents weeds from invading. In April and May, the vibrant crimson flowers bloom, offering food for the bees and beauty for the people. And finally, before planting our summer crops, we add it to the compost, where it becomes organic matter to feed the soil once more. So much goodness from such a humble plant. Thank you crimson clover!

Greens!

After a long dark cold rainy winter, there's nothing like hearty garden fresh greens to lighten and enliven the body and spirit. We used to have trouble this time of year using up all of our greens, but we're getting more savvy about sneaking them into every meal. Spinach in the smoothies for breakfast, spicy mesclun and lettuce on the sandwiches for lunch, heaping bowls of salad for dinner. Our favorite way to dress up the salad these days is to mix a little vinegar or lemon juice with olive oil, drizzle over the greens, slice whatever fruit we have around (apples, oranges, mango, pear, any dried fruit), add some toasted nuts or seeds, a few radishes or green onions or chives...divine!  Greens and eggs go great together--scrambles and fritatas and stratas. Lasagna and pasta are always improved with some spinach or arugula thrown in. And burritos! We love greens, cilantro, scallions in our burritos and quesadillas.

Living in our wet climate means we share our greens with the slugs.Washing the lettuce is not a task for
the squeamish or faint of heart. I always end up with a sink full of gray slimy little globules...and they still give me the heeby jeebies. At least the chickens appreciate them.

 The spinach in the middle there is "Beaujolais" from Uprising Seeds and is heavenly. So tender and sweet.

The greens on the left are our very favorite mix--the organic Spicy Mesclun Mix from Irish Eyes. I just pulled up our first batch that was going to seed and have a new set popping up now.

Any other ideas out there for incorporating spring's bounty of greens into our meals?

Around the garden

Farmama has invited us to share in a new Thursday tradition of "Around the Farm" posts, so here's mine!

So many blooms in the garden right now, so I'll dedicate this post to flowers. 

Lovely lupine

 Lilacs

Rhododendron

 Iris

 So many blues and lavenders this time of year...appropriate for the cool wet weather of spring.