A Dinner Of Herbs

Wednesday 18th May 2011

Finally got back into the garden after going boggle eyed learning about plant oils, fatty acids and bonds between carbon atoms this morning! Hopefully it will all sink in eventually. It was therefore very soothing to tackle planting up the herb containers, here is a list of what went in them.

Two types of lavender-smells lovely and the flowers can be used in baking.

Rosemary-also smells nice, flavours meat dishes, cheese, jellies, and fruit cups.

Bergamot-add the flowers to salads and the leaves to china tea for an earl grey flavour.

Lemon balm-for stuffings, salads and fruit drinks.

Hyssop-a peppery sharp flavour, add leaves to soups and casseroles.

Sage-well known in stuffing but also great for a sore throat.

Chervil-liquorice flavour used widely in french cuisine.

Tarragon-one of the main components of bearnaise sauce.

Thyme-good with lamb, tomatoes and eggs.

Caraway-seeds used in breads and biscuits.

Parsley- needs no introduction

Alpine strawberry-add the tiny fruit to summer drinks and desserts.

Pineapple mint-for fruit punches or add to ricotta and cream cheese.

Curry plant-which smells of curry but has no culinary uses whatsoever!

I'm not sure if I really planted them for use or ornament, but they will look lovely when grown on a bit. Mum, delivery will be Saturday, along with your grand-daughter!

The second picture is of a well loved children's tv programme called The Herbs, it was one of my favourites as a youngster, so I'm just indulging myself!

"Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted ox and hatred within"

Proverbs 15:17

Niger Seed Disaster

Thursday 31st March

Squally blustery showers interspersed with warm sunshine, this will get the plants growing.

First job this morning was to fill the Niger seed feeder for the goldfinches, no sooner had I done so than it had been blown down, spilling all of the contents. Damn! Anybody who feeds these birds will know, that despite claims that the seed is sterile, the rotten stuff springs up everywhere, I shall be weeding them out all summer. I hope the birds appreciate it.

Turned my attention to dead-heading, these spring flowers have to last for another two months yet, so I need to keep them looking their best. That done I then planted some basil seed and potted on some Thyme cuttings, also took cuttings of curry plant and Rosemary. The front of the house is starting to look like a small market garden.

Some of the seedlings in the garden have made their identity known, not what I was hoping for as it's Speedwell, however I've left them where they are because nothing much else grows there and I'm rather fond of it's dainty blue flowers. I don't mind a few weeds in the garden, it's all for the greater good, as long as they're not niger seedlings!

"God gave all men all earth to love, but since our hearts are small,

ordained for each one spot should prove, beloved over all"

Rudyard Kipling