_______________________________________________________________________________
I just love this time of year when everything in the herb garden is overflowing; with colour, scent, the buzzing of insects and the joy of being, expressed in its fullest.
The intermittent sun and rain have ensured lush growth on everything. Several things have bolted like the lettuces, parsley and this 8 foot monster lovage.
However plenty of other things are just opening, the feverfew and vervain included. I adore vervain,Ā Verbena officinalis,Ā it is easy to see why it was considered a sacred herb by the Druids, it has such a magical quality to it.
Many herbs are in full bloom and perfect for harvesting now like lavenders, thymes and white horehound.
_______________________________________________________________________________
The garden is full of one of my favourite flowers, Nigella, or love-in-a-mist. This year I not only have the usual blue variety but some gorgeous pink ones, Mulberry rose, the seeds for which were sent to me so kindly by Cheryl last year.
One of the real highlights of summer is the vibrant colours, sun-filtered and glowing so that even in my tiny plot there is always something new to marvel at. Yellow loosestrife is a beautiful wildflower but one I grow in pots due to its over zealous nature!
_______________________________________________________________________________
Even simple salad vegetables can be among the highlights of the garden.
_______________________________________________________________________________
These lovely little sea thrifts were given to me by my father who grew them from seed.
What are the highlights of your garden right now?
Ohhh luverly! Beautiful pictures and you have sun! I can hear the buzz and smell the herbs from here š Will take a few snaps of my garden and share them on FB later, it’s not back to its former glory yet but getting there, just been drinking in the perfume from one of my new roses ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ she’s absolutely heavenly!
Tree Spinach and Red Orach are in my Garden News column next month, herbs for summer salads, I only had TS seedlings though, your photos are super as always š Off back out pruning and weeding now whilst we have sun to!
LikeLike
Hi Debs,
Gertrude Jekyll is the rose in the very first picture and the one I use for tincture making because it is said to have the highest yield of essential oils. Try it in honey… it is divine!
I wrote about it here if you want to have a look – https://whisperingearth.co.uk/2011/08/10/an-abundance-of-roses/
I have some rose pictures to share in my next post. I was going to put them in this one but thought there were enough in here already!
Enjoy the sun while it lasts š x
LikeLike
Absolutely lovely!
LikeLike
Thank you April!
LikeLike
The Love In a Mist photos are spectacular! I’ve never seen the pink variety. Beautiful. š
LikeLike
Isn’t it pretty. I hope to save seed so i can keep growing it every year.
LikeLike
I have never seen such a huge lovage! š Mine usually only gets about 3 to 4 foot tall. Yours is a giant! Gorgeous flowers and flying friend pictures:) The highlight in my garden now is the Joe Pye Weed, which is nearly 9 foot tall and just getting ready to bloom:) the rose of sharons are putting on a great display as is marshmallow:) xoxox
LikeLike
I know, it’s ginormous isn’t it and it just keeps growing!!
I bet the Joe Pye Weed looks glorious! My marshmallow isn’t in flower yet but shouldn’t be too far behind.
Oh and Leslie, I accompanied a friend in collecting a swarm of bees yesterday whilst out harvesting meadowsweet. It was very exciting! Now I will know what to do when I get some hives of my own. š xxxx
LikeLike
You did!!!!! I got goosebumps of excitement hearing this Lucinda š You got to see how sweet swarm bees really are:) I am so excited for you xxx
LikeLike
I happend to be here when I was looking for how to use infused oil, and this is more than information than I expected! I’m using homeopathic remedies, flower essence, but found you can make some your own scrach! I’m excited to read rest of your posts!!thank you!
LikeLike
I hope they prove useful and good luck with making things. Let me know if you have any questions.
LikeLike
Stunning photos! My mullein is about to start blooming and I’m really excited to work with the flowers this year. š
LikeLike
Oh how great. I had the most fabulous patch of mullein in a bit of land next to my neighbours house. They moved out a few months ago but someone new has just moved in and they have sprayed it all with herbicide! I couldn’t believe my eyes, so sad, not just for me but for the insects and the earth too. So I will need to look elsewhere for my harvest and I probably won’t be baking them a ‘welcome to the farm’ cake either. š
LikeLike
It’s a great time of year for flowers. The pink love-in-a-mist is gorgeous, I haven’t come across it before.
LikeLike
Yes it is lovely, I hope your garden is doing well too.
LikeLike
Such a abundant beauty Lucinda and gorgeous photos!
I dropped by your house and saw the delights in your prolific garden, very inspiring what you created in a wee space.
I have been busy since our last Herb group meeting with rose, elderflower, plantain and now the mullein is starting to bloom on my doorstep! Making honeys, tincture,glycerite and infused oils.
FreshYarrow poultice came in handy when I deeply gashed my knee recently.
I am so looking forward to our next meeting
LikeLike
Oh how wonderful, it sounds like your medicine chest will be bursting at the seams with wonderful concoctions! Do bring some along to the next meeting to show us. x
LikeLike
Hi Lucinda,
Your garden must be so pretty at this time of year.
I love your combinations……..nice to see ‘Mulberry Rose’, the kitten rabbits ate all of mine, and Aquilegia ‘Green Apples’.
Oh my, just read about the swarm of bees, how amazing. Bless the bees.
I am waiting for so many of my wildflowers to bloom, they have put on plenty of growth but are slow to flower.
My most favourite of wildflowers is Marshmallow, she has gone a little crazy this year amongst the purple loosestrife. I cannot wait to see this combination in bloom, can you imagine all the bumble and honeybees buzzing around the flowers š
LikeLike
Hi Cheryl,
I am sorry to hear that, shall I try and save some seed for you?
I am looking forward to seeing your photos of the marshmallow and purple loosestrife, I imagine they will look gorgeous together and will be appreciated by many! Marshmallow is such a delicate beauty isn’t she. xx
LikeLike
Lovely Lucinda, I love all your beatiful pics from the flowers and herbs š
LikeLike
Thanks Rita! x
LikeLike
Oh Lucinda, how lovely! I could spend days and days wondering round your garden I think! I’ve never seen Nigella before and now I’m completely taken with it after seeing your beautiful photos š
LikeLike
I think you would have finished in about 5 minutes- it really is tiny! But I have packed a lot in and it supports lots of life as well as giving me a huge amount of joy which is what matters. I look forward to showing you round one day.
Nigella is gorgeous isn’t it. It has been one of my favourite flowers since childhood and was the main part of my wedding bouquet. I especially love the common name, love-in-a-mist, it is very magical. š xxx
LikeLike