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Summertime Lavender
My home harvest (it was a very good year!) and a vacation that included the lavender fields of Sequim on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula have inspired me. Look on the Vegan page for recipes.
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Summer Herb Harvest
Western Washington has been experiencing a heat wave this summer. While it is dangerous for our forests, it is wonderful for the herb garden. Just before leaving for vacation I harvested a few of my herbs, seen in the basket to the left. Earlier I had harvested my lavenders. In the basket are white and hidcote lavender, Greek and golden oregano (much more coming!), marjoram, a bit of sage, feverfew blossoms and some mints.
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Sequim Lavender
The fragrant lavender fields of Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula are wonderful in late July and early August. This picture was shot at the Purple Haze Lavender Garden.
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More then just apples and pears
A garden maze with walls of espaliered fruit trees, benches, statuary, a lavender bed and so much more. When I am dreaming it is easy to forget that I live in a mountain valley of the Maritime Northwest. Still a girl can dream. I have pulled Ray into the dream so I might just get something solid where there is now only fantasy. The north and south walls of the maze will consist of two rows of apple trees. On the west wall I am hoping for a multiple variety pear tree. I have not settled on the content of the east wall. I think the inner walls of the north and south will be a row of the variety of apple trees that grow like a candle sticks and produce fruit on short spurs along the trunk. I think I will stick with benches for the eastern and western inner walls.
Further Along the Garden Path is not just the title of a beautiful garden book by Ann Lovejoy. It is also what I picture when I think of my maze. I hope to bring it off of the side path through my vegetable and flower garden. The gravel path will start at the northeast corner or the maze heading south. To the east will be either a quince fence or, if Ray has his say, a 3 x 1 combo, espalier ready apple tree. To the west of the path will be the first bench. Rainer Strawberries will be planted in the raised area under the tree. If a plum tree can be trained to a lollypop design, then I hope to have a Mirabelle 858 to make the corner between the east and south wall. As the path turns west (and if all goes according to plan) then the long west wall will consist of a King and a Ginger Gold Apple tree on the south side of the path. To the north side will be a row of candlestick or their actual name "Columnar trees" of both red and yellow varieties. The southwest corner might be another lollipop plum, maybe an Early Laxton. As the path turns north I am hoping to have a multi variety pear tree to show off on the east wall and another bench for the west. A potted mini nectarine or peach that can be protected from the wet will make the north east corner. The North wall will be another double row of apples. Gravenstine and Transparents are what I am hoping for. The inner north wall just might be my first attempt at grapes. I cannot imagine they will do well in the wet valley, but I can always stuff the leaves if I cannot ripen fruit. Finally, the center will be a lavender bed surrounding (I hope) a sundial. Now, how to finance it all?
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