Everyone Needs a Good Night's Sleep

I picked a little bouquet yesterday afternoon...arranged them with some parsley for greens.  When I came into the kitchen around 10 p.m., I discovered the flowers had closed up for the night. 

After the sun came up and filled the kitchen with light, look how wide awake the blossoms are!

Top Five Herbs for the Garden

The summer garden is perfect for growing fresh herbs.    You can start your herbs from seeds, but I like the ease of planting herbs already growing in small  pots from the nursery.  Unless you are very busy in the kitchen a pot or two of each herb will be enough for your cooking needs.

Basil

Oregano

Thyme

Thyme

Flat Leaf Parsely

Rosemary

My favorite five herbs to grow in the garden are basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, and flat leaf (Italian) parsley.  They like full sun (at least six hours) and medium amounts of water.  Using these herbs will encourage growth.  When the basil gets large, I often pinch a stem, place in water to root and soon have another plant to grow in the garden.

Herbs: Oregano and Parsley

Fresh herbs from the garden are a bonus to the home gardener.  As a California gardener, most herbs can be grown fresh year round.  After a shaky start, both the parsley and oregano have taken hold in the garden.  The next round of tomatoes I prepare for freezing will include these fresh herbs.

Parsley

Because our growing season is year round, plants which would normally cease their existence in climates with frost and snow, just keep on growing. This parsley is out of control. I love it though. It is such a vibrant green.

Parsley--Gone to Seed

I had some Italian flat leaf parsley in the garden this winter. While out of town, the weather got warm and sunny. The parsley bolted and created this seed head. Reminds me of Queen Anne's Lace.