Spring in the California Garden

Thank you Mother Nature for a winter of rain.  Plants and shrubs are blooming prolifically this spring.

The garden called this weekend and it was time to put some tomatoes into the garden.  Two beefsteaks (one an heirloom) and San Francisco Fog. 

In doing some prep work, I discovered a very large beet!  Here it is root and all.  Look at those beautiful greens.

Beautiful beet from the garden atop a planting of thyme.

Time for Thyme

Delicate flowers of the thyme plant

Spreading thyme in the garden

My drip irrigation is really making a difference in the garden this year.  This thyme plant has a circular soaker drip at the center of the plant.  It really is giving it vigor to spread beautifully.

Thyme to Bloom

I love having herbs in the garden for the kitchen.  I went to the garden today and found my thyme had bloomed.  This plant has been in the garden forever and I continually cut back hard to keep it fresh and less woody.

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.