A tale of two pickles
I’m not sure why I ever thought I was a gardener. I don’t come from a long line of gardening types. All but two years of my adolescence was spent in apartments with no real land to call our own. I don’t remember any houseplants with the exception of a very stringy asparagus fern and a snake plant that just wouldn’t die. But when I moved into my current condo seven years ago, I was elated that I had a tiny deck-an outdoor space that no one could trample, mow over, or otherwise mutilate. And I decided that I would be different from my fellow condo dwellers, and forgo the deck staple of choice (the propane grill) in favor of about 20 unruly plants and a seat/deck box.
I started with herbs, because they took up the least amount of space, or so I thought. Currently my apple mint is invading my downstairs neighbor’s airspace, and my dill just won’t stop getting taller. Some herbs I thought I’d use the most I didn’t even touch, except to dry for the winter, such as parsley. I bought some baby herb plants just because they were different and I wanted to see what would happen, such as my curry plant. The rest were herbs I just adore and use all the time, such as my Lemon Balm.
But sometimes, things happen that you don’t expect from year to year. My Lemon Balm was viciously attacked and nearly dead from a Japanese Beetle invasion (I guess they like the smell too.) My catnip got totally out of control, to a point where I was clipping it down every day, and finally I just had to cut the whole thing down to the dirt.
My recent foray into vegetables was mediocre this year as well: my cherry tomatoes didn’t produce like they did last year. My string beans were decent, but I could only harvest a few at a time. My radishes were a complete failure, and my scallions have refused to grow out of their toddler-hood. My chanciest thing this year was pickling cucumbers. It’s said they won’t even sprout if it’s under 75 degrees. I chalked them up to a loss before they even started to push through the dirt.
And look at that picture! Two lovely little pickles. Of course, I don’t know if they taste good, but I’m astonished that they grew so big on my little deck. (The cucumber plant leaves are practically big enough to be hats!) So, is it a success, or are two harvested pickles a poor turnout? I guess it depends on how you view success. Will I be able to sustain my nutrition through my garden this year? Um, no. Did I get a few nice salads with my mesclun salad and cherry tomatoes? Yes! Will I try to grow all of this next year? No.
No?? Ms. “I have a cottagery and gardening blog” isn’t going to inundate her outside space with foliage? Nope. I admit, I over did it this year. I have a ton of herbs, some vegetables, five baby trees from the Arbor Day foundation, a tray of cat grass, and no place to sit. I have Morning Glories that FINALLY grew and proceeded to take my tomato plant hostage, twirling its viney fingers around the sturdy branches and pulling it away from it’s natural course. It’s like garden anarchy this year. I need to step back, rethink, and plan a new garden that will benefit me more than zap my energy.
So now, I’m starting to think towards autumn, and harvesting what I can to dry for winter use. I feel bad about “harvesting” and such, so I take the entire plant I won’t be using-roots, dirt, and all-and dump it into the woods, where it is free to go dormant or keep growing if it wants to. I have to find a place to plant my baby trees. I have to clean out my deck box because I noticed a beginning beehive in it (yikes!) I feel the need for a fall cleaning now.
The Little Path
You know, it’s not like I can’t find what I need in nature. For years I’ve walked my dog down a little woodland trail, pondering where I could find some certain herbs that didn’t seem too popular. We’d brush past this amazingly huge, taller-than-me abundance of greenery, and I never knew what it was. Finally, one day, I looked up the hard to locate herb in one of my books, just to see what it looked like.
Yep. It was the massively monstrous group of foliage the dog and I had ignored for six years. The plant is called “Mugwort” which you may have heard in movies with witches, midwives and healers. I knew it grew wild, but never realized I could practically open my own mugwort store with the amount that would touch my shoulder each day, politely, saying “I’m here when you need me.”
If it had teeth...
So now I have lots of mugwort to…well…scroll down for what you can do with mugwort.
I think nature will teach us many lessons if we just shut up, stop planning, and go where we’re led. We’re so obsessed with doing things the way we think we’re supposed to, and looking only at the destination, that we don’t realize the gifts of the journey itself. I garden because I like to work with the earth and watch things come to life. I like to find uses for everything available to me, like that old New England saying:
Eat it up
Wear it out
Make it do
Or do without
So don’t choose certain herbs, flowers or vegetables because they’re popular or they are “easy success” stories. Choose whatever appeals to you, watch what happens, try your best, then learn from it. Make it completely your own.
Sprouts (Little tips this week)
- I can already feel autumn in the air. Starting this week, clean up your outdoor spaces little by little. Mow one last time, wash out pots, give away or haul off junk. You’ll be ready to enjoy the upcoming busy seasons without worrying about clutter.
- Gather up your unused, unwanted stuff (indoors and outdoors) and have a Labor Day yard sale. If you don’t have a yard (like me) either donate to a charity who can sell it, or join a group like Freecycle to offer it to your neighbors who might need it. (They might have something you need too!)
- If you have central air conditioning, freshen your entire home this way: take a small (3inx3in) cotton cloth, put a few drops of essential organic oil on it, and attach it to your filter with a pin or hook. When the air kicks on, your whole house will smell wonderful.
Botanical Recipe-Bath Soak
The first recipe I learned in aromatherapy class, and it’s so easy. Epsom salts (found in drug stores and health and beauty aids sections of the supermarket) with a few drops of essential oil. That’s it! Mix it up well, and bottle it for future use. Look online to find the oil right for you (invigorating, peaceful, healing, etc.)
Sprinkle liberally into hot bath and let dissolve a few minutes before getting in. Soak, inhale, enjoy!
To give as a gift, buy a cute bottle and some ribbon. Put a VERY few drops of food coloring into salt/oil mixture. Mix it up, pour into bottle and tie a ribbon. (Too much food coloring might stain the skin!)
Herb of the Week- Mugwort
Mugwort, the Dreaming Herb
Also called Artemisia Vulgaris and common wormwood. Do not confuse with Wormwood, which is toxic. Pregnant women should avoid mugwort.
- Mugwort was one of the first plants used to brew beer.
- It is called the Traveler’s Herb. It grows abundantly along highways and walkways. Roman soldiers used to put it in their shoes to alleviate fatigue while marching.
- It has been used widely for women’s maladies, as well as medicine for seizures.
- Mugwort can be infused as a tea or bath, and smoked. Bundles of mugwort can be burned to purify a space, much like sage.
- It’s most famous use is for dream pillows. Stuff a small cotton pillow with dried mugwort to have vivid, prophetic and fantastic dreams. Be sure to keep a dream journal if you start using mugwort!
Parting Thoughts…
Dreams are illustrations… from the book your soul is writing about you. ~Marsha Norman
