Where has the summer vanished tp? The last thyme I wrote for ICanGarden it was April! The growing season is just too short... May 24th to mid September. We still (Oct 20th) have our large Bay Laurel outside but soon the blankets we have been covering the Bay and German Myrtles with will not keep the frost or snow off any longer. the problem is where to winter the large herbs.
I keep telling Ken that we won't need a Christmas tree this year, the Bay will do. One large German Myrtle always goes into The Herbal Touch gift shop and becomes a decorated Christmas tree. Small herbal tussie mussies, baby's breath and flower garlands look wonderful. Tiny watering cans and also little glass posy holders that hold water for fresh flowers will be clipped on the branches this year.
The herbs have been harvested, washed and are now dry. The coming week should see all the tea herbs stripped off of their branches, blended and packaged. It all takes time. Herbal decorator bunches are being created to hang in the kitchen. When you get tired of looking at the bouquet you can add it to the stew!!
The hot peppers grew in abundance this year. I have dried peppers, strings of peppers and prepared cases of deadly "hot" sauce. The habanero sauce is in a class of it's own.
The energy here at The Herbal Touch is now transferred from the gardens into the gift shop. Long hours are spent designing wreaths, and arrangements. The goal is to have the shop brimming over with herbal products for our Christmas Open House. (the end of Nov.)
All the Herbal Weddings (11) and bus tours (12) are done for the year. That, along with an acre of garden to try to look after, has been fun. I did manage to get to San Diego to the Herb Conference in July and re-meets lots of "herby" people. The Gardener's Journal have shot 6 new shows here at The Herbal Touch and more are planned for this week.
After numerous speaking engagements this past summer to Horticulture Societies, Garden Clubs and various Conventions, I feel the interest in herbs is still growing. Why not....they are truly magic!
The herb of the year for 1997 is thyme so make sure you have some. If you don't have herbs in you garden, 1997 is the THYME!
Herbally yours,
Marilyn Edmison-Driedger The Herbal Touch
