Herb Seminar at the Summer Kitchen

I love teaching classes for my two favorite girlsI thought I would help them out by posting some info about our Rosemary Topiary Class:

#1. Choose a rosemary plant that has a strong, single leader.You may want to repot it in a classic terra-cotta pot. Push a thin 24 inch piece of bamboo or other which marks the final height of the plant, into the pot and carefully tie loosely with twist ties or jute.

#2. Cut off all the side shoots using small hand shears or scissors to directthe plants energy up the main stem. Leave enough shoots at the topof the stem in order to sustain the plant and to encourage more growth in the top.

#3. In the second year, when the stem of your rosemary has reached the required height of about 16 inches, cut out the top of the lead shoot. This cut marks the approximate base of the final crown.

#4. Allow several top shoots to develop. Once they have reached a length of 3-4 inches,cut out the end of each top shoot. Make sure you keep the main stem clear of any side shoots that may start to grow.

#5. During spring and summer, when you plant flushes out new growth, continue to pinch out the ends of the top shoots once they have grown by 3-4 inches. Your topiary will become more dense this way.

#6. Don't throw away your clippings! Make some wonderful herbed butter or bread with it!

Very Early Spring Open House!

Come in and browse and have a cup of Herbal Tea!

We are so excited to be open another year and we can

hardly wait to show off our new arrivals. We 'll keep posting

so that those who cannot physically stop here can see it here

on our blog.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Garden Chairs at Noon!

Check out Hey Harriet! for more great shadow shots!

Fairy Land is Growing

Dead felled trees look alive with this bright green

touchable moss. We harvest loads of it to add to

our Fairy Gardens and we even add it to the bases of potted

herbs. It really gives a rosemary topiary a nice finished

look if you don't want to see the soil in the pot. It also

helps the plant retain moisture. I highly recommend using it

for part shade to full shade stone pathways and even in

rock gardens. I think this awesome free from nature plant

is the reason why I love the color green!

Follow the Fairy Sign

We are anticipating spring and all its beauty, mystery and warmer days.

I thought I would share a few pictures of what I look so forward to in the summer.
Flowers, Ferns and Fae. If you can get out of your adult mind and into your child mind
you will be able to see them! If you cannot see them in these photos then follow on.

Lavender Love

I do love the calming scent of Lavender in my wash closet after I've cleaned! These lavender soft scrubbers really work on tough stains for old & new tubs and sinks but they don't leave those unbreathable fumes in your air, just a lavender meadow! Summer Kitchen Girls tested these and I do believe they are in lavender heaven!

Herb Garden in a Bottle

This last day of January was cold & 'drifty' to say the least, but my herb ladies made it out to make 'Herb Garden' air fresheners & an herbal cutical cream. So fun to get together when it's this cold outside! As we sipped some Lavender Mint Tea and got to chatting I think we all agreed, without saying that we are ready for spring, or at least some early spring air freshening!

Herb Garden Natural Air Freshener

1tsp. baking soda

1tsp. lemon juice

2 cups hot water (slightly cooled)

few drops essential oils of Lavender, Rosemary & Sage

Mix together to disolve baking soda, add oils & fill

decorative spray bottles. Labeled so you don't forget what is in it!

Shake well before freshening the air! Breath and say Ahhhhh!

Our next herb seminar is Feb 7th at 3pm. We were trying to get couples to come to this one but some guys just won't budge! Hey guys, we are doing this for you! Making Herbal Theraputic Massage oils and body candy.....I don't know what else I can add! How about some wonderful appetizers, nice music, and chocolate truffles. No? Well girls I guess it is all for us!!

Sign up anytime now until Friday and bring a friend!