January 2006
The New Year seems to bring life's transitions to mind. We look back at the last year to see what we've accomplished, what the milestones were for the year in our own lives and, if you're a news junkie like me, what happened in politics and news around the world. We look ahead at how to improve ourselves, our lives or the lives of those around us in some way. The New Year can be a time of reflection and thoughtfulness.
A sad transition took place in my own life just after the new year began. My mother passed away on January 3. Already I miss being able to pick up the telephone and call her with a new book title she might like to read or to find out how members of my family are doing. She was the person everyone kept in touch with, so if I wanted to know how my niece and her husband were doing, I would call Mom and she'd tell me all the news. She was very interested in how The Herb Cottage was doing and somewhat bemused by the fact that I was running a successful business. I would sometimes add a sprig of rosemary or thyme in a letter to her to brighten her day. She's beyond my calls and letters now, but she will be with me in every endeavor each day.
Gardens are wonderful places to watch transitions. Our annual plants do it all in one season. We plant basil, calendula or arugula and wait while the little seeds sprout and begin to grow into a plant we can use for seasoning, cosmetics and salads. As the days pass, the plants grow bigger and stronger. We become used to seeing the basil right there close to the front of the bed where we can easily reach it for harvesting. It's so fragrant and tasty. The calendula's bright orange or yellow flowers greet us daily and are so cheery. We can toss some arugula into a plain salad to add zest and flavor. Then, the basil and arugula start to flower. The calendula flowers fade. We try and keep the plants going as long as possible by snipping off the basil flowers and cutting down the arugula flower stalks to trick Mother Nature. But, in the end, Nature wins out. Our plants will quit flowering and set seed which we can collect and save for the next planting. Or, we might be surprised to see basil seedlings come up around where the plant grew and seeded itself. Calendula often self sows the following season.
Even plants that we know as perennials do not last forever. Thyme may start to become very woody and die out in the center. The same goes for oregano or even rosemary, which is a long lived plant here in South Central Texas and in other frost free zones. We dig and divide perennials to keep them healthy and producing fresh growth for flavorful leaves or for flowers.
Sometimes we just want a new look in the garden. Winter is a good time to think back or to look at pictures you may have taken of your spring or summer beds. How did the garden look last year? What can be changed? Maybe the oregano grew too large and overran the thyme. So, the thyme can be moved so the bed is more balanced and not so crowded looking. A little row of Spicy Globe Basil would look cute along the pathway. It's bright green leaves and round shape would be a compliment to annual flowers such as pansies or marigolds.
Of course, this is also a time for looking at seed and plant catalogs and dreaming about the upcoming season. The new vegetable varieties are just calling to be tried out. Pictures of newly introduced flower varieties are almost impossible to resist. Maybe there's spot in your herb, flower or vegetable garden for an herb variety you haven't tried before. Are you experimenting with new cuisine? There are herbs you can grow to add to Thai, Southwest or Mexican dishes, Italian, Greek, Chinese or Indian recipes. Let your imagination soar. Check out the cookbooks or magazines at the public library or go on the Internet and look for recipes. Be careful or you'll be overwhelmed. The Internet has hundreds, if not more, sites for recipes.
And, don't forget The Herb Cottage for your 2006 plantings. I am offering some new tomato, pepper and eggplant varieties as well as ornamentals to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and beneficial insects to your gardens. And, of course, herbs. Lots of herbs. Sweet herbs, spicy herbs, savory herbs to add to your garden and cooking experience. Visit http://theherbcottage.com and peruse the listings.
I hope 2006 will be kind to you all. If you were in the way of hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters last year, I hope your lives are coming together wherever you may be. If you've lost loved ones, may you heal and live your life with comforting memories of the one you lost. And, I hope that you have at least a little space to grow a garden, be it in containers on the windowsill or porch, or a generous sized garden in your yard. Growing helps us understand the ways of life and death. Transitions are a part of nature and all our lives.
When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.
-Alexander Graham Bell, inventor (1847-1922)
Until next time,
Good Growing to You,
Cindy Meredith, proprietor
The Herb Cottage
442 CR 233
Hallettsville, TX 77964
phone & fax: 979-562-2153