To Garden and Sweat or Stay Inside with the AC on Stun

Category: FRED - the garden | Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:38 pm

I worked in the front yard for a couple of hours Friday morning. It had been 8 days since I had been able to get anything done out there, it has been longer since I worked out back and I know the weeds are loving my absence but their turn is coming tomorrow morning.

Friday afternoon, it was only 92 degrees and that was the coolest it had been here in over a week, we took a drive to the other side of Dallas to one of my favorite garden nurseries. They have more different herbs than any place I know of and even tho the herb bed isn't ready yet, I can grow the herbs in pots until it is.
So with sweat running down the back of my legs I wandered thru the covered plant area digging thru the packed tables looking for the ones I wanted and eventually came home with.......
Borage
Comfrey
Lemon Verbena
Lime Balm - I have Lemon Balm trying to take over the back yard already.
Aloe
Hyssop
Anise Hyssop
Wormwood
Patchouli
German Chamomile
St. John's Wort

Also picked up a Eucalyptus citriodora, according to the growers tag it is supposed to be 3 to 10 feet tall. I can't find any info on one remaining that short or info on growing them down here, but it came from an Herb farm just the other side of Dallas so I hope they do know what they are talking about.

A Bat-faced Cuphea, never had one before and just couldn't resist that cute face. It is considered an annual this far north so I will keep it in a large pot and move it into the bloom house this winter.

A scented Geranium with no ID tag and 'Mr. Personality' working there was no help at all. I swear there are just some people who should not be allowed to work with the public!

The last two Milkweed plants they had. I got some milkweed seed from the Monarch Watch group a couple of years ago but since they don't guarantee there to be actual seeds in the envelope, I bought 5 envelopes....no plants ever came up. We were on the migration path for the Monarchs coming up from Mexico this spring and usually see several in the fall, the Milkweed should give them some food for their journey this year.

There are still some herbs I need to look for, should have just bought seeds to begin with and I would already have the plants.

Now I have the plants....I just have to find the fence panels I want.

Early this morning we went to Lowes for mulch, organic potting soil and some edging. Another project for the front yard. One of these days the heat will be too much even early in the morning, the mosquitos are already too much to be out in the early evening. COME ON FALL!!!!!!!

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eileen wrote on Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:48 pm:

Oh you lucky thing!!! I've hunted high and low around here for a Bat-faced Cuphea and can't find one anywhere!! Do show us a piccie of yours please Toni so that I can drool over it.
You must be dedicated to have been out selecting plants in such high temperatures but you did get a great selection!!

glendann wrote on Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:29 am:

You sure was a busy bee.It is very hot here now.I'm not ready for winter yet for sure just a cool front will do :).You really got some nice plants while on your plant spree toni.

Droopy wrote on Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:12 am:

I can feel a faint wooziness coming over me at the thought of your hot weather... You found quite a selection there, lucky girl. I hope they grow and prosper for you, and good luck on attracting butterflies! I don't want autumn just yet, we haven't even started summer here.

Biita wrote on Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:31 pm:

Ohhh I remember southern heat! I say turn up the AC, and garden at night. Poor you. Were just breaking 50's now everyday, i'll take just a tad of that heat from you, but not to much,,lol.

I think the herbs you found are a fantastic find. Lime balm,, now thats intresting! ohh the teas and seasonings from that would be wonderful! Can i ask, the wormwood do you use that for the smoke to clear sinuitus? I've never tired it.

petunia wrote on Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:40 pm:

Great choice of herbs. I'm trying some differant herbs also. I have echinacea I have grown from seed. please show off picts of your herbs.

tschnath wrote on Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:07 am:

Wow Toni everything sounds great although I wouldn't know what to do with half of it. My new garden space alloted for next year is going to be filled with butterfly plants. I might try to find some milk weed, although I've never seen it here in any of the garden centers. We have some protected areas that I've seen it, but I'm sure to get myself in a load of trouble should I try to help myself. Best of luck to you growing and please post some pics for us.