Everywhere there be herbs. In the greenhouse,
in trays spilling out of the greenhouse,
more trays,
and even more trays than shown here. They seem to multiply daily, not that I’m complaining.
Many are still tiny due to the slow germination this spring, while others are flying up, such as the mugwort.
Wheelbarrows are bushing out and the thyme and coriander are beginning to flower.
Herbs are also adorning table-tops.
I’m looking forward to seeing the lavender on this table flower, it should be a pretty sight given there are at least twenty or so plants here, amongst other herbs.
To date I’m growing coriander, dill, lavender, rosemary, sage, marjoram, oregano, parsley, tarragon, chives, garlic chives, St John’s wort, mugwort, motherwort, thyme, lovage, bay, lemon balm, mint, basil, ginger, yarrow, sorrel and lemon grass. I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few here!
And Finally…
hubs spotted a great offer on a online gardening site and asked if I would like five fruit trees. Not being capable of saying no to anything that grows I jumped at the chance. Imagine my shock when several enormously tall boxes arrived yesterday, containing, drum roll please…… eighteen fruit trees. All ordered accidentally, with a slight slip of a finger.
Currently, they’re all sitting in a trug of water, while eighteen additional trugs and bags of compost have been ordered to house them. I’ve always wanted an orchard but have absolutely no idea what to do with all these trees. Baby steps are necessary here, first, pot them all on.
Ready for another long list? Here’s what I have. Two quince trees, a pear clapps, a conference pear and fourteen apple trees consisting of two lobo, two empire, two pinova, two cox, two champion, two alwa, two elstar and deep breath….two golden delicious. Oh My!!!
Until next time, stay safe guys.xxx
Well, that’s you set up with herbs and trees. I had to laugh about the trees. You are going to have to move house and get a bigger garden.
Haha…Yes, I will certainly need a bigger garden if I keep all those trees. Thanks Chloris.xxx
How wonderful to emerge from wet and cold winter to all this lovely green happy growth! I love seeing those herbs. But 18 trees? (well, 17 now) I think some will eventually go to a good home because you’d have no room for anything else!
Yes, seventeen trees is something of a handful. I can see some moving on when established. Thanks Anne.xxx
I’m green with envy at your green success, love the herb garden. And laughing at the accidental orchard. Can’t wait to follow up on this story. What a wonderful post.
Amalia
xo
Thanks Amalia. A gal can certainly have too many fruit trees.xxx
You can’t have too many herbs. Fruit trees, on the other hand …
Haha…yes, you can certainly have too many fruit trees. Thanks Brenda.xxx
Herbs, herbs, herbs!
Indeedy! Thanks Peter.xxx
Goodness me that’s a lot of trees!
Your herbs look and sound wonderful 🙂
Have a good week.
All the best Jan
Yes, far too many trees! Thanks Jan.xxx
What fabulous plant treasure to dip into … but no catmint for Curly? 😀 (Probably the one you forgot to list! haha)
If you don’t want your fruit trees to grow too big, I can recommend a book called ‘Grow a Little Fruit Tree’ by Ann Ralph. (Subtitled Simple Pruning Techniques for Small-Space, Easy-Harvest fruit trees). Although based in the US, the advice is universally good – I just wish I’d seen this book before I planted my pear trees 12 years ago, they’re massively tall now with the fruit mostly out of reach to all except the birds! Looking forward to reading how your orchard develops. xx
Thanks Caro. Oh forgot the catmint, yes I have plenty of that too. That sounds like a great book, I’ll look for it on amazon. Thanks for that. My pear tree is the same as yours, it’s so tall we have to get a ladder out to get at the fruit. xxx
You are all sooo healthy with all those herbs and fruit trees! xx
Thanks Gill, yes, herbs have so many wonderful properties.xxx
Growing herbs is so rewarding! And you’ve got a big selection. I love popping out to cut fresh herbs for that night’s dinner. We are growing parsley, mint, basil, cilantro, dill, rosemary, thyme, oregano, fennel, and lemon grass. Your fruit trees sound like you’ll have an amazing orchard before long.
Thanks Jason. Yes, it’s wonderful to have fresh herbs at hand when cooking. You have a wonderful selection of herbs there!xxx
Think of all the wonderful pies you will be baking:).
As for the herbs…wonderful. Look at this way, if there are more lock downs (we never know) you will be able to survive for years:). Sending love XXXXX
Thanks Janet, ha yes! At least I will have plenty of food in any future Armageddon! xxx
I’m very impressed with your herbs, you must surely have a ”bit of everything” there….I envy you that, I’m not up to that number, but I love growing herbs.
Wow the fruit trees are going to be a challenge…is there some land nearby where you can ask the owner (farmer) if you can plant some trees? ….it is so tempting when they are small to just plant them in the garden…one of our neighbours did that with sampling Eucalyptus trees years ago, and years later, at much expense, he had to take them out as they were affecting the foundations of the house! Gardening life is never easy!
Thanks Gerrie, I’m forever adding new herbs, they are wonderful for wildlife too. Yes, trees can run away with themselves if planted in the ground which is why I will keep them in pots.xxx
All I could think was — where are you going to put them all? I couldn’t cope, but of course I couldn’t cope with all those herbs, either. If I’ve learned anything from all you gardeners over the past few years, it’s just how much work gardening is. Perhaps I’m just lazy! It’s going to be great fun tracking how you deal with all this. Somehow I never thought of apples and etc. thriving in England, but a quick query at yon Google set me straight on that!
Thanks Linda. Oh yes, gardening is a full time job. Apple trees love our climate, orchards are everywhere.xxx
What is to be suggested here! Apart from baby steps have you any ideas? If daughter grows things like trees she might adopt a couple from you. One or two for fund-raising, perhaps. Hmm.
What do you use the two Worts for? Your curry plant wasn’t in your list, i wondered if it was still thriving.
Best of luck with your developing orchard. I forgot to ask, are the trees full sized biggies, or will they be small fruit trees? Xxxxxx
Thanks Menhir. I finally found a home for all the trees, I imagine many will eventually be given away once they have grown a little, at the moment they are small, about six foot, hopefully I can keep them around that height. I use the worts for smudge sticks, they cleanse the air beautifully.
Wow, that is an awful lot of herbs and fruit trees, you are going to be very busy! Will you be preserving most of them for next winter?x
Thanks Pauline, I can see those trees will keep me busy. I imagine the birds will devour a lot of the fruit for me but I will preserve some too.xxx
Haha! I thought I ordered 4 new asparagus plants till 40 bare roots arrived. But 18 fruit trees??!!! Yikes. They sound wonderful. Will you have enough room for them?
I love the herb farm you’ve also got underway. Please share how you use them all! I have 5-6 I grow and dry and use all year in cooking and baking, and some teas. But you inspire me to try more.
Love your stories, photos, gardens, spirit, and wide open heart! Joy in the tending and blossoms! Xxxx
Oh my….40 bare root asparagus!!! You’ll have fun finding a home for them! I really must do a post on herb usage, most are eaten but many become smudge sticks and bath potions too. Thanks so much Kitty, as always. Love and hugs to you all.xxxx
Ooooh! Yes, would love to hear about the bath potions. I make smudges, too! 😉
Are you sure that you have enough herbs, and indeed fruit trees! All those will be keeping you busy for for a while. Have fun, and happy gardening.
Thanks, and you too. xx
Lol, I think I may have enough herbs and fruit trees now. Thanks Flighty.xxx
We find that you win some and you lose some during the sowing and seedling stages, but there’s still an abundance of new growth to tend. I’m sure you’ll share your newly acquired fruit trees with friends and family and enjoy the produce when eventually they get established. Happy gardening!
Yes, every year is different isn’t it? You never know what will germinate each year. Thanks Linda.xxx
That’s quite some slip of the finger! Will you use all the herbs or are some just being grown for ornamental or wildlife purposes?
Yes, that sure was quite the slip of a finger! I use most of the herbs but enjoy them as ornamentals as well them being beneficial for wildlife.xxx
Your photos are lovely and i love that the sun is coming out more as its summer!
I really appreciate growing herbs and plants.
Laila
http://www.lailanblog.blogspot.co.uk
Thanks Laila, you sure can’t beat fresh herbs.xxx
It’s going to be herbs with everything! Oh my goodness, all those trees. You’d better start reading up on preserving fruit, you’re going to be inundated once they all start fruiting.
Thanks Jo, yes herbs will be served with everything for sure. I have no idea what to do with all that fruit next year! Preserving sounds like a way forward. xxx
That’s you set for fruit and herbs then! Hilarious about the trees and slightly bemusing as to how he did it – 18 isn’t even a multiple of 5! Your herbs sound wonderful – you should do a post about what you use them for. Some are new to me eg. Mugwort and motherwort. Happy potting! xx
Yes, lol, the neighbours will be inundated! I can’t fathom how hubs manged to get such a strange number of trees either! good idea re doing a post on herbs. Thanks Veggiemummy.xxx
I have no idea what to say to you about all of those fruit trees ! I am sitting here laughing like a fool !! I can’t believe how calm you are .. I would be running in circles babbling ? LOL
I know you will have it all in hand though .. and what a production line it will make !
I love all your herbs .. I only have a few .. fennel, parsley, oregano, thyme, rosemary and lavender .. I love lavender ! .. I’m sure yours will look amazing amongst all of those herbs.
I can’t wait to read about how you handle all of those fruit trees .. that will be a saga unto itself !
Thanks Joy, I did feel a little freaked out by so many fruit trees! I love lavender too, my favourite herb especially when visited by numerous bees.xxx