Whimsy Wednesday – so less words today.

New beginnings

New beginnings isn’t that what growing is all about?

Earth Day countdown – 3 days to go. Since the numbers are getting smaller can you do 3 bigger things today to help yourself and Earth? How about – If you buy food today – buy at least 5 organic items. … or take 5 mins to think about your house cleaning. Can you “clean up your own act” and use 5 less chemicals when you clean?
Better yet: Replace 5 toxic cleaning supplies for 5 natural ones. You will save money, save your skin and health, and help save Earth too.

How’s your Container Herb garden coming along?

Earth Day Countdown…4 days! Recycle at least 4 things today!

Gardening can be like the Kitchen sink – throw it all in – but a well planed container garden for an urban dweller can be a delight and joy. A little piece of calm oasis in an urban jungle.

Milly planted her Herb seeds have you?

Herb Seeds are in!
Herb Seeds went in over the weekend!

Container gardening is a great way to have more control over your growing herbs. You can easily move the containers towards a warmer area if needed and back into the shade if the season gets too hot. Container herbs are more readily available for use when they are grouped together. You will be more apt to use them when they are right outside your kitchen door. Here are my 5 choices for a cook’s theme container garden.  1. Mint  2. Sage 3. Rosemary 4. Basil 5. Thyme. This page will take you the planting info.. http://herbgardens.about.com/od/5bestherbsforcontainers/tp/BestHerbsContainers.htm

These pages will take you to the  Herbal or Culinary goodness of each of these 5 Herbs.

http://herbgardens.about.com/od/medicinalherbs/a/Peppermint.htm

http://herbgardens.about.com/od/medicinalherbs/p/Sage.htm

 http://herbgardens.about.com/od/culinary/a/Rosemary.htm

 http://herbgardens.about.com/od/culinary/p/Basil.htm

 http://herbgardens.about.com/od/culinary/p/Thyme.htm

Earth Week and our theme of “Growing” continues

I was thinking what would be good Earth Week postings – and it came to me that it ought to be about being good to oneself and to the earth. As I thought I was somewhat astonished how much those two overlapped.  Eat Organic (when possible) and that is certainly kinder to the earth. Grown without pesticides– better for earth and all it’s inhabitants. Spring Clean chemical free – much better for the cleaner her/himself – and again, easier on the mother earth. You get the idea and point I am sure….  Those are kind of the middle things, the big things are more like Oil and Gas, the little things are more like turn off the lights when you are done. It ALL adds up to matter.  So why not just be good to both. Do what you can this week, and every week, to be kind to yourself and you may indeed be taking care of the Earth as well.

Well, in the thoughts of being good to myself … I could not resist: sunny days and  warmer temps means spring flowers and gardens to me.  As many gardeners will attest to – I just had to have some PANSIES so I could start looking at flowers! I planted them up in containers, although I must admit not in that cool idea of a wine crate from last week.  I reused planter boxes that I have, and will have for decades, for they are plastic. I would not buy them again, but since I have them – it is more wasteful not to use them, verses needlessly purchasing new ones and using more resources of any type. Funny thing – when I was all done – there was a little elf like/Jolie like Beautie standing on the Pots edge!  (Image  below)  I guess that means Jolie is our spokeswoman of the week.  In case you don’t remember- Jolie  lives in the meadow, and  is passionate about exploring and promoting herbals and their uses for medicinal means and for beauty. She runs a shop in Meadowville to serve both purposes. (Columbine (Aquilegia) http://botanicalbeautiesbeasties.com/individual-stories/

Don’t forget- the SEED CONTEST is still going! Guess the type, date it sprouts out of the peat pot, and day it is ready to go into the grown and you could win FREE GREETING CARDS from the Botanical Beauties and Beasties.  http://botanicalbeautiesbeasties.com/product-samples/   (BTW YES – The seeds were planted this weekend!) 

Pansies and Elf
Pansies and a little magic

 

Imagination Week and so long to Twinkles.

Imagination Week. This should be fun!

Twinkles-Spring Thaw
Got to go - Melting! See you next winter.

What are those fuzzy lines between imagination, memory, and dreams?  Is that the core of imagination?  Hard to say… any ideas? Comment to The Botanicals and let us know your thoughts. We think imagination is all that plus freedom of your “inner self” to let “it” out . What’s”It” ? “It” is whatever form suits you – drawing, music, words, dance, acting, cooking, singing, etc. it’s all good.

The first order of business this week is that Twinkle, Goddess of the Shimmering Snow, wants to say Goodbye until next year. It is getting way to warm for her and she is  heading  North to stay cool and not melt away.   As you may remember, she comes in with the winter winds but that means she must leave when the spring temps arrive.  She left many charts and reports on the “dirty snow” from pollutions. She is worried.  Her message as she heads out-of-town:
1) Please, conserve your “ things needs” – you may just want instead of need it . It all ups to used fuel/energy to make the items, deliver to items, and then to possibly trash the items. 2) Please, conserve on your gas and get some exercise. Don’t drive if you can walk or bike ride!
3) Please pay attention and – Recycle your stuff… Reuse what you can…. Reduce your carbon footprint.