Reblooming Perennials

There are some perennials that just keep on giving. And giving. The yarrow I grow is a variety called Paprika and here it is almost September with more flowers on it.

The butterfly weed has also bloomed again. All I do is cut back the spent flowers and if I get lucky later on in the summer (meaning now) these flowers decide to give another show.

I couldn't be happier with the purple coneflower. This plant started blooming back in July and I still have some good looking flowers out there. I generally don't cut this plant back as the birds like the dried seed heads from it.

Yes, annuals are the plants that will give you flowers all summer long. But some perennials do pretty well if what you are looking for is long blooming plants.

Growing Up

I live in a small house on a small city lot. Although I try to use the space I have to the best of my ability, sometimes I find that I just don't have enough. Space that is.

One way to solve this dilemma is to put that ugly chain link fence to good use. Since I know that when I plant gourds in the vegetable garden they tend to travel from one end of the garden to the other I decided this year to try growing this aggressive plant up the chain link fence that separates my yard from the neighbors. It didn't take long for a couple of seeds to cover the fence and soon I will have some nice ornamental gourds for fall display.

So if you run out of space like me, and you have a fence available, put it to work. You'll be glad you did!

Pesto Time

Since I recently finished the last batch of pesto that I froze last fall I decided it was time to make some more. I plant different types of basil including Genovese, Mammoth and Serrata, all of which work great in pesto.

Recipe for Pesto

4 cups fresh basil leaves minced

5 cloves of garlic minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup minced pine nuts

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

3/4 cup olive oil

Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Then I freeze the pesto in small portions by using a muffin tin. Eventually these will be put in freezer bags.

So, if you are like me and like your pesto, that is the number one reason to plant both basil and garlic in your garden. There is nothing like it!

A Little Bit Crazy for Dill

I have been growing dill in my garden for the past 25 years. It is one herb I could not do without. Why? Well, it passes the reliability test; I can always count on it. I used to worry about where it might self seed, but no more. I tend to let it do its thing since I like how it looks, no matter which flower bed it decides to be a part of. I am thinking of sowing a few seeds in the front garden as well. Tomatoes didn't work there (not enough sun) but I suspect dill will like it just fine.

Dill is a trouble free plant that self seeds, looks great in flower arrangements, lasts a long time and you can cook with it. What more could you ask of a plant!

Providing ornamentation in the garden can get to be an expensive hobby. That is why if have the opportunity to reuse something I jump on board and do it. This mirror has found a place showing off the cardinal flower behind my shed. It used to hang in my bathroom, but when I remodeled the bathroom it could either go out with the trash, or go out to the garden. I am glad to have found some use for it. The birds like it too!