The Herb Box

There is no way better to improve a dish like fresh herbs, sure, dry ones will do in a bind like in the dead of winter when a pack of fresh herbs is $8.00 and the one you want is sold out.  I guess that's what you get when you live in Northern Canada and the only fresh herbs that are growing in January is 3300km away in California.

A few summer ago I asked Mr.Loonie to construct me a "box" to house my favorite herbs in neat little compartments.  Each hole measures 7" x7" x7" which allows a good amount of growing space. The outer edges measure 1.5" higher than the soil level. I stained the outside of the box and added handles for easy relocation when a storm is coming in (herbs are finicky and too much moisture can be a bad thing). I have also been thinking of adding wheels.

These pictures were taken a few weeks back shortly after planting.  I will admit that I am lazy and don't plant the herbs from seed but buy them already started from Superstore. :( One day.....

So this year, I planted (from left to right, top to bottom)...rosemary, chervil, thyme, oregano, sage, mint.   My two favorite herbs, basil and Italian parsley are in bigger pots. 

I have a yummy homemade cheese recipe coming up soon using these fresh herbs! Stay tuned...

The Backyard Flower Bed and Fern Diggin'

Welcome to the backyard.  Our tree is dying and our grass is patchy.  But, every year I am determined to get this little flower bed looking pretty to beautify this place up a little bit.   The area under the tree is tricky, it probably only gets a couple hours of sun a day and trying to find a hole to plant something in between tree roots, it almost next to impossible. 

The ferns, hostas and lillies are prernnials but the coleus I planted this year to fill in some gaps and add a bit of colour. The hostas in the front row were new last summer, the lillies started randomly popping up last year and two summers ago, Mr. Loonie and I planted the ferns in the back row which were collected down by the river. The ferns have struggled to establish themselves since but they are looking good this year so far (as long as Stryker and Bella stay out of there).  I want them to be full and lush one day.  Either I could wait which could take years or head back down to the river for some good ol' fern diggin.

 

The Clearwater River, a 5 minute drive from the house has more ferns than you could ask for.  It was a beautiful day in May, probably the best kind of summer day because the mosquitoes and horseflies are not out in full force yet.
Just off to the right, there is a path leading down to the most perfect little beach (when the river level drops later in the summer).  The path is lined with ferns so you don't even have to bushwhack to start your digging.

 FERNS, FERNS and more FERNS!!

 We tried to collect smaller, shorter ferns with new growth (fiddleheads) rather than ones which have already opened up.  We dug straight down all around and under the root mass; lifted the mass straight out and placed in a bucket to bring home and plant immediately.  Ferns cannot dry out or be exposed to heat for long periods of time, they like a shady and moist environment. 

I will do an update post once everything gets growing!