My "garden" currently consists of plants given to me by my mother that have somehow survived me for all these years. I'm currently working on sheet mulching the front yard, but, as with many things I do, it's taking longer than I think it should. I've got a small raised bed I want to fill with those Mom plants so I have something pretty to look at this summer and then I get to start really planning for next year's plants. So, this is a foundational sort of year. I'm finally tackling several projects that have been many years deferred so that I can have something more lovely in the coming years, and it feels good. Thank you for the recipe. I've been wondering about it. As well as what garlic scapes are!
Liking your garden musings so much! What I took from them is the wisdom of building upon what you HAVE, not bemoaning what you don't. Gardens like Nature are great teachers. My garden is for practical reasons very low maintenance (I need help with everything). But I have a friend with garden plots that I can visit once in a while. Growing things spread their own kind of bounty and joy around. The idea of Harvesting is for me extended to my life, where I daily harvest what I have learnt from my long life. Now, from a position of Healing and Wholeness, I have the enormous privilege of harvesting, of processing and of moving deeper into a loving acceptance free of judgement. Many things were lacking but I learnt as much from what was lacking as from what was there. And I am now building on both.
I decided to grow more medicinal herbs and weeds (shh don't tell them) and made the rookie move of planting too close together and some taller ones blocking sun from lower growing, etc.
But it's so fun interacting with all of them'
Do make the salve. I make them and hand them off to everyone! It's addictive.
I'm contemplating the lemon balm for garlic scape pesto. We have lemon balm in abundance and my second cutting of scapes to make pesto with. Garlic is one of my favorite things to grow — you plant when everything else is dying, you get two crops, and it's easy.
What I have in abundance is arugula (and apparently lemon balm).
So far potatoes seem to be doing well. The row of beans I planted near them don't seem to have been hit by bunnies (yet) (knock wood).
Pinks and purples largely shifted to yellows in the flowering part.
I usually don't do greens in my garlic scape pesto (or nuts), but I'm intrigued (I know arugula is good for pesto two, but my kids don't like it. One has started drinking my arugua-mango smoothies though.
My beans totally failed this year, very few germinated and those that did grow, the slugs ate all the leaves leaving only sad stems, but on the plus side we’ve harvested lots of greens from my new raised bed, built by my brother last summer for my 60th birthday. It’s waist high, easy to weed and harvest and I love it!!❤️ Gardening feeds my soul and that harvest is bountiful! 🌸🌱🥕🥒🥗
"To be fair, my coping method for most problems is to buy more plants." hahaha!
My basil shriveled up and died this year, a tiny little plant. So did all the marigolds I bought. I've been watering them, so no clue what happened. But the tomato plants are sizing up, and we ate asparagus from the garden for the first time this year.
I loved this reflection, Mary. I've gardened here and there over the years, and when I moved to the Southern Hemisphere many moons ago, adjusting to the rhythm of the seasons (and their reversal!) took time. Central Chile is arid and sun-baked in a way that was completely unfamiliar to someone used to the humid green sprawl of the South Central U.S.
Still, your words remind me that no matter the latitude or climate, there’s always something quietly thriving, waiting to be noticed. I’ve learned, sometimes the hard way, that the most rewarding gardens are often the ones that teach us acceptance rather than control. Thank you for this gentle nudge to look for what’s flourishing.
I'm disappointed that when I hired people to come mow and weed whack, even though I was careful to point out my native plants, I lost all my milkweed -- except one plant which had escaped through the fence. They weren't up yet, so I thought they would survive mowing. I was wrong. I will plant more this fall, but we had our first Monarch butterfly last year (3 years waiting), so I fear it will be a long time before I have Monarchs in my garden again.
That is really sad Sandra. I feel your pain though not as acutely. We got an ac unit installed for our upper level - and they squashed two plants I had cultivated, one from seed and one from a neighbor saying they thought they were weeds. Nurse that one little plant. 🌱
Great minds think alike! Love all of this, especially your version of a recipe which has fed many a family member and potluck party goer in my life. Scapes also last FOREVER in the fridge. Ask me how I know. 😅 Thanks, Mary.
My "garden" currently consists of plants given to me by my mother that have somehow survived me for all these years. I'm currently working on sheet mulching the front yard, but, as with many things I do, it's taking longer than I think it should. I've got a small raised bed I want to fill with those Mom plants so I have something pretty to look at this summer and then I get to start really planning for next year's plants. So, this is a foundational sort of year. I'm finally tackling several projects that have been many years deferred so that I can have something more lovely in the coming years, and it feels good. Thank you for the recipe. I've been wondering about it. As well as what garlic scapes are!
That’s so beautiful Sumi! Good for you! This post explains garlic scapes more. https://open.substack.com/pub/pocketfulofprose/p/garlic?r=qqbxq&utm_medium=ios Also, we should get together this summer.
Liking your garden musings so much! What I took from them is the wisdom of building upon what you HAVE, not bemoaning what you don't. Gardens like Nature are great teachers. My garden is for practical reasons very low maintenance (I need help with everything). But I have a friend with garden plots that I can visit once in a while. Growing things spread their own kind of bounty and joy around. The idea of Harvesting is for me extended to my life, where I daily harvest what I have learnt from my long life. Now, from a position of Healing and Wholeness, I have the enormous privilege of harvesting, of processing and of moving deeper into a loving acceptance free of judgement. Many things were lacking but I learnt as much from what was lacking as from what was there. And I am now building on both.
Beautiful. Thank you so much for reading and sharing your wisdom here
I love this Mary. May we all love what we have rather trying to always have more.
What are garlic scapes and lemon balm? Are you growing these?
lol. I should probably explain that in my revision. I do have both of those in my yard. I can share lemon balm with you. 🥰
I decided to grow more medicinal herbs and weeds (shh don't tell them) and made the rookie move of planting too close together and some taller ones blocking sun from lower growing, etc.
But it's so fun interacting with all of them'
Do make the salve. I make them and hand them off to everyone! It's addictive.
The recipe looks delicious! Thanks 😊
I hate thinning plants out so I feel this. I’m so glad you are enjoying your plants.
I'm contemplating the lemon balm for garlic scape pesto. We have lemon balm in abundance and my second cutting of scapes to make pesto with. Garlic is one of my favorite things to grow — you plant when everything else is dying, you get two crops, and it's easy.
What I have in abundance is arugula (and apparently lemon balm).
So far potatoes seem to be doing well. The row of beans I planted near them don't seem to have been hit by bunnies (yet) (knock wood).
Pinks and purples largely shifted to yellows in the flowering part.
I like to use the lemon balm as I have loads of it and it allows me to save the basil for pesto I put on pasta.
I usually don't do greens in my garlic scape pesto (or nuts), but I'm intrigued (I know arugula is good for pesto two, but my kids don't like it. One has started drinking my arugua-mango smoothies though.
My beans totally failed this year, very few germinated and those that did grow, the slugs ate all the leaves leaving only sad stems, but on the plus side we’ve harvested lots of greens from my new raised bed, built by my brother last summer for my 60th birthday. It’s waist high, easy to weed and harvest and I love it!!❤️ Gardening feeds my soul and that harvest is bountiful! 🌸🌱🥕🥒🥗
Yes! I agree with how gardening fills the soul cup. I love waist high beds and hope to have one someday! Enjoy!
"To be fair, my coping method for most problems is to buy more plants." hahaha!
My basil shriveled up and died this year, a tiny little plant. So did all the marigolds I bought. I've been watering them, so no clue what happened. But the tomato plants are sizing up, and we ate asparagus from the garden for the first time this year.
Congrats on the asparagus. I tried almost two decades ago and then, we moved. I never tried again. Spring asparagus is so delicious.
I loved this reflection, Mary. I've gardened here and there over the years, and when I moved to the Southern Hemisphere many moons ago, adjusting to the rhythm of the seasons (and their reversal!) took time. Central Chile is arid and sun-baked in a way that was completely unfamiliar to someone used to the humid green sprawl of the South Central U.S.
Still, your words remind me that no matter the latitude or climate, there’s always something quietly thriving, waiting to be noticed. I’ve learned, sometimes the hard way, that the most rewarding gardens are often the ones that teach us acceptance rather than control. Thank you for this gentle nudge to look for what’s flourishing.
Acceptance vs control feels key! So glad you are here!
Thank you Mary… likewise! 🤗
I'm disappointed that when I hired people to come mow and weed whack, even though I was careful to point out my native plants, I lost all my milkweed -- except one plant which had escaped through the fence. They weren't up yet, so I thought they would survive mowing. I was wrong. I will plant more this fall, but we had our first Monarch butterfly last year (3 years waiting), so I fear it will be a long time before I have Monarchs in my garden again.
That is really sad Sandra. I feel your pain though not as acutely. We got an ac unit installed for our upper level - and they squashed two plants I had cultivated, one from seed and one from a neighbor saying they thought they were weeds. Nurse that one little plant. 🌱
Oh I will. I'm sorry you lost your two as well.
Great minds think alike! Love all of this, especially your version of a recipe which has fed many a family member and potluck party goer in my life. Scapes also last FOREVER in the fridge. Ask me how I know. 😅 Thanks, Mary.