Just when you think that things will get easier… in nature Spring exemplifies preparing for work in the Summer garden. Summer means more watering, more weeding… bug patrol and in Florida – getting creative about soil amendment and protecting plants from scorching sun.
We are in the tail end of Spring and here in Central Florida with temperatures well into the mid 90’s it already feels like Summer. Here is the view from my kitchen door.
As you can see, the challenge I have in my garden is – I don’t have any canopy to shield my plants from the Florida sun. I only have a beautiful camphor tree in the front of my house that offers a lovely canopy at the South-West side of my house, otherwise even my house is exposed to the rigors of our amazing Florida sun rays.
Yet, I don’t allow these challenges to stop me from having a zenful garden experience.
Outside my kitchen door I have my edible landscape with Ice-Cream finger bananas, sweet potatoes and pineapple. It fills this awkward space rather well. The bananas recovered from our one day frost.
I added this one picture of the chickens, more so because they love the camera.
On the side of the barn I am growing Stupice tomatoes, onions, arugula, cucumbers and culantro (which threw some voluntary seeds over the raised bed and now I have a handful growing on the walkway between my beds – oh and let me add, this is a must herb for any homemade chicken soup!).
Out in the garden near the fence line I have a row of yucca and Flambo bush beans growing together; even though I had amended the soil – I planted the beans next to yucca as a nitrogen fix for the soil. The open area of the garden is flooded with Florida dandelions which I have been harvesting for tea in the afternoon. This season along with watermelon, we will be enjoying papaya-melons ( a first for our garden).
A garden seems complete with sunflowers, so this year I tried a new variety called Sunseed Sunflower. I usually grow the Mammoth variety and am so in love with it, it took self-control to plant this new type. I just love seeing the massive flower heads and gigantic stalks blowing in the garden. The Sunseed variety is way smaller, almost as tall as me and as for the blooms; as you can see – we still need to wait a bit longer before I can share my observations.
Now, on the opposite side of the sunflowers I have a patch of herbs growing: pennyroyal (to cover a sandy area and control a minor ant problem – as far as the ant goes, it seems they don’t like the minty aroma of the pennyroyal), also in this area I have stevia, chamomile and comfrey growing (comfrey is fantastic for compost tea or even as living mulch!).
I would say that this ‘dry’ bird bath represents the middle of my herb garden. In the forefront is our heritage Cilantro which has been grown in our family for over four generations – seed from a seed from a seed. This lovely and dainty herb is wonderful in soups and salads. The seeds can be crushed along with pepper and mustard and other herbs to create a flavorful rub for your meats.
It was not captured in this picture, but around the base of the bird bath I have thyme, lemon balm, tarragon, feverfew and ginger growing. Opposite the coriander I am growing a row of Yarrow (the leaves of yarrow staunches bleeding and is antimicrobial and pain relieving too -it has many other healing qualities and should be in every herb garden).
Out in my open raised beds I have a little bit of this and a little bit of that going on. Five years ago I planted oregano in one of the raised beds and it has made it through every Winter and Summber – it’s definitely a keeper for anyone who wants to see green all year long.
Now as we move into the Summer garden tomatoes and peppers are a must! These are brandy wines and bell peppers. I want to thank Christine Young one of my town friend-folks who gave me a couple of these lovely “pointy Florida peppers”, I am looking forward to report its flavors – looks really cute… right?
Some peoople talk about companion planting – I’d say try it and see how it works. I do grow my tomatoes with ‘friends’ such as basil and borage. These not only enhance the happiness in the garden (it’s just something I have personally noticed)- but it also seems that the smells given off the basil and the texture of the borage do somewhat repel and deter some of the unsavory insects.
I also am growing some yard long beans, sugar snap peas, loose cabbage (and quite surprised it’s doing well given the heat), as well as corn and peanuts (will take pictures next time).
Now for some fruit trees. My nectarines are in the garden and the infamous Florida freeze of 2015 did away with many of my nectarine blossoms yet the little tree managed to save a few for me. Another surprise I found…. after four years our olive bushes have fruit! I keep these out in the side yard, look at these itty bitty olives in the making. On the same side I also have a sand pear tree… and this coming year the tree will be loaded with lots of pears.
Well, as we finish our garden walk… we look back at the barn and notice the gentle swaying of the elderberry tree as if to say… ‘thank you for coming be blessed in all you do’; I share the same sentiment and hope you come back for another garden walk with me.
Daisy Says: Spring – plant seeds of love and hope.
