Volunteer Petunia

I was struck with awe when I first saw one bloom on a petunia in my driveway.  Yes, IN the driveway, not in a flower bed.  It was mostly white with fragile purple veins.  The photo is what the petunia has grown into.  I have not watered it.  The source of this petunia is a mystery. I did not plant it.  I have had petunias in pots but not this year and never this color and definitely not in the driveway. Of course, nobody drives over it and the weeds are flourishing around it. This tenacious petunia is amazing to me!  This picture was taken in mid August, after one of the hottest summers Port Orchard, Washington has had in recorded history.

Rosemary Wreath

My rosemary isn't old enough to make a wreath with but a friend brought me an armful so I fashioned this wreath to hang in my kitchen.

Floral wire is relatively inexpensive and can be found on-line, or at craft stores.  When I see it on sale, I usually buy at least three rolls of it.

With a pile of rosemary, a pair of clippers, floral wire, and two hands, you can make this wreath in about 20 minutes.

I cut the rosemary as I was doing the twisting so that I could choose exactly what I wanted as I needed it, but you can precut it and then wind it into a wreath.  I left the end of the wire long but I did wrap it and twist so that it wouldn't fly off.  Then I wound around and around adding rosemary of equal thicknesses as I went.

I will probably leave my wreath plain because it suits me to use bits of it in my cooking, but as it dries and the wire seems a bit baggy, I might tuck a sprig of sage, thyme, or maybe even chamomile.  If you don't need it to be an edible wreath, you could tuck a dried flower here and there under the wire.

Apple Mint Buds

 Apple Mint is tall and majestic in its prime.  When the buds start to open it is ready to harvest.  I allowed these buds to open just a little more than I usually would but they still are not even half way to full bloom.  I fill flat baskets and lay them out in my living room or kitchen until the buds are dry, before storing them. A cup of mint tea made with just buds really packs a wallop so I suggest using 1/2 teaspoon dried herb per cup for your first cup or two of tea.   When I choose to dry the whole plant I usually cut it in half so that it won't be too long to hang in my living room.

Gold Fish Overwintering in a Pond in Kitsap County, Washington

Goldfish are TOUGH!


 These gold fish have survived without fish food in a pond throughout the entire hot summer.  They've actually grown so they are doing better than just surviving.  

This pond has no filter and is not aerated.  Years ago I put some barley in to balance the ecosystem but I believe the fish are alive today because of the lily pads that cover over 75% of this pond.  You can see the pond liner exposed just below the rocks.  The fish are hanging in a shallow spot although the deepest part of this pond might be only three feet.

I haven't fed these fish on purpose in at least four years.  The lily pads are loaded with bugs and there are NO mosquito larvae in this pond.  

A few years ago, I saw baby gold fish that had to have been spawned in the pond.  It is likely that these fish were spawned in this pond.  

I have seen a blue heron visit once in a while and he or she does take a fish or two when they can catch them.

Salal Berries

Gaultheria shallon

Salal is the name I've always known it by. These photos are of the salal growing here on Emerald Aisle Farm.  It is one of the reasons Emerald Aisle is an excellent name for this property.

 Salal berries are edible.  I've been eating them for many years.  You can eat them raw, make them into jam or jelly, juice them and make wine, or simply juice them and drink the juice.