Spring Things
Spring is one of my favorite times of year in the South. We have a few weeks of blissfully warm temperatures, dry air and sunshine before the humidity and heat settles in.
This is when Mother Nature really shows off with blooming dogwoods, azaleas, camelias and green leaves overnight. It’s also my favorite time of year because…it means planting days! (It’s also when we have weeks of yellow pollen dust covering everything, but we won’t talk about that.)
Every year, I look forward to that trip to Home Depot to load up on potting soil, flowers, ferns and herbs. It brings me immense pleasure to “play in the dirt” for a couple of days, creating color and texture and flavor in my yard for the long, hot days of summer ahead. It’s kind of like painting, and each year, I get to blank canvas to choose what my painting will look like.
This year, for my two big porch pots, I chose Calliope Geraniums with blooms of hot pink and red along with pink Wave petunias and a tri-color sweet potato vine for some added variety. In two other pots, I put pink/yellow lantana and some lavender. (The door wreaths are courtesy of Kirkland’s spring collection, and I love the bright pop with the pink flowers!)
For Mother’s Day a few years ago, I received an amazing whiskey barrel planter (it smelled like Jack Daniel’s when I first got it!) and LOVE to have gorgeous color in it each year. I’ve battled the deer for two years with beautiful red geraniums, so this year, I am trying some lovely purple salvia instead. Fingers crossed those buggers stay away. (Please disregard the slightly droopy leaves…it was mid-afternoon full sun when I took that picture. They will perk up by early evening!)
Also this year, I’m trying a standing raised cedar box for an official herb garden. For years I’ve grown basil, thyme and rosemary in pots, but this year, I’m trying a bit of a formal “garden” and adding oregano, dill cilantro, parsley and mint to the mix.
This may be a bit overzealous, but I love fresh herbs. (And these days, that’s a savings of at least $15 a grocery store visit!)
I’m dreaming of all the recipes I could make with these delights…caprese salad, mojitos, herbed chicken salad, rosemary skewers, salsas…even just adding fresh herbs to scrambled eggs makes them taste gourmet!
Oh spring, I heart you. (And a warning to the deer in my yard: STAY AWAY!)
