I have an over full plate this summer....too much going on to get into any big gardening or herbal projects, but it hasn't stopped me from doing the  little things that keep herbs in the forefront. We are finding lots to eat out of the garden already......all manner of salad greens and dark green leafies, broccoli, parsnips, strawberries (wild and tame). Until the beans come in to provide some proteins, I still have to supplement....but I am putting rose petals in our milk and butter (rose petal butter tastes glorious on warm biscuits!). *There are some great rose petal recipes in this month's ESSENTIAL HERBAL magazine.  I add lemon balm and berries to cottage cheese or plain yogurt or smoothies .........

      This first day of summer is HOT!!!  

But, now, we can revel in all  that makes summer special....tall, cool glasses of Lemon Balm Ade, fresh, raw salads with nasturtium, viola, borage and mallow  flowers, daily harvests from the garden and fields of foods and  medicines and shady places to sit and read herb magazines.     

Last night, the faeries had a party in my grandson's garden and we offered herbs and foods to the bonfire in thanks for the bounty this place offers us year after year. Today,  is simply,  to enjoy. 

  This may be my favorite holiday...sweet foods, a bonfire, harvesting herbs...and faeries!!! Who could ask for more? I have  always celebrated with the  faeries--whether their were kids in my house or not. My grandson isn't sure he really believes in them, but is willing to entertain the thought and has fun setting up the space  in his garden where they may have their Midsummer's Eve  party.  After he gets home from school today, we will prepare some fruits, cookies, honey and raisins, collect wild rose and peony petals and scatter them all over the walkway of his garden.  Then, we'll pick St. John's wort (a traditional Midsummer plant) and other favorites like .........

  Though there are everyday annoyances and the inevitable family issues...nothing much is going on or getting accomplished today................but, today is BEAUTIFUL....for no other reason than that the Peonies and Wild Roses are in full bloom and the air is filled with  glorious scents!!

   In this very fickle weather, herb harvesting has been a real challenge. Under ideal circumstances, harvesting is done on a sunny day--hopefully at least one day AFTER a rain, before noon. Can't remember too many days like that this year! For my medicinal herbs--I always pick under those conditions, but for foods or crafts, I will be a bit more lenient. This coming week promises to be perfect, so all my energy will be in harvesting, drying, tincturing, oils and vinegars--where I literally pick and take plants to my drying  shed porch, process them however they are to be used, within minutes.  

My grandson has become my herb bundle labeler and  hanger upper. "Many hands make quick .........

              "Compost is best aged like a fine wine" ~ Anon.  

  Competing with family obligations, weather and self-imposed limitations/deadlines, has made this spring very frustrating....but I almost have everything under control.....at least, that's what I let myself believe. We never can truly control our small ............