Lavender

Lavender

The perfect aromatic perennial garden herb with multi-purpose uses. A top pick for summer freshness and beauty. This herb will grow quite large if planted in the ground and also works well as a potted plant. Plant lavender in full sun.
Several Lavender Recipes from:Union-Tribune Section E4:6/29/13

Lavender Water: 1/4 Cup Dried Blossoms soaked in 8 oz. distilled water for a week and strained is the perfect squirt bottle spray for laundry, sheets, facial refresher. Mixed with a bit of witch hazel or a few drops of lavender oil and refrigerated will help it to keep longer. 
Lavender Sachets: Mix together with hands: 1 Cup Dried Lavender, 1 Cup Dried Rose petals/buds, 2 Tablespoons Cedar chips, 1 teaspoon Nutmeg, 10 Drops Lavender Oil.
Mix all together and place in Cheese cloth or handkerchiefs, use a ribbon to tie the ends.

Zen Fable and Beautiful Dahlia

I heard this Zen fable years ago and came across it again this Sunday morning.
It's a wise fable about judgement. Photographing this Dahlia in my garden today created a symbolic reminder to judge less and enjoy more, judge less and love more. Gardening quiets the mind and nourishes the soul.
 Zen Fable:
There was once a wise old farmer who owned a prize horse. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came over to offer their condolences. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "Maybe," was all the farmer replied. A few days later the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "Maybe," replied the old man again. The following day, the farmer’s son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg. Once again, the neighbors offered their sympathy, saying "How awful." "Maybe," answered the farmer one more time. The day after that, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son of the farmer had a broken leg, they passed him by. The neighbors once again congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “What good fortune,” they said. The farmer replied yet again, “Maybe.”

Agave Queen Victoria

A truly spectacular landscaping plant for the drought tolerant garden

www.gardenandbliss.com

This is an Agave Queen Victoria that grows amazingly well in a dry landscape, ocean theme or xeriscape garden. This is the perfect basketball size slow growing plant that has a delicate painted look to it.
An Agave Queen Victoria can take 20 years to bloom with a 15 foot flowered stalk. The leaves are thick and fleshy-like with a small thorn on the end of each leaf very similar to an artichoke. 

San Diego County Fair 2013

The San Diego County Fair in Del Mar, CA goes  until July 4th. This is the first sign of summer for locals as the Ferris Wheel and Sky Swings decorate the Del Mar Race Track. This was a great week for taking photos. Happy Summer!

when was the last time you shared a banana split? Heaven!

Anything with bacon at the fair

Win a prize and play a game

Traditional Corn on the Cob

Battered artichoke heart with garlic- so yummy

http://pinterest.com/pin/344032859005216432/

Summer Solstice 2013

Happy Summer Solstice today, the longest day of the year and the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. 

This is beautiful day to celebrate light and meditate on light as a symbol of energy both physical and spiritual.

My first Dahlia bloomed today in the garden. Summer is here!

DIY: BEACH CRAFT PLASTER MOLDS

This beach craft was just as much fun for kids as it was for the adults. Great idea for a camping trip or day at the beach. Crowds will begin to form as people who pass by will want to join in the fun!

SUPPLIES: 

Plaster from a craft store: buy several boxes.

Mixing bowl and spoon- or beach bucket

Paint brush for smooth off sand after it dries.

String, shells, dried lavender flowers, or any extra decoration you want to add to the craft.

(Place a string at the top with a loop and allow to dry - it is an instant hanger already attached).

Allow the plaster to completely dry (about 30 minutes) before removing

Create your project in a dense area of sand... near the seashore where the sand is a bit moist.

Create any type of mold in the sand... a flower, a sea start, a handprint, etc.

A Sea Star here with a little lavender flowers placed first

 Here we have a hand print mold

- Dried Lavender Flowers were placed in the mold before pouring plaster

A small bowl, a smiley face and a sea star forms


-create some fun words in the sand and use the saved photo for a future greeting card-

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Sunflower with natural looking heart center

Photo today: Sunflower in my garden with a natural heart center. 

What are the chances of that? I did a double take then ran for my camera!

Circle of Life Gratitude Rocks

My son and I have been collecting "rocks with lines" that we have found on the beach for years. It has been a fun and slow hobby with a lot of fond memories of days at the beach.

Photo for the day- Circle of Life- Gratitude Rocks

June Garden Planting Guide

GARDEN PLANTING GUIDE FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE *SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA*

SUGAR BABY WATERMELON

BEANS- Bush and Pole Types, 

BEETS

CANTALOUPE

CORN

CUCUMBER

LIMA BEANS

OKRA

PEPPERS

PUMPKIN

RADISH

SUMMER SQUASH

SUNFLOWER

SWISS CHARD

TOMATOES

WATERMELON

MY FIRST CUCUMBER THIS SEASON WITH MANY MORE ON THE WAY

Salad Bowl- From Garden to Table

One of the easiest raised planter garden vegetables to grow is lettuce. It sprouts up well in cold weather and in the summer can be planted in shady areas for equal success. Planting lettuce seeds each month provides a continual and fresh harvest. Throw in some nasturtium flowers for a peppery tasting and colorful addition. Growing a variety of different lettuce types will make your dinner salad bowl a gastronomic delight! 

Renee's Seeds

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