Gardens are magical havens of creativity

I always envision my garden first. Personally I like lots of variation and color and I prefer perennials with a splash of annuals to fill in the color palette as needed. I love selecting flowers and plantings that bloom at different times so there is always something new coming to life as something peters out. I especially appreciate the early morning in my garden, when it is not too hot yet, and I can water and weed and enjoy the light sun upon me. It is a time when I empty my mind of daily “stuff” and truly abide with nature. Yes, this is meditation. 

This year, because my herb garden, (started by my beloved husband Dan, and now in his honor and memory continued by me) is so plentiful, I decided to make cooking and bathing infusions. The lavender smells so gorgeous and I will use the infusion I made of simply lavender and olive oil for my bath. Basil and garlic or lemon thyme and red sea salt are wonderful ideas for cooking infusions. I have also used beets that I am pickling in apple cider vinegar with spices of cinnamon and cloves and green beans pickled with home-grown dill, mustard seeds and garlic that I will use when serving Bloody Mary’s and in other ways.