Herb Garden is along an added 3 foot extension to garden using weed cloth and mulch growing in large pots

Wild Mint that came from Irene Prevel's garden in Rocky Point in 2015. It's spread over the past 9 yrs.    

Roman Chamomile planted from seed several years ago. 

Perennial chives have been growing in this pot for years. 

Borage - started it late. 

Lemon grass bought from Home Depot and shipped from Alabama,  $16.99

Perennial sage has been growing in this pot for many years. 

Oregano planted from seed several years ago. 

Parsley planted from seed. 2024

                                          Lovage sown in 2023 and came back after long Winter. 

Cleomes

                                                                          Chives
 

Herbs that I grow & Love - CHIVES

                                          

       Picture of potted chives taken June 18, 2024 - flowers are finished & forming seeds 

Chives Plant: A Treasure in Natural Medicine and Beyond

Among the many plants studied by traditional healers and modern scientists, few have garnered as much attention as the Chives Plant.

This perennial herb has played a crucial role in natural medicine for centuries, providing benefits that extend well beyond its common use in the kitchen. Often overlooked, Chives are a versatile and potent plant with a myriad of health advantages.

A Rich History

The use of Chives dates back to ancient times, where it was esteemed for its healing and culinary properties. In traditional European medicine, Chives were employed to treat various ailments, including hypertension, digestive disorders, and respiratory issues. Its popularity persisted through the centuries, with its nutritional value becoming increasingly recognized in contemporary times.

Medicinal Properties

Chives boast a distinctive mix of:

 Allicin, known for its antibacterial and antiviral effects

Vitamin C, which bolsters the immune system and supports skin health

Vitamin K, essential for bone health and proper blood clotting

Folate, vital for overall cellular health and function

Antioxidants, including flavonoids and carotenoids, which help protect against oxidative damage

Surprising Uses

Chives are utilized in:

 Herbal teas and infusions, which aid in digestion and relaxation (Chives leaves are used for tea)

 Skincare products, due to their antioxidant and antibacterial qualities (Chives extracts are used in skincare)

 Gardening, as a natural insect repellent (Chives are planted to ward off pests)

 Culinary adding nutrition and flavor to a wide array of dishes, from soups and salads to garnishes

Growing and Harvesting

Chives are a resilient perennial that flourish in well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Harvest the leaves regularly by cutting them near the base to promote new growth. Chives can be harvested from early spring through late fall.

Chives are a multifaceted and often underestimated plant, providing numerous benefits for our overall health. By learning about its medicinal properties and uses, we can fully appreciate its potential and find new ways to incorporate it into our daily lives.

Chives have finished flowering and flowers are beginning to dry and form seeds. June 18 2024

The American Red Robins have fledged & have the dogwood tree to hide in while the parents find bugs to feed them

 Monday, May 27, 2024 - In my study of Phenology, the American Red Robin sets the stage in my Father, Bill's old white dogwood tree.

The dogwood grows outside my bedroom window and attracts mourning doves, catbirds, sparrows, blue jays, starling, cardinals, crows, and robins. Using binoculars for my failing vision, I get a front row seat to observe the robins every morning.

Their nest was over the driveway in the 100 year old silver maple. I know because every year they use long ribbons from balloons to dangle in the tree from the nest. Nesting: American Robins pair-bond during the breeding season. Both parents build the nest that is made of twigs, mud and lined with dry grass. Sometimes the nest will have string or ribbon that the robins find in the yard (see nest photo). The cup-shaped nests are built in a bush, tree or under the eaves of buildings. The female typically lays two to four light blue eggs. The female incubates the eggs over a two-week period and both parents care for the young. The eggs take around two weeks to hatch and the chicks will fledge when they are about 14 to 16 days old. The female may have two broods a year. The young are born with their eyes shut and first open their eyes around five days after hatching. Most birds actually can fly straight from the nest. There are only a few that are completely unflighted upon fledging. Robins are the main example, they leave the nest as nestlings, but even these nestlings will stick to the branches and wait to land on the ground until they have some flight. Babies leaving the nest is for their safety and health as the Crows from the north property that live in a 100 year old Spruce fly to the south property to attack the robin's nests. I don't like it at all. They eat the eggs. The nests can also have parasites so they abandon it to keep parasites off babies. Through communication between the parents and babies, they meet in my Dad's dogwood where they blend in with the brown gnarly branches and leaves. They've set up a particular spot where babies perch in the same exact spot to wait for parents to find bugs in my veggie garden and fly up to feed them. The babies huddle down and sit quietly until the parents return. I love watching the feedings. But this morning those damn crows flew into the dogwood and landed on the same exact spot where the babies hide waiting to be fed. This worries me. May the American Red Robins survive and remain here always. My grandmother Gill from Camborne, Cornwall, taught me about robins in 1963 when I was 13. So they've been here a very long time.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are the first of the season in late May on Long Island, NY .

 I foolishly did some necessary chores bringing winter things into the attic and 3 trips made me short of breath. But I did get outside to work on clearing out the cut down invasive daylilies that are taking over the north edge of the asparagus and veg garden - even the old compost pile. I dragged one tall can to the front for pick up next week. Anything invasive I don't add to an anerobic pile. I had to sit before even going inside and up the 4 stoop steps.

As I sat, I was gifted with seeing my very first yellow eastern tiger swallowtail flying into the understory of Sassafras I allowed to grow next to the 100 year old maples. They love butterfly bush (Buddleia), Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum), milkweed (Asclepias spp.), phlox (Phlox spp.), ironweed (Vernonia spp.), and lilac (Syringa spp.).

I don't believe in any of this hokey pokey, I believe in the science and data. But it amused me to read: Yellow butterflies symbolize positivity, hope, and transformation. Seeing one might mean good news or big, positive changes are headed your way. Spiritually, a yellow butterfly can symbolize that you're near a spiritual awakening. It might also be a sign that your passed loved ones are thinking of you.

I could use a little hope & positivity these days.

Mid May is time for the property to slowly transition from Early Spring Color then soften to White flowers as the ferocious weeds get ready to overtake.

  May 15, 2024 - a rainy day! 60 degrees. 93% humidity SE winds 8 mph. When we reach mid May, all the early Spring colors are fading or have already faded. Daffodils and tulips are gone. Yellow Forsythias are gone. So are the apricot colored flowering Quince.

Now in the wild hedgerow the Spirea is in full blossom but sadly entwined in invasive Japanese honeysuckle. What an impossible job pulling it out.

Beach plum is in full flower. I've envied the sand dunes along Long Island for having these lovely plants for years, and feeling like a trespasser going there in August to spy on their fruit development and hoping to pinch a few fruits. Now I have my very own that I got from the NYSDEC's Saratoga Nursery.

And Lily of the Valley - a quiet little ground cover that comes and goes quickly but leaves their intoxicating fragrance in your mind, forever.

The white Dogwood lights up the entire north property and speaks of my Father's gardening skills as he grew this from a graft taken on N Broadway at his friend Amy Keller's house. She was his art student.

And everywhere you look are tiny clumps of white Star of Bethlehem determined to divide and conquer the garden beds and seek haven in every nook and cranny.

                       

And let's not forget White Columbine, sure to return every Spring in mid May with glorious bright white nodding flowers.

I've always loved having a white garden because I feel a white flower has much more fragrance than any other. And with sunsets at 8:05 PM tonight, the white flowers just light up every path they find a home to call their own.

May 20th and the Rain are coming down after a drought

 I never finished mowing the north side of the property and seemingly overnight the perennial weeds, and woody vines of invasive weeds have shot up in record time. The grasses will be too high for one mow over them. This is when I find myself walking outside and do nothing more than pull & pull, snip and clip woody vines, hand pull cleavers in flower, rip out honeysuckle, pokeweed, nightshade, mugwort, tall grasses, bindweed, but always forgetting to cut Asiatic bitterseet then brush on a few drops of  Triclopyr, Triethylamine Salt with an artist paintbrush making sure not to spill any on the ground.  Then there's Virginia creeper on the fences, and English Ivy, errrrr. 

Yes Mid May is WEED SEASON.  It always escapes me. And it's the neverending job of chasing it as t always wins in the end. The overwintering chickweed has gone to seed and I'm sure that whatever I rake up is dropping a bazillion seeds. 

 Galinsoga is all over the open garden area even though it was covered all winter.  At least its easy to remove. The dandelions have pretty much shot their load of white balls of seeds on parasols. I tried my best to collect the seed heads. 

Welcome to my nightmare!   Organic gardeners can all relate!!!  

Yellow Sorrel

 

Wild Lettuce can grow up to 10 feet. 

Ribwort Plantain

Purple dead nettle

Red Dead Nettle 

Japanese Knotweed

Invasive honeysuckle

Himalayan Blackberry - very invasive

Pilosella known as mouse-ear hawkweed

Henbit

Hairy Bittercress

Galinsoga

Annual Winter chickweed

Asiatic Bittersweet 

Garlic Mustard

Oh and there are MANY more lurking underground for June, July, August. I feel old just lying in bed watching the rains pour down on the property, and preparing the next set of weeds to germinate. 
~
  

The Love Within when I walk in Nature Surrounded by Mother Nature's Miracles.

https://youtu.be/pY_M-1dntLk

There is love within everything created on this Earth.