“God gave us memories that we might have roses in December.” J.M. Barrie
When we lived on acreage I designed, built (with help) and planted a garden after an old Mennonite tradition. Since deer frequented the property, we fenced in an 18’ X 20’ area, bordered the inside fence-line with herb boxes, distributed 4 8’ X 10’ boxes and left a space in the middle where I intended to install a Yucca plant, also referred to as an Adam and Eve plant because it sends two long flowering stalks up the middle.
We used the garden for one season then sold our house and moved. The new house, though lovely in every other respect, could not accommodate a vegetable garden because of its treed surroundings and cool, damp conditions. I planted herbs and they did well in the summer and fall but never really thrived as they would have in their original Mediterranean climate.
One of the criteria for our new house was potential garden space and so within weeks of our return from the great Canadian adventure, we installed 2 raised beds and I planted my very first winter garden. Apparently, the seeds should be in the ground by the beginning of August and since I was a bit late, I trotted off to Marigold Nursery in Duncan and bought winter starters: Arugula, Romaine, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and a few of my favourite herbs; parsley, cilantro, basil, dill, fennel, thyme, oregano and chives. You should see these babies now!
The basil is done and served us well in my new favourite, boccoccini salad and sadly, the dill is at the end of its time but went to good use on oven baked salmon, in French salad and atop toasted cheese and tomato sandwiches. The aromatics we continue to cut for soup fixings along with parsley and the kitchen herbs. Not only that but the birds have come back and love to poke around between the greens and perch on the fence as I entertain them with my weeding. I have not figured out what the attraction is but it’s nice to have their company.
I could talk all day about my garden…did I mention my roses?
Awesome winter garden mom! Now you’ll have to provide for our culinary needs as we are gardenless and you appear to be sprouting out all kinds of goodies!