Planting Season

It's planting season here. Before clay my one true passion was gardening. I decided to get back into gardening as much as I'm able. Gary set a table up in the back yard so I don't have to bend down and I've started some seeds. Remember the North Georgia candy roaster squash from the farmer's market last year? I saved the seeds and started a few of those. How about the Cherokee black beans I was given? I started those seeds too. I also started some orange ornamental sunflowers called Autumn Beauty.

Gary helped by doing all the inground planting including herbs and perennials. Look at this lavender it's already blooming and it's so fragrant. Did you know I had a lavender farm in California? It was called Springville Lavender Gardens and I've left the blog up for reference so click the link if you'd like to know more.

We put in a few heirloom tomatoes along this wall, Black Crim, Cherokee Purple, Mr. Stripey, and an heirloom yellow. I plan to stake them up against the wall when they get too big. They're already getting flowers.

I also found a tomato I grew in California (photo of those I grew) and have been looking for ever since. It's called Juliet. It's shaped like a roma but smaller and pointed on the end and grows in clusters. It's perfect for salads.

Slice it in half and it stays firm enough to withstand tossing like it did in the unusual Mediterranean Pasta Salad I developed using Juliet tomatoes. I found the Juliet plant seedlings by Bonnie Farms at my local Walmart. I highly recommend this tomato.

 Mother nature planted wild flowers on our back hillside.

Here is the beginning of a perennial flower garden. It doesn't look like much now but hopefully it will fill in with lots of flowers by the middle of summer.

One of the plants in the garden is an ornamental grass, this one is Golden Japanese Forest Grass. Finally I have a glaze load firing. Tomorrow I'm working at the gallery so please stay tuned for the kiln opening. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Meditation Bowls

These mini zen meditation bowls are always a remind to me that there's a lot to see in miniature if I'm observant. These zen meditation bowls are each a little less than two inches in diameter. I like to use the dark brown mottled glaze symbolizing the earth and the blue or cream to symbolize water.

 The cool blue water is something for the eye to gaze upon.

With their diminutive size the meditation bowls can be carried in your pocket or purse and taken wherever you go. If you're feeling stressful, take out your meditation bowl and gaze upon it and let your mind relax and wander.

When I had my lavender farm in California I used my lavender sachets in much the same way for relaxation. If I was feeling stressed I could squeeze a lavender sachet. The lavender essential oil would release into the air and help to relax me. I am reminded using the senses to their fullest makes life much more pleasant.

I just remembered visiting the Arkansas School for the Blind when I lived nearby. In front of the school is a sunken herb garden full of fragrant herbs. I remember walking along the path and at times closing my eyes, listening to the sounds, smelling the fragrant herbs, and rubbing their textures between my fingers. If you have a chance to visit an herb garden please do, or why not grow a few herbs. They bring such joy to me and I'm sure they will to you as well. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.