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Gleanings from Bowershire Cottage...

Seasonal Notes from Theresa's Garden Journal

Summer 2003

Many years ago, after a trip to the English countryside, I decided to name my home. I loved how the English named their property, giving it a sense of belonging and an impression of importance. It seemed that something as simple as a name, gave a home a history and a feeling of endurance, as though it had been there for many generations. And if the name was chosen carefully, it turned an ordinary house and property into a charming home and garden. I wanted that for my little piece of the world.

I decided to name my home and garden “Bowershire Cottage”. It was an English sounding name that I made up. I combined the name of a cute little bird called the “bower bird” with the term “Shire”, which means “a subdivision or county”. The bower bird has the endearing habit of decorating its home (a bower) with little treasures and trinkets it finds in the area. It is especially partial to blue items, my favorite color. I thought it was a perfect name and sounded very British.

My Garden

I garden in a small oceanside town in Southern California that has the benefit of warm, dry weather all year round. This allows us to grow flowers, herbs and vegetables even in the dead of winter because our nighttime temperatures rarely drop below 40 degrees. We have no snow or frost and little rain. This may sound wonderful, but there is a downside. The fact is that our beautiful weather never gives us a break from gardening. Oh, I know it is not a teary-eyed tale of woe, but it is a consideration and I think the reason that so many Southern Californians do not garden.

I am sure that some gardeners would envy my ability to pick fresh roses at Christmas time, but I envy others ability to stop gardening and reflect on the growing year. I guess we all have something we want, right? (The grass is always greener…etc.) But I really do believe reflection is an important element in good gardening. It gives the gardener time to regroup, design, rest and think about the next round. A gardener needs to reflect on how they can make the garden better, what worked and what did not and what new challenges they would like to try in the upcoming growing season. Unfortunately, due to my constant, round-the-clock gardening schedule, I do not get the opportunity to do this type of reflection. That makes for hasty decisions and the worst of garden ailments: “burn out”. I do my best to steal a few weekends here and there to stop and “smell the lavender”, but those times seem far and few between. Most of the time I am gardening by the seat of my pants and trying to reflect at the same time!

I grow herbs, flowers and some vegetables in my garden. I do my best to garden organically and responsibly. I compost, I recycle and I try to avoid chemicals whenever possible. In Los Angeles, land is at a premium. So my garden is extremely small. This has forced me to learn creative ways to pack as many plants as possible in a small space. I have window boxes, hanging baskets and potted herbs tucked throughout the garden space. I try to create little vignettes in my garden; small areas of interest that catch the eye. I have a few water fountains made from old garden tools and pots and little whimsical surprises hidden throughout the garden. I love my garden and enjoy my time working in it. But the best time is first thing in the morning when the hummingbirds are exploring the salvias and the bumble bees are just waking up to come visit my sunflowers.

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Summer 2003

We are currently in the middle of a re-landscape project at our home. We are about to remodel the front of our house, which means that the front cottage garden has been potted up and is waiting for replanting. I hope to replant this fall.

The backyard is also in the middle of a redesign. This year, I gave up 1/3 of my herb/flower garden to accommodate a new play area for my two growing boys (currently 4 and 2 years old). I made sure to leave space in their play area for them to grow their own herbs, flowers and vegetables. They currently have tomatoes, sunflowers and carrots there. We are also building new walls around the perimeter of our property. So, at the moment, our entire backyard is in a shambles! My herb garden is almost entirely in pots. I can’t wait to get them back into the ground. Luckily, I am not new to container gardening and know how to keep all these potted herbs alive until we replant. I was a renter for many years before be bought this home and have learned a few tricks along the way. If you have been thinking about having a container herb garden, I have few tips for you.

The first is to feed, feed, feed. Constant watering can quickly drain the nutrients out of your containers, leaving the plants with nothing to live on. Before you know it, (usually less than one season), your plant will turn yellow, listless or will just up and die! I try to feed my container herbs at least once a month and will sometimes try for every other week during the growing season. Fish emulsion if my food of choice. It is stinky but really is an excellent organic fertilizer.

The second tip is to be sure to place your potted herb in an appropriate location. Be sure that it will receive the correct amount of light and protect it from strong wind. Potted plants need to be watched a bit more closely because they do not have the advantage of a deep root system and are therefore more susceptible to the elements.

Thirdly, be sure to water regularly. Unlike plants living in the ground, potted herbs cannot seek out water during a drought. You must decide how much water they require and stick to a watering schedule. If you live in a dry climate, like I do, you may want to consider adding a water-saving polymer to your potting mix. The polymer absorbs water and retains it in the soil. It can store up to 200 times its weight in water and then releases 95 % of it back into the soil.

One potted herb that is currently looking quite lovely is my borage plant. Borage (Borago officinalis) is an annual that has thick, hairy stalks and clusters of bright blue, star-shaped flowers. Each flower has a black center and is very pretty. Borage flowers are fully edible and make great garnishes in salad, desserts, and beverages. Borage is extremely easy to grow from seed and will usually self-sow all over the garden. But don’t worry, unwanted plants are easy to pull out. Borage will tolerate even dry, poor soil and prefers full sun. It will grow to 2 feet in poor soil or up to 4 feet in rich soil.

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Inspiring you to enjoy the fragrance, flavors, and beauty of herbs and flowers in your home.