A Weekend at the Farm 07/17-18/10

Max, Blake, and Josh at the Lakehouse for Josh Hamilton's birthday.

It's getting unbearably hot at the farm.

Deadheaded my roses.

Weeded everywhere.

Staked lots of zinnias.

Moved some evergreen violas from a neglected garden into the Shade Garden.

I planted some new herbs in my Infinity Garden (where my medicinal herbs are located). I found some good ones! I found some others that I didn't acquire and I'm mad at myself for passing them up: Henna, Lemongrass and Roselle. Damn!

• Aztec Sweet Herb - Used by the Aztecs to treat coughs, colds, and other lung ailments. Leaves are 1000 times sweeter than sugar, but they contain too much camphor to be a sugar substitute. The fresh leaves can be eaten like candy or added to fruit salad, however they may be toxic to young children.
• Jerusalem Artichoke - is an edible tuber. They are an important source of fructose for the industry. They are used widely in Germany to make a liquor called Topinambur. High in potassium and iron. Best eaten steamed or raw, they get mushy if they are boiled.
• Germander - It used to be used to treat gout , but now it is used exclusivly as an ornamental, evergreen sub-shrub. Pretty grayish color.
• Winter Savory - Savory is a diuretic and said to be good for respiratory problems. Chew the leaves or add to food as seasoning. It is an excellent seasoning in beans. The flowers attract bees. The foliage is dark green and lacy.

Other herbs (I've collected quite a lot of wonderfully useful plants) in my medicinal garden include:

• Toothache plant
• Vick's Plant
• Lavender
• Sorrel
• Foxglove
• St. John's Wort (2 varieties)
• Gotu Kola
• Wormwood
• Pennyroyal
• Yarrow
• Daylilies
• Violas
• Sweet Myrtle
• Nicotiana
• Thyme
• Tansy
• Mexican Mint Marigold
• Hyssop
• Peppers
• Parsley
• Stevia
• Scented Geraniums
• Sage
• Mallow
• Lime Balm
• Rosemary
• Santolino
• Lamb's Ear
• Horehound
• Goldenrod
• Bay
• Bouncing Bet
• Mint
• Bee Balm
• Aloe Vera
• Curry
• Echinacea
• Catmint
• Chicory
• Fennel
• Garlic
• Pleurisy Root
• Borage
• Basil
• Lemon Tree
• Feverfew