After the storm, Friday morning mist in the garden.
IN THE FLOWERS
This Week’s Flower Challenge: This week, may we direct your attention to the zinnias?
I (Kayta) have a confession to make: I have been a zinnia hater — in spite of my grandfather planting them faithfully every year to brighten the 15 feet of sidewalk leading up to his porch from his country gravel road; in spite of the wager that each member of my family made every year with our beloved next door neighbor Bernice about what color the first zinnia to open in her garden would be; in spite of zinnias themselves and their unflagging exuberance and profusion. They reminded me in the worst way of crocheted afghans, of cheap plastic toys, of clowns.
At first I grew them dutifully, producing them for the folks that liked them. But after so many years of spending time in their bright company, I can no longer muster any feelings but appreciation and love. Their optimism is infectious; they are generous and long-lasting; and speak of old-fashioned and honest affection. They also reward a closer look with infinite variety and intricacy. This week, we’d like to invite you to spend some extra time with them.
Close up on the Zinnias:
Left column: Have you noticed the incredible diversity of colors, shapes and sizes in our earliest succession of zinnias (on the side of the East garden closest to the strawberry field)? The seeds for this bed are a collection of all the zinnias offered by the amazing independent seed breeder Frank Morton at Wild Garden Seed. While Wild Garden Seed is most known for their fantastic lettuce and salad mix breeding, they bring their playfulness and love of diversity to flowers too. Keep an eye out for peppermint types, with striping and streaking, as well as giants and miniatures.
Middle column: This small patch of zinnias in the front bed just to the right of the picnic table has just started blooming. These are the Queen mix — a recent development in zinnia breeding that’s brought out incredible shades of lime and chartreuse that, in some flowers, flows into pinks or oranges in the outer petals.
Right column: A few of these spectacular Zinderella, or scabiosa-type zinnias, are blooming in the bed below our breadseed poppies (high up in the section of beds to the right of the picnic table). These zinnias have been bred to have enlarged and fluffy disc flowers creating a mound above the petals that’s reminiscent of cupcakes.
IN THE HERBS
Oregano, Marjoram, Thyme, Chives & Garlic Chives, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Chamomile, Tulsi Basil, Purple & Green & Bi-color Shiso (aka Perilla), Mints, Italian Basil, Purple Basil, Thai Basil, Green Coriander, Dill Flowers, Anise Hyssop, Sage, Tarragon, and Vietnamese Cilantro, Culinary Sage, Sorrel, Husk Cherries, Lemongrass.
Herb Spotlight: As we begin to feel fall in the air, it’s easier to imagine the longing we’ll feel for cozy, herbal teas from the garden this winter. Feel free to keep stocking up! The tulsi continues to produce and loves every trimming it gets, and we highly recommend the delicious flavors of lemon balm, lemon grass tops and the beautiful color contributed by calendula flowers in an herbal tea blend.
FAQ
When does the CSA end? Exact dates are TBD, depending on the weather. The flower and herb garden will starting winding down in October and we’ll put her to bed in November. But expect some good blooms all the way til then. The strawberries will usually wrap up a little earlier, producing through the end of September.
If I go away can a friend use my share? Yes! If you’ll be out of town or unable to come pick strawbs and flowers, feel free to send a friend or relative in your stead. Please verbally orient them as to the directions and how things work as we are not always around.
FARMER’S LOG
To Make a Prairie
by Emily Dickinson
To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee —
One clover, and a bee,
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few.
*****
We hope you find some revery this week.
See you in the fields,
David and Kayta
