April 2006 Newsletter

Ready, set, garden!

I couldn't wait, even though the last date of frost around North Georgia is the end of April. My vegetable garden is plowed, and my new herb gardens are started. This year I redid the herb garden. A good excuse was I had to pull up a couple of lavender plants, and my sage did not come back. I decided to combine two theme gardens, with an old beehive in between to separate them. One is a kitchen garden with chives, oregano, sage, thyme, parsley, cilantro, rosemary, and dill. Basil will come when the weather is warmer. 

If you don't think you have enough space, many of these plants do great in pots. Plant yourself a kitchen garden, and place it on a sunny deck or porch for easy access to the kitchen.

The next garden is a "healing garden" which includes my lemon balm and chamomile, which returned from last year. I am going to plant yarrow, calendula, lavender, clary sage, pineapple mint, St John's Wort, peppermint and a potted aloe plant. If my back and money hold out, I want a lavender garden.  I am developing a new page on my website called Garden Pictures, so look for pictures of my developing garden on the site within the next week. I would love to have pictures of your gardens to post on there too. Just email them to me: Karen@gardenchick.com

Healing Garden Recipes
Taken from Spring 2006 Country Garden Magazine

Calendula Salve

First make a Calendula-Infused Oil. You will need:
Clean 8 ounce glass jar
1 cup fresh calendula petals
1 cup olive or almond oil

In the jar, combine the calendula petals and oil. Set the jar in a sunny window and allow the calendula petal to steep in the oil for one week. Strain the flower oil, pressing the Calendula petals with the back of a spoon to extract as much of the oil as possible, and pour the oil back into the jar. Refrigerate the infused oil and use it within one month.

Next for the Calendula Salve you will need:
1/2 cup shea butter or 1/4 cup beeswax
1 cup Calendula infused oil
3 four-ounce, wide-mouth jars (glass or plastic)

Place either 1/2 cup of shea butter or 1/4 cup beeswax in a glass measuring cup and microwave for 30 second intervals until melted. Add melted shea butter or beeswax to the infused oil, stir to blend, and pour the mixture into sterilized containers. Cover with lids. Allow the salve to solidify overnight before using it and sharing it with friends and family. This is great for minor scrapes and cuts

Calendula: Most people do not think of calendula as an herb, but more as a colorful annual. It has been used for centuries for its antiseptic and wound healing properties. A number of studies have show that calendula has antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties as well.

Growing Calendula is fairly easy. It likes warm soil, so wait until all danger of frost is over. It tolerates a variety of soil conditions but prefers rich, well- drained soil, and will grow in zones 3-10. You can plant seeds or buy plants. Calendula will reseed itself so you will have plenty of plants for next year. There are a number of varieties available, from dwarf varieties around 6 inches tall to the larger varieties, which grow 1-2 feet. Pick the variety best for your landscape.

Harvesting: Pick in the afternoon when the blossoms are newly opened. Picking the blossoms regularly will encourage even more blooms. After you dry the blossoms, pick off the petals, and store them in a cool dry place.

*Note: Calendula is from the ragweed family. Do not use if you have a known allergy to ragweed.

The above information is from the book: Herbal Remedy Gardens by Dorie Byers - (A Storey Book Publication).

COMING IN MAY: GardenChick Garden Remedies including "Can You Dig It" Gardeners Hand Salve.

Until May,

Happy Gardening
- Karen