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Herbin' Renewal ~

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Category: Zuzu's Bloomin' Blog | Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:40 am

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One of the rites of spring, for me,
is my first trip of the year to Meg's herb farm.

Of course, my friend's business has grown over the years
(yes, I'm painfully aware of the bad pun)
and they sell much more than herbs these days,
but that's how she started out, back when I first got the habit,
and so it will always be "the herb farm" to me.

This trip has become something of a pilgrimage.
A gal pal and I get together for brunch first,
honing our appetite for the event over scrambled eggs and coffee,
comparing shopping lists and catching up on each other's news.
Then we pile into the SUV, and drive the 20 or so miles to paradise,
chatting happily along the way, both of us admiring the way
the landscape is coming back to life after winter.
The day is perfect, bright and warm enough for T-shirts.

Now, I want to explain that I really do try
to approach this project with an orderly and organized plan,
I've made a list of things that I think I need,
plants that have performed well in previous years,
which I want to repeat, and others, which have not done so well,
and need to be replaced.

The problem is, I begin to lose interest in "the plan"
before my feet can ever touch the ground.
As my friend brakes to a stop, I'm already scanning the goods.
We both grab our checkbooks and sunglasses and get going.

As I grab the handle of a little rusted Red Flyer wagon,
a "shopping cart" that has seen many seasons of service,
logic falls into a deep coma and something more primal takes over.
There's no use fighting it, I may as well enjoy the ride.

If I were able to divert my attention to the other shoppers,
I'm sure that most of them would have the same glazed eyes
and euphoric grin that I know I am wearing,
I am not alone, I am with kindred spirits, all is well.



Everywhere I turn, there are so many temptations.



Red and green lettuces with flat, ruffled or curly leaves,
countless varieties of mint and thyme,
more types of oregano than I ever knew existed.



The numerous greenhouses are filled with tender treasures
which cannot be exposed to the still chilly nights of mid-March.



Pepper plants and Basils, Nasturtiums, Salvias and even citrus plants,
row upon row, lush and blooming, it truly is overwhelming.







I'll bet you think I spent a ton of cash and overloaded my friend's SUV,
But something sort of strange happened,
maybe I was paralysed by the sheer magnitude of choice.
By the time it was all over and my tab was totalled,
I came away with everything I needed in the way of salad greens,
which were the primary things on that forgotten list of mine.
I also found that I had bought the two Turkish Basil plants I'd wanted,
and I only had a few impulse purchases,
including a Lemon Bergamot that I just couldn't resist.

I'm rather proud of myself . . . considering.

But, that was a couple of days ago, and I have found myself thinking
of making another trip back out there already,
there are a few things I just can't seem to get off my mind.





Anyone feel like brunch and a drive in the country?










Last edited: Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:09 am

This blog entry has been viewed 214 times

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glendann wrote on Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:51 am:

Wish iwas close to you Zuzu sure sound good to me .Your Herb Fam sure sounds and looks like my BoBo's about 40 miles from me :) I go nuts there but I can't resist so many beauties.

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glendann wrote on Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:54 am:

Oh I was in such a daze I forgot to tell you I love the pictures you took and thanks for lrting us view the good time you had.

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zuzu's petals wrote on Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:01 am:

I wish you were close enough, Glenda!
I know we could have a total blast. :-D

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aloes wrote on Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:12 am:

I can related to this blog. I have never been in such a large nursery but I see from the other comments that is the rule not the exception. thanks for the trip

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eileen wrote on Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:49 am:

Hey my keyboard is all wet!!!! I've been drooling over those plants so much that I think I might be dehydrated now!!!! LOL

"As I grab the handle of a little rusted Red Flyer wagon,
a "shopping cart" that has seen many seasons of service,
logic falls into a deep coma and something more primal takes over.
There's no use fighting it, I may as well enjoy the ride."
Oh boy can I relate to that. I always take a list with me and never, ever come away from a garden centre without at least one 'must have,' one 'impulse buy,' one 'but it's the last one,' and one it's 'mine I tell you!!!' I do soooo love being a plantaholic don't you?

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reggaefan wrote on Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:11 am:

WOW sensory overload thanks

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Netty wrote on Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:46 pm:

Thanks for sharing your trip with us Zuzu. I think you showed amazing restraint...I would have had that SUV filled!

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cajunbelle wrote on Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:08 pm:

I agree Netty, very amazing restraint. I sometimes wonder where we get all that restraint from.

Sounds like a lovely time was had ZuZu. What is the plant with the purple and white flower, I would love to find those.

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Gardenstew wrote on Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:29 pm:

Ah the best laid plans of a plantaholic. Sounds like you did remarkably well considering the environment Zuzu. Of course you know we have no real way of knowing that you didn't fill up the SUV, plantaholics are not known for their truth-telling :D Perhaps I'll take up your offer of brunch as see first hand. Do you have any scones?

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zuzu's petals wrote on Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:54 pm:

Mmmmm, scones, that sounds gooood!
I've got a great recipe for Rosemary scones.


". . . plantaholics are not known for their truth-telling"

;-/ Ooooh, busted!
Did I forget to mention the 12 pots of Scotch and Irish moss?
The 'Iron Cross' Oxalis and the Oriental garlic chives?
Whoopsie, my bad. *lol*

I'm sure my oversight doesn't surprise any of you,
*wink, wink* right?
I see you nodding, Eileen.

Sharon the next to last photo is of a sweet little running violet,
Viola hederacea ('Ivy-leaf Violet'),
is that the one you meant?
I'm kicking myself for coming home without any!

Thanks to each of you for your nice words,
as much fun as I had, it's extra added fun
to be able to share it this way.

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katsback wrote on Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:07 pm:

ewwh..aaah..im so there!!

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