It’s getting warm enough now that the garden needs regular irrigating. Any seedlings like corn, beans, and squash need moisture everyday. The young plants like the tomatoes and peppers need water about every other day. The established plants like strawberries let me know when they are thirsty. I’m backing off on watering the onions and garlic as harvest time approaches. The trees are irrigated only if the moisture meter indicates that’s necessary. It’s remarkable how dry the surface can be while just below the surface the soil is moist. The same goes for the camellias. Too much water isn’t a good thing.
Herbs only need occasional irrigating and are some of the easiest plants to grow in the garden. Lavender is one of my favorites. The scent is so clean and fresh. Whenever I go to the drug store I try to remember to clean the shelves of the Yardley English Lavender Soap. I haven’t been able to find any other soap that has a better lavender scent than Yardley’s. The soap is stored in my armoire with linens. Last year’s lavender harvest needs to be stripped from the stems and stuffed in some little cloth sacks to make potpourris. Those are used to keep moths out of woolens and to scent undies.
Lavender only needs minimal water once it’s established. Perfect for a water wise garden.
Isn’t it strange that English Lavender grows in drought conditions but it’s from England where rain is plentiful?
3 comments:
Lavender---another must have in the garden. Mine is just starting to grow back now, I wish I could grow the Spanish lavenders in my zone.
Ah, but really, lavender is grown in the South of France, which is really very similar to California. The variety we grow (and I'm sure you do to) called Provence is a great example.
How it came to be so closely identified with England I don't know.
I find that the variety called Spanish lavender, with the ferny leaves and the flowers with winged tops, self-seed in my garden and are like weeds (nice weeds, though).
Hooray for lavender!
Beautiful picture! My lavender starts are only about an inch tall.
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