In Giardino

I have been wanting to share my herb garden.  I decided it would be easier to over winter my herbs in pots, so I decided to do a container herb garden.  Plus, the new patio needed some softness and a water feature.  Buddha overlooks my herbs and provides serenity.

The other reason for pots was I wanted to have a couple of mint varieties.  Mint is extremely invasive, so better in pots than my garden.  However, these aren't thriving the way I would like.  I think they need bigger pots and not so much serenity.  The big container has a couple of thyme varieties, creeping rosemary, chives and sage.  A big pot of garlic chives at 11 o'clock, lemonbalm at 7, chocolate mint at 5, basil and lavender at 3, rosemary at 2, and a hot and spicy oregano variety at 1 o'clock.  I had cilantro in there, but it didn't like our hot summer.  

I like being able to enjoy all of these visually, they also deter bugs, and I can use them in my cooking!

I learned from my cilantro mistake and put my parsley in the shade.

Today's tomato harvest, ready for washing and more ripening.

And, here is my garden guardian, our puppy, Chai.  She isn't so much a guardian as she is a helper in the garden, so a nice fence was erected to curb her digging enthusiasm.  This was one of her more serine moments.  She loves laying under our few trees.

On the menu today, an Asian Chicken and Rice Noodle Salad inspired by Buddha and to use some leftover roast chicken.

Until next time,

Ciao!

Birdie in Cucina