Saturday, June 02, 2018

Living the Pantry Lifestyle - The Deck Garden


I'm enjoying my deck garden and I'm adding to it when I find flowers or herbs on sale.  The yellow dahlia was a sale item this morning, I stopped by the garden shop on my way home from Aldi's and they were on sale for $4.00.  Finally I had a yellow flower and a beautiful dahlia at that.

The red geraniums had been a hanging basket that went on clearance.  I just clipped the plastic hanging part of it off.  The oval planter was on clearance a couple weeks ago.  I was able to add a lot of color for a small amount of money.

Behind them sits the basil, I'm only growing one pot this year but it is a big one.  It needs to be trimmed and harvested.  I tend to let my basil and mints grow way to much before using them because they are pretty when full like that.

I think this is the largest basil plant I've ever grown in a pot!

I was asked about hummingbirds, the answer is yes!  Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red.  If you notice, most hummingbird feeders are red in color (although you should not dye their water red).  They are attracted to other flowers and scents but they especially like red flowers.

I usually grow bee balm because hummingbirds like it but this year I decided I'd grow mostly herbs I cook with.  The two exceptions are in the photos below...

The pineapple sage always surprises me at how fast it grows.

I grow pineapple sage each year because of its' beauty, the flowers attract hummingbirds (although I live far enough north that sometimes they bloom after the hummingbirds have left), and the leaves smell gorgeous.

The leaves can be used in drinks and on salads and one can use them in flower arrangements. I never have and I should try actually using the leaves this year. Just one teeny tiny start grows into this huge plant.  It will grow much larger than this and I have had to replant it twice already, this is where it will remain.

I'm growing Sweet Annie in a large flowerpot for the first time this year (the pot I usually use for bee balm).  It is one of my favorite scents.  I'm hoping to make a wreath out of it.

Two mints, a tiny basil, and a geranium waiting to bloom again.

 I had an extra red flower so I popped it in with the herbs.

I always grow rosemary, lemon thyme, and English thyme.

I'll add to my deck garden as the budget permits.  Quite a few places have their flowers on sale now.  While not quite as nice as being able to grow veggies in the raised bed garden, it is always good to do something rather than nothing.  :)

9 comments:

Vee said...

It looks beautiful! I love the scent of herbs on the deck and will follow your lead. Do you have rosemary? One of my all-time favorites. My crazy overwintered geranium has taught me that cuttings can be taken and it grows like crazy. I have several new geraniums growing now. I will be looking for some pineapple sage. It looks like a splash of sunlight with your other plants.

Vee said...

I can read...I see that you “always” grow rosemary. And I saw it in the planter with the added red salvia.

Anonymous said...

I accidentally broke off part of a stem of the pineapple sage I had bought this year. I put it in water to root and it did quickly. Planted it and it is now almost as big as the original one. So I broke off another to make a third to give away. :) I never heard of Sweet Annie. Is it only a Northern plant? How is it used? Every year I think spring will not excite me then as the months start too turn toward spring I can't stay inside!! Being out in the air and our beautiful nature is too fun!! Thank you for sharing again Brenda. :-) Sarah

Sandi said...

:-)

Just made a deck garden today...

Great minds think alike!

Love your choice in plants. They are beautiful.

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Lovely! I’m trying to grow lavender this year and a few other things, but we’re getting so much rain I’m not sure how they’ll do!

The yellow dahlia is wonderful!

Florence said...

Beautiful! It inspires me to start a porch garden too. But I would have to choose herbs that do well in a very hot climate.

tealady said...

How very pretty everything looks. The basil plant is huge, it wouldn't last long here hubby and I both love pesto.

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

Very lovely, Brenda, but beware of the Sweet Annie. Many people are allergic to it. I remember a workshop years ago when I was with friends from our herb society and we were making sweet Annie wreaths in a small barn. In about ten minutes we were all sneezing our heads off! How gorgeous your basil is. Mine is still mostly one stalk, though I keep pinching it back to encourage side shoots.

Instagram.com/melissasnotes said...

Beautiful display of all of your plants, herbs and flowers. My geraniums did well with me bringing them inside last year and still growing. Now that they are outside, hopefully we'll get some sunny days to get the red blossoms!