A Wild Garden

The weather has been wet, and I have been 'under the weather' with a little head cold, so I have not ventured out in days. 

But the rain has finally tapered off, and I felt well enough to take a little walk about. 

Come along and we will see what is blooming and growing in this wilderness garden. 

The Big Leaf Maple are setting their winged seed pods already. This is a major food source for birds, chipmunks, and our native Douglas and Gray Squirrels. We also have Flying Squirrels, which are nocturnal. 

Once, The Mr. claimed he saw a squirrel 'fly' across a clearing and we all laughed at him.

We asked him if he also saw 'Bullwinkle'.  

We teased him until the cat caught one and brought it up on the deck by the scruff of it's poor little neck. 

I saved it and he scampered unharmed onto the window frame where he sat with large frightened eyes for a very long time. 

We named him Rocky. 

The Mr. started calling me 'Natasha'. 

So I called him 'Snidely Whiplash'. 

Sorry, all you younger folks who don't remember 'The Rocky and Bullwinkle' cartoon!

Back to our stroll.....

Along the front of the tool shed, the Columbine are finishing their bloom and starting to set seed pods, too. 

Sweet William is just now starting to bud in long, wispy bracts. 

Tansy and Nettle grow alongside wild Buttercup (which is poisonous). 

I grow Tansy for insect repellent sachets. 

Nettle is rich in vitamins and minerals. 

I dry the leaves just before flowering to make a nutritious tea mixed with flavorful mint. 

I always wear gloves to handle this herb.

White Silene blooms on cloudy days and in the evenings. 

For a long time I couldn't figure out how it was pollinated as it would close up during sunshine. 

Then I realized it was pollinated by moths! 

These have large rattling seed pods in the fall. 

Plantain sends it's decorative flower wands skyward. 

This is a beneficial herb used in salves for soothing minor skin disorders. 

Dandelion is also welcome in my wild garden. This is also a beneficial herb that is good for cleansing the liver and used as a diuretic. The young leaves are best and can be used in salads as long as you use no pesticides or herbicides.

All parts of this plant are beneficial, including the root.  

The flowers are also good to make wine. 

The Forget Me Not are finishing up their bloom time. This one has been growing in the alkaline soil around some old cement steps. Like Hydrangea, the blue has turned to pink in the alkaline conditions. 

Delicate pink blossoms of Herb Robert grow in profusion in my wild garden.

Another beneficial herb, the crushed fresh leaves can be used as a compress for healing wounds and skin disorders.  

These are favorite nectar flowers of our native bumble bees. 

Western Blackberry trails along the forest floor with tiny white flowers. 

Another native berry, 'Ghost Bramble' has the sweetest black raspberries on pale bluish 'ghostly' stems. 

I have encouraged these along the edge of my herb garden and they are just now setting fruit. 

Lavender is tricky to grow in my wet climate, so I grow it in a whiskey barrel with plenty of sandy soil in a Southern exposure on the edge of my deck. I love its gray foliage. 

I grow all of my herbs in whiskey barrels for the drainage they thrive in. 

Here Purple Sage and Golden Oregano compliment each other along the base of my deck. 

Top heavy Chive Blossoms fell in our recent rains. 

Time to make a lovely Chive Blossom salad! 

Bordering my Himalayan Blackberry patch, I have Snowball Bush forming a large hedge. 

I have my clippers handy to cut a bouquet. 

A lovely reward at the end of our stroll. 

Blue canning jar vases, hand painted tole tray and vintage sugar bowl on an embroidered runner; all thrift store finds. 

With two special blooms for my Dear Mother's hand blown, blue glass creamer. 

Sweet and Simple Pleasures. 

I hope you have enjoyed coming along with me in my wild, wilderness garden. 

Friends are Flowers in Life's Garden

xoxo

I hope you have a lovely weekend! 

Linking with:

Fishtail Cottage Garden Party