Begin Again

My oregano plants used to winter-over outdoors well and sprout new growth from the roots as long as I kept them watered. The last two years have been an exception; this year I found that the roots were as dead as the stems. So if I wanted fresh oregano (I enjoy it on open-faced avocado sandwiches and it’s my husband’s favorite herb for cooking), I’d have to buy a new one.


I enjoyed the yellow-green color of last year’s Golden Oregano so I bought another one this year. I brought it indoors during last week’s cold snap since it was newly planted and the garden center had it in a sheltered space. Oregano can dry out quickly indoors but it’s fine. I’m looking forward to lots of oregano-seasoned avocado sandwiches this summer!

Mystery Solved

Alas, the seedlings I had hoped were new beginnings for my golden oregano were wildflowers of the weed sort. Now they’re gone to make room for the good stuff.



Life is too short and space too small to hang on to imposters whether in plants or beliefs.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV).

Time Will Tell

Oregano plants sometimes come back in the spring if they get enough water throughout the winter. Though the cold outdoor weather turns the once bountiful stems into brown sticks overwintering outdoors usually works better than bringing them in since indoor air is too dry.

I always leave some of the dead stems in place to remind me to water and that there are live roots beneath. New growth comes from the roots but I was excited to find lots of tiny seedlings in its pot; wow, I could have a superabundance of oregano—my husband’s favorite cooking herb! But…were they really oregano? I didn’t want to declare anything to you if I wasn’t positive so I searched internet images of oregano seedlings and unfortunately they don’t match very well. They may be the interloping tiny white wildflower I found in another pot—but why such an abundance in the oregano pot and only one other? Time will tell.

Late Sleepers

I hadn’t had to cover the garden for a couple weeks but last night’s cold told me it was time. It’s usually a hassle to take everything down and cover it but this time, experience made it go quickly.

Since the temperature was to be only in the mid-30’s at 7 am, I left them covered until it warmed more, so they got to “sleep in." The sun doesn’t make its way over the roof to the garden until early afternoon.

I’ll have to bring more plants indoors soon—the ones that will last the winter in furnace-dry air. I’ve tried bringing oregano in, but it gets too dry; it has a better survival rate outdoors. I’ll need to plan a space for each plant that meets its needs for light and my need for it to fit in with the décor; I prefer to not have plants bunched up by a window without design.


I always bring the bougainvillea in. I just found some tiny beginnings of blossoms (bracts)! Bougainvillea’s space has been taken up by books during the summer as most any space in our home may well be. Oh well, it’s time to sort through the bookcases anyway. I used to buy books without knowing much about them; now I’m a lot more selective.

Pressed Down, Shaken Together & Overflowing

A friend asked if I grow herbs. Always. They’re easy enough and I enjoy them on my avocado sandwiches. I grow basil, chives, pineapple sage (this year I found some!) and oregano. When I mentioned oregano, my friend exclaimed, “Oh, that can sure take over!” The picture here of my Golden Oregano confirms its abundance. In a pot, however, that exuberance is “contained”.

Mexican Petunias can also turn up most anywhere if planted in a flowerbed. I don’t know if it spreads underground or by prolific seeding. My potted one has better manners--yet another benefit of container gardening.

Another Fleeting Beauty

At last! My Mexican Petunia has bloomed at last! The blooms only last a day and the delicate petals are already shriveling but they’re pretty, especially when a plant is covered with them. Happily, there are more on the way.

The plants didn’t seem to “feel” the earthquake but apparently the water main did…it’s broken again. At least the plants got their water since we fill jugs with faucet overflow—I rarely use water straight from the faucet for the plants, which benefits both the environment and our budget.

The Mexican Petunia has competition from the red hibiscus today. Thankfully, the glamorous hibiscus lasts longer. However, contrasts are unfair as they each have their own beauty, doing what they were created to do.

Always a Gardener

I’ve always been a gardener—from the first paper-cup-of-dirt-with-a-seed-in-it school project to being surrounded by my grandmother’s flower gardens to my own first garden made by my dad in halves of an oil drum to my garden on the go in my many homes. I love the color of a garden, the shapes. Tending it and watching it grow. I love the surprise of discovery when something new pops up—whether expected or unexpected.

This is one corner of my current “tree house garden” on our balcony.