One Way or Another

My search through the local garden centers for an organic basil plant was fruitless and we haven’t had time to make the trek to the distant multi-vendor farmers’ market so I bought a packet of organic basil seed. Though I’m getting a late start and the packet instructions say that it will be seventy days until harvest, I’ve decided that it’s better to grow organic (though I confess I gave in on the golden oregano and hope for the best). Perhaps with judicious fertilizing (too much and the flavor disappears), the seedlings will grow quickly. To keep the birds from breakfasting on the seed, I’ve temporarily clustered my mini garden sculptures (aka silly straws) to crowd them out. But then again, they may just use them as handy perches; if so, I’ll pull out my seed packet and plant again.

Venturing Out

I heard it was nice outside so I ventured out. It is! The birds agree. And look what I found—the first Sweet William blossom of the year!

But what is that creature in the foreground of the picture?! Why garden sculpture of course, a.k.a. silly straw. When I saw packs of silly straws at the grocery, I knew they had the right combination of color, translucency, interesting shapes, and sized to fit my small garden—the price was right too! I’ve not heard of this anywhere else. Now you can try it—remember, you saw it here.