Frost forecast- time to tidy the garden

We've got frost forecast for Wednesday, so I MUST get out and tidy the tubs, bringing in the fuschia and geraniums that I want to keep for next year.
I'm going to ask if I can keep them in George's greenhouse as he's not using it this year.
By the way- if you're thinking about winter soups not the summer plants are over, you might like to think about using my celeriac recipes. Take a look.

Oh Dear! The deer have eaten the sorrel!

The sorrel was looking fine yesterday/ Today, there are just a few stalks left.

We have a young deer that seems to think anything in our garden is fair game. Until now though , the herbs have been left untouched. Now it seems as if White Moss sorrel is very much to the deer's taste.

Ah well!

I've been neglecting the garden!

Well, apart from feeding the tubs and deadheading everywhere, there is not much to do right now.
The leaves are beginning to fall though, so I know what lies ahead- days of sweeping!

Finally getting out in the garden after the rain

We've had some really cold wet weather here lately, but the last few days have been hot, dry and sunny.
It seems to be too late for some of the busy lizzies, which have given up , just like they did in the rain last year.
The weeds have taken over in the herb garden, so I've started the war on weeds- it will take a few days to get the herb garden looking good again.

Time to get back in the White Moss Herb Garden

The lack of posts about the White Moss Garden reflects my lack of activity in White Moss Garden!
Our son's wedding in Essex on July 24 took us away for 5 days, and on return, the garden has taken a back seat.
I have done one thing though- I've replanted my hanging basket! It had been attacked by snails who had climbed the creeper on the front of White Moss House, Grasmere, launched themselves onto the trailing leaves from the hanging basket, and then munched through the petunias, leaving a gap in the middle of the basket.
Petunias now out, geraniums now in, and slug pellets liberally spread!
I've also taken the time to chop the sweet cicely right back. It will come again this year. Take a look here for more information on sweet cicely. It's a very useful herb for diabetics and others wanting to cut their sugar intake.

Are you growing fresh peppermint?

I grow fresh peppermint in my Grasmere herb garden, and its going mad at the moment. There are so many uses for it though.
If you have lots of fresh peppermint, take a look here for some great ideas

Sorrel, sorrel herb, in White Moss herb garden, Grasmere

Yesterday I took the scissors to the  Sorrel.

Sorrel will quickly bolt and go to seed if it is not kept down.

Make sure that you cut the seeds heads off the sorrel at regular intervals to keep the young fresh leaves coming.
More information about sorrel is on my sorrel squidoo lens, which also features lots of recipes and tips on how to use sorrel.

Do badgers eat wasps? White Moss Grasmere's question of the day

Take a look at my main White Moss House blog for more news on this garden happening overnight!

Beautiful Blue Borage

Here are the borage  photos- it's just coming out, and oddly the first flower was a pink one ( the odd borage flower is pink, and some are white)

More to follow.

Herb report from Whitemoss House garden

After months of dry weather, we've just had 48 hours of rain.

The whole garden looks battered, and some of the herbs look very sad, but they'll revive in no time.

One job that badly needs doing now , is cutting down the Sweet Cicely. It has gone to seed, and has got straggly and rusty looking. I know that if I cut it right down now, I'll have a second crop later.

This is sweet cicely in full bloom, back in May, in the Whitemoss herb garden.

Find out more about Sweet Cicely here.

The Borage is now officially out!

Flowers on the Borage- photo to follow soon!

Beautiful blue borage

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

Parlsey, sage, rosemary and thyme- four of my favourite herbs and the refrain from one of my favourite songs- Scarbrough Fair.
Read all about Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, history and stuff ! It's a great squidoo lens- though I say it myself.
Here's a picture of sage in flower to remind you-

Come on Borage- we need you for the Pimms!

Last year I planted Borage in my herb garden. The beautiful blue flowers add the finishing touch to a Pimms.
However, we are well into the Pimms season, and the Borage still hasn't flowered. I think it's got about another 24 hours to go- watch out for the Pimms 2010 photo- with White Moss Borage- coming soon.
I've written a whole article on Beautiful blue borage- please take a look.

Whitemoss garden- a new blog from White Moss House, Grasmere

White Moss House herb garden , summer 2009

I write so much about my garden and herb garden in various blogs, squidoo,facebook and other places, that I've decided to pull it all together in one blog- here it is!
My first move must be to show off My herb garden on Squidoo.
Please take a look for lots of herbal remedies, herbal recipes, and links to other herb pages.