Living on the edge

Yesterday I planted a raised bed full of annuals.  There’s nothing remarkable about this.  After all, lots of folks are out this spring planting and sprucing up their gardens.  What’s odd is that I’ve never planted annuals before.  You see, I’m more of a perennial gal.  Those reliable perennials come back every year (or stay pretty year-round here in Florida).  They’re low maintenance.  They’re cost-effective. In short, perennials are practical, just like me.

Fortunately, when we planned the re-landscaping project last summer, we worked in two raised beds.  I declared that one would be for herbs and one would be for colorful flowers.  Yes, gasp, annuals!  Well, the landscaping wasn’t finished until August and at that point I just didn’t have the energy to plant the flowers.  The herbs moved in, but the flowers would just have to wait.  So, the second bed sat empty.  For nine months.  But no longer, friends. The flower bed is a riot of yellow, orange, purple and white and I can’t stop looking at it!

Stay tuned for updates coming soon on how this streak of courage is showing up on my workbench.  You’ll see some big-honking-rings made out of copper (from the girl who has never made rings) and a silver necklace made with 28 grams of silver (O.M.G. 28 grams!).  I’m all tingly just thinking about it!

Check out the detail of the Cinnamon Basil flower against a background of Rosemary in the upper left corner.  Those of you who know me well might be asking why someone who rarely cooks needs an herb garden.  Well, as a matter of fact I do cook.  Sometimes. Ok, not very often.  You’ll be happy to know that the cuttings from the herb garden look beautiful in vases scattered throughout my house and they smell divine.  So there.