Hibiscus in July

We have had an unusual hot and dry month of June. It is July 5 and we have had one good rainfall in the past 30 days. Our hibiscus sabdariffa (Roselle) plants are growing, but we have only harvested one calyx from the plant from Horizon Herbs. None of these seedlings have produced fruit yet, neither.

The Roselle plant from Southern University was slower to flower, but it is now beginning to set many fruit. This plant was chosen by them because of its ability to grow nicely here in Southern Louisiana gardens.

Busy Birdfeeder

It has been very hot here in Louisiana and very dry. Right out of our large kitchen window, we have a bird feeder in a small courtyard, filled with cracked sunflower chips. Yesterday was busy, as usual, with the birds and we took some photos through our new insulated windows.

First Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower

The first flower has opened this morning. One picture has a quarter next to it to help show the bloom size.

Hibiscus Sabdariffa

We have many beautiful hibiscus plants growing here in South Louisiana, but I have had an interest in the type of hibiscus that is used in teas and herbal products. It is called Hibiscus Sabdariffa and grows in zones 9 and 10. Many parts of the plant are used in cooking, but the fleshy red calyces are the most popular. They are used fresh for making wine, juice, jam, jelly, syrup. gelatin, pudding, cakes, ice cream and flavors and also dried and brewed into tea, spice, and used for pies, sauces, tarts, and other desserts.

A workshop was recently given by Southern University on growing and using the wonderful Hibiscus Sabdariffa and each person was given a plant. Before this, I had ordered a plant and seeds from Horizon Herbs. Both plants are growing nicely, but there is a slight difference in the leaf shapes. We planted the seeds, and they almost all grew, so we have high hopes of a very nice harvest!

Hibiscus Sabdariffa (Horizon Herbs)

Hibiscus Sabdariffa (Southern Univ.)

A flat of our seedlings.

Monarch Butterflies

This morning I was out in the herb garden checking on my plants with my three year old grandson. He called his mom and was so excited about what he found. Attached to a branch of my flowering rosemary plant was a Monarch butterfly cocoon or chrysalis. It looked like a beautiful jewel in the garden.

His mom noticed that very close to rosemary was a milkweed plant with more Monarch butterfly larva lunching on it.

We explained to him how the butterfly lays its eggs on the milk weed. The eggs soon hatch into caterpillars and these caterpillars are very small, but they eat the milkweed and grow.

It doesn't take long before the caterpillars mature and they attach themselves to a twig and enter the next stage called the chrysalis or cocoon. It is in this cocoon where the larva undergoes metamorphosis. From the chrysalis emerges the beautiful young butterfly.

I look forward to sharing these photos and this story with Danny when he comes back to visit!

Lavender and Bees

I went out early this morning to harvest some

of my lavender. I noticed the steady hum of bees

doing their own harvesting.

Quickly, I went inside to get my camera. It was a little difficult getting a clear photo of a busy bee.

My basket of lavender wasn't filling up very fast as I found myself too busy with the bees.

They discovered my harvested flowers and

were just as interested in those, too! The bee

is about in the center under the basket handle.

It wasn't very long, it seems, before another joined in the photo session! I wonder what he was hunting.

It wasn't easy, but I was able to get a decent picture of two bees in the same photo.













My plans changed as the morning progressed, but I found much pleasure and relaxation in watching this marvelous adventure.

Tomorrow is another day, and I will try to harvest much more lavender this time! This was fun!

Calendula officinalis - Remarkable Calendula

There are many wonderful herbs growing in my herb gardens, but one of my favorite is the remarkable calendula plant. Here in South Louisiana, I start my seeds in late summer so the can be ready to put out in the garden in the fall. They grow steadily during the autumn months and begin flowering during our winter months. Today is March 2 and the flowers are really beginning to bloom heavily. The flowers are beautiful, but I go out with my basket and scissors and cut them regularly. They are dried and then used in my soaps and balms.


Calendula flowers can brighten the garden with its outstanding yellow and orange blossoms. The blooms are not only beautiful, but they have been used historically, for their healing powers of helping to promote skin repair. The part of the plant usually harvested are the flowers. They can be dried and stored in an airtight container, away from light and heat. The flower petals are edible, but are used in the kitchen often for their pretty color. I have added them to muffins, rice dishes and to salads. The flowers are also sometimes used as a dye plant or in potpourris.
I love infusing my organically grown calendula petals in sunflower or olive oil. My Calendula Blossom Soap is made with an olive oil and calendula infusion.




We have one brand new baby boy and one more baby boy due next month. Our daughters are very concerned about the environment and their children. I decided to infuse some organic sunflower oil with my organically grown calendula petals.
The new Organic Calendula Salve was made with our two new grandbabies in mind. I used organic beeswax and a light touch or organic lavender essential oil. A welcome gift to our two new grandsons!