Herbs and flowers.....

are emerging from their warm beds. I must say that the cold spring has really helped. It was the first Spring in a long time that felt like a real Spring. My herbs are huge. The Lovage and burdock plants are as tall as me. My Black cohosh as well as my blue cohosh are strong and vibrant. The goldenseal I planted last year is twice it's size as last year.
Once I learn how to post pictures I will.I can hardly imagine what they will look like in a month or so. I planted many seeds this year. Many I received from Ritcher's I am trying to see how it will work out. It seems so much more cost efficient. I never had much luck in the past starting them inside so I decide to plant directly. So far so good.
I sent out my brochures for my soap and obtained information on insurance to sell at the farmers market. It may be to late this year but I will definitely work on it for next year. I wish there were indoor farmers markets during the winter and spring months. Now I will sit and wait to see how it goes.
I planted yellow jewel weed last year. I collected the seeds from my son's friends yard one day when I was giving him a ride. The pink ones (inpatients grandiflora) that I collected when I was at Sage mountain studying under Rosemary Gladstar are huge. Micky(her gardener and teachers assistant) sent the seed to me. I do not really understand the connection I have with the lovely plant. Could it be it's healing properties or perhaps it's magical way of dispersing seed. The seed pod swells and then when ripe will pop. Such fun. I remember touching the seed pods when i was a little girl and laughing as they burst in front of eyes ans sent them flying. They lined the road that I lived on. There was this amazing woman Beverly, that lived there her road side property had bunches of it. Now looking back on it she was most likely an herbalist and perhaps even a green witch. She would teach me the flowers. I carry alot of what she taught me still. It is a shame that she will never know. But what a gift she gave me.
Paul my manager gave me some lovey veal fat. I made the most amazing soap with it. It is a shame that so many people shun animal fat. Silly I think. It does not have a harsh smell and I am sure it will be moisturizing.
I attended a wonderful tea party the other day. The women I meet with are so amazing. They are supportive and informative. We all have different passions but are connected through Spirit. If all women could be so evolved (as well as men) what a world this would be. They are so positive and did I mention smart? I think I did.
It was a wonderful day.
My son and his wife are waiting for the arrival of their baby. I can remember those days. The excitement, fear and the amazing desire to see the child. I am sure they are experiencing the same things. My son has developed a passion for planting! What a nice surprise. Originally he had asked me to help him. This generally means that I would be doing it with his help. But much to my surprise it is turning out to be the other way around. When he lived home he had no interest in yard work but would assist me in my job sites for pay. But owning his own place and making it his sacred space has changed all that. I am so pleased. It makes me beam. I am not hurt by any of this, If there is one thing I can understand it is desire to created my own gardens.
One of the many reasons I love my husband so much is that he has no desire or knowledge of where,when and how to plant a garden. But he loves mine. I think I would have a hard time if he were to start partaking in the planting. I would freak if I went out to my garden and realized something had been added or dug up and placed somewhere else. I share everything with him but my gardens are some thing all together different. They are my sacred space. I feel grounded and connected when My feet and hands are in the earth. It is the only time when I am free of inner chatter. What a gift.

The sun is out!

So much rain.. But now it is so beautiful out. I have made soap this morning for my dear husbands physical therapist's son. I had a great time formulating it. I hope it works well. I designed it to heal and soothe his poor skin. It will also work for diaper rash.I think that I would like to sell the custom soap in 2 LB. bars. That way they could cut it as they use it. I have to find out first if this can work. That way I would not have extra soap around. I figure that I should sell it a little cheaper than single 3.5 oz bars. I am thinking of adding this to my intentional soap page on my web site www.withseedsofintention.com

I have been gathering all my info and getting ready to go out and plant the summer displays for my clients. I think I will try to use different plants this year. Then I will have a wider selection for clients to view on my web site. Then they can choose from a wider variety of annuals and a larger variety of colors. I am trying to be more adventurous.

My herb garden looks beautiful this year . The cold really let them get a good start. Many I planted last year and thought I lost came back to my surprise. It was a nice treat. I am going to try Astragalus again. It is such a great herb. I was sad when it did not return. I am going to try it both by seed and plant. I also replacing a Coltsfoot plant that I lost last year. I really liked this herb when I tried it at Sage Mountain last year when we were studying the effects of certain herbs. I was very asthmatic and it helped open my breathing passages. Rosemary prepared it as a tea.

Rosemary Gladstar is an amazing teacher. I am furthering my education with her this fall. I am saving to take her class the Ecstasy of Teaching. I am hoping to learn how too teach, organize and finance so that I can start hosting workshops. I really think that it will be an great experience. I also love that I will get to meet more amazing people interested in teaching the beauty way. I am so grateful for having this advantage. I have given up agetting all gifts and asked that instead it be contributed to my class fee. It has and will be worth it.

Just a short while and my new grandchild will be here. Brian and his wife, Brianna are getting ready and looking forward to the arrival of Madison Jane.....

May flowers...

Soon the flowers will be blooming and the sun will be shining. It has been a cooler spring than the past. I really think it is great for the plant starts. I noticed that they are very hardy. The rain helps too. Soon it will be so warm.
I begin summer displays this week. I have a client that insists on flowers for mothers day. Which so far has been okay. I have not lost any plants to frost yet. I am crossing my fingers. It has been a hard year for my clients. Many have restaurants and people have just not been going out to eat. I have been bartering with them the last year or two. But truthfully it is really not working as well as I thought. The restaurants have risen their prices and therefore the meal that was $50 IS NOW $75. My rates have not increased so the deal is not as sweet as it once was.

I have had a busy few weeks and look forward to it slowing down so I can get back to my soap making. I have been asked to make custom soaps for people lately. Which is really kind of neat. I guess people like it! My beautiful husband has been going to PT (physical therapy) and one of the therapists has been asking for a soap for his child. So I will be working on that. It is funny that it comes along the same time as me formulating one for my grandchild to be. My calendula has arrived and I need to make more oil. The flowers look lovely. I ordered it from Jean's Greens they are awesome. I totally love that I get the order so fast usually in 2-3 days!

The baby is to arrive in the beginning of June. Can not wait to see that baby once it blooms!