The garden doubled in size last week, seemingly overnight. Seedlings that were mid-calf are now almost waist high, and the toothache plants are creeping over the garden path. The earth sure works her magic, given a bit of sun and rain. It still feels like a miracle every year I watch it happen. This is my fourth year — will it ever get old? Probably not! Not if I'm anything like my Memere (and let's face it, I've definitely got some of her qualities).

There are a mix of things in this little garden of mine. Some are for tea, like the purply anise hyssop in the second photo down, and the catnip that's going gangbusters. Some are for essences, like the yarrow in the fifth photo. There are the ever present calendulas, which are growing from the last of my stock of Apricot Surprise seeds from years past and which I had given up hope of ever sprouting at home. They are my favorites! Then there are the plants like marshmallow (third photo), clary sage, and echinacea which probably won't be ready until next year. I have kitchen herbs with thyme and rosemary and oregano tucked wherever I had a spare bit of ground. And because I can't stop tinkering, I put some bee balm seedlings in today where a few calendula seeds had failed to thrive. It's a bit late for planting, but bee balm is in the mint family and I'm hoping its good genes will kick in and give the plants solid footing before winter.

It must be time to harvest some of these herbs. The blue vervain, maybe? The holy basil and catnip and hyssop for sure. And what do you do with oodles of toothache plant flowers? I sprung them on my mom the other day when she visited and we enjoyed numb tongues and cheeks for about ten minutes (by enjoyed, I mean we ran around with our tongues out, drooling and wishing desperately for water). They might go well in a version of fire cider. I know they have antibacterial properties. The horseradish might disguise the tingling. Hm….

What do you do with all of your garden bounty? Where do you store it? Do you share with friends?