Today is March 31 and as the mountain range pictured below shows, we’ve had quite a bit of snow this month here in Estes Park, with more in the forecast. I was only able to work in my garden a couple of days before the last snow hit. Alas, that’s springtime in the Rockies! I’m not complaining, because I feel blessed to live in sky-high Colorado. But some recent spring-like days already inspired me to plan out my herb garden; and I can’t wait to get going on it. Until then, I decided to work on a new product for Botangle.net that will enhance my little herb bed and give me an outlet for my “spring dreams” before I can dig in the dirt again.
I've been brushing up on my botanical pen and ink skills (I am a certified botanical illustrator/teacher) and am sketching some herb illustrations that I laser onto wooden spatulas. I’ll stick these in the ground as pretty little garden markers. These hardwood spatulas are sealed with polyurethane to make them weather resistant.
Every time I think of herbs, the Simon and Garfunkle song, “Scarborough Fair” comes to mind. So I’m beginning with the must-have quartet of parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. I’ve added mint, bay leaf, chamomile, dill, and basil, and I plan to include lavender, oregano, and cilantro. These are some of the herbs that I like to have on hand all summer. A sprinkle of fresh herbs makes everything better!
I hope my garden markers inspire you to start thinking of the warm spring days ahead and what you plan to plant in your garden! The entire collection is now available in our online store.
Happy spring!
