Herbs You Can Grow In Your Kitchen

Using herbs and spices while you cook creates exciting flavors and opportunities for experimenting. Growing fresh herbs in your kitchen is not only more fun, it makes them convenient to use and adds beauty to your home to boot! So, gather some clay pots and create space on a north or west-facing windowsill (for indirect light) or get creative and DIY using one of these fun ideas from Brit + Co. However you arrange the herbs, check out our favorites below and some simple tips for growing them indoors!

Oregano

Oregano is often used in Italian, Greek and Spanish cooking. It needs excellent drainage and six to eight hours of bright, indirect light. Allow oregano to dry out between waterings and fertilize every two weeks.

Basil

Basil has an impressive list of nutrients in it and is used for a summer favorite: pesto! Use smaller basil varieties indoors, as the larger ones will quickly outgrow small spaces. Basil needs at least six hours of indirect light and damp, well-drained soil.

Mint

Mint is an excellent palate cleanser and promotes digestion. We love to use it in tea or a summer cocktail. All varieties of mint can grow inside. Keep moist and mist between waterings. Place in an area with bright, indirect sunlight.

Parsley

Parsley is an excellent source of vitamin K and C and is often used in salads, soups and sauces. It grows best with six to eight hours of bright, indirect sun daily. Keep the soil slightly moist and fertilize every two weeks.

Thyme

Thyme is often used in Italian recipes and is also a primary herb in stews and soups. It needs about six hours of daily indirect sun. It benefits from drying out between waterings and fertilizing every two weeks.

Protecting Your Garden From Gophers

Noticing someone digging up your garden? Spending their days creating tunnels called “gopher towns,” gophers are active day and night, destroying landscapes and lawns in their path. They are especially attracted to moist, light soil with edible vegetation, meaning our lush gardens! Here are a few of our recommended products to keep these pesky critters out of your garden.

Before you start planting, pick up a few Digger’s Root Guard Heavy Duty Baskets. Available in one, three, five and 15-gallon sizes, the wire baskets are galvanized for increased durability and corrosion resistance. Allowing generous room for root growth and up-sizing, we love how easy these baskets are to plant in.

The one-gallon sizes are made for perennials, berries and vegetables. Use the three-gallon basket for group plantings of annuals, perennials and bulbs; this size is also perfect for your tomatoes, salvias, squash and peppers! Keep your roses, bougainvillea, wisteria and dahlias protected in the five-gallon basket. Providing six to 10 years of protection, the baskets can be removed end of season for reuse next year.

The new roots of a young fruit tree are a gopher’s favorite treat. Digger’s 15-gallon tree basket is created from the same material as their other baskets, but galvanized before weaving, thus allowing the basket to break down in three to five years - just in time for the tree to become established and resistant to gophers. (Most fruit trees are resistant after their third year.)

For plants already in the ground, we recommend Bonide’s MoleMax Granules. Repelling moles, voles, gophers, rabbits and skunks, it’s easy to use and safe around children and pets. Apply directly from the bag; broadcast or use a drop spreader in both live areas and territory that has yet to be invaded. Penetrating deep into the soil, one pound of the clean, dustless and biodegradable granules treats 500 square feet and lasts up to three months. It’s best to start on one side of the yard and work your way over, making it easy to know what parts of your garden still need to be treated.

Questions? We’re here to help. Stop in and let us lend a hand in protecting your garden from gophers' gnawing today!

A recipe for grilling season: Chimichurri

As grilling season approaches, we love this chimichurri sauce as a marinade on the BBQ. Made with fresh parsley and oregano, this easy recipe is a perfect addition to your next cookout!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup firmly packed fresh flat leaf parsley, trimmed of thick stems
• 3 - 4 garlic cloves
• 2 Tbsps fresh oregano leaves (or substitute with 2 teaspoons dried oregano)
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsps red or white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. Finely chop the parsley, fresh oregano and garlic (or pulse in a food processor several times) and place in a small bowl.
2. Stir in olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Adjust seasoning. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
3. If chilled, return to room temperature before serving. It can be kept for up to two days.

Serves 4

Employee Spotlight: Shawna Anderson

Hi! My name is Shawna Anderson and I am the head of Orchard Nursery & Florist’s Custom Container Department. 

How long have you been working at Orchard Nursery & Florist?

Since July of 2004.

What is your favorite part about working here?

There are many reasons why I love working here, but if I have to pick just one, it's the plants. Every season there's something in bloom and being the flower "floozy" that I am, I just love them and want them all!

What's new in the Custom Container Department?

There are some really cool wavy containers we just got in lime green, white and orange that are perfect for succulents.

What are some of your favorite plants to work with and why?

My favorite "fillers" for sun will always be Nemesia; they come in a wide range of colors and bloom for a long period (with deadheading of course)! My absolute favorite "spiller" is Calibrachoa aka Million Bells; I love their prolific long-lasting blooms and they don't need deadheading!

What are some upcoming projects you are excited about?

Planting up herb baskets and boxes for summer parties!

What is your favorite season and why?

Spring. Song of Solomon said it best, "For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land."

What is your favorite vegetable to grow and cook with and why?

Oh, it just so hard to pick one favorite! It's got to be Romanesco Cauliflower; it's a cross between broccoli and cauliflower. I usually sauté it in olive oil, a few pepper flakes and a pinch of sea salt, but last winter I sliced it thin and roasted it and used it as a pizza topping--amazing! I also learned from a customer a few years ago that the leaves are just as good (they have a nutty flavor), and I've been sautéing them the same way ever since. Delicious!

What do you do in your spare time - any hobbies?

Spare time? Haha! When I'm not here or at a client's home for a Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers consultation, I'm in my garden or watching the Warriors. They've been my team since I was 8 years old and I've watched them lose a lot of games over the years, so these past few years have been exciting and awesome to watch!

What is something that people might not know about you?

I became a semi-professional billiards player in 2000. Don't bet against me on the pool table :)

Our Favorite Spring Perennials For Bouquets

Bring the beauty of your garden indoors by creating bouquets from plants you’ve grown yourself. We love growing a variety of flowers for cutting in the garden; there’s nothing like having an abundance of blooms to enjoy outside, in bouquets and even to share with friends! Here are a few of our favorite spring perennials that are perfect for bouquets and arrangements year after year! 

Plant Heuchera for a delicate and whimsical addition to an arrangement. With extremely long-lasting foliage, add the long stemmed white, pink and red flowers to a bouquet for a variation in height. Thriving best as a border or in a container, grow these low-maintenance and deer-resistant plants in part shade and enjoy the hummingbirds they attract! 

Did you catch our ‘Spider’ Pincushion in bloom last week? If not, check it out on our Facebook here. The uniqueness of the Protea is the perfect focal point for an arrangement. With a sturdy stem and long-lasting bloom, we can’t get enough of its intricacies. Plant in full sun and enjoy as the blooms unfold!

Alstroemeria, known as Lily of the Incas, makes a great cut flower, lasting up to three weeks in a bouquet! Plant Peruvian Lilies in full sun; these hardy, low-maintenance bloomers will add a variety of color to your garden and arrangements through summer!

Blooming from spring until the first frost, we love Echinaceas for the months of brilliant cut flowers they provide! Coneflower’s long-lasting blooms set on straight stems are the perfect addition to a bouquet. Once past their prime, use their bright orange centers à la Billy Balls and refresh the arrangement! Plant this floriferous and deer-resistant perennial in sun and water moderately.

Don’t be fooled by the delicacy of Columbine; these long-lasting bloomers can give your arrangement color for up to two weeks! Another hummingbird attractant, plant in partial shade and enjoy their variety of color and unique bloom.

We can’t forget the classic cut flower: roses! Our front driveway is in bloom with our abundant varieties. You’re bound to find a rose you’ll love. A vase of these fragrant beauties adds elegance to any room in the house!

'Jump for Joy' Rose

Tomatoes For Every Palate

Looking for the right tomato for your backyard BBQ or Caprese salad? Today, we discuss the best tomato varieties for summer cooking depending on the meal. If you haven’t stopped by and shopped our veggies, now is the time! It isn’t too late to plant summer vegetables.

Caprese Salad:

There’s no right tomato for Caprese salad; depending on the color tomato you choose, pair with  cheese accordingly. The lighter the color, the sweeter the tomato. We love pairing mozzarella with a sweet mater. For a stronger flavored tomato, try a sharp cheese. Be sure to try the Costoluto Genovese for a meaty, rich and full-flavored pack, whether enjoying fresh or cooked into a sauce. 

Burgers:

When grilling up burgers, stick with the heavyweights. Brandywine is a pinkish-red heirloom variety with gourmet-quality flavor, weighing 12-24 ounces. Fill up your plate with the 1.5 pound golden orange Hawaiian Pineapple! Rich with flavor and sweetness, try this beefsteak at your summer BBQ. A Russian heirloom and a smaller fruit at six ounces, try Paul Robeson’s dusky red fruit for excellent flavor and tender skin. 

Green Salad:

We recommend the Carmello or Green Zebra for your refreshing green salad. Carmello is a French hybrid, popular in European markets for growing large, juicy red fruit mid-season. The Green Zebra, made famous by Chez Panisse’s Alice Waters, can’t be missed with its characteristic dark green and yellow striped fruit and slightly tart flavor. 

Neapolitan Pizza:

Did you know it's against the law to dub a pizza "Neapolitan pizza” unless it’s made with San Marzano tomatoes? Worldwide, the San Marzano is the most desired tomato paste and with good reason - their sweet flavor and low acidity can’t be beat! Want to learn more about the tradition and law surrounding labeling the San Marzano? Check out the New York Time’s interactive The Mystery of San Marzano!

Tomato Paste:

 As the name implies, the heirloom Amish Paste is a perfect choice for a paste with its sweet, mild and slightly tart flavor. Although you can’t go wrong with San Marzanos or Romas either! Check out Serious Eat’s How to Make the Best Tomato Sauce From Fresh Tomatoes and read up on the flavor differences between the Amish Paste, San Marzano, Roma and beefsteaks.

Blooms for Every Room

If you haven’t seen this month’s Gentry HOME Magazine, get your hands on a copy now because we are thrilled to be featured in a three-page article called ‘A Bloom for Every Room.’ Check it out here (on pages 46, 48 and 50) or keep reading to find out what arrangements to feature in each room of your home this spring!

Dining Room

Utilizing containers from the home is an easy way to create a no-fuss landscape arrangement for your dining table that is sure to mesmerize dinner guests. Short enough to have a conversation over, our 3-in-1 container arrangement won’t take away from the cuisine or company. Pantone’s color of the year, greenery, keeps this piece on-trend. Add white daisies to this sleek and modern design for a touch of whimsy. Incorporate trending poppy and lotus pods with common succulents to refine and frame the piece.

All photo credits: Cari Courtright Photography.

Bedroom

A compact arrangement is versatile and appealing to the eye at any angle. Romantic cream roses and blues provide a calming palate for a bedside table. Pair with in-style blue and white pottery for a more classic look. Flowers with symmetrical sizing work better in this arrangement, as they blend together in a floral mass. Small pops of orange add a bright and playful aesthetic to the arrangement. Drape amaranth for a whimsical and visually dynamic piece.

Living Area

As there’s no wrong way in art, the same is true for arranging a contemporary Flemish. Incorporating an heirloom urn or container adds a personal touch, and a variety of flowers and textures create a stunning focal point for an entryway or mantle piece. Use two-tone flowers to draw the eye in, a pop of forsythia for dramatic branching and curly willow when outwardly draping. Historically, these pieces emphasize rich hues and natural accessories, reflecting complimentary art in the home.

Kitchen

Adding clusters of blooms and foliage to an arrangement is popular this spring and provides a perfect accent for your kitchen, often the gathering room of a home. Balance colors across the arrangement with varying textures in odd numbers to keeping it unique and compelling. Think outside the box when adding edibles and keep in mind seasonality. Beets, figs and artichokes bring a fun and unexpected element to the arrangement, yet make perfect sense in a kitchen bouquet.

Bathroom

Use humidity-lover, tillandsia, for a foolproof bathroom arrangement. Clean and modern meets nature with tall glass vases customized with rocks or moss balls. Varying length and texture of the tillandsia foliage adds sequencing height. Long-lasting and low-maintenance, greenery never goes out of style.

If you have questions about other floral or greenery ideas for your home, don’t hesitate to come see us or give us a call!