We started work on the gardens in 2009.  I do the planting, weeding and Jeff does the heavy jobs involving chain saws and tractors - moving rocks, cutting trees, grading roads.  One of the first projects after we got the tractor was making a stone wall around the fire pit.  Really, Jeff indulges me, as he knows I love to be surrounded by pretty plants!  The goal is to recreate the "healing herb" garden that used to be near the old house, and to beautify the rest of the place with wildflowers.  We inherited hostas, lilies, tiger lilies, lambs ear, mints, chives and some other plants from Betty (Jeff's Mom).  For new purchases, though, we focus on deer resistant plants.  Only a few of the young fruit trees and the hops are fenced.  Everything else might become critter food in harsh winters, so we try to make it as unpalatable as possible.  I've given up on the hostas.  They are the "salad bar."

We experimented with lavender plants in 2009 and they did so well that we added several others in 2010.  I have ordered 36 more which will arrive in Spring 2011.  Hidcote and Munstead have proven to do the best here.  It seems the rockier and poorer the soil, the better they do!  Love it!  Some more of several other plants will go in this Spring, too - rosemary, chamomile, parsley, santolina, stevia, valerian, yarrow, basil, garlic chives, dill, borage, lovage.  Several plants grow wild here already - motherwort, elecampane, mullein, for instance.  There are a lot of other things that I have not learned to identify yet!  I have a lot to learn.  Here are few plant pictures.