Merry Lycett Harrison, an Herbalist’s Blog

I went to buy organic nitrogen fertilizer at the nursery. All the carts with herbs were inside because of the cool weather. Outside, however, I came across a neglected cart that had a fantastic assortment of scraggly, medicinal herbs like fenugreek, holy basil and echinacea. You know I snapped those up!

I got my soil test back and it is very high in phosphorus. I have no clue what that means. I needs lots of nitrogen. I got the herb bed cleaned up and the little plants look happy now.

It has been a blast connecting to other groups on organic gardening and herbal info on facebook. Share your herb stories on the WALL at HERBS FOR ALL group. Everyone has has questions about herbs so I will be happy to answer as many as I can. Gotta go teach an herb class. See the list at http://millcreekherbs.com.

Share your’e herb stories at the HERBS FOR ALL group at http://www.facebook.com. I can’t wait to see what people write. It is for everyone interested in herbs of all kinds.

The bloodroot is blooming pretty white and the forsythia is exquisite yellow. The wild plums are pink and white and with the next wind storm, the blossoms will swirl away like spring snow.

At last! The snow is melting rapidly and I can take the herb students into the lower elevations to see some wild herbs that are just starting to show themselves. Pretty, yellow glacier lilies were everywhere. Lomatium, wild carrot, dock, Mahonia and wild onion are everywhere.

I am taking a break from working on Thrive Tonic to head up into the canyons to find wild herbs to show my students for Saturday’s herb class. The snow level is still very low and more snow is expected today. Hope I find some useful herbs of the wild.

In trying to rake up winter’s mess, I am finding lots of herb volunteers under the rufage. Horehound, lemon blam, mint, bloodroot, and lots of Calendula is sprouting.

Ahhh, I just experienced the moment of the first scent of spring violets. It is one of my most favorite things to come home to the air full of the sweet scent that arises just for a few weeks when the sun shines on the new blooms. The flowers are pink, white, and, of course, deep violet. I just love this flower and herb. It makes a great tonic too. Oh, I must take my THRIVE TONIC today.

Spring herb classes are starting early. Maybe because Easter and daylight savings time did too. I am delighted to throw off this very snowy winter and begin to teach. So many people are interested in using and growng herbs. There is hardly anything up in the garden yet but the chives and lovage are just beginning to show themselves. Go to my website www.millcreekherbs.com to read articles on starting an herb garden. Have you taken your Thrive Tonic this morning?