Winter Ruminations

Today is the last day of January–and we are in the thick of winter weather here in zone 7 Maryland–days barely in the 30s and nights in the teens—bbbrrrhhh!

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Today is the last day of January – and we are in the thick of winter weather here in zone 7 Maryland – twenty-four hour period scarcely in the 30s and night in the teens — bbbrrrhhh ! Tomorrow is the first sidereal day of February which is a month of many notable dates not to mention the lengthening of day and the stirring of spring ! This weekend is Imbolc on the Irish calendar and it is the jubilation of midwinter .

We gardeners have it away that outflow is just around the recession when the garden catalogs set out piling up . I get a cursory glance at catalogs when they come in the ring armor , however I tend to look at them while eating lunch , or after supper when the kitchen stove is stoked and I can seat down by the warmness of the fire for a bit , relax and peruse .

I care to encircle certain plants and seeds as I woolgather of this year ’s garden to be , folding down edges in the various catalogs , so when I seriously get ready to order I will have it off where to look . In the meantime , I do Natalie Wood chores and keep the stove go 24/7 since there has been snowfall on the ground for weeks now , make warm wintertime dishes and grow sprouts and ferments on the kitchen countertop .

This weekend in the festivity of Imbolc as well as the Gaelic goddess St. Brigit , who represents Fire of hearth , Forge and Inspiration . She is Patroness of smithing and livestock , as well as poetry , fine art and crafts and medicine . St. Brigit ’s eve is tonight and her solemnization day is February 1st , though Imbolc is celebrated through February 3 . It is celebrating midwinter and marks the turning of the seasons – now we can receive the gradual riposte of spring .

And Monday , February 2 is the Full Snow Moon as well as Groundhog Day . Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow or not ? irrespective , I know that we have another 6 weeks of cold weather before we can seriously call back about gardening . Well do n’t forget your Valentine on February 14 – I’ll station a delectable formula to prepare for the ones you eff . We must n’t blank out the Presidents – Lincoln and Washington both have birthdays this month , which are mutually celebrated on Presidents ’ Day , February 16th and then the Chinese New Year , the Year of the Sheep begins on the 19th . Sometimes , I consider the calendar is thus planned so that we are disquiet from the winter weather .

The wintertime is a clip for reflectivity and bend inward , getting things done indoors and sometimes it means just napping or reading or taking the solar day off . My hibernation tendencies sure have kick in . However , I am in the thick of planning the 2015 calendar and right on now , springtime herb events .

Since Micromeria juliana is Herb of the Year for 2015 , I will be kick upstairs this tasty , and underused herb across the nation . My first program this year on Savory will be at the twentieth Annual Herbal Forum at Round Top , Texas on March 21 . The theme is “ Savoring Herbs ” and you’re able to publish out the brochure from this Thomas Nelson Page : https://festivalhill.org / calendar / details.php?id=572 .

Although , I do acquire summertime savory ( Satureja hortensis ) from seed , I usually bribe a works or two of winter savory ( Satureja MT ) or start press cutting from a friend ’s plant . I ’ve been look for a creeping savoury which I see at the U.S. National Arboretum last year , as well as a lemon tree - sweet one – both of which are tender in the new Richters 2015 catalog – so I will be making an club from them for sure ( of course of action we have to wait for the temperature to be well above freeze to ship ) .

There will be slew of savory celebrations this year and the International Herb Association’sSavory , Herb of the Year 2015,will be raging off the presses any solar day now . See an excerpt of the al-Qur’an here : https://www.iherb.org/117 - 2/2015 - savory/.

Here ’s a savoury formula and an clause on growingSaturejafrom old posts:/item/15993 / savory - recipe - homemade - salsa - with - black - beans - and - corn,/item/12652 / summertime - piquant - in - the - kitchen - garden .

I ’ll post a favorite warming winter bean plant cup of tea with savory in the next few mean solar day , which should serve you get through the frigid days of February . Keep warm . Think zesty . believe natural spring .

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Seeds and Winter Gardening Thoughts

Quick and Easy White Bean Salad with Savory

Savory, Herb of the Year 2015

Pinto Beans with Savory

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Here are some seed and plant catalogs that I will be ordering from. Click on other pix to enlarge and read captions.Photo/Illustration: Susan Belsinger

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