Friday Smiles 320: Herb Day

Today I'm joining Annie (at A Stitch in Time) and the ladies at Friday Smiles.  No museum shots or funnies today, because I have lots of photos I want to share instead.  At least one of these should put a smile on your face!

I do want everyone to know the status of my basement as the rain keeps coming down.  Many people in small towns can't leave their homes because the streets are blocked off.  They can't get their cars out of their driveways, either.  Those who live in the country can't get out of their homes because their homes are surrounded by water.  Many roads are closed, including one of the Interstate highways (actually, the turnpike).  My back yard is a lake and my basement is still having water pushed in because I have no sump pump or way to get rid of the water, except to bail it using a bucket.  Even the walls are beginning to buckle, which scares me to tears.  The boys are both confined to the main part of the house while I stay in the basement trying to keep the water out. 

My next door neighbor believes his entire garage area has shifted off its foundation.  I'm not the only one in this dilemma, because my entire neighborhood either has sump pumps that are working overtime, or they are baling water just like I am.  Part of the problem is, my neighborhood is bounded by two rivers, the Big and Little Arkansas.  The city finally opened all the flood gates that was holding the Big Arkansas back, so that might help in the long run.

Now on to more pleasant things.

Last Saturday was Herb Day at our local Extension Office.

It was raining when I took these photos, and I quickly put my camera away.  I forgot to take any more shots until I got home.

I know this is a lousy shot, but I was chasing a robin around my yard with all my herbs still in my hand.

It took me awhile to pot my new herbs.

This French Lavender, obviously new this year,

sits next to the lavender I purchased two years ago and overwintered in the house.

This is lemon mint I purchased and planted two years ago. It overwintered outside near where it sits today.

Next to it is my dill, which also overwintered outside.

Next comes tricolor sage, which is also new.

Next to it sits Bergarten sage, also new this year.

This is cilantro which I grow from seed.  When it goes to seed, we then call the seeds coriander.  This pot also overwintered outside and these appear to be what has come up since the soil warmed a bit.

Next comes sweet marjoram, obviously also new. 

Inside the cute little wagon I salvaged from my neighbor's "junk trailer" sits, on the left, spearmint, which I purchased and planted last year on herb day.  It overwintered outside, too.

New this year is French tarragon that shares the wagon with the spearmint.

This is my rosemary which I purchased two years ago on herb day.  It overwintered inside.

Last year I purchased a single fennel plant on herb day.  I pressed some of the seeds into the dirt I left outside over the winter.  Looks like I'll have lots of these plants this year.

My last herb is orange mint I purchased two years ago on herb day and it also overwinters well outside.

I thought I would show the herbs all lined up together.

Then it was time to water the new plants.

I thought it might be nice to mow the yard, too, but rain was on the way, so there was no time for that.

Some of you were here yesterday when I created my Second Thursday tutorial. I dead headed my spent irises and this is what they looked like the next day.  Imagine my surprise with how quickly the buds bloomed.

You can also see I moved that really ugly and distracting metal bookcase to the back.

I believe this is much, much better and opens the porch up a bit, too.

Another thing that put a big smile on my face was how my rose bush has bounced back so beautifully.

As I was uploading my photos from my camera, Mr. Needy had to be right there, leaning against me.

If this photo of Squiggles doesn't put a smile on your face, nothing will!  I was SO lucky to capture him being needy.

Thanks for joining me on my back patio in between bouts of rain today.  Please don't forget to start your weekend off right by visiting Annie for a few Friday Smiles.  We would love to have you join, also.