What Could Be Better Than Basil?

Fresh basil is one of summer's joys. We are big pesto lovers. I also grow lemon, cinnamon and red basil. I love to add them to salads. Japanese beetles love basil too. I usually just figure the holes in my basil leaves prove that no chemicals have been used . I have that "If the insects won't eat it, should I?" mentality.

Evening primrose is one of the "weeds" that I frequently let grow here and there in the garden . The hummingbirds like it. This year a couple of evening primrose plants came up near the basil.



I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Japanese beetles seem to like evening primrose better than they like basil. The primrose are not doing much in the way of flowers. Their leaves are being fiercely attacked by the beetles.




The other plant has really been skeletonized. They are working so much better than the Japanese beetle traps that separated me from my money last year!

June is Busting Out...

New flowers are coming on all over the garden. When I left the catchfly growing where it self seeded next to the lady's mantle, I'm not sure I envisioned the hot pink and chartreuse that would come. Oh well , color in the garden is a good thing.



The weeds are growing too. This basil patch was in serious need of weeding. Ed did the job today along with the carrots and the new lettuce bed. We had the arugula from the overgrown spicy mesclun mix in an arugula and nectarine salad with toasted walnuts and raspberry vinagarette for lunch. YUM! Tonight for dinner some of that basil and the Oregon giant snow peas made for a lovely pasta primevera. Sometimes the garden can seem overwhelming, but its rewards are many. No one eats better than a gardener this time of year!

Basil Baby!

Our little basil plants started from seed are popping up nicely. We love basil! We planted spicy globe, lettuce leaf, Genovese, Aroma 2, Dani and Mrs. Burn's lemon, anise and Red Rubin.


These basil babies have a lot of growing to do, but that's good because they won't be happy outside until all danger of frost is past. TLC in the house will be needed for some time. Last year Memorial day was too early and my basil plants died a premature death. This year I hope to do better!