Chicken gum lotion garden

I have a black thumb.  Every now and then, I have visions of grandeur involving me surrounded by growing things (of the green and leafy variety, not the noisy and chocolate smeared kind).  But, inevitably, despite plants' remarkable self sufficiency in most regards, I kill every herbaceous thing I try to grow in fairly short order. 

Still, I have been enamored for the last few summers of cultivating a modest herb garden.  I've read enough about the clean eating/whole foods trend to commit myself to about 80% adherence to the philosophy (my fudgesicle issues notwithstanding).  And I've fallen in love with a simple basil vinaigrette homemade salad dressing.  The recipe calls for fresh basil, and while I've learned that the dried stuff is an adequate substitute, it is simply divine with the fresh stuff.  But fresh herbs at the grocery store are e-x-p-e-n-s-i-v-e. 

So, a few weeks ago, Chad found an ad in the paper for an herb planting/cooking tips class at the local grocery store.  That rainy Tuesday night found me and two of my kids (I rarely get to undertake such adventures alone) huddled under the lawn and garden tent at the store, planting the included fresh herbs and hearing how to use them in our cooking (I quote "roll them like a doobie to cut them").  It was no more messy and frustrating than most of our activities, and we came home dirty and optimistic about our little pot of herbs.

Today, I am happy to report that our little garden is flourishing.  I'm not ready to take my victory lap yet, but at least 4 of the varieties are growing fairly lavishly (unfortunately, the basil is struggling bravely, but remains sparse).  The little girls and I stroll out and check on them every day or two.  Today, I realized once again, how many life lessons they pick up from random things I say and, more often, from the things they see me do.

In case you are wondering, among our herbs we have "chicken" (sage), "gum" (mint), and "lotion" (lavender).  Not yet nicknamed are dill, cilantro, basil, oregano, and chives.  Chad also planted a couple of tomato and pepper plants, and Claire brought home a pumpkin in a Dixie cup that is happily flourishing tucked between a couple of ornamental bushes in the backyard.  The summer is still young, of course, but we are giving it our best shot.  By August, I expect we'll be serving the best chicken gum lotion salsa in the neighborhood.