Today, I would like to take you to the east side of my garden. It contains the enclosure for my tortoise and my herbal garden. One of the most impressive plants in my garden is a beautiful willow. I planted it 19 years ago when we moved in. It was removed and replanted twice. For several years it stayed just the same until all of a sudden it began to literally reach out to the sky. We cut it last year because it grew too big and almost touched the house.
The willow stands right inside the enclosure of my tortoise, Hercules. In that enclosure, there are also two black currant bushes and one of my three summer lilacs. I am reaping lots of berries every year. Those black currant plants are doing great every year, regardless of the kind of summer.
Here we go with the other two lilac bushes. All three are having a different kind of purple color. They are not growing as high as they used to. Maybe the crucial time for them to grow was too wet or too dry. Usually, they reach about twice my size, almost like the big hibiscus which I planted about 18 years ago. It has grown from a really tiny plant to a giant.
There are always lots of butterflies visiting. This kind of butterfly used to visit the most but has been rarely seen during the past 5 to 10 years. It is a peacock butterfly.
The last section is my herbal garden. I created it just this late spring. It was the former spot of our guinea pigs’ enclosure. We broke down the big shelter since we don’t have any guinea pigs for three years. There is still room for plants in my herbal garden. So far, I planted hyssop, thyme, lemon balm, milfoil, peppermint, savage, garden lovage, chamomile, calendula, buckwheat, and some strawberries and basil I got from friends. There are more plants on my list. I am reaping those plants and drying the parts for making tinctures, oils (on the further run balms and creams), tea, or I am using them in the kitchen for salads, general meals, or making herbal salt. On a different place in my garden, I am also having rosemary and more healing plants for use in my therapy practice.
Just a reminder, these pictures were taken on different days between May and July. That’s why some same plants may appear different in size and development.
Have a lovely day!
In Love and Light
Peace and tranquility. 🌿🌱🍃🦋
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I am happy you can feel it, Gail. Yes, it really is!
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Erika, lovely. I am going to go out on a limb and say purple is your favorite color? Keith
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LOL! Basically I have all colors. But yes, purple and blue are appearing pretty often. But it depends on the plant. To me, a lilac has to be purple (no matter what shade)… haha. And I love lavender which is purple in its original color… so, I can impossible go without purple… haha.
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that is absolutely gorgeous!
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Thank you so much, Beth!
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Ohh Erika, what a wonderful, creative garden you have and those views. There’s a happy Hercules. Thank you for shining a bright light into Monday. ❤ Xx
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Hi, Jane, that makes me smile. It took me almost 20 years until it looked like this. Lots of changes over the years but now it is the way I love it and how I can still extend it 😊
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You have truly created a paradise! Loved the shot of the bench. So inviting. So serene.
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It is one of my favorite places. I used to meditate while the sun set behind the mountains. A wonderful scenerey and atmosphere.
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Taking me on a tour of this amazing garden in your home just made my Monday so wonderful. Thank you so much 🙂
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Awh, that’s wonderful to hear. I am happy when it made you smile, Hammad 😊
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Hello.
How beautiful is your little paradise! I enjoyed every photo. Thank you.
Have a wonderful day!
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That’s lovely and I am happy you enjoyed it. It is an even greater joy for me to share this joy with like-minded souls 😊Thank you and I wish you the same!
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We were on road trip and found another “paradise” with reindeers! 🙂
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Cool! I have never seen reindeers in their natural environment. Are you from Finland?
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Oh yes, We live in Finland! Here is some foretaste:
Reindeers1 are cute
Have a great day!
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Headed over right away. I think Finnland is my next point on my bucket list.
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Sounds great. Thank you. If you want to quick know about Finland and its hidden gems, then check my:
About me
You will get many ideas!!!
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Already been on your page! Awesome!!
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OH, so lovely! 😍😍 Truly a slice of paradise! 🥰🥰. You are lucky to have such a beautiful garden! 🌷🌸💖
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Thank you, Trini. I know you feel the vibes of the place. I feel blessed 💖💖
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The lovely feeling in and around your home seems to be coming from a very creative heart…do you have one of those? 😂 🤣
It is very beautiful dear lady, the color and lightness is wonderful. Your family (and the plants and animals), must move around each day with very large smiles in that energy…inner and outer ❤️
Thank you for sharing a Healers Haven 😀 ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
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Healer’s heaven… how cool is that? That could definitely be a sign on my door or in my herbal garden! I have to keep this in mind.
I am so happy you like it. Believe me, I am smiling whenever I step outside into my garden. Wherever I look it fills me with joy.
Thank you so much, Mark 😊🙏💖
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Just a little something else. Over here if a Willow Tree has a spurt of growth it tends to mean it has found a good constant water supply underground. The only drawback to that is if your ground (over here we are almost always in drought), isn’t full of moisture then it has found your water pipe with a leak. It then proceeds to infest the pipe with its roots and over time a few problems arise. Mind you it is a delight to see them in full growth, our particular variety that grows along all the streams and rivers is the Weeping Willow. They are a beautiful light green with their branches sweeping in the breeze 😀 ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
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That’s a good point to consider. I never thought ot that option. But I don’t think this is the case. It has been like that for too long and we might have aleady recognized some issues by today. But the climate in the Alps is more of moisture all year long (except the periodic signs of climate change). So, I am positive that it simply has found its place in my garden. Its strong growth started with my inner awakening. I only noticed when a friend saw this parallel. Also the tree was a gift of my father who died 8 years ago. It grew even bigger since, so, I feel a connection there too! I love my willow, its look in spring, its sound when the wind blows through the leaves, and the flexibility of its branches. 😊🌳
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I should have known dear lady, of course its heart is connected to yours and that beautiful opening journey you are on. A sharing of your dads love in such a way is a beautiful sentience indeed ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
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Awh, lovely, Mark. I don’t know if that can be but I think there is a connection. So many memories and history is connected to that plant.
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I think their connections are different to ours but they still connect very profoundly my friend. It is something shared very deeply, on another level of our being. They are always in our stories, a reverence to their long lives and that ability that they see above our everyday living and see the true heart of ‘our’ wood. A love indeed dear lady ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
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Wonderfully said, Mark. I like your way to convey such spiritual thoughts. Thank you 💖
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Thank you dear lady, we connect to those things that we feel within. Just as your posts do to many ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
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That’s right, Mark. And that is what gathers our communities, right?
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❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
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Gorgeous!!!!
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Thank you, sis!
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