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I have had this Turkish urn for over 10 years and wanted to find a good place for it in my garden. In early June of this year I built a miniature circular garden as the centerpiece in the backyard. I laid half bricks as edging and placed the urn in the center raised on an old metal stand to a dramatic height. .

I planted a trimmed boxwood globe in the urn. In the circular garden below I put in starts from my lambs ear on the outside and a circle of garlic chives on the inside. The garlic chives are a narrow flat blade, about a 1/4″ across, and the blooms are airy and white. I used plant material I already had in the garden so this new little garden design would match the whole big garden.

I finished June 7 and today the plant starts are already filled in enough to be attractive.

HERE’S HOW I MADE MY CENTERPIECE IN THE BACKYARD:

1. The first step was to find the center of the space in my backyard where I wanted to create the circular garden. Using a stick tied onto a two-foot length of string, I secured it in the center of my space and drew a circle in the ground for the outside marking of the bricks. I carefully dug out the length of the brick about 2″ deep inside my circle. See the last photos for the project beginning.
2. I then set the bricks around the edge adjusting the depths and using a level to keep them even. I did have to extend the circle out a little to get the last full brick in. I also used four more bricks in the center of the circle to create a base for the metal stand.
3. After the bricks were set, I set up the stand and urn and planted the boxwood, lamb’s ear and chives.

A Note About Garlic Chives:

Garlic chives are a lovely addition to any garden and they are also a culinary delight. I love them in salads and also in many hot dishes. I like to add them to hot dishes just before I take them off the heat so that they just wilt and stay brilliant green and pungent with flavor.

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Last summer I planted a Passion flower vine on a large trellis in the front yard. This year the foliage climbed to the top of the trellis and up there the blooms are smiling at the sky, but can’t even see them.

My solution to this dilemma is to cut the blossoms and bring them inside where I can enjoy the exotic, incredibly 3-dimensional flower, up close and personal. Because the stems are short I put each single flower in a cute little glass and they smile up at me at the kitchen table.

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One of my favorite garden perennials is Lady’s Mantle. It is an old-fashioned, classic English garden plant and it thrives in my yard in both sun and shade. Not only does it come back every year, but it self-seeds and starts lots of new plants. I use the volunteers to fill in the bare spots in the garden and as under plantings for tall flowers like lilies and roses.

I am intrigued by the distinctive beauty of the leaves; they unfold like a lady’s fan and hold droplets of water that look like cabochon diamonds. The blooms are tiny stars and cover the plants in airy clouds of chartreuse.

I have been making lots of bouquets for the past three or four weeks. I love them in simple little airy arrangements in clear glass. I also use them as filler, like baby’s breath, to showcase larger blossoms.

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Last Friday at lunchtime I visited Minto Growers Organic Farm and Produce stand on South River Road in Salem, OR. They not only have organic produce to buy and some u-pick (blueberries right now), but they are preparing and serving great food from a small trailer.

I ordered a raspberry shake, locally made sausage sandwich and a salad of butter lettuce, blue cheese dressing and roasted hazelnuts- see the photo of this one above. The food was delicious!

Is there anything better than right off the farm, especially when it’s organic and picked and prepared on the spot?   Of course you have to have the right cook too and they certainly do! Sally Miller is preparing the food for her daughter Elizabeth who is the organic farmer and owner of this sweet business!

Go to www.mintogrowers.com for more information.

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My rose arbor along my front sidewalk is in its full glory, saturated with blooms and filling the air with perfume! When I walk under the trellis, the fragrance is stunning and takes me out of this world and transports me to heaven.

The name of this climbing rose is City of York. It is a classic, old fashioned English rose, sometimes called The Wedding Rose.