It's Thyme to Party!

"O the green things growing, the green things growing,
The faint sweet smell of the green things growing!
I should like to live, whether I smile or grieve,
Just to watch the happy life of my green things growing."
-   Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

SPRING IS HERE!!! Well, it officially arrives tomorrow, but according to the herbs on my balcony, Mother Nature is ready to PARTY. This morning, suspicious that the weather was fantastic, I opened the door to the balcony and peered out. Not only was the sun shining and the weather balmy(ish), but the herbs I had left for dead over the winter had somehow revived themselves! Small, green leaves are sprouting in the midst of the dead branches of my rosemary, thyme, sage,oregano, and lavender.... and the CHIVES! These chives have never looked so healthy! All summer long they flopped lankily next to the oregano, sad and wilty no matter how much water they slurped up.

Look at the picture below- those crazy chives are even blooming! Unfortunately, the aloe plant in the background did not fare as well.  It now resembles a dead octopus, and is probably no longer very effective as a homeopathic burn remedy. God knows I need one of those on hand.

Seriously though, these plants lived through Snowmaggedon 2010. When the snow first hit, I threw a trashbag over them to keep them out of direct contact and just crossed my fingers. Who knew they would be so resilient? I can't wait for them to grow a bit stronger and more abundant so that I may feast on them once more! They seem to be thriving, and it makes me wonder if perhaps the constant sun they experienced last summer was keeping them from their full potential? They've reached this stage of growth sitting in mostly shade, so I'm starting to wonder... Anyone have any thoughts on this?

The sage, lavender and oregano did great last summer, but the chives, thyme and rosemary seemed a bit stunted. If anyone has any great tips on growing herbs, let me know! In the meantime, I will just enjoy the reemergence of greenery on my balcony.

Happy Friday!

 

Above: Thyme tentatively sprouting leaves in the corner

 

Above: delicate little bits of green appearing on the lavender.