Thursday, August 8, 2019

WALNEY VISITOR CENTER - PART 3 - WHAT'S GROWING IN THE GARDEN?

Before we went away I didn't have time to share our last visit to the Walney Visitor Center. Those posts are here and here.  We found the garden gate unlocked on our second visit, so we were able to look around.  

The information on the garden and its contents was right next to the entrance.
Above are the fruit trees and below you can see the tobacco plants I mentioned in my previous post.
The Corn was nearby.
I am not sure what this little bird is.  Does anyone know?  Gregg took the photo.
I am wondering whether its coloring was a trick of the lighting.  We went when the sun was high overhead, rather than the late evening of the previous visit.  It was very evident that the time for taking photos is either in the early hours or the late afternoon when the sun is going down.  We didn't mind because the butterflies and bees were abundant, and very interesting to watch.
I don't know much about Lemon Balm and the pretty flowers growing next to them attracted a lot of white butterflies and bees.  The ID marker said they were called Anise Hyssop and it is a deer resistant plant.
The flutter bug is a Cabbage White Butterfly.  You have to scroll down the page on the link to see their photographs.
Local residents from the nearby beehive were  enjoying them too, and other bees from out of town.  If you go to this link it has 20 very interesting Honey Bee facts.
I was surprised but happy to see the Thai Basil.
Thai Basil and Italian Basil were growing side by side.  We are fans of both herbs, but ever since we discovered how much we enjoyed Thai dishes and making our own, we love Thai Basil.  It was very difficult to come by years ago, but now we have a local Asian supermarket where it is always in stock.   The difference in taste is such that you would never mix the two herbs for Thai or Italian cuisine.  Thai Basil has more of a licorice taste and has a much stronger flavor.  I like to eat a couple of leaves right after washing them, before being putting into a recipe.  I use Italian basil whenever I make a spaghetti sauce.
The tomato plants were looking very healthy.
Recently we were given fresh, home-grown tomatoes from a friend's garden.  Nothing like getting them that fresh is there?
And that was our look around the garden.  I took a few photos of the bees just across the way.  No, I wasn't that close as I used the long lens on our camera.
The bees were making their way into the hive.

Thank you for taking that virtual walk with us and have a great weekend.  I will be back on Monday with a recipe.




48 comments:

  1. Thank you so much.
    It is chilly, windy and damp here today so my virtual walk was more than welcome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are always welcome EC, I am very glad this garden took the chill off :)

      Delete
  2. Great pictures, and I learned something new about basil. I never knew there were different kinds--Thai and Italian.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I didn't either up until the time I moved back here.

      Delete
  3. I have never heard of these two different kinds of basil, it is interesting to see one. You also captured a bee in flight, I can almost hear it buzz! Pictures 9 & 10 are my favorites; I love how you captured the insects on the flowers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ginny, the bee was a happy happenstance :) Very happy you enjoyed the post.

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. It certainly was Lady Fi, loved how it looked.

      Delete
  5. Wow,the garden is stunning, I dream about something like this☺

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a small garden relatively speaking but every inch is as you say :)

      Delete
  6. you can use lemon balm in tea or put it in a salad, but that leaf doesn't look anything like my lemon balm, seemed too small, my lemon balm is a lighter green as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's interesting Linda, if ever I come across it I will try that. Thanks for the tip.

      Delete
  7. Hello, pretty images from the garden. I love the shots of the flowers and bird. Maybe a Chipping Sparrow, the lighting is bright? Hope your day is great, happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Eileen, it was very bright that day. I really needed my sunglasses :)

      Delete
  8. everything there is so GREEN and beautiful. my favorite photos are the cabbage patch butterfly, the photos above and below. just stunning....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sandra, and yes, very lush, very green. It was lovely!

      Delete
  9. You can't beat a nice walk in a garden. Those bees look healthy and happy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, thanks Sharon, they certainly did and very, very active :)

      Delete
  10. Replies
    1. I agree Gosia, and I always enjoy going there. Thank you :)

      Delete
  11. Replies
    1. I will have to ask what they do with the produce :)

      Delete
  12. Hi Denise,
    Another delightful place to visit, the vegetable garden looks very well looked after and the tomato plants are in front of my crop.
    But the favourite has to be the busy bees.
    All the best,
    John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi John, so glad you enjoyed it. Yes, those bees are a fave of mine too :) All the best to you John.

      Delete
  13. Another great set of photos. Have a good weekend, Diane

    ReplyDelete
  14. A wonderful, restorative sensory experience just to read your post! Thank you, D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you feel like that Cloudia, thank you for telling me :)

      Delete
  15. What a terrific tour. Didn't realize there are different basil. Y'know? I don't think I've ever had Thai food.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anni, glad you liked it. Thai food is very popular in this area :) We found out about it when we first moved here 30 years ago nearly.

      Delete
  16. Nice walk...and I don't recall which post you had the link to the Carolina Log Furniture, but wanted to say I clicked on it and see so much stuff I like.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rose, that's great, glad you found it interesting :)

      Delete
  17. What a lush, productive garden. Little wonder the bees are so busy! I must keep an eye out for Thai basil, didn't know it existed. Thanks for the info.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're very welcome Pauline, I will be interested if you find some.

      Delete
  18. Thank you for taking us a walk round to see what was in that garden. I have Lemon Balm in my garden and it make for a very refreshing drink in the summer time It is very easy to grow. I am back from my travels at least for a little while so thank you for your comments during that time when I could not comment. Have a fabulous weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Margaret. I shall look forward to your holiday photos. I wish you a great weekend also :)

      Delete
  19. Lots of healthy stuff growing there. Are locals allowed to pick the herbs and vegetables?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diane :) We were offered produce one time when there was a gardener working. I would like to know the answer to who gets the produce myself.

      Delete
  20. Whta a great looking garden - lots of veggies and Thai Basil - I feel a curry coming on!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Stewart, funny you should say that ;) Off to get the ingredients tomorrow!

      Delete
  21. Wow! It clearly must have taken quite a bit of work to get these planted, adn the garden looks so lovely. I recently grew some sweet basil that didn't die (lol), and it turned out really well. I wonder how many people ran off with goodies from the garden?(lol) Hugs and Happy Sunday! RO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi RO, they make the most of this garden. We have always been impressed with it. As for the running off with goodies, only the bees would know :)

      Delete
  22. Beautiful and instructive garden! I have seen you mention Thai basil before in your recipes and have been glad you give alternatives as I’ve never seen it here (and Eugene is supposed to be a foody City! I’m disappointed with us.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sallie, it is fun to look around and I hope you get to try the Thai basil sometime. I would like to know what you think of it.

      Delete
  23. wow! you have corn field! I know it's very hard to grow. The other days we visited a friend's farm and harvested some corns

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Small Kucing and greetings :) Not our cornfield but one close by. How lovely you have a friend's farm to visit. Wonderful that you can bring home fresh corn.

      Delete

Thank you so for taking the time to leave a comment. I enjoy reading them very much and always try to return a visit. As I do monitor comments it may take a while for them to appear, even quite late depending on what is going on and how much time I am able to spend on the computer.

I appreciate all who look at my blog, but I won't be publishing any businesses. If you are only able to publish anonymously, would you sign your name please, and leave an addy so I can return your visit where possible? Thank you!