This past weekend was the annual Asheville Herb Festival.  I braved the Saturday crowds to pick out new plants to fill up the garden.

Here’s some of what I got: Brune d’Hiver lettuce, lettuce mix, Rainbow chard, Lacinato kale, Morris Heading collards, eggplant (Black Beauty & Rosa Bianca), cucumbers, (Edmonson & Marketmore), tomatillos, tomatoes (Roma, Mr. Stripey [one of my faves!], Peacevine, & Arkansas Traveler), zucchini (including Ronde de Nice), Burgundy okra, bell peppers (including Carolina Wonder), cayenne, jalapenos, Como di Toro Rosso (Italian heirloom pepper), & luffa.

Hover over the photos to discover what it is!

And to add to the herb collection: calendula, wild bergamot, cilantro, lemon mint, basil (Thai & Genovese), Silver Sagebush, ashwaganda, catnip, dill, & clary sage.

Also, beautiful flower that will no doubt make me cry when it drops its unusual & signature red rope of petals: Amaranth (Love Lies Bleeding), & Red Zinger Hibiscus for a tasty tea.

After a few hours with hands in the dirt, everything’s in the ground (and a few in pots).  No better way to end a day like this than a big draught of one of my favorite local beers – Black Mocha Stout, by Highland Brewing Company (Asheville).

Now begins part of the joy of the warm weather season here in the mountains – watching the garden grow.