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Dragonfly Journal
~ The Whiskey Porch Blog ~

Growing Clary Sage

7/13/2022

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I grow many different plants in my small downtown garden here in Prescott.  And because of our high desert climate it can be interesting to learn what works, how to help each plant be at it's spectacular best, and at the same time make it a fun and manageable landscape.

Most of what I grow here would easily be characterized as water-wise, possibly native, cottage garden plants, and the vast majority as herbs.  Some are all four, but not always.

They always say:  know your climate (or your zone) when planning a garden.  In other words, pick plants that will have a high chance for success in your particular corner of the world.  I promise this will make it more successful and infinitely more enjoyable.

Those of you who are unable or unwilling to devote a lot of time and energy to your garden will thank me for introducing you to this week’s featured plant. Actually known as an herb that thrives on neglect, clary sage is a showy, fragrant, easy-to-grow favorite with abundant medicinal and herbal properties. 

​Let's get to it...

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5 Ways to Celebrate Simplicity day

7/12/2022

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National Simplicity Day is today, every year on the 12th of July. 

This is sort of a special "holiday" for us here at The Whiskey Porch because it's at the core of what we are all about.  After all, our tag line is "cultivating contentment & possibility in a smaller, simpler & more beautiful lifestyle."  

And, now more than ever, it just feels like we are all seeking refuge and inspiration to lift our spirits as we recover from this wild insanity of the last few years.  So it goes without saying, that finding pleasure and calm in simple ideas is something many of us are striving for now.

Ibis the Yellow Lab enjoying simple pleasures with a BIG stick
Ibis the Yellow Lab. #belikeibis

​The celebration originated in honor of Henry David Thoreau, who lived in Concord, Massachusetts from July 12, 1817 to 1862.   

First, who was he, and why does it matter?  And then, I've got 5 Great Ways for You to Celebrate Simplicity Day.
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Growing Monarda

6/30/2022

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This time of year, when the abundance is fresh, I like to feature a few plants that I grow, and recommend for the Prescott high desert climate.  

Most of these would easily be characterized as water-wise, possibly native, cottage garden plants, and the vast majority as herbs.  Some are all four, but not always.

Today, I'm featuring a lovely and tough cottage garden plant that is water-wise, and is considered an herb offering various health and well-being benefits:  Monarda.  And in this case it's Monarda didyma.
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Let's get to it...

Monarda raspberry wine in a Prescott garden

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Growing Clematis

6/23/2022

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Summer is in full swing here in the high country of Northern Arizona.  And, for me that means that I'm between blooms on my clematis vines. 

The varieties that I'm growing put out a huge flush in late spring and since I pruned the vines, they should flower again in late summer or early fall.  I'm hopeful, and meanwhile I wanted to share a little bit about this wonderful plant along with images from my spring flush.

How to grow clematis in the high desert


Backround

Clematis is a luxurious old-fashioned climber that is a showstopper in part-sun here in the high desert.
​
Growing in most temperate parts of the world, Clematis is a showy and vigorous vine with over 400 wild varieties. 

The name comes from the classical Greek "klema", meaning vine or tendril, and it's a plant that has been collected and admired since the middle ages. 

There is a bit to know about what type you have (or want to grow) which affects how to care for and prune your vine for success.  Clematis varieties are grouped into one of three categories - spring bloomers, repeat bloomers, and summer or fall bloomers.   They generally do best in part sun, with their roots cool.  And they do best with something vertical to climb on, or can be left to tumble down from a raised location.  They are perennials and will bloom more actively after they are established for a couple seasons.
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Summer Stars

6/21/2022

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Today is summer solstice.  "Midsommar" in Sweden.  I wanted to celebrate by sharing a lovely poem by an American Pulitzer prize winning artist and author who's parents were Swedish.  He lived in North Carolina and his home is now a National museum.
​
Bend low again, night of summer stars.
So near you are, sky of summer stars,
So near, a long arm man can pick off stars,
Pick off what he wants in the sky bowl,
So near you are, summer stars,
So near, strumming, strumming,
So lazy and hum-strumming.

From Smoke and Steel, by Carl Sandburg, 1920.

Learn about Carl Sandburg
Glowing sunflower with the blue sky and clouds behind
Sunflower by S. Carlson

However you celebrate, be sure it's outdoors and slow down to really observe and find the beauty all around you.  Let me know in the comments below what you think about this sweet poem and what you did to celebrate!

~Miriam

more inspiration

If you're looking for more inspiration, check out the other blog posts about Living with the Seasons here.
Living with the Seasons
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11 Picnic spots for 'eat outside day' in prescott, az

6/17/2022

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This week we are thinking about and celebrating local places, local-ness, the beautiful scenery we are lucky to have, and picnics.  Let me explain!

Tomorrow is International Picnic Day, not that we need a special holiday to make a picnic worthy of celebrating.

And since we want to share time with Dad on Sunday, I think we should all spend the day outside  with our family and friends enjoying a picnic.  There's nothing that sounds bad about that, right?  Consider that aside from some well-earned downtime, there are health and general wellness benefits too!!  

  • It's a great way to slow down, leave that cell-phone and laptop behind... take a mental break
  • Get a boost of natural vitamin-D, something many of us need more of
  • Stretch out, breathe the fresh air, have no-where to go
  • Food always tastes better when enjoyed outdoors (right?)
  • Elevate all your senses by observing your surroundings
  • And if you choose to hike it in, you'll work up that appetite plus get a good workout
  • Most of all spend some quality, undistracted time with your fellow picnic-ers


Keep reading to see my list of local Prescott picnic-worthy spots.

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Before & After:  California Villa

6/1/2022

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A few years ago, I did a huge project on a property in the Sierra Foothills community of Granite Bay.  

It was a really neat property - 1.2 acres, full of large oak trees, a large spanish-style home with full access to a 10 acre riparian reserve with a seasonal creek, large cottonwood trees, and lots of wildlife. 

​Thing is, it was situated on a local neighborhood road that was a main route to the nearby elementary school.  And although the property offered so much nature and beauty, it didn't have any privacy at all from the street. 

Keep reading to find out about:
  • The Ask
  • Before
  • And After
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What makes porches so alluring?

5/21/2022

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I've always been enamored with the Craftsman Bungalow - but didn't even realize it at first. 

I remember spending time in the Pasadena California area house hunting for a possible job move decades ago and just being hypnotically drawn to the older bungalows that abound there.  I didn't know then, but it was a truly American architectural style that was also common all over San Francisco where I'd lived most of my life. 

​Looking back, the feature that always caught my eye first and drew me in, was the front porch.

A generous front porch with a rocker
Craftsman bungalow front porch

​And now, owning and living in a 1924 craftsman bungalow in northern Arizona, I find myself excited beyond words that we opened up the front porch which had been enclosed somewhere in the 60's or  70's.  We started that whole renovation project in summer 2019, and it wasn't really finished until summer 2021, but it was so worthwhile.   (You can find out more about that project here:  Juniper Hill Cottage.)

It feels glorious to be in that space now without the constraint of the walls and windows.  Friends and neighbors come into the space and just marvel at how delicious it is.  We try to imagine why anyone would have chosen to enclose this fabulous space.

Every chance we get, which is pretty much daily, we end the day on this exceptional front porch.  Never get tired of it or the view.


I often find myself wondering --
What is it that makes front porches so alluring?

So I thought I'd write a piece to explore the idea.
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Porches of prescott - May 2022 Feature

5/11/2022

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Spring in Prescott means that we are running a few local porch features to share some inspiration and sweet sittin' spot ideas.

It's not about being perfect, or impressive or huge, but an authentic and lived-in porch that makes it feature-worthy.

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porches of prescott - april 2022 feature

4/19/2022

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Every spring I like to run a few local porch features to share some inspiration and a ton of the coolness from our neighbors' favorite sittin' spots.

Although it's spring here, we have some pretty wild swings from day to day and week to week.  That's the nature of spring in the high country of Arizona.  

I've got a couple more downtown porches on deck and if you're interested in having yours featured, keep scrolling to find out how.
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    Hey there.  I'm Miriam ~ and I've been doing this my whole life.  It's my passion.  ​

    Miriam Carlson-Maier

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