This week in the garden.

This past week in the garden we have continued to amend the soil, turn the beds, and plant new crops. The garden benefited from the artistic efforts during SF Refresh. The picture above is of a trellis we decorated with statements of affirmations and forgiveness written on paper and tied up with yarn.
This aloe was planted in the medicinal bed. It is doing well and has started flowering in a bright orange fashion. Aloe is a medicinal plant used for skin. Growing around the aloe we can see the yerba buena, which is a native to the Bay Area, and used to grow all over San Francisco. It is a mildly sedating herb that is part of the mint family and can be used as a tea (often times with chamomile) to calm and bring on sleep.

Here is our lovely medicinal bed that is a thriving and exciting part of the garden. The little pink marguarite daisy in the background has been flowering all year (!). In the foreground there is the ancient and cure-all St. John's Wort. It was given that name hundreds of years back, because its little yellow flowers arrive approximately around St. John's Day, which is on June 24th and coincides with the Summer Solstice and Midsummer's Day. The herb is known for brightening the mood.