We are so fortunate to have had a long lovely Fall. The Camellia Sasanquas are still blooming and have been gorgeous this year. Camellia Sasanquas grow well in all the gardens at Stoney Hill Farm. They are evergreen, drought resistant, deer resistant and they bloom in the Fall! They don’t ask for much yet give so much! The picture below is my Secret Garden.
This is the first blog post I’ve made in about 10 years. It’s hard to believe time goes as quickly as it does. So many changes over those years, most for the better but there have been some losses as well. In reading through the archives of this blog and as we move into winter I am reminded of loved ones who are no longer with us. My Great Pyrenees guardian dog Sally, Cottage Cat and so many others are no longer here at Stoney Hill Farm. But they will be forever in my heart.
In December 2023, my precious dog Phoebe Lovejoy passed also. She was my hiking buddy and constant companion for 10 years. She was a rascally girl and always filled with joy even up until the end. She was the epitome of her name. She and I weathered many storms together. She is missed and will be forever in my heart.
In August 2024, my darling Maggie Rose came to me. I believe it was a Divine orchestration and somehow Phoebe brought her to me. I was at a fund raiser for the local Humane Society and one thing led to another and before I knew it Maggie was my little girl. She is an Australian Shepherd like Phoebe and similar to Phoebe in some ways, but she is her unique sweet self. Maggie has brought me great joy and helps me around the farm as I tend the gardens and the other animals. She is a wonderful companion and I am so grateful for her.
About 6 years ago I planted 6 Asian Persimmon trees. This year we have had an abundant harvest with literally hundreds of persimmons! We have given them to everyone we know who enjoys persimmons. I have dehydrated, frozen, eaten LOTS of persimmons. Persimmons are great in smoothies, breads and baking and just to eat. We are grateful for such a wonderful harvest.
My new favorite plant is Roselle Hibiscus (keep in mind I have many favorite plants :-). My friend Donna gave me a plant in Spring. I’ve never grown it before but absolutely love it! It’s a beautiful plant with such a pretty flower.
The flowers are harvested after they bloom and close and the seed head begins to form.
The petals are removed and used immediately or dried for use later on.
They make the BEST tea that is nutritious and absolutely delicious with some honey mixed in. It’s one of my favorite teas! Of course next year I plan on growing many of these plants.
In October The Herbarie celebrated 25 years! I built The Herbarie from the ground up from my passion and my creativity and all that I have done has come from my heart. Some of our customers have been with us the entire 25 years! We are so grateful to all of our customers who allow us to do what we love doing! In 2026 we will be offering some new products for skincare and hair care so be sure to stay in touch! Our website is: www.theherbarie.com and we are now on Instagram and Facebook. We would love to hear from you!
I’ll leave you with our Yuletide Sasanqua! And I wish you all a wonderful winter filled with warmth, love and good cheer!!
