Some of the trees are bare and I’m ankle deep in leaves. Nights are cold and the days have been warm. I’m watching the temperatures, hoping for more red peppers before the first frost. Cabbage will soon be sauerkraut.
I tinctured some Echinacea root today. This is a chunk of root from a 3 or 4 year old plant. What’s left will grow back nicely in the spring.
It’s best to use grain alcohol when tincturing roots or bark. There’s no need to dry the root first. It actually makes a superior tincture with fresh root. Wash the root well, cut and macerate the pieces and follow the same procedure I describe for the whole plant tincture.
The tomato patch is looking grim but the fruits are still ripening on the vines. There are still a few bright spots in the gardens.
This season is coming to an end but I’m still picking a few things every day. This has been a wonderful year in the gardens and I’m already excited and making plans for the Spring.
handmade. homegrown. beautiful life 
You’re like me – EVERY year – as soon as I am winding down in the garden, I always start thinking of next year with the highest of hopes.
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One of the best parts of being a gardener!
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Cynthia,
I take care of five village perennial gardens just outside my backdoor and this is a timely post for me. I have never done this before but I am really looking forward to it and will find the other post you referred to right now. I’ve always wanted to do this! Love your blog!
Ginene
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How beautiful that must be! I can’t wait to see posts with your beautiful pictures of them. I love your blog too and will be looking at your holiday posts again soon, they make me feel so Christmassy!
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Beautiful pics! I want to plant some veggies in my patio garden next year. As of now I only have very hardy flowers, rosemary and thyme.
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Container gardening is an art in itself. I love when people mix flowers and veg and herbs together. You California girls are lucky to have such an extended season. Your rosemary probably gets huge.
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It’s the best growing plant I have, I could probably grow enough to sell!
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The echinacea flowers look really pretty. What do you use the tincture for?
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It’s also called purple coneflower, a native perennial and it self sows very readily. I use it medicinally, mostly for inflammation. It’s a popular herbal remedy here in the states. Often it is dried and taken in capsule form but tinctures are a lot more effective and more expensive. Most people use it as an immune booster and take it at the first sign of a cold or flu.
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Thanks for all that information!
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You’re welcome. Thanks for the visit!
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