I noticed masses of new season growth on my mature, very attractive and fragrant bay tree this afternoon.
I’m so glad I planted this tree ‘all those years ago’.
I’ve trained the tree into a standardised form in the middle of one of my annual garden beds.
The tree is an evergreen constant in this bed, along with the rosemary bush.
It gives structure and purpose while the rest of the bed morphs annually around it.
When the bay tree starts to look like a shaggy pom pom on a stick, I know it’s bay leaf drying time!
The strong dry winds today make perfect conditions for this.
The wind is drying off the humidity in the air, and this starts to desiccate the leaves once removed from the tree.
Thankfully the dust (from the dust storm these winds are part of) was not that bad where I live, today.
I’ll dry my bay leaves indoors naturally over a few weeks.
Since my drying equipment is taken up with so many other tasks such as flower and lavender drying, at present, I will be drying the bay leaves very simply-in paper bags.
I’ve decided bay leaves and bay leaf powder will be my mission this season.
I’m imagining the many uses and projects these leaves will have–culinary powders/leaves, immune-boosting teas, fragrant sprays, bug repellant sachets…the list goes on.
After all these years I still get a thrill from this side of gardening.
When you actually use what you grow, it multiplies the already exponential benefits of gardening.💕🌸
P.S If you’d like to see my daily garden updates visit and follow me on VintageTrish Instagram
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VintageTrish 