Rosemary in Bloom and Indoors

This morning, I was greeted by 2 little blue flowers on my rosemary bush. I was so surprised. I mean, I know that plants have flowers, and that they bloom, but I have never ever had a rosemary that bloomed. In fact my rosemary's have often died before their time. 

I think I was determined this year to have success with my rosemary. I love this amazingly beautiful, and fragrant plant. In the past, I have planted it right in my garden, and when the deep cold of winter sets in, it just is too much for this warm weather loving plant. My sister lived in Texas (I am in PA), and her rosemary bush was gigantic, like an actual bush. 

What I have learned is to put my rosemary in pots, and move the pots in and out of the house. I move it in for the winter, usually starting in November, and take it out maybe late March. The problem is, or was, or has been that I never seemed to have one live through the winter, until March and go back outside. Last year was the first year where this very plant, pictured below lived through the winter, went outside and is not happy inside, blooming. 

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My actual Rosemary.

I actually use to say that I didn't have a green thumb. The truth is, I most definitely do. It was a matter of learning some skills, techniques and a whole lot of observation. That mixed with a mindset of not being afraid to fail. I think I use to be so afraid to "kill a plant." I have killed many plants. I would bargain to surmise that this may be a common thought for people who are not really developed in their plant skills. It truly does not feel great to kill a plant. 

I remember one time in college- I had a plant in my small dorm room. I can't believe I did this, but I had NO idea what I was doing with plants at that time. I had hot water in my dorm room and because the bathroom was down the hall, with sinks, and I did not want to go down there. I thought I would just water my plant with this hot water. Needless to say the plant died rather quickly (within a day or so), and I felt horrible. Thinking back on it actually, I may have been able to save it if I knew what I know now. 

There is a lot of risk taking in working with plants. I think when you approach them with hesitancy, and fear- they sense that. Now, I get in there and dig around the dirt, move, cut, trim, transplant and the plants keep on thriving. I never ever water my plants with hot water though! I do however use my herbal tea, after its cooled down and is no longer of interest to me. When I say cooled, like room temperature. I figure the plant will be enriched by the minerals in the tea. 

​As I was writing, I brought 2 rosemary pots in this November. The one was looking rather shabby, as it had gone a stretch without water. It is coming around though. The other looked very healthy when I brought it in and it is the plant that now has little blue blooms. 

I love what I learned about Rosemary in of course 'Rosemary Gladstar's' book Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide. 

"Rosmarinus means "dew of the sea. In reference to the plant's natural habitat on the warm, sunny hillsides bordering the sea." (Medicinal Herbs p. 84)

Rosemary has a great recipe for ensuring that your plants survive indoor settings. I followed her instructions and I have to say, she was exactly correct!
"It loves fertile soil and the full sunlight, though it will tolerate some shade. Water thoroughly, and don't let the soil dry out completely between waterings, but don't over water either. To have a really happy rosemary plant, mist the leaves weekly with a diluted seaweed spray." 
-Rosemary Gladstar (Medicinal Herbs p. 84)

I have done exactly that. I have given my plant full sun- or the best sunny window in my house. I have been watering it a lot. Every 2 to 3 days. I am sure what problem I ran into before was that I let the soil become way too dry in-between watering. I have not been misting with seaweed spray, but I have been misting the leaves when I water. I can tell it has made a difference. 

I am posting my own video on this lovely plant below. Go check it out on YouTube. My channel is Sheep Hill Herbs. 

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