I live on the third floor of a third floor 1927 condominium overlooking Seattle, Lake Union and Puget Sound. During August this year I’ve been pretty much traveling non-stop but I’ve started a tradition for when I’m home. What’s the first thing I do each morning after I make my latte and every night as the sun sets? I climb the stairs and sit on a reclining chair up on my roof. As James Taylor sang:
“On the roof, it’s peaceful as can be
And there the world below don’t bother me, no, no
So when I come home feeling tired and beat
I’ll go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I’ll get far away from the hustling crowd
And all the rat-race noise down in the street”
Up on MY roof, there is a large, open space and planter boxes brimming with plants surround the perimeter. Most of the boxes contain beautiful flowers – low maintenance of course as I’m hardly ever in town. One of the 7-foot by 16- inch planter boxes is filled with my herbs – along with a few marigolds to keep insects at bay. This year I finally planted the perfect mix of herbs for how I cook, and whenever I please I snip this and that: From left to right you’ll see Rosemary, Basil, French Tarragon, Dill, Sage, flat leaf parsley and mint. These seven plants are my holy grail of herbs that I use the most in the summer. Plus they continue to proliferate from June through most of September. Next year? I’m planting exactly the same starts.
Up on the roof….I keep humming that song by my buddy JT!
That roof. Your view! Those herbs!! Lucky you to enjoy it all.