April 15, 2013 (Updated November 8, 2022)

Beautiful Weekend & Starting an Herb Garden!

by Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

32 comments

Hello friends! We had the most gorgeous weekend ever here in DC weather-wise – sunny with blue skies and crisp air in the low 70s. If only every weekend were so beautiful. 🙂

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I took advantage by hitting up an old friend, the C&O Canal, for a run! I hadn’t been out there in AGES – I missed it.

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Everything was looking very lush, green, and spring-like!

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My favorite part of the trail is where it opens up to the Potomac. Stunning!

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Basking in the sunshine:

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The miles went by quickly – before I knew it, we’d finished out 5 miles. Done and done! Total time: 42:36. Average pace: 8:31 minute/miles. Great run!

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Matt and I spent most of the weekend out and about – on Friday night we went out to dinner for our 6 month wedding anniversary (can’t believe how time has flown!), on Saturday night we were out and about with friends, and last night we went over to a friend’s place for a BBQ. But I did make us a delicious brunch on Saturday:

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Scrambled eggs with black beans, onions, green pepper, a little cheese, and topped with salsa! Grapefruit on the side. Yum, yum. I love black beans with eggs.

The other excitement of the weekend was starting the beginnings of an herb garden! Hometown Seeds sent me a kitchen herb value pack to test out over a year ago, but last year at this time I was busy studying for my grad school comprehensive exams, then we moved back from NC to DC, and then I started my hospital internship, so the seeds ended up getting totally lost and forgotten in the shuffle. I found them the other day and Matt and I decided to finally put them to good use!

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We hit up Home Depot and bought some railing boxes to put our herbs in once they’ve germinated. Matt’s task was putting them up!

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And my job was to get our seeds started in this kit we bought.

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A few of the seeds had to be soaked before we could plant them but the rest were ready to go.

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The kit comes with a lid that acts as a sort of greenhouse!

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Fingers crossed the seeds start growing so we can transfer them out into our herb boxes on the porch soon! Matt and I are both totally clueless about gardening, so if you have any tips, I’m all ears. 🙂

Hope you all had a great weekend, too! And stay tuned – I have a fun workout gear giveaway coming at ya’ll tomorrow!

- anne

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32 comments
  • sara @ fitcupcaker
    Ive never planted herbs or veggies or anything, just plants lol, and they usually die :( I would love to plant a veggie and fruit garden though! SO much cheaper than buying stuff at the store! That trail looks so fun to run on, if I liked running haha
    Reply
  • Emily @ The Swallow Flies
    I would LOVE to have an herb garden! Right now it's not really possible in my tiny apartment sans patio/balcony, but it's definitely on the to-do list for future living spaces. I can't even imagine how much money I'd save without having to buy basil, chives, etc. SO jealous! :)
    Reply
  • Angela
    I love the railing boxes! Perfect way to have a mini garden if you live in an apartment/condo like place.
    Reply
  • Kim @ Healthy Nest
    I was *JUST* looking at those starter kits at Home Depot yesterday! I'm itching to start an herb garden too but super intimidated by it. Just seeing that another person in the world is using those starter kits has already boosted my confidence a lot. :) Beautiful pics of the weather and scenery, wowza! We're still in the nasty/dirty early part of spring here in the midwest, and I can't wait to see some GREEN!
    Reply
  • Hayley @ Running on Pumpkin
    That run looks absolutely beautiful! I have never gardened before but I want one when I have my own house someday for fresh herbs and tomatoes!
    Reply
  • Kim @ Hungry Healthy Girl
    How cool! I've always wanted my own herb garden. Recipes usually call for such a small amount and fresh herbs can be so expensive. Can't wait to hear your thoughts and maybe I'll take the plunge and do one of my own.
    Reply
  • Kindal @ Liftingrevolution
    I love that the brand is called "Burpee" who doesn't want to be reminded of them all the time, even when looking at plants. or perhaps it's just my fitness freak self that got a chuckle from it. We just started some herbs too, fingers crossed they last longer than our last attempt!
    Reply
    • Anne
      Ha I know! Maybe if I do burpees in between planting they will grow better? ;)
      Reply
  • Heather
    I live in Fairfax, VA, and I've really been wanting to visit the C&O canal! What's the best way to get there? By car or metro?
    Reply
  • Kris S
    haha I love it, good luck with the herbs :)
    Reply
  • Katie H.
    I've never tried black beans with eggs, but I'll have to give it a shot. I love garbanzo beans in my egg white scrambles. I am trying my hand at gardening this week for the first time, too. We just bought a house, and this weekend I'll be cleaning out the gutters, weeding our gardens, adding top soil and mulch, and planting some bulbs. (Just typing all of that made me tired!) Good luck with your garden :-)
    Reply
    • Anne
      Good luck with yours too!
      Reply
  • Kelsey
    My mom has an herb garden and I definitely took it for granted, but it's just so convenient! There's nothing better than fresh herbs to add a little extra to a dish! :)
    Reply
  • Katie @ Talk Less, Say More
    My parents had a garden (multiple!) growing up but for whatever reason I did not inherit their green thumb. My plants always end up dying, especially seeds. I hope you have better luck than me! ;)
    Reply
    • Anne
      Me too - I'm usually not the best with plants either!
      Reply
    • Anne
      Lol so true. Majorly crushing on spring as well. :)
      Reply
  • Shel@PeachyPalate
    I've had the worst look with growing herbs but I blame the Irish climate!
    Reply
  • Trixie
    Yay for herbs! Honestly, they're probably one of the best things for novice gardeners (of which I am one!). Most herbs are relatively easy to care for, and a lot (mint, I'm looking at you) can thrive on borderline neglect! I had great luck with mint, basil, and rosemary last year. Once you have transferred them into your boxes, just make sure they're watered, but not over-watered. If the soil feels dry when you stick your finger in, it's time to water. The best thing about herbs is that you can cut a large portion of the plant down and it'll grow right back! And there's nothing better than using some of your herbs in your cooking!
    Reply
  • Zulma
    good luck Anne with the "home Garden" I have ever tried but no luck, did not work. By the way since you like beans, eggs.. maybe add rice and....prepares a "Gallo Pinto"!!. Have a nice day Anne!!
    Reply
  • Kathleen
    My tip for those choosing what to plant, is to only plant what you actually use... sounds logical, but you easily get carried away at the nursery. This year I'm doubling the basil and skipping the marjoram. Oh one more tip, do chives! They get pretty purple flowers and come back every year!
    Reply
  • Cindy
    Oh I want an herb garden so badly! Unfortunately I have the blackest of black thumbs.
    Reply
  • Elizabeth @ Positive Change
    What a fun project to do over the weekend! I have no green thumb at all, but it looks manageable! What a beautiful trail run location!
    Reply
  • Laura
    I don't have much of a green thumb and have managed to kill several basil plants!! Our house came w/ a garden planter already set up though so I did a garden last year and had about a 50% success rate. Trying again this year and hoping for better! The bugs got me last year-I didn't want to do chemicals so they could be organic but the bugs killed everything. I'm ready w/ some natural remedies this year!!
    Reply
  • Roadrunner
    Wow, lovely weather and location for a run! And happy 6-month anniversary! Love the herb garden. Look forward to updates! Good luck -
    Reply
  • Tran
    Hi Anne! I've been following your blog for a while not but just now commenting. For herbs they needs l
    Reply
    • Tran
      Oops! I got too happy with my enter key. Anyways they need lots of water and little sunlight especially Basil. I like to just water the herbs right at the roots so they get their food directly :) Sometime soil can build up nitrogen which ends up making the herbs sick or sick looking but you can get rid of that by changing the soil or flushing it out with lots of water. If you do any juicing you can take the reminents of the veggies or fruits and mix that in with the soil the herbs love that. Hope that helps! :)
      Reply
      • Anne
        That's so cool you can use the juicing remnants as a sort of compost - great tip! Thanks!
        Reply