Every year the Herb Society of America selects an herb of the year. Possible choices are evaluated based on being outstanding in at least two of three major categories: medicinal, culinary or decorative. The 2007 Herb of the Year selection is lemon balm, Melissa officinalis. Past selections have included oregano, echinacea, garlic, sage, [Continue]
I was doing research on the Perennial Plant Association’s 2007 Perennial Plant of the Year, which is Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low,’ commonly called catmint. I started thinking of the many garden plants named after cats and dogs. First, some information on ‘Walker’s Low.’ Introduced in Europe in 1988, ‘Walker’s Low’ catmint has become increasingly [Continue]
Just because you don’t have a vegetable garden doesn’t mean there is nothing to eat growing in your yard or flower garden. Most herbs have flowers that are edible, as do many pretty annuals and perennials. Fancy restaurants use colorful blossoms as garnishes and as flavoring ingredients in many dishes and you can [Continue]