Celery can be grown in Wisconsin, but may be difficult to grow. And it’s an annual plant so once it’s harvested, its life is over. An easy-to-grow herb called lovage tastes just like celery and it’s perennial so it continues to produce year after year. It dies back to ground level each winter and [Continue]
The International Herb Association has chosen peppers as the Herb of the Year for 2016. Peppers seem an odd choice, given that past winners have included plants that we more normally think of as herbs: lavender, dill, sage, thyme, basil and rosemary. However, one of the many definitions of an herb is a “useful [Continue]
One of the most rewarding parts of growing herbs is the pleasure you get from working around them in the garden. Herbs give off lovely scents and brushing against them releases a delightful fragrance. Here are some undemanding herbs for your garden. Parsley can be grown from seed, but it takes up to six weeks [Continue]
One of the definitions of herbs is “the useful plants.” What a dull and boring definition for a group of plants that impart so much joy through their beauty, scent, taste, and yes, usefulness. You need not have a dedicated herb garden to enjoy herbs. They can be tucked into a flower bed or vegetable [Continue]
Herbal Gifts Herbs from your garden can form the basis for a healing salve, lip balm, soothing hand cream or solid perfume. All have the same three ingredients: an herb-infused oil, beeswax and vitamin E oil. Varying the amount of infused oil and beeswax is what changes the outcome. The first step is to [Continue]
Herbs are often defined as “useful plants.” This means they are used as food or medicine or in crafts. But many herbs have an additional attribute – beauty – and can hold their own in gorgeous bouquets. Take basil for example. When growing basil for food, leaves are harvested before flowering for best flavor and [Continue]
The International Herb Association makes an annual selection for Herb of the Year based on the herb being outstanding in at least two of three categories: culinary, medicinal, or ornamental. IHA has selected Artemisia as its Herb of the Year for 2014. This is a rather unusual selection, because there are about 400 different species [Continue]
Well, this could get confusing. Anise, hyssop, and anise hyssop are three unrelated perennial plants, all having value in the garden, kitchen, or medicine chest. The overlap in common plant names is a lesson in the importance of using Latin names when you are looking for a specific plant. Anise – Pimpinella anisum – is [Continue]
When you hear the word “groundcover,” what is your immediate thought? Something to plant where grass won’t grow, maybe in a part of the yard you never visit or don’t want to mow? Boring, right? Things are about to change! Consider planting an herbal ground cover – suitable for those areas mentioned above, as well [Continue]
The International Herb Association has named horseradish its 2011 Herb of the Year. Wait – don’t stop reading because you don’t like horseradish – you’ll be surprised at the ways it can be used. More about that later. Horseradish is easy to grow. Typically, you’ll buy roots and plant them in early spring. It grows [Continue]