One of the many definitions of the word “herb” is “a useful plant.” It may be useful for culinary, medicinal, aromatic and/or craft purposes. Often an herb is valuable in more than one category. Herbs are generally grown more for these useful purposes than for their beauty, as they often lack the splashy splendor [Continue]
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]
The French call basil herbe royale. In Italy, basil has been and still is a sign of love. The name basil is a derivative of basileus, Greek for king, and in India, people worship basil more highly than kings. In Haiti, it belongs to the pagan love goddess Erzulie as a powerful protector, and [Continue]
Even the most experienced gardeners are sometimes intimidated when it comes to growing herbs. They shouldn’t be. Growing herbs is no different than growing any other flower or vegetable. Herbs come in annual and perennial varieties and can be started from seed or from purchased plants. They need to be matched with the [Continue]
Dandelions are the enemy of many a lawn perfectionist. This year, think twice before dousing your lawn with weed killer – those dandelions have many health benefits. When the leaves first appear, they are sweet and tender. After the flowers appear, the leaves become more bitter. Dandelion leaves are a healthy addition to [Continue]
Dill is easy to grow and beautiful to look at, and therefore deserves a place in the herb, vegetable and flower gardens. Dill is a tender annual easily grown from seed. Its ferny green leaves and showy yellow flowers, along with its three foot height, make it a good summer background to tall [Continue]
Lavender is one of the sweetest of herbs. Besides being used in potpourris, perfumes and cooking, it is a lovely garden ornamental. We are about as far north as lavender can be grown but with a little care it does very well here. The most common type of lavender available in local [Continue]
Rosemary is an easy-to-grow versatile herb. It is a perennial evergreen shrub with grayish-green needle-like leaves and pale blue flowers that grow at the branch tips. The most important feature of rosemary, however, is its fragrance. It has been described as “pungent, somewhat piney, mint-like yet sweeter, with a slight ginger finale.” In [Continue]
I am an organic gardener, so you will never see me write anything in this column about applying pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. There is an alternate organic method for solving just about every garden problem. There is, also, the alternate mind set. For example, my lawn is not full of weeds; it is a [Continue]