Earthly Garden

Let’s hear it for herbs! These reliable and versatile plants have been serving mankind for centuries as medical and culinary aids, as well as for their delicate and distinctive fragrances. The word herbs can have a variety of meanings but to the gardener it usually refers to a plant or plant part that has some medical value, savory or aromatic qualities. Or perhaps a combination of all three! A recorded medicinal use of herbs goes back to the earliest Chinese civilizations, to the ancient Greeks and Romans, and up to the present day. Recently there has been a renewed interest in herbs for medical purposes.

Traditionally herbs were grown in formal gardens, and many of us can picture some of these formal estates in Europe with their extensive herb gardens. Today, herbs are grown more informally and will transform even the humblest of settings into wonderland of scents and sights. Mix herbs in your flower beds for a medley of colors, shapes, and textures. Herbs also fit very well with many vegetable gardens and by doing a little research, you will find that many herb plants in the vegetable garden can become an excellent companion plant that may help prevent certain insect and disease damage. Also many herbs have flowers that will attract bees thus helping pollination.

Herbs do not have to be confined to a permanent place. They make excellent container plants and as such, can then be moved around as needed. Try growing some culinary herbs neat the kitchen door or in a sunny kitchen window. Sweet basil would be a good choice, and having some on you patio or deck you will be able to enjoy its spicy scented leaves as well as having them close by for use in cooking.

Nearly all herbs need a sunny location. Do not plant in shade and be sure to provide a well drained soil. Plant some of the fragrant varieties along a walk or soil. Plant some of the fragrant varieties along a walk or path so you can enjoy their scent as you pass them. Some like rosemary can be carried over from year to year if given winter protection (try treating it as a house plant in the winter). Cut herbs early in the morning after the dew has dried and remember that most will be at the height of their flavor when the flowers just start to bloom on the plant itself. (MN 07)