Spring brings gardeners out of hibernation. Unfortunately, there are hours of weeding in my future…but I love having a small garden near the house. (thanks to my husband….a farmer wannabe) It’s a fun time, too, to study a little botany. I’ve been reading about herbs. Used for both culinary and medicinal purposes, herbs are fun to study and may be easy to grow.
MINT (on my list for this year)
I have read that mint is an herb that can become invasive in a garden, so it is wise to place it in a large pot. (oops…too late…already in the ground…and I had a friend warn me about this too, so we’ll have to replant that one!) The leaves are great for seasoning and are felt to help indigestion. Different types of mint have different flavors…..think peppermint, spearmint, etc.
FENNEL (also a new hopeful addition)
Fennel, pictured above, is a herb with yellow flowers. it is a member of the carrot family. It’s supposed ability to help eyesight was immortalized by Longfellow in a poem in 1842, titled The Goblet of Life.
- Above the lower plants it towers,
- The Fennel with its yellow flowers;
- And in an earlier age than ours
- Was gifted with the wondrous powers
- Lost vision to restore.
ROSEMARY (been growing beside our home for years)
DILL (already in our garden)
My favorite! I love it in salads. However, my family does not like it quite as much as I do so my salad always has more than theirs. It is a member of the celery family. A famous member….think Dill Pickles! And is has some antibacterial activity against Staph aureus.
CILANTRO (also called coriander – growing now)
Again, not much known medicinal use. But then, again, there may be benefits yet to be discovered!
OK…I’m done. My green thumb is not very well developed, but I’m trying.
