About 40 years ago I discovered herbs, and then, as now I learned that\u2026<\/p>\n
I have always been fascinated by these wonderful plants every since that time 40 years ago when I first discovered them.\u00a0 The romance and stories, their uses to treat mankind\u2019s maladies throughout many, many centuries, how they were and are used in cooking, and the wonderful aromas and flowers of so many of these wonderful plants that are called \u201cherbs.\u201d<\/p>\n
My Herb Garden \u2013 Spring 2013<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In January of 1973 my I found a book at the local library.\u00a0 That day I was browsing in the library.\u00a0 The book that caught my eye was titled Herbs Their Culture and Uses<\/i> by Rosetta E. Clarkson.\u00a0 The book was subtitled The Complete Guide to Planning, Growing, and Harvesting Your Herb Garden<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Now, before I continue, I must tell you about the author Rosetta E. Clarkson (1892-1950).\u00a0 For many years she was an author about herbs and their uses as well as a great teacher about herbs. Indeed, she wrote and published a monthly booklet, The Herb Journal<\/em>, which was mailed to thousands gardeners for free. \u00a0The articles in these monthly booklets became the foundation for her first book, Magic Gardens: \u00a0A Modern Chronicle of Herbs <\/em>and Savory Seeds<\/em> first published in 1939. \u00a0This delightful book is still available under a different title, Herbs and Savory Seeds: \u00a0Culinaries, Simples, Sachets, and Decoratives<\/em>.<\/p>\n Through her writings Mrs. Clarkson inspired many people to discover the practical benefits of growing their own herbs. \u00a0She described her own herb growing experiences giving suggestions for what worked and what did not. \u00a0She had a flair for describing the history and romance of herb plants through her writings as well. \u00a0Her readers were enthralled by her tales about these plants that had served mankind for centuries as flavorings, medicines, and sources of perfumes and pleasure.<\/p>\n She encouraged and inspired many gardeners in her day to take up herb growing as a means of adding new flavors to cooking and bringing the herb garden\u2019s delightful scents into their homes. \u00a0Indeed, I was inspired to start an herb garden forty ago as a result of reading her 1942 book, Herbs Their Culture and Uses.<\/em><\/p>\n My Potted Herb Garden with Bay Tree \u2013 Spring 2013<\/p>\n<\/div>\n So that spring, I started an herb garden in my backyard.\u00a0 Most of the herb plants I started from seed.\u00a0 A few I was able to find as plants that I transplanted.\u00a0 I was overly ambitious and I started out with about thirty five herbs.\u00a0 For example, I started common thyme, rosemary, lavender, parsley, sage, bene sesame, lovage, dill, basil, coriander, hyssop, lemon balm, peppermint, spearmint, marjoram, oregano, lovage, horehound, costmary, chervil, and chives.\u00a0 Plus there were many more that I can\u2019t remember.<\/p>\n My wife and I were excited about this new venture. Yes that when I realized that herbs are my passion.\u00a0 We started learning ways of including them into our cooking, baking, and in the house.<\/p>\n My Mint Garden \u2013 Spring 2013<\/p>\n<\/div>\n My wife loved the smell of mint \u2013 both the peppermint and spearmint.\u00a0 And we soon discovered that the two mints made wonderful teas by themselves.\u00a0 In addition, the mints really added \u201czip\u201d when we used them with regular tea as well.\u00a0 Plus, whenever we picked them and brought them inside for use, the aroma that filled our home was wonderful!<\/p>\n Another herb that my wife and I dearly loved was basil.\u00a0 We learned to use this herb generously whenever we were making spaghetti sauce.\u00a0 We would pick some thyme, marjoram, oregano, and basil to use as flavorings in the spaghetti sauce.\u00a0 The basil had a strong aroma, like the mints.\u00a0 This wonderful aroma would soon fill our home with its delightful scent.<\/p>\n By the end of the growing season that year \u2013 1973 \u2013 we had dried and stored many of the herbs we grew.\u00a0 We used them throughout the winter and planned for the coming year.<\/p>\n Bergamot \u2013 Bee Balm \u2013 Oswego Tea<\/p>\n<\/div>\n That next year I discovered what has proved to be one of my favorite herbs, bergamot \u2013 also known as bee balm or Oswego tea.<\/p>\n That\u2019s how I got started, and that\u2019s why herbs are my passion.\u00a0 Between 1973 and 2006 we moved many times, but I still have an herb garden (as shown in the pictures on this page.)<\/p>\n They are still my passion; I still grow and use them, and I am still learning about them.<\/p>\n Rosetta Clarkson in her first book, Magic Gardens<\/em>, says that the herb garden is truly a magic garden.<\/p>\n \u201cIt satisfies the spirit, mind, and body of every type of person\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Then she compares a flower garden to an herb garden, noting that flower gardens are short-lived while herb gardens continue to hold one\u2019s interest throughout the growing season.<\/p>\n At this point, one might ask the question, \u201cwhy?\u201d \u00a0The answer to that question is multifaceted. Mrs. Clarkson quickly states that herbs do not depend on their flowers. \u00a0True there are some herbs that are renowned for their showy blooms, such as calendula, Oswego tea (bergamot), lavender, and garlic chives.<\/p>\n Yet, there are many other facets herb plants that hold our attention. \u00a0We see the different colors of the herb plants themselves from bright-yellow-green to dark-green to silvery-grey. We note the variety of herb leaf sizes, from narrow, pine-like to large, flat oval.\u00a0 Also, we feel textures of their leaves, from fuzzy to smooth.\u00a0 In addition, there are the many fragrant aromas arising from their essential oils \u2013 the clove-like basil, the piney rosemary, the refreshing spearmint, and the lemony lemon balm.<\/p>\n Also, Rosetta Clarkson tells us how herb gardens existed long before flower or vegetable gardens. \u00a0Indeed, vegetable gardens were born when man decided to separate certain herb plants such as beets and leeks into vegetable gardens, and later separated many flowers from herb gardens to create flower gardens as well.<\/p>\n Herbs can still be used in both vegetable and flower gardens.\u00a0 For instance, thyme is lovely in flower rock gardens because it low-growing and has tiny, attractive flowers. \u00a0And nowadays, herbs, such as basil, bee balm and borage, are often used in vegetable gardens as companions to tomatoes. \u00a0(There are many herbs that can be used as companions to vegetables to deter insects from attacking vegetable plants.)<\/p>\n Mrs. Clarkson concludes her case for including herbs by noting there is a good chance if you have a garden that you have grown herbs. \u00a0For example, if you make jars of pickles, most likely you\u2019ve grown dill.<\/p>\n She suggests that you begin your adventure into herb gardening by growing just a few herbs and using them. \u00a0For example, you could start with parsley, sage rosemary and thyme. When you do start an herb garden, Mrs. Clarkson says you\u2019ll be so delighted, you\u2019ll wonder how you ever got along without herbs.\u00a0 For as long as I\u2019ve been growing herbs, I\u2019ve found this case, so eloquently stated by Rosetta E, Clarkson, to be true<\/p>\nHerbs Are My Passion.<\/h3>\n
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