The Herb Garden

Well, here we are at the end of our second month of the new millennium. I have been busy the past few days collecting dried vines growing up the tree trunks in my yard. I'm using the vines to make wild vine wreath bases. Please check out my January 18th article titled, Making Wreath Bases for more information. Also, because of the nice weather we're having here in Florida, I have a profusion of flowers in my garden and have put some in the borax/cornmeal mixture to dry. For more information and instructions covering four drying methods, please read The Art of Drying Flowers, dated July 13, 1999. I have a couple of herbs growing, mostly parsley, so I thought it would be a good time to set out some plants and sow seeds for future drying.

The herbs I'm planting have an added bonus. Besides being colorful and fragrant, they will attract birds, bees and butterflies. Some of the plants I'll be planting and experimenting with are borage, feverfew, thyme, lemon balm, purple oregano, more parsley, sage, fennel and yarrow. The blooms of most of these herbs consist of tiny flowers. These flowers provide pollen and nectar for even the smallest insect. With so many insects abounding in your garden, insect eating birds will also be attracted to your oasis. So, while you're waiting to harvest and dry your herbs, enjoy the beautiful birds and butterflies fluttering around your colorful garden.

Most of these herbs I will be harvesting for the first time so it will be interesting to see how they turn out and how they can be used in dried craft creations and potpourri. Fennel, for example, has a lacy yellow flowerhead and can grown 3 to 5 feet tall. Borage has blue flowers that bloom midsummer through fall. Lemon balm has tiny white flowers and a strong lemon scent. Plants grow 1 to 2 feet tall. Common yarrow produces flattened clusters of red, white or pink flowers and average 2 feet tall. Purple oregano, really lovely, speaks for itself.

Snippet: Gardeners have used Tansy for centuries to keep insect pests, such as flies, ants and mosquitoes out of the house. Plant tansy close to your entry doors as a natural insecticide. The plant has small, button like yellow flowers and grows to 3 feet tall.

If you prefer to purchase herbs already dried, visit http://bunchofbloomers.com for a very good selection. Check their product listing and pictures of their products. Also, if you want to purchase seed packets or plant seedlings and dried items, please visit http://mvpimages.net/teaherbfarm/thf.htm. The company has 4000 varieties of seeds and 750 dried herbs to choose from.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic