SAGE-A VERSATILE LANDSCAPE PLANT
grown on his estates along with a list of other herbs, trees, and fruits.
One might say that sage is a universal plant. It is included in herbals of Ayurvedic and Chinese physicians.
In France it was grown in cemeteries where its role was to help soothe grief.
An old English saying refers to sage, "He that would live for aye, must eat sage in May." They believed that the plant reflected the status of its owner. If the plant prospered, so would the owner's business.
To this day sage continues to be used as a culinary and medicinal herb. Unlike some herbs that tend to be tasteless when dried, the flavor of sage seems to intensify. Sage fritters are a traditional dish. However nursing mothers and pregnant women shouldn't eat this.
If you haven't tried sage-flavored cheese, you're in for a real treat. My favorite is Sage Derby from Ilchester English Cheeses. The all-natural green color comes from the sage.
Believe it or not, sage appears in one of the earliest garden books, Walahfrid Strabo, abbot of the Reichenau Monastery from 842-849 A.D., wrote a series of garden poems called Hortulus. about various herbs and other plants. Originally written in Latin, various English translations are available.
Of all the various common names given to this plant, the one most often used is garden sage. It is also known as meadow sage, Spanish sage, and Greek sage. In Italian it is known as salvia, while the French call it sauge.
Whatever name we choose to use, garden sage has many uses in today's low-maintenance landscapes.
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