Many gardeners think that herbs are something that only the elect should grow. They find old herbals and new books on planning knot gardens equally delightful reading, and they dream of having a real herb garden sometime when they have both the necessary knowledge and the proper location. Still, they never progress beyond this dream … Read more
There are three good reasons for sowing herb seeds in the late fall. First and foremost, strictly fresh seed can be obtained from special sources since, by then, the “Seed harvest has been completed. The advantage of obtaining fresh seed cannot be overemphasized because it gives such a high percentage of germination that success is … Read more
This particular section of our garden, shown in the accompanying photograph, has proved the most persistently satisfactory. Originally, we called it the Thyme Ramp, or simply the Ramp, because it was begun on a straight strip of ground rising slowly between a level lawn and the drywall at the bottom of the rock garden. It … Read more
In days gone by, thyme was used as a strewing herb—a medicinal measure against pestilence—as well as providing a more perfumed atmosphere for crowds enclosed in poorly-ventilated buildings; the Greek word “thymus” means to fumigate. Today, the oil of thyme is still an ingredient in many prescribed medicines. Thyme honey was, and still is, a … Read more
Since the natural aromatic oils of garden herbs are most bountiful in August, this is the ideal time for your harvest. You will want to choose a clear, sunny morning when the dew is gone, and the noonday sun cannot rob the plants of their oils. For an early start, you must have your tools … Read more
Chamomile, a sweet-smelling herb with daisy flowers and delicate lacy foliage, was probably better known in past centuries than it is today. Dioscorides, a wandering soldier whose collection of herbal observations became in the first century A. D. The earliest illustrated herbal extant pointed out that some called it “Chamemelum”, because of its likeness of … Read more
While the beauty and praises of common, tall rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) are often sung, so far, little light has been shed on the rare dwarf rosemary (R. prostratus). With miniature plants now in the limelight, it is surprising so few gardeners have discovered this versatile herb that grows both inside and outdoors. Nurseries specializing in … Read more
To herbs, our forefathers credited the most miraculous powers. Mallows would keep witches away from the house. To stop bleeding, one had to write the word “veronica” with pen and ink on the ball of the left thumb. The chaste tree (Vitex agnuscastus), when eaten by wicked, unchaste people, would make them as chaste as … Read more
Bouquets are lovely in their way as those of flowers may be made from the fragrant, rich range of green-toned foliage found in the herb garden. Moreover, the scent of herb leaves and blossoms seems to many of us more piquantly individual than the scent of flowers. It runs from the flower-like sweetness of angelica … Read more
Many noble garden plants serve with little glory but great dependability. It is to this essential “supporting cast” that a valuable trio of shrubby St. Johnsworts belongs. “Why are they so valuable?” you ask. The answers are: Moreover, they fill a variety of roles admirably. Varieties Of Hypericum All species and varieties of Hypericum (pronounced … Read more