The Herb of the Month for July is Doublemint, Mentha x gracillis ‘Madeline Hill’ Doublemint is a genetic cross between Mentha arvensis (peppermint) and Mentha spicata (spearmint). It was thought to be genetically impossible, but was cultivated in the 1950s by Madeline Hill from Hilltop Herb Farm in Texas. This …
The end of June and the beginning of July are presenting real challenges this year for the gardener and the garden. We have lacked rain as diseases and pests move in! Even watering seems to have negligible results in perking up my tomatoes, beans, and cukes. The stars of this …
The Herb of the Month for June is Sweet Basil, Ocimum basilicum Mankind has enjoyed the use of this herb 5000 to 4000 BCE years ago as basil has been found in Egyptian tombs. Some historical documentation suggests that the origins of basil was found in China. This lengthy period …
June has come quickly, and there is so much more left to do. The tomatoes are planted, and interspersed is basil, the queen of the summer herbs in her glorious varieties. I have found various cultivars that just have to be tried! There is columnar, sweet, lime, lemon and, of …
The Herb of the Month for April is Pinks Dianthus spp. The name of this flower comes from the Greek words for “of Zeus’. The Dianthus genus contains a large family of about 340 species or cultivars, which includes carnations, clove pinks, cottage pinks, and Sweet Williams. Nowadays there are …
Here we are at the beginning of spring, when everything is possible. It is time to get outside and plant, making this a very busy season! Liquid fertilizer or compost can be added as soon as our perennials reach 3 to 4 inches high. Mulches should be pulled back. Seeds …
The second trial of onion seeds were a success, and I planted them outside along with the cut, sprouting roots of green onions and sprouted garlic purchased at the grocery store. The unexpected snow fall acted as an insulating blanket, assuring their recovery 24 hours later. It will be interesting …
The Herb of the Month for March is Tarragon Artemisia dracunculus Tarragon is a perennial herb which is in the sunflower family. It’s scientific name is “little dragon” because of the coiled shape of its roots. This plant can be found wild throughout much of Eurasia and North America, and has …
The Herb of the Month for February 2022 is Bay Laurel, Laurus nobilis Bay Laurels are known by many names, such as bay leaf tree, sweet bay, Grecian laurel, and true laurel. These plants are hardy up to zone 8 but are most often cultivated in containers that can be …
This month’s article on Bay Laurel has taken me down memory lane to my visit with Ray Bennett, a long-ago Herb Society member and mentor to many, in Arkansas to purchase a small start of such. That was over 25 years ago, and that laurel is still productive and brings …
