There is nothing quite like the smell of some taste treats brewing in the kitchen.  Whether it is a stew in the winter or a cold salad this summer most every dish that is created would be far less superior without the use of herbs.  Eating might actually be quite bland if not for all the wonderfully tasty herbs that exist.  The number of herbs is debatable.  The quantity lies somewhere between 40 and 60 various types of herbs.  With all of the choices there is really no excuse not to have at least a couple of herbs growing in your garden. 

Herbs are easy to grow, they take up very little space in the garden and in fact most herbs can be grown in containers, a strawberry pot is very nice with herbs, either inside or outside.  So, apartment dwellers and families with a big spread can all provide an adequate space for an herb garden.  Their aromatic foliage will certainly add to the many assets a garden already has to offer plus many herbs have gorgeous blooms and a plethora of herbs do extremely well as a cut plant in a flower arrangement. 

From a botanical viewpoint, an herb is a seed plant that does not produce a woody stem, but an herb will live long enough to develop flowers and seeds.   Herbs are generally perennials and annuals however there are also a few biennials as well.  Herbs tend to be disease resistant and attract very few pests; in fact herbs such as garlic can actually ward away pests.  Herbs are categorized in four genres and many herbs cross over into more than one of these fields because they are such utilitarian plants.

Aromatic Herbs:  These are grown for scent.  They do well in flower vases, as dried arrangements, their oils are used in perfumes, candles, toiletries and potpourris.  Such herbs as lavender and mint would fall into this category.

Culinary Herbs:  These herbs enliven our palettes and plates and are what most people associate herbs with.  Examples would be basil, chives and dill.

Medicinal Herbs:  These are used in medicines and have aided in curing many of our ills since the beginning of humankind.  For instance, garlic is supposed to assist in keeping cholesterol down.

Ornamental Herbs:  Most herbs are lumped into this category but a good example would be the Scented Geranium.  They add to the ambiance of any herb garden.

Goose Creek Farm

When I drove up the winding, wooded path to enter the property of Tish and Bill Tuohy and view their herb garden it was like stepping back in time.  My cell phone actually lost reception and the 21^st century world was left back on North 1000 Road.  The house, which was built a little more than a decade ago, looks as if it might have sheltered one of Lawrence’s founding families with the architectural inspirations of a New England Salt House.  Every little detail is reminiscent of a homestead in the 1800’s including the magnificent herb garden.

The Tuohy’s modeled their herb garden along with every aspect of their estate after the 1800’s American lifestyle.   Bill Tuohy say’s, “Women in the 1800’s would just step outside and collect some herbs from their gardens for the feast that evening.”  The Tuohy’s garden is directly off of the kitchen for easy access when either Tish or Bill is whipping up some delectable dish inside.  They have four sectioned off beds with a sundial as a focal point in the center of the beds.  The herb beds boast Basil, Yarrow, Thyme, Chives, Oregano, Lemon Mint and Tish’s favorite Chocolate Mint, which she uses in her brownie pie.  A small fence protects the entire garden, they try to keep the critters out but the raccoons and rabbits have a nose for Chocolate Mint as well.  Tish exclaims that there are more than enough herbs to go around. 

Tish, a retired antiques dealer, and Bill, a retired Engineer for Hughes Aircraft, picked up their belongings from their condo in Southern California and transplanted themselves back in time on the rolling hills of Kansas.  Their herb garden is a great use of space because of the ease that herbs provide and their usefulness.  Tish says, “Just the other day I made a chive butter for some lobster we were having.  I regularly use my Lemon Mint in tea, and the Basil and Oregano in pasta dishes, it is just great to have those herbs at my fingertips.”

Interesting Herb Tidbits

Basil was found around Christ’s tomb because of that some Greek Orthodox churches add Basil to the holy water.  Chamomile was believed to keep other herbs free from diseases and was referred to as the “Plants Physician”.  Chives, when planted next to roses, prevent the black spots on rose leaves.  The Chinese believed that Coriander bestowed immortality and in the Middle Ages Coriander was used in love potions as an aphrodisiac.  Nearly all species of Scented Geraniums came from the Cape of South Africa.  Lavender was used in nosegays to ward off the plague, and in the 17^th century the French filled their fields with Lavender for the perfume trade.  The Egyptians valued Marigold (Calendula) as a rejuvenating herb and in India it was used to make wreaths to crown the gods and goddesses where they said that to dream of Marigolds is a sign of good times and simply to look at one will ward off evil.  Venus was the first to grow Oregano in her garden; Oregano translates in Greek to oros meaning “mountain” and ganos meaning “joy” – joy of the mountain.  Finally the Dutch settlers in the United States intentionally planted chives for the cows to make chive-flavored milk. 

Herbs have long been in the center of romance, love, religion, politics, health and superstitions.

Some Herbs

Anise:  A hardy perennial

Basil:  An annual that likes sun, good on tomatoes.

Bee Balm:  A perennial that spreads and attracts butterflies.

Caraway:  A hardy biennial.

Catnip:  A perennial that attracts butterflies and cats.

Calendula:  A hardy annual otherwise known as Marigold.

Chamomile:  A perennial ground cover that likes sun.

Chervil:  A hardy perennial.

Chives (common or garlic):  A perennial sun-lover, good in eggs.

Coriander/Cilantro:  A tender annual.

Dill:  An annual that grows best in the ground rather than a pot, good for pickling.

Echinacea:  A hardy perennial.

Fennel:  A perennial that likes part-sun.

Lavender:  A hardy perennial, mainly for scent.

Marjoram/Oregano:  A sun-loving perennial, good on lamb and fish.

Mint:  A spreading, sun-loving perennial with over 600 varieties.

Parsley:  A hardy biennial.

Rosemary:  A hardy evergreen perennial.

Sage:  A hardy perennial, good on chicken.

Scented Geraniums:  A hardy annual.

Thyme:  A perennial groundcover, good in soups.

Yarrow:  A hardy perennial.

With all of the fabulous attributes an herb garden brings to an outdoor or indoor space there is really no reason not to sprinkle a Basil plant here and dig a hole for a Parsley plant there, to make space for some chives and to just soak in the scent of some Lavender.  Herbs can last into the cold winter months as well if they are dried and bagged.  So, the days of purchasing expensive spices at the grocers are long forgotten when this summer dishes coming from your kitchen are flavorful because of what is sprouting from the earth outside your window.