Culinary Herbaceousness

Don't fret my urban friends, 'cuz it's not too late. It's not! You too can have the fresh culinary herb garden of your dreams*! After all, Summer is officially just getting started - give or take a few hours! Well. Assuming you're in the northern hemisphere. But, hey. If you're a southern hemisphere friend - you have lots of time to plan for next summer!

How do I know it's not too late? (1) Hmmm...just planted my culinary herb garden this week - illustrated by the sparse containers shown here:), (2) It's usually about this time of year by the time this busy-urban-girl gets around to it, (3) Come August, I have more fresh herbs than I know what to do with, (4) Herbs tend to grow like weeds and will provide many cuttings throughout a season, (5) Most culinary herbs will keep producing until first frost - many moons from now.

Retail garden centers will have a full array of common culinary herbs - many are also available in more than one variety. You'll likely find allium, basil, bay, chives, cilantro, dill, fennel, lemon verbena, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, scented geranium and thyme. Just to mention a few...

Be sure to peruse the annual and perennial flower sections for additional choices. Yep. Many plants loved for their lush foliage or lovely flowers also have herbaceous qualities. Look for the likes of chamomile, hibiscus, lavender, lemongrass, marigold, nasturtium, pansy, violet, and watercress in these sections.

Culinary herbs make wonderful container or windowbox gardens. However. You may notice that some herbs - though aromatic and yummy - not so pretty-looking standing on their very own. Complement these beauty-challenged herbies with flowers. This year I've chosen lobelia, portulaca, snapdragon and zinnia to balance out my container gardens. Pansies, nasturtiums, marigolds and violets are also excellent choices. And edible too!

"So. Just how does one go about choosing the right culinary herbs for one's garden?" You ask while looking around for your green thumb. Well. That depends one's intent and taste.

If you and yours tend to nosh on chickens and such fowl, plant cilantro, lemongrass, mint, rosemary, sage, or tarragon. Beef-eaters and the-other-white-meat-eaters should choose from marjoram, oregano, rosemary, or winter savory.

Seafish in your fare? Basil, cilantro, dill, mint, parsley, rosemary, summer savory, tarragon, or thyme should be in your garden.

Titillate your favorite salads, veggies and fruits with fresh herbs. Choose from basil, cilantro, chives, dill, lavender, mint, parsley, summer savory, thyme, and watercress.

Desserts and beverages more your thing? You-sweet-thang-you. Lavender, lemon verbena, marigold, mint, nasturtium, pansy, scented geranium, and violets are simply a must-do!

So you're gonna do it! This year you're planting an herb garden! One to call your very own! Really? Okay then! Plan on meeting back here throughout the summer for tips on tending and harvesting your garden -- not to mention the fun stuff -- putting these herbaceous wonders to delicious use!

*Disclaimer: Assumes your dreams aren't tooooooo extraordinarily large - after all - it IS June!

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