Still Room Herbs

Foiled Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:56:00 +0000

Best laid schemes of Mice and Men oft go awry, said Robert Burns.
And my plans for the Lavender Love Link-up did just that.
Rather than dwelling on my foiled plans, I'll just say it wasn't to be at present and plan to try again sometime soon. Perhaps next week ... I'll wait until I have the post up to announce it though- March has indeed 'come in like a lion', and I feel a bit like a leaf blown about by those fierce winds. Yet, I know that 'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.'
And in the meantime, I turn to my beloved herbs- lavender and geranium essential oils are my trusted friends when life is blowing me about in a turbulent wind. A cup of chamomile tea is a great help, as well.
Things will calm down. I will refill my cup with a good, dose of sweet solitude. And if technology will work with rather than against me once again, I'll be back online regularly and we'll have a great time reading each other's post about sweet Lavender!

photo source-Wikipedia

Lavender and Lemon Love

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:01:00 +0000

Lavender and lemon are a fabulous pair.
There is something amazing that happens when you mix these two together.
Either in aromatherapy, 'cookie therapy' (hey, cookies always make me feel better!), or in a simple herbal tea- lavender and lemon are a winning combination.

lavender lemonade

Since Spring is in the air in my world, and things have been just a little over the top in the busyness factor- today's post is short and sweet. But, I do want to share a link to a recipe that is on my Kitchen Adventure list and sure to be my go to recipe next time some Lemon Lavender 'Cookie Therapy' is needed. These Gluten Free Lemon Lavender Cookies sound perfect for an afternoon tea time treat.

I didn't forget about the Lavender Love Link Up I promised in my last post ... way back in the early part of February (time flies these days!). Life just overwhelmed me with more needful things for a while.
But, let's plan this little online lavender festival of posts for next week shall we? You write a post sharing your favorite lavender recipe, craft, growing tips ... whatever as long as lavender is the topic, and I'll put up a Lavender Love post with a linky at the bottom so we can easily find each other's posts. Please tell your herb loving blog friends about the Lavender Love Link-up, too. I always enjoy reading other people's posts about herbs. Herbie people are as varied and interesting as the plants we all grow and love!

Mark your calendar and be sure to join the Lavender Love Link Up on March 8th.
And to sweeten things up even more, I will be sending a little lavender scented treat to one of our participants. More details on that next week!

Herbal Homekeeping ~ Lavender Love

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:53:00 +0000

Lavender is one of the best loved herbs, and for good reason.
Lavender, named by the Romans from the latin- lavare, meaning to wash, is used for many cleansing purposes. Used in the bath or laundry, lavender gives a soothing, clean fragrance.

Lavender sachets or bags- a small pillow filled with dried lavender, is a pleasant way to scent linens or clothing. A lavender sachet can be laid between folded towels or sheets to scent them and shoo away pests like moths. A sachet tucked into the lingerie drawer gives a sweet fragrance to your clothing.
Another use for the lavender sachet is to toss one in the clothes dryer to scent the laundry. When using them for this purpose, I add a few drops of lavender essential oil to the dried herb before stitching the sachet closed. When the fragrance starts to fade, I just add a few more drops of essential oil to the outside of the bag and let it sit for a few moments before tossing it in with the next load of laundry.

Linen water is another homekeeping item that is frequently scented with lavender.
Here's my recipe for a very simple linen water-
Mix 1 cup distilled water with 20 drops lavender essential oil in a spray bottle.
Use to freshen linens or when ironing.
Some people add vodka or other alcohol to this mixture, but I have not found the need to do so.
I use mine up quickly, so it doesn't have time to get old or otherwise funky.
It also makes a sweet smelling room spray.

Below is a photo of a small lavender harvest from last summer. Last year was a pitiful garden year due to extreme drought in my part of the country; but even so, the lavender bloomed off and on and I was able to harvest a few stems for drying.
From the dusty shelves in my photo, I see that I need to find a recipe for lavender furniture polish!

There are many, many uses for lavender, and I'll share more with you next week.

Do you grow lavender? If so, what variety is your favorite?

If you have a favorite recipe or tip for using lavender, write a blog post about it.
I will add a link-up to next week's post and we can have our own online Lavender Festival!

Blessings,
Catherine

Links for 2012-02-03 [del.icio.us]

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Lazy J Bar C Farm: Applesauce Molasses Cake

Thinking Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:47:00 +0000

Spring weather is popping in and out at my house these days. These warm, breezy days bring out the gardening bug in me quickly. I am ready to plant a new herb garden; but first a garden spot has to be established and the soil prepared. I prefer no-till or lasagna gardening, but since we are going from established yard to garden, tilling is the quickest and least expensive way to get started (at least that's my husband's perspective, I'm still not convinced ... we'll see who wins this one!). Once we have the soil prepared and garden beds installed, I let things be and only cultivate with hand tools, letting nature's gardener's (worms and other soil dwellers) do the tilling and soil turning for me! It is much healthier for the garden and the environment.

I have a few winter sown herbs popping up in raised beds and containers- dill, cilantro, and comfrey are all showing signs of life. The scented geraniums are enjoying sunny days outside, as are the bay and lemon trees.

It is time to prune the sage that has gotten ugly and leggy over the winter, and cut back the lemon balm, rue, and mints in preparation for new spring growth.

I'm still perusing seed catalogs, plotting and planning what new things I want to grow this year. Holy Basil is one new to me herb I plan to grow. I recently tried a tea made with Tulsi or Holy Basil and it is very nice. Now I want to grow my own Tulsi tea! And since rose is the Herb of the Year, I plan to add roses to the garden- some will be container grown, some planted along the fence to climb and vine and do what roses do!

I'm thinking Spring, how about you?
What are you planning to grow this year? Anything new?
How about starting a new garden? Do you till or do raised beds, no-till, containers ... all of them?!

Tell me what your plans are for the herb garden this year!

Links for 2012-02-02 [del.icio.us]

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

A Foothill Home Companion: Grain Free Granola

Herbal Winter Warm-Ups

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 02:06:00 +0000

Wintry weather is making an appearance this weekend, causing me to seek out warming cups of herb tea and other ways to keep the cold at bay.
A cup of ginger tea is a simple way to bring warmth to a cold body.
I add a couple of slices of fresh ginger to my tea cup, pour in boiling water and let it steep for a few minutes. Then I add a spoonful of honey and maybe a squeeze of lemon to the cup. Simply delicious.

Spices such as cinnamon and cardamom are also good for warming things up. I often add a dash of one or both of these to my cup of morning tea or bowl of oatmeal.

And for something a little more filling, how about a bowl of Curried Mixed Vegetable Stew or Creamy Sweet Potato Ginger Soup? There's just something about a pot of soup or stew simmering on the stovetop on a winter's day to warm things up.

So tell me ... what are some of your favorite winter warm-ups?

Links for 2012-01-26 [del.icio.us]

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

What you have to give...

Within Your Reach

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:51:00 +0000

This spoke to me today-

Mend the parts of the world that are "within your reach". ~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Lovely. And so wise. If we each mend what is in our reach, we can indeed change the world, one life, one home, one community at a time.
I'm thinking of roses today- of planting a few to grow along the fence, bringing beauty and healing herbs to my own place in this world. Of making a sanctuary of sorts right here ... where I live, where I am, working with what is within my reach.

What is within your reach that you can mend, that you can bring beauty to today?

Links for 2012-01-17 [del.icio.us]

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen: Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Recipe

Herbal Blessings Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:23:00 +0000

If you'd like a great herb magazine to peruse during cold winter's nights, some Peppermint Rose Bath Tea, and another herbal treat or two from me, please drop by The Renegade Farmer and enter my Herbal Blessings Giveaway!

Links for 2012-01-14 [del.icio.us]

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Simple Home Remedies ~ Elderberry Honey

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:38:00 +0000

This herbal home remedy or tonic is one that I make frequently, especially during cold and flu season.
Elderberry Honey is so simple to make, all you need are 3 ingredients:

Elderberries-1 cup fresh, or 1/2 cup dried (I used dried)
Water- 3 cups
Honey- 1 cup

Place elderberries and water in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook slowly for 30-45 minutes. Strain warm juice into a quart jar. Pour in honey and stir well. Done!

Store the Elderberry Honey in the refrigerator where it should stay fresh for 2-3 months.

I take one tablespoonful daily as a tonic to help build immunity and keep colds at bay before and during cold and flu season.
When a cold or flu does sneak up on me, I take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

As a bonus, Elderberry Honey tastes great! I sometimes add a spoonful to my cup of tea in place of plain honey just because I enjoy it.

* I'm not a doctor, please use your own common sense when using herbs or other home remedies, etc., etc.!!!

I buy my elderberries from Mountain Rose Herbs, my favorite place for buying all things herbal. They also sell Elder Berry Syrup if you'd rather not make it yourself.

Links for 2012-01-12 [del.icio.us]

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

» Slathered in Seaweed

Rose ~ Herb of the Year 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The rose, favorite flower of many, is the Herb of the Year for 2012.

Each year the International Herb Association chooses one herb to be featured for the year. Last year it was horseradish, and you will note that my blog was largely silent on that one other than perhaps a post announcing it being the Herb of the Year. Horseradish isn't something I use often or grow (though I did consider planting it just for fun ... it never happened, and it's probably just as well). Roses, however, are just up my herbal alley so to speak. I love roses- growing them, creating with them, even cooking with them to some extent. This year you will likely find quite a few rosey posts here at Still Room Herbs.

I only have one rose bush growing at our home at present, but plan to remedy that in just a few short weeks. My family moved in October and the yard here is sadly devoid of roses or most any other useful herbs. It is a blessing in some ways since I have a blank canvas for designing and planting to my heart's content.
The rose pictured above is called Nearly Wild and is the one I planted here this fall. It grew in a large terracotta pot for several years before I put it into the ground this October, and seemed to be quite content being container grown. It blooms off and on throughout the year, even sometimes in the midst of winter (of course, that would be a heart of Texas winter). I'll be sharing more about growing roses in a few weeks, but in the meantime here is a link to some great rose info. at the International Herb Association site. Lots of helpful advice on herbs can be found on their webpage.

Since it isn't planting season for most of us, I thought I'd repost a simple recipe that features roses, in the form of rosewater today. The ingredients are fairly easy to come by, either from visiting a local herb shop or natural foods store or by mail order. This is one of the first things I made when I started learning about creating my own herbal bath and body products, and something I still make and use today. It smells lovely, soothes and softens the skin, and only takes minutes to mix up.

Rosewater Moisturizer

Mix together:

4 oz. rosewater
1 tsp. glycerin
1/2 tsp. grapeseed oil (you could add a bit more if you have dry skin)
a few drops of rose and/or lavender essential oil (optional)

I mix this in a small plastic bottle with a squirt type lid.

Shake well before using.

Note: this doesn't make a thick, creamy lotion .. but it's very soothing to the skin and smells lovely.

If you have a favorite variety of rose growing in your garden, please share it with me. I am spending cold winter evenings with cups of tea and my garden catalogs making my yearly wish list!

Winter Blessings,

Catherine

Links for 2012-01-08 [del.icio.us]

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Twaddle-Free Literature by Grade Level | Charlotte Mason Home Education
for our reading list

New Year's Blessings

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I pray that 2012 is filled with bountiful blessings for you and yours!

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.
~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

End of the Year Inventory

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:12:00 +0000

Tomorrow I will finish up my End of the Year Inventory and continue working on my annual Herb Order. At the beginning of the year I like to order a supply of dried herbs and supplies to restock the still room herb pantry. I have some staple herbs that I always like to have on hand, such as:

Peppermint
Spearmint
Lemon Verbena
Rosemary
Thyme
Elderberries
Yarrow
Echinacea
Calendula
Lavender
Ginger
Arnica
Comfrey
Nettle
(this list is rather off the top of my head and in no particular order)

These are herbs that I use often and want to always have at my disposal. I do grow many of these in the garden, but like Calendula oddly enough, some hate my Texas climate and refuse to cooperate and produce an adequate supply.
And sometimes dried is better than fresh, and it's certainly more convenient to open the pantry rather than trudge out to the herb garden when you need something such as a cup of peppermint/ginger tea in the middle of the night!

Other non-herb items in the still room pantry are:
press-n-seal tea bags
beeswax
honey
apple cider vinegar
cheese cloth
olive oil
sunflower oil
grapeseed oil
sweet almond oil
rosewater
glycerin
etc.

And of course a variety of jars, tins, and other containers for storing my herbal concoctions. And labels. Labels are very important items. You won't remember what that salve in the little tins that are tucked away in the back of the drawer contain ... trust me, I know. Label and date. Always.

So, what's on your herbal to do list as this year ends?
How about your goals and plans for 2012?
My first goal is to reorganize and faithfully add new material to my Still Room Book.
My second is to share more of that information here.
And maybe, just maybe, I'll come up with some pretty printables for you to use in your own still room book.
And then there is planting the herb garden ...

But right now I'm going to make myself another cup of tea and peruse the still room shelves, list in hand!

Herbal Blessings,
Catherine

Lovely Printable Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:03:00 +0000

Alice Cantrell is offering a lovely, free, printable calendar featuring herbs on her site. A Small Collection of Useful Herbs is beautifully illustrated by her daughter and filled with those things we herbie folks love- herbs! Do visit her blog- a number of things and check out the other lovely things she has for sale in her etsy shoppe as well.
She is very talented and very generous too!

Blessings,
Catherine

Best Recipes of 2011 Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:22:00 +0000

You will want to visit Mountain Rose Herbs to enter their Best Recipes of 2011 Giveaway. I love Mountain Rose Herbs- always quality products, always great prices, always green :) .

Sweet Orange Lavender Mist

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:43:00 +0000

I made this simple fragrance mist to add a bit of aromatherapy to my day and also to refresh my skin which is feeling the effects of the dry air due from our heating system.

Sweet Orange essential oil is said to be "brightening". I know that I enjoy the scent and find it useful for other householding tasks such as removing sticky junk left behind by labels.

Lavender is soothing to skin and soul, and I use it daily for one thing or another- easing a headache, relieving stress, scenting the laundry, soothing an insect bite or other skin irritation. A first-aid kit in a bottle- that's a good description of Lavender essential oil.

Sweet Orange Lavender Mist

36 drops Lavender Essential Oil

30 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

4 oz. distilled water

Add the essential oils to a 4 oz. glass spray bottle, add distilled water, and mist away. This is just an approximation- it's tricky to count those little drops of oil as they come out of that bottle!

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. I'm dreaming up plans for the coming year here at Still Room Herbs ... lots of ideas floating around in my head right now!

Blessings,

Catherine

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:51:00 +0000

Sending
Christmas Blessings
from my home to your heart!

I pray your holiday is filled with love and laughter.

Oh dear ...

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:51:00 +0000

I thought I'd just make a few tweaks to my blog ... and well, there you have it!
Tomorrow- I'll fix this ugly mess tomorrow ;) . (sigh) ...

Herbal Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:37:00 +0000

The holiday season is in full force at my house. We go from Thanksgiving right into the Christmas season around here. Herbs play a part in all of our holidays, just as they do in daily life. Spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, bay … all associated with Christmas whether in delicious baked goods, pomanders to scent and decorate the house, or fashioned into ornaments for the tree or gift giving, herbs are definitely front and center in our holidays and I hope will be in yours too.
read more at The Renegade Farmer

Please tell me which herbs are your favorites at this time of year!

Blessings,

Catherine ... off to bake an Espresso Gingerbread Cake!

Honey Lemon Marmalade

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Just stopping in to share something sweet from my Recipe Pile (yes, it really is a pile rather than a file these days!).

I was searching for simple gifts for Christmas and this recipe looks perfect.

It will be lovely in half-pint jars decorated with dried lemon slices and a sprig of lavender.

I may dress it up a bit for the holiday by using lavender infused sugar and infusing the honey with lemon balm or lemon verbena. But, even plain, this is sure to be tasty on biscuits or scones ... which reminds me, I have a recipe somewhere in that pile for Lemon Verbena Sweet Biscuits ... I'll share that one with you when I find it!

Honey Lemon Marmalade

Makes 6 pints

8 cups chopped lemons (14 lemons)
2 cups honey
4 cups cane sugar
1 1/2 cups water
2 packets liquid pectin (6 ounces)

Sterilize your jars.

Combine lemons, honey, sugar and water together in non-reactive pot. Bring to a boil, reduce temperature and let simmer for 30 minutes.

Add pectin to the fruit and let it gently boil for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and fill jars. Apply lids and rings and process in a water bath for ten minutes. Let the marmalade sit overnight, to give the pectin time to fully activate.

Scents of the Season (and a recipe)

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:21:00 +0000

I love this time of year. Cool breezes, warm sweaters, a cup of hot tea or spiced cider; and I especially love the warm, spicy fragrances of autumn- apple pie with cinnamon and just a touch of cardamom, pumpkin bread, gingerbread muffins, chicken stuffed with sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley, and garlic baking in the oven (or the crockpot) ... so many delicious herby smells coming from the kitchen to delight the senses.

If baking isn’t your thing, warming up the senses with a spicy autumn fragrance can be as simple as simmering a couple of cinnamon sticks, a few cloves, and the peel from an orange in a pan of water on the stovetop. It will create a welcoming scent to warm the hearts of all who enter your home. For a treat that tastes as good as it smells, simmer those same items in apple cider.

And since it is apple season, here is a very simple recipe that will make breakfast extra tasty:

Simple Apple Syrup

1 cup apple juice (I prefer organic, not from concentrate)

2 cups sugar (I use organic cane juice crystals)

Dash of cinnamon (to taste)

Mix all ingredients together in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Do not stir (I don’t know why- that’s just what my recipe card says!)

Remove from heat and cool 15 minutes before serving.

This is great with waffles or pancakes.

I’ll be sharing more of my favorite fall recipes in the coming days. Please tell me your favorite scent of the season or share a recipe you like to make this time of year!

November Blessings

Hello!

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:23:00 +0000

Sorry to be MIA for such a long stretch.
Life has been busy- the good kind of busy, but too busy for comfort in many ways.
My family moved a couple of weeks ago, that's a stress in itself; though we are very happy in our new home.
The move was due to a new job for my husband, and that was a huge relief and answer to prayer.
These days I'm unpacking boxes and trying to get life back to a workable routine, all the while thinking about what herbs to plant in my herb boxes out back and the new herbal recipes I plan to make soon.

Our move has also meant no home internet for a while; and I don't know about you, but using a computer other than mine isn't fun (even if it is my husband's). It's just not the same as sitting down at "my desk" and sipping a cup of herb tea while I type out a post ... things should be up and running properly soon, and I've got lots of ideas for the fall months.

I'll be sharing some favorite herb recipes and a few gift ideas in the coming weeks (just as soon as the internet thing is resolved).
Until then, I wish you beautiful days filled with the glory of autumn!

The Wonders of Water

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 15:14:00 +0000

Water is the most healing of all remedies and the best of all cosmetics. ~Arab proverb

I have to agree, water is indeed a wonderful remedy and cosmetic.
Around our home, a bath is the first order of business when someone isn't feeling well.

A lovely warm bath filled with lavender-scented water is soothing to both body and senses.

Bubble baths are fun, too. Unscented bubble bath dressed up with rose, lavender, and bergamot essential oils is fabulous.

Or how about a nice sea-salt soak for tired muscles? I often toss in a few pieces of dried seaweed to create my own little ocean.

For colds or sniffles, a steamy bath with a few drops of Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and Peppermint essential oils is very helpful. You can also just fill a large bowl with boiling water and put a drop or two of each oil in it; then lean over the bowl, cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam.

Water, plain or with a bit of lemon juice, is my drink of choice. I drink many cups of water a day... and a few cups of herb tea, of course!

Water, a blessing often overlooked.

The Herbal Pantry

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:19:00 +0000

The photo above shows what is serving as my still room and herbal pantry at present. Though I dream of a 'real' still room some day, I am a firm believer in making the best of what you have at the moment, rather than waiting for the someday that may never come. These items, tucked into a corner of the kitchen, serve my purposes well for now-

a rather funky scavenged shelf that needs a back on it

a great old hutch that we got for a very good price at a benefit sale

the little spice rack turned essential oil cabinet that my husband gave me many Christmases ago (Yes, we do celebrate Christmas ... just for those who might be told otherwise ... oh, and if you don't have a clue why I put that little tidbit in there, just ignore it ;) ... you know we herb people often get the strangest labels attached to us).

the very used, much loved oak dining table that my aunt gave me years ago (You can just see the corner of it in the photo, right next to the salvaged windows that I have great, artsy-crafty plans for.).

The open shelves house jars of dried herbs. I tried tucking them inside the hutch but it was a pain to get them out, so back on the shelves they went. The shelf is in a very low-light area, so I don't worry about the light harming the herbs; though I am considering making a curtain for the front of the shelf. On the top of the shelf you will see a basket with an assortment of tea bags, ingredients for bath and body products, and so forth. There are also pickled peppers and okra on the shelf for now (we have no real food pantry, either in this house).

The hutch is home to tea pots, a variety of teas (the tea chest and cabinet were also Christmas gifts from my husband), assorted herbal oil infusions and tinctures are tucked away inside the doors, along with empty jars and other storage containers, seeds, and various herb related items. Of course, there is often a child-created art project that needs some attention from Mom left on the hutch for me, as in the case of the perler bead creations needing to be ironed.

The essential oil cabinet is without a doubt the most used item in my herbal pantry. It is opened daily for various things, such as scenting the bathwater (nothing like a rose geranium and lavender bath), making an herbal steam to clear up stuffy noses or a headache, freshening the air or adding a bit of extra cleaning power to the laundry or mop bucket, soothing an insect bite, or making something lovely like a perfumed lotion or oil. Essential oils are most definitely an essential in my herbal pantry.

Here are 8 that I wouldn't be without:

Lavender

Rose Geranium

Lemon

Bergamot

Peppermint

Rosemary

Tea Tree

Eucalyptus

I'll delve into what I use these for in a later post.

If you use essential oils, please share with us which are the most essential to you.

And I'd love to peek into your herbal pantry or still room if you have one, please share a photo or post about your own space for herbal creativity with us, too!

Blessings,

Catherine

Hot Weather Herbs

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:13:00 +0000

Beautiful Blue Borage

Sadly, the borage that was blooming so beautifully in the photo is not a hot weather lover. My container grown borage died from heat exhaustion a few weeks ago. Even with frequent watering and pampering- it. just. died. Oh well, to be expected I suppose. I'll replant later when the weather is more suitable for it. For now, I'll just enjoy the photo and dream of pretty borage flower ice cubes to cool off a glass of herb tea (and make a mental note not to forget to make some this fall).

There are herbs that seem to thrive, or at least survive, even the brutal heat of a Texas summer.

Below are 6 herbs that are doing well in my back yard, despite the drought and triple digit temperatures for days on end this summer-

Basil- Basil seems to love the heat. The biggest challenge is keeping it from blooming and going to seed, daily pruning helps and provides me with tasty leaves for pesto, pasta sauce, or pest control (rub a basil leaf on your skin to repel insects).

Bay- My bay stick (the poor thing may never reach tree status) has grown more this summer than it has in the 3 years I've had it ... strange but true.

Marjoram- The marjoram is doing well, soaking up the sun, flavoring grilled veggies and chicken.

Rosemary- Holding its own and being snipped almost daily for pasta sauce and such.

Lavender- It actually bloomed this year and seems to enjoy the dry heat (humidity and heat it doesn't like).

Thyme- Growing in a semi-shady spot, it seems quite content.

If you are looking for herbs that can take the heat, these may be just what you are looking for.

Please note: All of the herbs mentioned above are container grown and are receiving daily, sometimes twice daily, watering. They can take heat, but nothing can survive without water, and lots of it these days! Around here, the grass is dead, the trees and bushes get just enough water just to keep them alive until it rains, but the herb containers get a drink every morning! It takes much less water to keep a few potted herbs (and the herbalist) happy than it does to keep a lawn green (and then I'd just have to mow it, and that wouldn't make me happy either).

Which herbs thrive during the summer where you live?

Herbal Helpers for Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:19:00 +0000

Lavender Lemonade

I'm posting at The Renegade Farmer today. Stop by to read about my Herbal Treats to Help Beat the Summer Heat. While you're there, don't miss Five Herbs for Safe Summer Skin, a great post by Briscoe White of The Grower's Exchange.

I'll be posting more recipes and tips for the summer next week ... please share your own with me!

Summertime Herbal Teas and Treats

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Love) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:54:00 +0000

With a forecast of 108 (yes, really), I'll be focusing on keeping everyone cool and hydrated today.
It is time for icy cold herbal treats, I do believe.

This Lavender Lemon Quencher sounds refreshing.

Lavender Lemonade is a favorite in our family, too. I think I'll brew up a batch and then freeze it in ice pop molds for an afternoon snack.

My iced herb tea of choice is simply to go out early in the morning and pluck a few sprigs of whatever herbs catch my eye- usually lemon balm, lemon verbena, ginger mint, spearmint, and a bit of lavender or rose geranium. Those go into a pitcher of water and sit on my sunny kitchen windowsill to infuse until lunchtime.
If I've thought ahead, I will have some pretty herbal ice cubes made with borage blossoms or mint and lemon balm leaves to make my iced tea even more delightful.
Sweetened with a bit of honey or agave nectar, this is the perfect summer day drink for me.

How about you?
What summery herbal treats do you brew up this time of year?
What is your favorite iced tea herb?
Please share, I'm always grateful for a new herbal treat to try!