Friday, June 14, 1991 —- North Shore News - 47

EVERYONE KNOWS that herbs
are ideal for spicing up soups,
stews, vinegars, jellies and
relishes, and that the right herb
can add est to fish, meat and
poultry. Quite frequently, a com-
mon herb is the ‘secret ingre-
dient”’ your grandmother talked
about at the dinner table.

But herbs — actually parts of
herbs, such as flowers, leaves,
roots, seeds and bark — can be
counted on for more than improv-
ing the flavor of food. Many doc-
tors suggest eucaiyptus herbal rubs
or balms for their patients with
strained muscles or mild back
problems. Herbs often are used
for cosmetic purposes or artistic
endeavors. People love to drink
chamomile or scented geranium
herbal teas and unwind from a
hard day’s work in a relaxing bath
acentuated with sweet flag or
sweet violet.

The appealing fragrance of
dried herbs entices many either to
buy or make their own potpourris,
sachets and wreaths, which boast
a long-lasting herbal aroma. Mint
and rosemary are among the most
popular herbs for this purpose.

In fact, the only thing most
people don’t seem to know about
herbs is that they are among the
easiest of all plants to grow.
Gardeners appreciate the variety
of shapes, sizes and colors in
which herbs come, and put them
to use in decorative containers or
tock gardens, or as groundcovers.
When matched with annuals and
perennials, herbs help make eye-
catching additions to beds and
borders. Many herbs spread
quickly. A physical barrier, such
as a landscape fabric, helps con-
fine them.

Some herbs take less effort to
grow than others, so it’s impor-
tant to decide before starting how

HOME & GARDEN
Versatile herbs among the easiest plants to grow

much effort you intend to put
forth. If you have time to spend.
begin from seed. Otherwise pur-
chase started seedlings or rooted
cuttings. When planted, these tend
to take root quickly, enabling the
gardener to reap their benefits
carly.

Planting seedlings is a relatively
simple process. Most herbs prefer
full exposure to sun, though some
require shade. For instance, dill
(Anethum  graveolens), Roman
Chamomile (Chamaemelum
nobile), chives (Allium schoen-
prasum), parsley (Petroselinum
crispum), English lavender
(Lavandula augustifolia), and cor-
jander (Coriandrum sativum) all
thrive in full sun.

Among the herbs that grow bet-
ter in partial shade are mint (men-

tha spp.), tarragon (Artemisia
dracunculus), chervil (Anthriscus
Cerefolium), thyme (Thymus

vulgaris), and rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis). Herbs
also vary as to their soil require-
ments. Some grow well in rich
soil, others in moderately rich or
sandy soil. And all have different
watering needs.

Light fertilizing in the spring
with an all-natural fertilizer high
in nitrogen helps herbs get off to
a good start, but over-fertilizing
results in large plants with less
Mavor and reduced aroma.

When planting secdlings _ be-
tween large annuals or perennials,
lay down a landscape fabric in
order to limit the herb’s spreading
capabilities.

Once your herbs are growing
well, parts can be pruned aus need-
ed, as long as enough foliage re-
mains to allow regencration.

Herbs are best pruned on a
cool, shade-filled day. This
enables the plant to recover before
it must face a full sun again.

Botanical Garden hosting show

GARDEN AND art enthusiasts
have an opportunity to meet
watercolor artist Lynne Car-
michael with a sampling of her
work on Sunday, June (6.

in atten-
Botanical

will be
UBC

Carmichael
dance at the

Gardens in the David Lam Recep-

MENTAL N,, 7

ON
&, FNVIR RONCN ES)
Seite, 922-1802 x
landscape?

tion Centre, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
David Tarrant, Judy Newton and
the Friends of the Garden will
lead two tours of the UBC
Botanical Garden, a1 10:30 a.m
and 1:30 p.m.

The public is invited to view the
gardens and stay for tea and a
chat with the artist.

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Leaves for drying should be

pruned to the plants’s flowering.
Toss away damaged or diseased
leaves and wash the good ones in
cool water. Store them on a tray
Too much

or rack out of the sun.

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fight ruins the flavor and bleaches

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Neat, crush the dried

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Herbs have been around for a

million years,

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litte preparation, casy to grow.
Whatever your need, there's

bound to be a herb that’s perfect
for you.

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