Did you know that parsley is a natural breath freshener? Yep. A couple of chomps on this distinctive green and you’ll feel minty fresh and ready to converse. So next time you see that little gem on your dinner plate, pluck a few leaves off and plop them in your mouth. Your table companions will thank you. 🙂
Basil? This one is just pain delicious with a scent rivaling the rose–IMHO–but guess what? It’s also good for digestion. And you probably know that chamomile has calming abilities, but how about lavender? I don’t know about you, but every time I catch the scent of lavender I’m instantly transformed into a relaxing machine!
But lavender does double-duty. Not only is it perfect for bath time before bed, this plant is said to repel fleas. *gee* Does it get any better? Plant it everywhere–inside, outside, you name it!
Talk about two-timing duties, did you know that cilantro and coriander come from the same plant? Yes, ma’am! The first leaves are used as cilantro (think salsa), but if you let it continue to grow and flower, you’ll find yourself with a whole host of coriander seeds. Awesome. Just awesome.
One of my all-time favorite herbs is rosemary. Not only does it make for a great hedge around the house, but this one provides a natural mental boost. Simply brush your hands through its leaves and inhale. Ahhh……. Better yet, it prevents forgetfulness. Woo hoo! I mean, who doesn’t need that?
And your kids will love this one: how about growing your own sugar? Well, in so many words, that is. Stevia is a plant that produces naturally sweet leaves–leaves you can use to sweeten almost anything. The kids and I made a lovely cucumber soup sweetened with stevia, and it was delightful. (They ate it, anyway.) But how about lemonade? Pull a few lemons from that tree and juice them up, add a few leaves of stevia and blend. Voila! Instant homemade lemonade to die for. Add a cup of steeped rosemary per gallon of lemonade and now you have yourself a REAL treat. For this recipe and others, check out my garden blog Bloominthyme!
Caution: if you love both basil and rosemary, be aware that planting basil near rosemary can KILL your rosemary plant. Who knew?
Got ants? No problem. Plant mint–peppermint, spearmint, plain mint–they’re all good not to mention they make wonderful borders along walkways and flower beds. Last but not least is my beloved aloe plant. You may have heard this one is good for burns and you heard right. Anytime I burn myself slaving away over a hot stove or oven (the things I do for my family), I immediately cut a spiked aloe leaf and rub the gooey salve directly on the fresh wound. I’ll warn you, it’s stinky (and stains), but doing so will eliminate any scar you may otherwise have suffered. LOVE it!
So what do you say? Know of any special herbs or plants in the garden with outstanding qualities that I missed?
My daughter didn’t like it for her project, but I liked it very much.
Rosemary lemonade? My kids and I LOVE it! 🙂