“Plant gardens and eat what they produce.”

– Jeremiah 29:5

 

Every spring, we Southerners plant our vegetables and our flowers, but many people forget about planting herbs. Herbs can be used in so many ways, and most of them are just as fragrant as flowers. You can incorporate them into your vegetable garden or your flower beds, or you can plant them in pots indoors or outdoors. And the best part is that they are very hard to kill, so even the worst gardener can grow them!

MINT:

Mint is by far my favorite herb. My grandma had this growing in her backyard when I was a little girl, and every time I smell mint leaves I am transported back in time to when she was alive.

Mint is best grown in pots, because if you plant it directly in the ground, it will spread and take over your yard. It is a natural repellent for certain rodents and bugs, so it is good to have close to your house, or even indoors.

Not only does it smell amazing, but it is also a great way to add flavor to summer drinks.

Add a few mint leaves and lemon slices to your ice water for a refreshing summer drink…

…or put a few in your glass of sweet iced tea. If you crush the leaves between your fingers first, it will help to release the flavor even more.

And don’t forget about mint juleps and mojitos!

BASIL:

Basil is my second favorite herb. It has a sweet smell, and is mostly used in Italian dishes or to make pesto sauce. It smells so good that sometimes I’ll pick some just to put in a vase in the kitchen.

A little fresh basil sprinkled on top of pasta not only gives it a fresh taste, but also makes it look like a fancy restaurant dish!

Basil can grow really tall – when it starts to get little flowers on the top of the plant, that means it’s time to trim it down so that the leaves don’t start to get thick and hard.

DILL:

Dill is most popular for making dill pickles, but it can be used for so much more. I like to add freshly chopped dill to ranch dressing for a bolder taste, and I also like to put it in pasta salad for extra color and flavor.

You can also toss crackers or pretzels with dill and oil and bake them a few minutes for a more flavorful snack.

ROSEMARY:

Rosemary is another strong smelling herb that I sometimes put in a kitchen vase just for the aroma. I mostly use this one in marinades for grilling pork or chicken.

Just slide the leaves off and chop them up to add to your marinade – don’t use the woody stem.

PARSLEY:

Parsley is probably the most versatile herb, because it doesn’t have a strong flavor. It is mainly used as a garnish just to give dishes extra color and texture. You can pretty much sprinkle chopped parsley on top of anything to liven it up.

I like to put it in homemade salsa. I don’t like the taste of cilantro, which usually goes in salsa, so I replace it with parsley instead.

These are just a few of my favorite herbs and their many uses – there are lots more out there that you can experiment with. So this summer while you’re planting your flowers and vegetables, don’t forget to plant a few herbs as well. It’s so nice to step outside and cut a few sprigs of a fresh herb to add to your drink or your meal to make it more special, or to just add to a vase of flowers for extra aroma in your home.

Thanks y’all!

   – Nikki