Lavender is an evergreen perennial scrub but here in our zone 3 growing area we treat it like an annual. It has long aromatic leaves, gray green and downy that grow to the height of 2 feet. The blue-mauve flowers are intensely fragrant and walking in a field of blooming English Lavender should be on everyone’s bucket list, not only will you enjoy the look and smell of lavender but you will see bees gathering their nectar.

Cumin is a great tasting spice that has been used since ancient times as a healing agent. It has been used mainly for digestion. Taken after a meal in pill form or a soothing tea made from the seeds, it has been known to also control flatulence, ease stomach pain, and combat various causes of nausea.

A football field full of saffron crocus flowers is needed to produce one pound of saffron. A person can now better understand how saffron is worth its weight in gold. The flower has become very sensitive to its growing conditions and the increased demand for saffron has rendered this spice one of the rarest, most sought-after and expensive spices in the world.

Tarragon, an anise scented herb, comes in two varieties French and Russian. When speaking of tarragon if the variety is not specified you can assume it is the French type. It has a most pleasant aroma and is a more refined delicate plant than the Russian more robust, coarser, inferior in flavor plant.

Before modern medicine, horseradish was invaluable to people for maintaining various aspects of their health. It was used as a digestive, antiseptic, stimulant and to make poultices for rheumatism, chest complaints and circulation problems.

Aloe Vera is a succulent drought-resistant tropical plant that forms clumps of short-stemmed rosettes of fleshy evergreen leaves, up to 2 feet long. These leaves are pointed and are edged with teeth

Fresh or dried herbs have been prepared for medicinal purposes for centuries, drawing on the accumulated wisdom and experience of generations of herbalists. Diagnosis and prescription are still best left to a qualified practitioner, although simple remedies can be prepared at home. Homer wrote of healing roots, one of the earliest records of the use of medicinal plants in Europe.

Most recipes of curry powder usually include coriander, tumeric, fenugreek, and cumin in their blends. Depending on the recipe, additional ingredients such as ginger, garlic, fennel seed, cinnamon, clove, mustard seeds, green cardamon, black cardamon, mace, nutmeg, red pepper, long pepper and black pepper may also be added.