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.

When I began my interest in herbs I was astounded to find how many flowers are actually herbs. One of these is the common mallow plant. I have used it as a flower for years not aware of it’s herbal qualities.

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

English monarchs had Strewers of Herbs precede them in processions to scatter dried aromatic herbs such as rosemary, thyme and rue to ward off diseases. The medieval plagues were thought to be caused by foul air. Dried herbs and essential oils were incorporated into pot-pourris, snuff and scented water.

Achieving a riot of brilliant color with herbs is not easy. Most herbs are subtly colored, low-key plants, which helps to explain the healing sense of refreshment and well being one experiences in a herb garden. Vibrant, exciting colors are only found in a few flowers and leaves.

Angelica is also known as the Holy Ghost plant. It is a robust biennial or short-lived perennial plant and can grow to 6 feet in damp woodlands. It produces large leaves followed by tall hollow stems bearing heads of greenish white flowers in mid summer.

The best place to start when planning to grow your own herbs is with a tiny sunny spot near your house. This creates a two fold benefit. Firstly, you’ll smell their special aroma every time you pass them and secondly they are accessible so you can run outside and grab some anytime you need them.

The Difference between Spices and Herbs:  Spices Seeds – Herbs Leaves Image by (nz)dave via Flickr Image via Wikipedia For culinary purposes, an herb is defined as the leaf and tender stem of a plant used as a flavoring agent in food, i.e. the herbaceous part of the plant. Spices, by contrast, are the dried [...]