Herbs make useful and versatile additions to any garden. Culinary herbs such as mint, rosemary, and thyme are perfect for snipping into recipes and are easy to grow, thriving in patio pots and kitchen gardens. Fragrant foliage and flowers are useful in creating herbal teas and adding fragrance to potpourri, lotion, and soap. Many herbs attract beneficial insects such as butterflies and bees as well as hummingbirds to the garden.
Aromatic oils are released when the foliage of popular herbs is brushed against or crushed, so don’t be afraid to touch them as you move through the landscape. Encourage young gardeners to take breaks from homeschooling to sniff, taste, and observe in your herb garden. Children can also harvest herbs such as basil, mint, and rosemary to add to family dinners.
Nectar sipping hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees provide entertainment as they visit flowering herbs, so plant them near patios and porches for “dinner and a show” while spending extra hours at home this summer!
To grow an herb garden, start by reading factsheet #1133 from the Clemson University Home & Garden Center “Herbs’.
Help children explore herbs with these fun ideas from Kidsgardening.org, including making herbal sachets and experimenting with herb butter.
We will share more of our favorite herbs to grow all week!
