April 27, 2024
When trying to pin down exactly what’s so special about Herbs, a deliciously aromatic group of plants, I was stumped. Well, maybe not stumped, exactly. There are so many reasons to fall in love with Herbs, and picking one feature or even one Herb that’s especially special is nearly impossible. Best known for their culinary flavor enhancements, can you imagine pickles without Dill, pesto without Basil, salsa without Cilantro? What’s a dark chocolate circular pattie without Peppermint, or a cookie cutter man without Ginger?
Herbs excite memories, calm the mind, reduce inflammation. Does the aroma of sage conjur thoughts of Thanksgiving? Does a sprig of lavender make you sleepy? Does bold yellow turmeric soothe arthritic joints?
And many Herbs are decorative and lovely to look at, form beautiful shrubs, have gorgeous flowers.
But I keep coming back to the aroma. It’s hard to resist crushing the leaves of herbs like thyme or mint between my fingers. The essential oils released into the air and lingering on my fingers causes me to take a deep breath, inhaling the fragrance, embedding the aroma in my brain, resulting in a memory I can recall over and over again.
Herbs are Special!
The Rosemary plant (actually a mini shrub) in my yard always invites my attention, and just this week it welcomed spring by coming into full bloom!
Do you have a favorite Herb? Why is it special? How do you use it?
Please share! And thanks for stopping by!
a curious nature 
Barb - This is wonderful! I think my favorite herb is rosemary which I use in cooking and I also love the smell. Lavender is my favorite for lulling me to sleep. 😊
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Thanks for the feedback Dee! Seems like both rosemary and lavender are classic favorites. Do you have an herb garden where they grow in happy abundance?
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I’m afraid I don’t have an herb garden, but maybe one day. I certainly appreciate their benefits in cooking and remedies, though. Got rid of salt and sugar for seasoning years ago. 😉
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Wow! Congratulations for kicking the salt and sugar habit. You’ve inspired me to keep trying! Thanks for the reply, Dee! I don’t have a formal herb garden. I’ve chosen to plant a few herbs amongst my ornamentals.
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A fun read on Rosemary! I have one in my sunroom and use it some in cooking. But always stop to smell the aroma when I pass by. But, mine has never bloomed. I also use rosemary essential oils some in my diffusers. Mint and lavender are probably my favorite herbs, and I can’t grow either one! Go figure. I have rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano and parsley growing in my sun room. Always so fun to read your stories and see your sketches.
Sue
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Love the comments Sue! I can imagine you unable to pass by your rosemary plant without sneaking a sniff of its curiously interesting aroma. And wow, you’re growing quite a number of herbs in your sunroom. If your Rosemary has never bloomed, have the others? I agree, mint and lavender are a few of my favorites, and they are frustratingly weedy in our courtyard, the mint especially so! Wonder why you can’t grow either? If you’re ever successful with mint, whatever you do, never let it escape confinement outside of a pot! Hahahahah!
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Wonderful dive into a very aromatic herb! I love the history & folklore and I didn’t know how many plants are in the mint family — some surprising ones there. I like that it can be good for memory and energy and I like to inhale it to open up the sinuses during allergy season. I have always had it in the garden and like you, I rub it between my fingers to release the essential oil, but I don’t seem to cook with it much as it is pretty strong. I’m so interested in trying the recipe you shared! Yum. Thank you, Barb, and I love to let the herbs go to flower as I see the bees & butterflies enjoying them. Now, you know that Love Grows song is replaying in my head …. 🙂
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Hi Karen! Always love your comments, as you take in every little millimeter of my posts and drawings! Thanks so much. I recall you saying earlier that you always allow your herbs to flower for the bees and butterflies. Yay! And I agree rosemary is very strong when used in excess. But it’s curious that the more I cook with it, the more quantities I’m able to enjoy. Maybe because it’s herbs I’m able to enjoy more than anything else, since my sniffer is still mostly un functional? Apologies about the song!
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