HERBS



Please note that all information found here, unless otherwise stated, is from personal experience! All photographs are owned by the authors.





CHIVES


CHIVES are Perennial and grow from seed. Once they've found a place in the garden, they STAY. They double each year so it's a good idea to separate them to transplant or thin out. When they go to seed, they produce this lovely purple flower. The stalk of the Chive is used mainly for seasoning. Fresh Chives on a Baked Potato can not be beat!




COMFREY


COMFREY is one of nature's healers. This plant is useful in treating skin wounds and soothing irritations such as insect bites and stings, bedsores, bruises, burns, dermatitis, dry skin, rashes, sunburn and chafing. You can use the leaf by making a paste out of it by mashing it in a bowl. The leaf itself has little hairs on it that would be more of an irritation to apply directly to the skin.

****CAUTION**** Should NOT be used during pregnancy.

COMFREY is a perennial plant and seems to grow according to it's place in the garden. Debbie has a plant in the corner of her garden (pictured) while Lorraine has hers more out in the open. Lorraine's COMFREY plants do tend to get incredibly large!



Echinacea

Commonly called the Coneflower, this plant is wonderful for a sunny garden. The large daisy-like flowers have protruding centers, broad reflexed petals and a light scent. They bloom abundantly all summer long and thrive for years with little care.

As a herb, it is good for the immune system and the lymphatic system. It stimulates certain white blood cells and has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. The leaves and flowers can be easily dried and stored in dark jars. Drank as a tea at the first sign of cold or nausea, echinacea stimulates the immune system to fight off or shorten the duration of the cold or flu.

****CAUTION**** Should NOT be used by people who are allergic to plants in the SUNFLOWER family.




Lavender

Lavender is absolutely lovely. Most of us know it as used in Aromatherapy. It has a pleasant scent that is said to relieve headaches and insomnia! Lavender grows outward, giving you a full plant that looks like a bush. There are several different kinds of Lavender, but all do very well in the Southern Ontario garden. They like sun and to be kept moist. During the frowing season, you can pick some of the leaves and put them into little pouches as pot pourri.





Lemon Thyme

There is nothing more lovely than lemon in the garden! Lemon Thyme is a perennial and will grow anywhere. It grows much like lavender and becomes rather bushy. This herb is used in soups and stews and even pot pourri!






Parsley

Parsley is Annual. It grows well from seeds and is a hardy plant. Parsley is used in restaurants as a "decorative" herb, but it's wonderful for helping to get rid of bad breath and putting into favorite dishes like scalloped potatoes, stews and soups.





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