Worry . . .

Remember my mint? I was slightly worried about it being killed off by the late freeze/snow storm?

Yeah it's doing swell . . .

I pretty much have to cut it back every 12 hours . . .

I'm trying to come up with new and exciting ways to use it! 

Needless to say you should expect to see some mint recipes coming up soon.

Oh and tarragon recipes. Lots and lots of tarragon recipes! I actually cut the top 7 inches off of this 3 days ago. It's growing like a teenage boy . . .

And thyme! Oodles and oodles of thyme! I like this thyme. It's French thyme. I've been noticing a lot of English thyme at the nurseries lately. It's . . . disappointing . . . When it comes to the herbs I'm a francophile. French tarragon and French thyme are the way to go. . .

Oh and here's how other stuff is going . . .

The rosemary is doing it's best! It's really attempting a comeback! Hopefully its more Betty White than Gary Busey.

The sage is going to make it! I may have to put a cage around it to keep out the tarragon and thyme! Seriously, they're such bullies! Yes, I just used the term bully to describe something french. There's gotta be a first time for everything . . .

Oh and the flat leaf parsley situation is under control.

Cilantro! Glorious cilantro! I planted cilantro seeds this year and they really did nothing. So my beloved bought me a couple of big bushy plants for Mother's Day. When I went out to plant it what did I discover? Little cilantro plants coming up! My cup runneth over! I suspect I won't have enough though. Is there ever enough cilantro? Seriously?

Same with the basil! Nada! Nothing! Until I went to plant my new bushes! Then WHOOP there it is . . .

I'm worried . . .

My son is leaving for his Air Force Basic Training.

Who will take care of him?

Who will make him brisket?

Who will give him ibuprofen?

What if in the middle of a stressful situation he yells "Yes, Mother!" instead of "Yes, Drill Sergeant!"

What if he doesn't graduate?

What if he DOES graduate?

Do you know how much these herbs will grow during a 7 day trip?

It'll be a jungle!

Can I hire an herb sitter?

What about the cat?

How mortified will my Gentle Giant be when I cry the whole time? (I can't even make it through the National Anthem at a baseball game without choking up and getting teary eyed!)

Out Like a Lion

Ah, March in Missouri!

As soon as all my herbs start to come up, we get a small snow storm. With more predicted tomorrow!

Oh the humanity!

Uhm, oh the herbality?

I had to check on them.

Oh rosemary! I don't think you're coming back. You were this same color all winter. Rosemary is the only one of my herbs that's considered a perennial. Yet it never survives the winter. I guess it's a perennial in mediterranean climes only. . . . It makes such beautiful flavors in potatoes and chicken and beef. Rosemary is piney and . . . and . . . muscular. Strong and vibrant flavor!

Flat leaf parsley! I can't wait to not have to pay for you anymore! So good at adding a hit of gentle bitter to a salad. It's herbaceousness for the herb challenged. You know the people who say they don't like basil, thyme, etc. . . freaks. I shouldn't judge . . .

. . . misfits . . .

Peppermint! Okay, I'm not sure but I suspect the peppermint could survive nuclear armegeddon. Where would I be without you though? We use you in ice tea and mojitos! I will admit I do add it to Greek salad and some yogurt dips. It's so fresh and peppery! Goodness, I bet that's why they call it PEPPERmint! I eventually figure things out you see.

Tarragon? Goodness what has gotten into you? I've spent years trying to find a good tasty tarragon to grow. It always is lackluster and barely survives. Two years ago I picked you up at the local hardware store. You were redolent of anise and survived! When you came back last year I was shocked. I went on vacation and by the time I got back you had literally mobbed your assertive next door neighbor sage. This year? Well this year? Just look at you!

There may be a doping scandal going on in my herb garden right now . . .

Sage, honey! You can do it. Come back! I won't let tarragon get to you anymore! Your beautiful silvery leaves are essential when I'm grilling! I like to throw a few of sage's branches on the charcoal when I'm cooking a chicken. They mingle well.

Oh thyme! What would I do without you. You're going to make it stronger and bigger than ever!

Savory! I bought you because you were mislabeled! You were the worst flat leaf parsley I had ever tasted. Then as you grew taller and taller I realized. You MUST be savory! You smell like celery. You taste like celery concentrated 50X. I really haven't found anything wonderful to do with you yet but you're sort of pretty so I keep you around . . .

Oregano . . . you are a sad disappointment. You're not a very tasty variety! You grow faster than the peppermint! You're coming out and I'm putting in a field of cilantro to replace you.

Basil? Are you in there? I suspect not. I even let you go to "seed." Something is coming up but I'm thinking its weeds . . .

Looks like I'm going to be buying some rosemary, basil, and cilantro this year. We'll do a hot pepper plant too of course! I'm going to try to get my husband to let me have some tomatoes . . . maybe in a pot? Any other herbs you'd recommend? Has anyone seen a curry plant around locally? Maybe I'll grow a fennel plant! I love fresh fennel.

What are you putting in the garden this year?

I need a zucchini supplier . . .