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PICKING HERBAL HOLIDAY GIFTS FROM THE GARDEN
December 20, 2015
By Suzanne LaBrecque/Victoria County Master Gardener
Edited by Charla Borchers Leon/Victoria County Master Gardener
PHOTO BY SUZANNE LABRECQUE/VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER
Rosemary plants are holiday herbal gifts that are often shaped to resemble and be used as small Christmas trees indoors or in the landscape. They represent love and remembrance.
• Donaldson, S. and McHoy, P. Container Gardening, Barnes & Noble, Inc. 2003.
• Welsh, D. Texas Garden Almanac, Texas A&M Press, 2007/
• celticattic.com/tips_hints/health/herb.htm
• curreedy.com/missy/welcome-to-our-home/romance/herb-meaning
PHOTO BY SUZANNE LABRECQUE/VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER
A themed pizza herb basket could be created with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme plants along with a pizza recipe for their use.
NOTE: The following information on traditional meanings and uses of herbs is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. You should always check with your health care provider before self-administering herbs.
Meaning:Good Wishes and Love
Use:Eases headaches, blended with tomato juice
Meaning:Usefulness
Use:Power against evil
Meaning:Devotion and virtue
Use:Promotes Sleep
Meaning:Sympathy and love
Use:Repels mosquitoes
Meaning:Joy and happiness
Use:Revives spirits if inhaled
Meaning:Substance
Use:Used for spider and scorpion bites
Meaning:Festivity and love
Use:Repels head lice
Meaning:Purification and love
Use:Induces sleep, healing and psychic powers
Meaning:Remembrance
Use:Improves memory
Meaning:Wisdom
Use:Believed to cure warts
Meaning:Healing and love
Use:Relieves morning sickness
Meaning:Boldness
Use:An aphrodisiac
Meaning:Lasting interest
Use:Anti-fungal, strength for long walks
Meaning:Courage
Use:Effective cold remedy
Each time I go to Victoria Educational Gardens, I am so appreciative of this gift to our community. When I arrive at the gardens I am immediately drawn to the herb garden. These herbs have intoxicating scents, healthy leaves that invite touching and beautiful flat stone labels. In this garden each herb has a culinary and likely medicinal use that's been used in every culture since prehistoric times.
Herbs represent something special
Each herb is known for something special. For example, if you listen to the old Simon and Garfunkel song, "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" and apply herbal lore, you will realize, parsley represents love, while sage inspires wisdom, rosemary is for remembrance and thyme gives courage. In other words, "Please have the courage and wisdom to love and remember me!" (Just kidding!)
Themed herb container gardens
When considering gifts this holiday season, why not consider themed container gardens of herbs? Herbs are available at local garden centers and come in a variety of sizes. Miniature herb gardens can be planted in containers or baskets with notes of their specific meanings.
• Herbs for Pizza
You can develop an original or witty theme-based gift with the selection of herbs and containers. For example, rather than calling your container a "kitchen herb garden," you could label it "Herbs for Pizza."
In a large basket or planter you could plant oregano, thyme and basil in nutrient rich soil with watering and light instructions plus a favorite pizza recipe. This garden gift means good wishes from the basil, substance from the oregano and courage from the thyme. These herbs do well in full sun.
• The Three R's
Another themed herb garden could be for rest, relaxation and revitalization and you could call your gift, "The Three R's." This container garden could include lavender, marjoram, peppermint, spearmint and summer savory. These herbs have properties that promote peace and sleep (lavender), joy and happiness (marjoram), purification and healing (peppermint), mental powers and healing (spearmint and summer savory).
The lighting requirements for this collection of herbs vary, therefore, present these herbs in their own pots so they can be moved. For example, the mints and parsley prefer filtered light or partial shade while lavender and marjoram need full sun. Oils from these herbs can be used in hand lotions and olive oils while these herbs can season fruits and vegetables.
• Love and Affection
A third themed herb garden could represent love and affection. This container garden could include lemon balm, basil, lavender, parsley and rosemary. These herbs are known to enhance warm loving feelings.
For example, it is written that lemon balm is used to express sympathy and love while basil is used to express good wishes and love. According to my sources, lavender symbolizes devotion and love while parsley stands for festivity and love. In addition to remembrance, rosemary stands for love and protection.
• The Baker's Dozen Herbs for Beginners
A fourth themed gift of herbs could be "The Baker's Dozen Herbs for Beginners." According to Doug Welsh, now retired professor of horticulture at Texas A&M University, good herbs for this container could have any combination of the following: basil, chives, cilantro (coriander) dill, Mexican mint marigold, Mexican oregano, mints, parsley, rosemary, sage, sweet bay laurel and thyme. You could also add favorite recipes that use combinations of these herbs.
Consider recipients/growing conditions
When selecting herbs for your container garden gifts, it is important to consider the recipients. Ask yourself about their lifestyle, where they live and their interest in growing plants. Herbs need a well-drained soil and most need full sun for at least six hours per day. A few herbs do best in filtered light or partial shade such as lemon balm, mints and parsley.
Carefully select containers
While many containers can be used for small herb garden gifts, it's important that they have good drainage. If you select plastic planters, make sure the drainage holes are open. If the holes are marked by the manufacturer, the best way to open them is with an electric drill.
If you select wicker basket planters, be sure to line the basket with a generous layer of moss that will hold the planting soil or small pots of herbs and maintain an even temperature while allowing for drainage.
Plastic plant saucers are useful for lining containers that are not waterproof, like a wooden apple-basket.
Fill the container
Once you've decided your theme, selected the herbs and containers, the fun begins. Your container garden can be simple - use only the plants that are beautiful without embellishment. Or you can be more adventurous by painting the container to match the recipient's décor or in holiday colors. You can include gardening tips, gardening supplies like gloves and clippers as well as colorful ribbons. Be creative and have fun!
Gifts from the garden are really gifts from the heart. While you're planning this gift, the person to receive it is in your thoughts. Your collection of herbs is indeed a personalized, unique gift that can be used and enjoyed for many years.
The Gardeners' Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.
ph: 361-935-1556
nancyk