Personalize Mother's Day gift by making a special herb basket
Wondering what to gift that special mom for Mother’s Day? Let’s make a personalized planter with herbs that she can use every day.
Is mom a creative cook? A Southwestern garden with cilantro, garlic chives, lime mint and hot and spicy oregano comes to mind.
If a relaxing, fragrant bath would please mom, a spa garden including calming lavender is just the ticket.
If mom is an herbal tea aficionado, she’ll appreciate a planter filled with tea herbs. Mint is the star here.
Growing herbs in containers is easy, affordable and versatile.
Another benefit is being able to overwinter many indoors. Herbs all year!
We grew up with basil, peppermint/nana, marjoram and thyme. Mom grew the basil in a huge, antique, black iron kettle outside our kitchen door. I’m blessed to have inherited that kettle. It sits, front and center, in a place of honor in my herb garden, filled with several varieties of, you may have guessed it, basils. Now that’s container gardening with a memorable history.
Easy to grow
Herbs aren’t real particular. In fact, most grow well in good potting soil with excellent drainage.
Take into account space, sun and water requirements.
Mix and match? Go for it.
Here’s a few combos to get you started. Edible flowers can be tucked in between for color.
For growing specifics and more recipes, log onto abouteating.com.
Tea garden
Hydrating and healing. A tablespoon of fresh or a teaspoon of dried, steeped in 8 oz boiling water for several minutes, then strained, will produce a cup of love.
Suggestions
Mint: Peppermint is good for digestion.
Chamomile and Lavender: Trouble sleeping? Both make lovely, calming teas.
Fennel: Licorice flavored, warms and soothes.
Thyme and sage: Together these are good for upper respiratory health.
Stevia: Natural sugar substitute. Non caloric and diabetic safe.
Spa/bath garden
Place herbs in cheesecloth pouch, tied. Let hot water stream over herbs as the tub is filling.
Suggestions
Eucalyptus: Opens up sinuses. Combine it with thyme and sage for a powerful healing trio.
Lemon balm: Clean, lemon aroma with hint of mint.
Lavender: A popular aromatherapy plant. Calming, especially when combined with chamomile.
Rose petals: Fragrant and lovely.
Essential kitchen herbs garden
Suggestions
Basil: You can’t go wrong with Sweet basil for pestos and everyday cooking. For smaller containers, Globe or Minet grow in a 12” rounded shape. Make a basil paste with basil and olive oil, then freeze to make winter pesto.
Parsley: Pretty and useful. Italian or curly – you choose.
Chives: Both onion and garlic chives are cut & come again herbs.
Rosemary: The piney flavor is excellent in soups, stews and root vegetables. Choose from upright and smaller, trailing varieties.
Oregano: Greek is chef’s choice. Italian oregano has a more mild flavor.
Sage: Variegated sages stay fairly small and are striking. Bergarten sage is a slower bolting sage with large leaves.
Mint: Peppermint is strong flavored. Spearmint is sweeter. Mints are invasive. Even stems are known to root if they reach soil. Lots of varieties.
Thyme: French is the gold standard. Earthy and peppery. Cooks love the aromatic and tender leaved lemon thyme.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Personalize Mother's Day gift by making a special herb basket
