Garden Tips

By Robert Grazian

One of the most pleasant and rewarding gardening hobbies is growing herbs. Most herbs are really easy to grow, and since many are relatively small, you can plant a thriving herb garden in a pot, barrel, or small bed and still come up with a bounty of tasty herbs to use in all your recipes.

Some of the easiest and most versatile herbs to grow in your home garden include:

1. Basil - This spicy staple of most kitchens is surprisingly easy to grow in the home garden. You can grow it from seed or buy a small, starter plant, and it comes in several different varieties, with large or small leaves. Remember, basil won't withstand cold temperatures, so you'll have to plant a new crop every spring in cold climates.

2. Chives - These small relatives of the onion family are quite easy to grow, and they come back in the garden year after year, stronger than ever. You can sow from seed, but small starter plants will give you an instant start in the garden. Try garlic chives for a mix of garlicy onion goodness.

3. Dill - Dill is a beautiful, lacy plant to grow in the herb garden. It grows at least three-feet high, so plant it toward the back of your garden. It's very easy to grow from seed, just make sure you plant it after all danger of frost has passed. Dill is another annual herb, which means you'll have to plant a new crop each spring if you live in a cold climate.

4. Oregano - This is a great Italian herb, but you can use it for all kinds of recipes, from compound butters to bread and spaghetti sauce. Oregano is easy to grow from seed, and it will spread out to make a rather large bush if you don't trim it often, so plant it in an area that gives it some room to grow. Trim it often too, to encourage new growth. This herb is relatively hardy, and should come back each spring as long as temperatures don't get really low during the winter.

5. Parsley - Everyone interested in growing herbs should try parsley. It's a very pretty plant in the garden, and it's called for in so many recipes, it's almost indispensable in the kitchen. It's very easy to grow from seed or a starter plant, and it may come back every spring in some gardens, but in many you'll have to start a new crop each spring.

6. Rosemary - Rosemary is a wonderful, woody, and highly-scented herb that grows into a lovely bush two to three-feet tall. It's so fragrant; you can smell it in the garden on a warm summer day. Growing rosemary from seed is hard, so buy a plant and add it to your garden, or get a cutting from a friend. Once planted, it should grace your garden for years to come.

7. Sage - Growing herbs would not be the same without a patch of sage in the garden. This herb is easy to grow from seed or a starter plant, and it will come back year after year after it's established. It can grow bigger and bushier than rosemary, so give it some room and trim it often for the best results.

8. Thyme - Once you plant thyme, you'll wonder how you got along without this versatile herb. Plant the creeping or upright variety from seed, or start from small plants. Thyme will spread in the garden, so give it room to grow. You can use it in everything from soups and sauces to roasting chicken, so plant a lot and harvest it often.

Growing herbs is so rewarding, especially when you use those newly picked herbs in your kitchen. Nothing matches the satisfaction and freshness of an herb that you pick five minutes before you cook with it, so get growing your favorite herbs today!

Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about growing herbs visit Best Herb Gardening for current articles and discussions.
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By Leslie White

Roses

One of the most popular flowers, roses are a classic bloom for gifting. Their soft petals, rich colors, and sweet smell evoke much pleasure when received. Each color of rose has a distinct meaning. Red roses are a symbol of perfection and love, white blooms symbolize purity and innocence, and yellow roses carry the meaning of joy and true friendship. If you want to tell someone you admire them send pink roses, or signal your passionate desire with orange or coral roses. If roses are your flower of choice you have many options amongst the colors in order to send the right message.

Tulips

The perfect cup of a bright tulip waving gently in the wind is a sure sign of spring. Tulips are an ancient flower originating in Persia. Like roses, different colors carry different meanings with tulips. A red tulip symbolizes perfect love, while a white tulip signals forgiveness. Purple tulips are reserved for royalty, and a striped tulip will tell your beloved that you adore their eyes. Tulips are a comfortable flower, never too ostentatious, always just right.

Gerbera Daisies

Gerbera daisies look much like their white cousins in form, but they come in many bright and vivid colors. These flowers, the 5th most popular in the world, symbolize innocence and classic beauty as a member of the daisy family. But unlike their pale relatives Gerbera daisies also represent cheerfulness and a merry heart. Their bright colors will liven up any room, and will surely bring a smile to the recipient's face.

Iris

The iris is a flower with a rich history stretching as far back as ancient Egypt. The word "iris" comes from the Greek word for "rainbow", and these exotic looking flowers certainly live up to their name. An iris symbolizes faith, hope, and wisdom, as well as courage and admiration. A bouquet of irises is a wonderful gift for a grandparent, or for mother's day.

Orchids

The exotic and strikingly beautiful orchid is a favorite both as a cut flower and as a plant. There are over 25,000 different types of orchids, growing all over the world. An orchid carries many meanings, including wealth, love, beauty, and fertility. The Aztecs also believed the flower to have healing properties. Orchids will make a lasting impression, whomever you give them to.

Lilies

The big, beautiful lily is always a striking flower in a bouquet; its sweet scent will always fill a room quickly. The classic white lily represents innocence and purity, and is often used at funerals and sometimes at weddings. Pink stargazer lilies symbolize ambition and prosperity. The smaller, more delicate Peruvian lily represents friendship and devotion. Lilies are a great choice when giving a friend a bouquet, and also mix wonderfully with other flowers to deepen your message.

Whatever flower you decide on, your recipient will be thrilled. Good luck choosing the right flowers, and enjoy customizing a bouquet that says exactly what you want it to.

Leslie White is with Flower-Finds.com, a floral site that provides their customers a full selection of delivered flowers and related items from multiple stores. Customers have a very large choice of arrangements and price comparison options.

Leslie White is a hobbyist on the subject of flowers and their various meanings. She is a writer for http://www.flower-finds.com
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