Summertime brings heavenly smells into my mother’s kitchen. Mother’s Garden is a small herb garden growing just outside her kitchen. It’s the source of the amazing smells that permeate her house. This summer? The garden is abundant. Anyone needing herb growing inspiration should stop by. Mom’s herbs grow in an assortment of pots, planters and patches of ground protected from the marauding herds of baby bunnies. It’s a “real” garden. Herbs are selected for their smell, color or because of their unusual origins. Any discounted perennial is fair game. This garden grows and evolves with Mom’s interests and instinctive insights.
Every year rosemary grows into an impressive bush by the backdoor. Its smell becomes the smell of summer. Creeping Rosemary transforms a patch of ground by cascading out of an old pot. Sage, fennel, tarragon, African Blue Basil, Vietnamese coriander, Kentucky Colonel Mint, Chocolate Mint and an assortment of oregano make themselves happily at home. Her coriander simply took off and yes those African Blue Basil flowers taste good. Chives, garlic, several sage varieties and Good King Henry all found homes in an eclectic array of containers.
Growing happy herbs brings a lot of pleasure. Successfully harvesting those herbs brings even more. Mom’s herbs are dried, infused into oil & vinegar, included in flower arrangements, packed into sachets, and garnish all the vegetables that emerge from the larger garden out back. They help mark the passage of summer.
Most of Mom’s herbs started at Black Creek Greenhouses in East Earl, Pa located just outside of Lancaster in Amish country. I can’t wait to make the trip. Their wide selection of herbs keeps Mom coming back. The beautiful drive to their site? It only adds to the experience.
Mom’s favorite herb drying process evolved over time. Set your oven to 150, place cut herbs on baking trays and leave them in the oven for 3-4 hours. When finished, carefully pluck the leaves while discarding all stems. Reusable herb jars come in handy. No reusable jars? Plastic zippy bags labeled with marker work beautifully. Harvesting herbs is my favorite part of the process. Amazing smells take over the house. Kitchen conversation is relaxed and sipping herb infused beverages a real pleasure. This year three generations of women sat, chatted, puttered and harvested herbs together. No electronic gadgets allowed or asked for. It was a good day. This family kitchen custom is absolutely migrating back to Chicago with us.
Pingback: Mother’s Garden: Herb Infused Drinks « heidi karpa home…