Dear Helen: A project I鈥檓听considering for the spring is the creation of a herbal tea garden, but I鈥檓 not sure what herbs suitable for making tea will grow easily here.
A.H.
Entire books have been written on this subject, so many are the herbs that are used for tea. What you choose to grow will depend upon the flavours you like and the growing conditions in your garden. Container cultivation is an option for most herbs. Here are a few suggestions for easy herbs:
The most pungent herbs are the Mediterranean types that are woody perennials or sub-shrubs that grow in dryish soils in full sun. Examples are thyme, sage, rosemary and lavender. Thyme has antiseptic qualities. Rosemary leaf and flower tea is richly flavoured. Sage tea is considered a general promoter of health. Purple sage is especially soothing for sore throats. Lavender flower tea is calming.
Parsley and the mints need a moist soil and will grow in part or light shade. Most herbs require full sun. Use parsley leaves from plants before they flower to make a refreshing tea. Teas made from mint leaves, or dill seeds or leaves, aid digestion. Grow mint in containers. It鈥檚 a spreader.
Basil grows easily and well in听containers, and does best in sun with a rich, moist soil. Basil leaf tea is spicy and clove-like. Borage leaves and flowers give a cucumber-like taste.
Lemon balm is an easy herb for a lemony tea. It鈥檚 a perennial that tolerates dry soil once established. Chamomile, a popular tea for sleep, is a perennial with small, daisy-like flowers that are听used to make the tea. Some people do not tolerate this herb well because of a fairly common sensitivity to aster (composite) family plants.
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Dear Helen: I鈥檝e been in discussions with friends over which kinds of leaves are not suitable for composting. Are maple leaves all right?
W.T.
Most deciduous leaves are fine for composting. I鈥檝e been composting leaves, cutleaf maple and other small-leaved types, from a听neighbour鈥檚 garden.
There is one issue worth considering, though, and that is acidity. Maple leaves and oak leaves contain fairly high levels of natural plant acids that leach out as the leaves decompose. As they do, the plant acids act as temporary growth inhibitors that can stunt root development.
This should not be a concern when acidic leaves are added to a听compost heap in moderation. The acidity problem can also be averted by allowing leaves to fully decompose, whether added to a regular heap of mixed materials or placed in a separate pile, before they are used as a mulch around plants.
Some leaves should be avoided. Walnut, especially black walnut, and eucalyptus leaves contain a natural herbicide that could hamper seed germination. Conifer needles are slow to decompose and yield a less mineral-rich compost than deciduous leaves. Cedar contains resins that promote resistance to breaking down. That鈥檚 why cedar boards are preferred for raised bed structures.
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To Thimble Farm customers: Customers in the Greater Victoria area of Fraser鈥檚 Thimble Farms on Salt Spring Island will be interested to know that the nursery is in a battle to survive because of the potential loss of a听water supply. Their local newspaper had an article on the issue in the Nov. 9 edition: gulfislandsdriftwood.com/business/nursery-on-the-brink. Look for a link to a petition on behalf of the nursery. Or, go directly to change.org and听click on Fraser鈥檚 Thimble Farms.
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GARDEN EVENTS
HCP workshops. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich, is offering the following workshops. hcp.ca
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鈥� Reindeer Making, Dec. 10, 1 to 4 p.m. Drop in only. Limited spaces. Participants receive a reindeer kit and then set about creating their own Rudolph with guidance from instructor Lonnie Paton. A great activity for children and families. Spots will be given on a first-come-first-served basis. Come听early and enjoy a walk in the gardens before class. Cost is $20 per听reindeer.
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鈥� Festive Table Centrepiece, Sunday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. Garden and floral designer Patty Brown will help participants create an exquisite holiday centrepiece with fresh greens and natural materials. Take home a unique centrepiece that will last for weeks. All听materials provided. Bring secateurs. Cost for HCP members $25, others $35.听To register call 250-479-6162.
