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Last year two new lemony plants were introduced and after trying them.  I wanted to recommend them to you.

Try the new ‘Lemon Sculpture’ scented geranium with horizontal branches and tightly curled leaves for a structured, bonsai-like effect. ‘Lemon Sculpture’ can grow up to 3 feet tall, and because it does well in low light, you can use it to add subtle flavor not only to your food, but also to your home. This intriguing geranium will be available exclusively from Richters, www.richters.com.

‘Pink Lemonade’ is a creeping lemon-scented thyme that works beautifully in stone walkways, pavers and as a ground cover. Unlike other compact lemon thymes, this one has delicate pink flowers. Thyme is attractive to bees and butterflies, some of which feed exclusively on thyme varieties. The plant is available from Mountain Valley Growers, www.MountainValleyGrowers.com. 

My penchant for lemon herbs forced me to try these last season and I think they are grand!  Why don't you check them out.  For my list of the top 10 herbs to grow this year visit our NEWSLETTER!

Tags: backyard patch, geranium, herb, lemon, lemon herbs, thyme

Every year since 1995, the International Herb Association (IHA) has chosen an Herb of the Year to highlight. The IHA horticultural committee, with guidance from University of Illinois horticultural specialist Chuck Voigt, evaluates possible choices based on the herb being outstanding in at least two of the three major categories: medicinal, culinary or decorative. Other herb organizations throughout the country support the Herb of the Year selection and work together to educate the public about these herbs during the year.

This year the IHA has chosen Bay Laurel

    

The Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) also known as True Laurel, Sweet Bay, Grecian Laurel, Laurel, or Bay Tree, is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub reaching 10–18 m tall, native to the Mediterranean region.

 

The leaves are 1 to 2 inches long and 1 ½ inches wide, with a characteristic finely serrated and wrinkled margin. Since you need a male and female plant to produce seed, most do not.  Bay Laurel is the source of the bay leaves which are used for their flavor in cooking. It was also the source of the laurel wreath of ancient Greece, and therefore the expression of "resting... [More]

Tags: 2009, bay, bay leaf, herb, laurel

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In the realm of cooking herbs you cannot forget to grow Lemon Basil (Ocimum basilicum).  A cousin of Sweet Basil and Purple Basil it is an annual and does need full-sun and rich drained soil.  I grow this from seed and I prefer the varieties I can get from Seeds of Change and Shepherd's Garden Seeds.  With a compact habit and a smaller leaf size than main basil varieties, lemon basil is a bit more touchy.  It will wilt if it gets too dry, so although the size is great in containers, place them in a slightly shaded area so they don't dry out on hot days.  Like all basils you need to keep the flowers at bay if you want the most flavorful leaves.  And in cooking this herb is a great addition.  Not only good in salads and teas, you can use it to replace regular basil in any favorite recipe for an entirely new taste.  Imagine a hint of lemon in your pesto. It is also great in a bit of vinegar and oil as a salad dressing with lots of flavor but little extra.  A couple of...

Tags: gardeining, herb, lemon, lemon basil

As I mentioned previously I cannot garden without lemon herbs.  In the last 12 years I have gone from a few of the most common lemon herbs to several usual and exotic herbs with a lemon twist.  The first of these out of the ordinary lemon plants is Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla).  This is a plant native to the sub-tropical regions of South America including Argentina and Chile.  My favorite experience with it was in an arboretum in Guatemala where the plants grew 6 to 7 feet tall covered with those fragrant pinnate leaves.  It is a woody plant so falls into the shrub category, but is more like a deciduous tree as it loses its leaves in the fall when the days shorten.  Although it can grow up to 5 feet that requires a frost free environment, in colder areas you have to grow it in a pot or assume it is a tender perennial and treat it like an annual.  I grow them in containers and bring in in winter because they are slow growers.  It prefers a loose, sandy soil and must not be kept in standing water....

Tags: gardening, herb, lemon, lemon verbena

I enjoy and love lemon herbs. In my research and experimentation I have located about 15 different lemon herb plants that I enjoy growing and using.  I thought I would share a few tips and varieties of these favorites with you.  The first is Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis) in the mint family it is easy to grow in Zone 5 to 9 requires an average soil and can grow in full sun to partial shade.  It is vigorous, can grow from seed and is perfect for areas where other things won't grow.  Unlike other mints it will grow more from seed than from root, so cutting the flower heads is important.  Its uses are infinite.  It is a great tea herb which I use extensively.  Its mild lemon flavor shaded with mint is excellent in marinades for chicken and fish.  The best flavor is fresh, although it can be dried and frozen.  You do lose some flavor in the drying process, so for most people freezing is the best preservation method.  Varieties to try are Melissa officinalis 'Aurea' a somewhat shorter species only 12 to 15 inches with golden leaves...

Tags: gardeining, herb, lemon, lemon balm, seeds