I do not have a title
@GardenGerty (169439)
United States
July 9, 2022 8:52pm CST
My brain is kind of bonkers today. I blame it on my stomach. I cannot come up with a title for what I wanted to say.
I enjoy herbs, and the summer flowers. I have two kinds of lavender in my yard, as well as various mints.
Many of the things that grow in my yard are medicinal and useful. They also smell really nice.
I have always been told that if you have basil around your front door it will repel flies. I hope so.
My basil from last year all went to seed, so I have lots of baby basil plants in my wheel barrow, with thyme as well. I am transferring it to various planters. Putting those planters close to the front of the house.
My small project is to bring these different fragrant herbs close to the front of the house. The odor is not strong but it is very nice. I trimmed my tarragon that came back from last year. My pineapple sage should bloom soon as it is a late plant. I hope my citronella geranium does as well.
Maybe by the time summer is over I will find myself happily living in an herb garden.
There could be worse things, I know.
I can smell the lavender, and yarrow in the early mornings. Lots of mint if I just brush by the plants.
19 people like this
19 responses
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Jul 22
It is a nice touch. My yarrow has yellow blooms. I have already harvested some for teas and salves.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Jul 22
I am not having as many flies as usual, not sure if it is the basil and other herbs or some other reason. I know butterflies and bees love blooming herbs.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Jul 22
I have been working on them for a while. I had hyssop but I think it got choked out.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
18 Jul 22
@kareng A lot of things people call weeds are quite medicinal. Look up Plantain, or Plantago. That is one you will want around for insect stings and bites.
1 person likes this
@kareng (80243)
• United States
10 Jul 22
@GardenGerty I need to get started here. We are putting in a big garden for the fall and that is going to take a good chuck of time here. I have found it interesting looking up the plants I have suspected were herbs. I love to learn about the medicinal uses of them.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230334)
• Chile
10 Jul 22
The title is not important. But your post gave me lots of ideas for next summer.
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174281)
• United States
10 Jul 22
We have sweet mint growing in a pot on the front porch. It smells really nice as we go in and out the front door. When we pick the tops of the green onions, they overpower the mint smell. 
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Jul 22
I have quite a patch of sweet mint. It is stronger than spearmint. I keep killing off my peppermint, though. It is supposed to reduce ants and spiders and mice, etc. if you grow mints around the house.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174281)
• United States
10 Jul 22
@GardenGerty Maybe we should plant some mint by the walnut tree by the kitchen window. Every year we have to spray that tree down with ant spray to stop the ants from trying to explore the kitchen.
I'll talk to Pretty about planting another pot of mint by that tree. (Mint won't grow in the dirt around a walnut tree. It kills other plants.)
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Jul 22
@DaddyEvil Many people pot their mint because it is invasive, as well.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (15373)
• Hong Kong
10 Jul 22
Living in a herb garden - sounds nice to me.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Jul 22
I always wanted to plant a sensory garden. Two of my herbs, Mullein and Betony, have fuzzy soft leaves. Both of them get the nickname "Lamb's Ears".
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
10 Jul 22
My dill went to seed last year and so the one entire plot is full of dill. I've been giving it away, both seedlings and now just the plants without roots. I've been drying a bunch of it, too, but I think I'll end up with a lifetime supply.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
18 Jul 22
It has been ages since I have planted dill. I meant to get busy with a garden this year, but it just did not happen. Have you ever made pickled green beans with dill?
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Jul 22
@GardenGerty No, I haven't and I don't think my mom ever did, either. She made a lot of other odd things, like mustard pickles.
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Jul 22
They are one thing I enjoy. They do not give me any trouble to speak of.
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
18 Jul 22
Hmm. Maybe it attracts them to the plant so they stay out of the house.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502204)
• Italy
18 Jul 22
@GardenGerty - Well the one on the balcony is not preventing them to come inside. For the moment none of the plants supposed to keep bugs away worked. Lemongrass should keep the mosquitoes at bay, I tried and it did not work.
@wolfgirl569 (135601)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Jul 22
I need to get some more mint. Some I planted last year didnt make it. I had by the dog fence. Wondering if Duke doberman showered it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
18 Jul 22
He probably did. I have sometimes let mine get too dry and lost them.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135601)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Jul 22
@GardenGerty In the ground they usually try to take everything over. But that didnt happen out front.
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Jul 22
It sounds like you have a nice herb garden even if the herbs are not located in the same place. You could have titled it, "my herb garden", since that's mostly what you've talked about.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
18 Jul 22
I could indeed have said that. I wonder if the same people would have checked it out. I really do love the fragrance when I get the time to "stop and smell the flowers".
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Jul 22
It does not winter out here either. My three plants went to seed last year, so I have many this year. I wish I could find the kind my mother had. Hers had curly leaves.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jul 22
@GardenGerty I don't think I've ever seen basil with curly leaves.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
18 Jul 22
@JudyEv I think it may have been called Dark Opal. It was a purple basil. The purple ones have a bit of anise flavor.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (18198)
• Raurkela, India
10 Jul 22
My mints are shrivelling off. I am planning to put some sand at its roots. Do you have any idea how to keep them growing?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
18 Jul 22
What kills mine from time to time is if I do not make sure it is watered.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
10 Jul 22
I love fresh basil. It sounds like you have a ton of fresh herbs. I hope you feel better soon.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
18 Jul 22
I did settle out and feel better. I am so tired of the heat.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
18 Jul 22
@GardenGerty I'm glad you feel better. I hope you get a break from the heat soon.
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
10 Jul 22
You grow all sorts of medicinal herbs in your garden ! I have a pot of basil too .Here people say the same thing as yours- repell flies.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Jul 22
I feel like there must be some truth to the idea. I read that Italian wives keep pots of basil by their door. I certainly enjoy it for cooking.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Jul 22
I have worked at putting the various mints around the house in hopes it will deter some critters. It tells you where your foot steps have been by that refreshing smell.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
18 Jul 22
It is much easier to care for herbs than other plants, usually.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Jul 22
Yes, that would have worked. I think people come here because they were curious by my lack of title. I just was not feeling very well yesterday and could not think.
