Making Herb Garden Magic

Making herb garden magic may sound a little farfetched but if you consider what herb plants are capable of producing you can't help be conclude there is some magic going on. First consider the historical record of herbs. There are indications that every civilization in history has utilized the benefits of herbs since the beginning of time. A review of all the amazing things herb plants are capable of producing is truly an astounding revelation.

First of all you may ask what exactly is a herb? The basic dictionary.com definition is the it is a flowering plant whose stem above the ground does not become woody. A botanist would call it a seed bearing plant with fleshy rather than woody parts. That is where the term "herbaceous" originated. That may be the academic description of herb plants but the term is also applied to many other plants including shrubs, trees vines and even more Primitive plants like lichens, fungi, ferns, mosses and algae.

The magic of herbs is in what they can do for us. The popular perception of herbs is that they are primarily something that improves the flavor of our food. That is true but they do so much more. In addition to their culinary function herbs provide the following uses and benefits; medicinal,
aromatic, ornamental, pesticidal and industrial.

Culinary herbs are by far the most well known and most used. There is historical proof that man has used herbs to improve the taste of food ever since cooking food became commonplace. These herbs are very practical for the herb gardener because it provides a ready source of fresh herbs for the kitchen. Fresh herbs can be purchased at the grocery store but they might not be fresh or you may have to buy more than necessary and the extra may go to waste or the type you are looking for is not available. The popularity of gardening in general is rapidly growing and many gardeners are choosing to experience the magic of growing their own culinary herbs. Some of the more popular culinary herbs include; rosemary, savory, basil, thyme and garlic.

There are thousands of herb plants that provide medicinal benefits. Before modern medicine came on the scene medicinal herbs with the primary source of curative relief for injury, sickness and other common maladies and they were the inspiration for today's modern drugs. Examples of medicinal herbs include; St. John's Wort, catnip, ginseng, dandelion and ephedra.

Aromatic herbs are generally not the first selection of herb gardeners but they are a rewarding and exciting garden project. These herbs produce very pleasant aromas that have also been employed for centuries as a natural air freshener. When the leaves are dried among other uses they are excellent linen and clothing fresheners. The fragrant aromas come from the plant's oils which are used to make perfumes and other scented items. The addition of aromatic herbs to a garden makes it a pleasure to stroll through the garden and enjoy the wonderful aromatic fragrances.

You can see why herbs are called the magic plants. They can do so much for the herb gardener. Start your own herb garden and enjoy the magic.

By: Sonny Chenoweth

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SONNY CHENOWETH is a herb expert. For more information about making herb garden magic, visit www.herbgardenreport.com