Rosemary: The Herb of Remembrance and Friendship

Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly called rosemary is an aromatic herb indigenous to the Mediterranean area. Rosemary is traditionally known as the herb of remembrance and friendship. Also known as Mary's mantle and compass weed, rosemary is a lovely, sweet scented, shrubby perennial in Mediterranean countries that can be grown as an annual in Northern climates or as an indoor potted plant. Rosemary has needlelike leaves and delicate light blue flowers. Mature plants can live for over 30 years.

Rosemary grows best in full sun but will tolerate semi-shade. This plant grows best in light, well-drained soil. Let rosemary become moderately dry between waterings, as root rot can be a problem in soggy soils. Mist the leaves every second week. Rosemary grows 3 ? 6 feet (1 ? 2 m) tall outdoors. Indoors, rosemary benefits by harvesting tip cuttings that will keep the plant fuller and bushier. Rosemary's leaves are dark green on top with silvery undersides.

Rosemary is slow to germinate and grow from seed so it is best to buy plants or propagate rosemary from stem cuttings. If you are growing this herb indoors, rosemary thrives when moved outdoors for the summer. Leave rosemary in pots in the garden as it seems to be able to adjust to moving back in-doors more successfully. Move back indoors before the first frost, check for insects, and if there is an infestation, spray with a soap and water spray.

Rosemary requires at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day. If you are growing rosemary on a windowsill, turn regularly to ensure every side receives light. If you are growing rosemary under lights, hang fluorescent lights 6 inches (15 cm) above the plants and leave on for 12 hours.

In the garden, rosemary deters cabbage moth, bean beetles, and carrot fly when planted near cabbage, beans, carrots, and sage. In Italy, rosemary is the preferred herb with lamb, veal, and poultry particularly when simmered with olive oil, garlic, and wine. Rosemary should always be used with lamb as it enhances the meat with incomparable flavour. Other uses in the kitchen include tomato dishes, stews, soups, vegetable dishes, pork, rabbit, sausages, fish, shellfish, finely chopped in custards, egg dishes, pickles, jellies, jams, cakes, cookies, salads, and is an essential ingredient in herb breads and biscuits, including focaccia, the classic Italian bread. Rosemary can be added to the cooking water to enliven cauliflower, potatoes, green beans, and peas. Marinades for fish and meats as well as minestrone, chicken, and pea soups benefit from the addition of rosemary. Rosemary has a strong flavour so use sparingly. Leaves, stems, and flowers are all edible. To release the flavour of dried leaves, crush them just before using. Rosemary stems can be used for herb skewers by stripping the leaves and threading vegetables or tender cuts of meat on the stems for broiling.

Rosemary can be kept in the fridge for a few days either in plastic bags or with the stems immersed in water. The leaves can be dried by hanging fresh sprigs in a warm, dry place. Strip off leaves before storing.

Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace ? Gardening For The Soil, Gardening For The Soul and the booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Products. She owns the website Gwen's Healing Garden where you will find lots of free information about gardening for the soil and gardening for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca

Gwen Nyhus Stewart © 2004 ? 2005. All rights reserved.

---

Furniture Benches Are Perfect For Every Outdoor Space

The task of selecting outdoor furniture for your natural spaces... Read More

Why Patio Benches are a Great Place to Relax and Enjoy

Having an outdoor patio offers the opportunity and place to... Read More

A Rose is a Rose?

There are many varied definitions of what each color of... Read More

Ten Considerations Before You Buy A Bird House

When you decide to buy one bird house or more... Read More

Wooden You Like to Know? A Primer to Wood Outdoor Furnishings

To many people, wood is the quintessential building material for... Read More

A Beautiful Rose Is Natures Gift

Roses are one of natures most beautiful and splendid gifts.... Read More

Add Rich Color To Your Garden With Blue Perennial Flowers

Blue flowers are some of the most striking plants around... Read More

My Spring Bulbs Wont Bloom - Why?

You can hear the wailing from here. "Why aren't my... Read More

Orchids Plus More Newsletter - December, 2004

Newsletter Name Change?After several of you made suggestions to me... Read More

Fuchsia procumbens

Fuchsia (named after Leonhard Fuchs, a 16th century German botanist)... Read More

What Is One Flower Benefit That You Know Of?

The biggest flower benefit of all is the fact that... Read More

Get your Garden Cooking with Friable Soil

Oh sure, fried green tomatoes are ok; but I'll take... Read More

Themes of Shade

A Shade Garden can be created in any of several... Read More

Planting Bare Root Roses

Before planting, the plants must be prepared. The following suggestions... Read More

A Kids Tree

During my youth kids were required to pass through a... Read More

Plant Hardiness Zones

When selecting plants for the landscape, is important to select... Read More

The Rich History of Wild Roses

Wild roses, of the genus Rosa, are those naturally... Read More

Patio Design and Patio Furniture - The Use of Focal Points

A focal point is an important design element; it is... Read More

How to Care for Your Outdoor Water Fountains

Garden lovers around the world love putting fountains among their... Read More

10 Tips for Successful Rose Planting

Planting roses isn't actually complicated, as long as you have... Read More

Letting Nature Grow Your Garden

It is wisest to let Nature have Her way. Nature... Read More

Mustard: The Greatest Among The Herbs

Mustard plants have been used for thousands of years for... Read More

Pressure Washing Decks

A beautiful wooden deck, properly maintained, can add greatly to... Read More

Bedding Plants and Plugs (small plants)

It is not difficult to grow bedding plants from seeds,... Read More

Marjoram: The Herb of Happiness

Called the "herb of happiness," Origanum majorana, commonly known as... Read More

How to Build a Waterfall For Your Garden Pond

Building a waterfall is easier than you think and will... Read More

Landscaping of Hindu Religious Places

Traditionally Hindu tepmples were located either on hills or forests... Read More

Tractors and Their History

I recently bought a small tractor for my garden, which... Read More

How To Plan A Garden Right

Gardening is a hobby that brings joy, entertainment, and a... Read More

Making Memories with Flower Gardening

Flower gardening is not only about the present, but can... Read More

Hydroponics Gardening verses Organic Gardening: Which Grows the Best Cannabis?

Copy-write 2005 Jan Money.Hydroponics gardening offers many advantages to the... Read More

Popular Adirondack Chairs - Everything You Need To Know

Adirondack chairs were invented during the early 1900's by a... Read More

Light Up the Night! Quick Facts about Outdoor Lighting

When the days start to get shorter, the darkness may... Read More