herbie

Rough Winter Wiped Out Tender Perennials

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Yes, it was a rough winter. We’re grateful that it’s history.

A friend said he’s had some late comers this spring, meaning that some plants stayed dormant from the cold of winter much longer than typical. He said to wait for a while before counting out the tender perennials.

I figure that the frost-free dates for our areas is a good marker of when to give up the ghost on late-comers.

It’s the middle of May and since they didn’t yet sprout I crossed off the following plants that did not ‘come back to life’ this year:

  • Rosemary
  • French Tarragon
  • Russian Tarragon
  • Hens and Chicks
  • Butterfly Bush
  • Wild Ginger
  • Grape Spiderwort

The wild ginger and spiderwort were a surprise on this list as they are natives that can withstand our winters and these particular plants did so for a half-dozen years or more. Maybe they were just old?

Already picked up rosemary and tarragon plants at a local greenhouse. The others will be missed but their demise opened a few spots in the gardens where we can plant something new.

This is the time that we’ve been looking forward to for months. Let’s get out there and plant something!

Chopped Fresh Parsley on Roasted Potatoes

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Parsley smells so fresh when you cut it right off the plant! Bruising the leaves releases a very fresh scent into the air. Who minds weeding the herb patch?

Parsley Plant in the Garden
Parsley Plant in the Garden

Dried parsley just doesn’t have the punch that fresh parsley does. Well, not many herbs seem to retain the peak of their scent upon drying, but dried parsley just can’t stand up to fresh.

Chopped Fresh Parsley
Chopped Fresh Parsley

Throw a handful of chopped fresh parsley in the pan with cubed, boiled potatoes and a couple pads of butter. Let the potatoes brown on different sides by shaking the pan, or stirring gently, while preparing the rest of your meal.

We love parsley on potatoes, but there are tons of uses for it in the kitchen. Pasta and meat dishes, vegetables and soups all can benefit from the bright taste of parsley.