Wednesday, July 29, 2009

My Kitchen Garden





Herbs in the garden are a must for me. There are endless culinary uses for herbs and there is something so very pleasurable about walking out to your garden to snip some herbs to go in whatever receipt I am preparing.

This time of year in North Florida where I live there is not much blooming in the garden because of our intense heat and humidity but soon in the Fall the blooms will come alive again. Until then I am enjoying the use of my Kitchen Garden.



The Kitchen Garden





There is Basil, Sage and Garlic Chives. Basil for pestos, Tomato Basil Pie which is a summertime favorite and I MUST have Sage for Poultry dishes and I can't forget that Thanksgiving Turkey. A baked potato topped with sour cream and garlic chives is pure heaven and my chives are used frequently to garnish dishes.




Lavender for those wonderful Pound Cakes and Madelines to go with my afternoon tea.

Then there are those herbs that I grow in pots on my patio.



Oregano for those wonderful Italian receipts.




Tarragon used in chicken dishes but is also excellent steeped as a tea for tummy issues.



Bay Laurel used in Italian receipts, soups, stews and those wonderful New Orleans cajun dishes. I couldn't be without Bay Laurel. I keep this in a pot on my patio because if I planted it in the ground it would get huge. It's easier to keep in bounds potted and on the patio.

I grow many other herbs that I haven't shown here such as Rosemary, several different kinds of thyme, other varieties of Basil, several different kinds of Mint and Italian Parsley. I have to have the Mint for Mint Juleps, of course, but also one of Florida's favorites, Mojito's. The Italian Parsley is a MUST also and I love it's fresh taste. Parsley is so much more than an herb for garnish.



A Kitchen Garden is a good thing.


I am joining in on Susan party Outdoor Wednesday.
You can find other Outdoor Wednesday participants by clicking here A Southern Daydreamer. Thank you Susan for hosting this weekly event.

Enjoy your day.

7 comments:

  1. Yes, living in Florida I can relate to your posting. The veggies are long gone, but luckily the herbs survive our brutal summers. I was pulling up an old tomato plant this morning and notice that several seeds had sprouted from tomatoes that had fallen and been left. I'm wondering if they will grow and give me tomatoes in the Fall? Time will tell.

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  2. What a lovely herb garden! It looks pretty -- which isn't always easy with herbs. Beautiful. I only have basil, thyme, and rosemary this year, and lavender but I don't count that as we don't eat it!
    :-)
    Cass

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  3. PS Meant to add -- there's a problem with your link on Susan's OW blog post -- it doesn't connect with your blog.
    Cass

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  4. i have a pot of herbs...would love to have your garden!
    come see our campmeeting!

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  5. Carolyn! I had no idea you've been blogging, it's wonderful to meet up with you again.

    Your herb gardens look so charming, I love your statuaries, too ~ and of course your fine sense of style.

    Thank you for leaving such a sweet comment on my blog. **hugs** ~m.

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  6. I would just love to have an herb garden like yours...I started one years ago and it was perfect...then we moved away. I miss my herb garden.
    You are blessed! Lilly

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  7. Carolyn- Your herbs looks so healthy and happy! I plan on planting an herb garden next year.... Luckily we live in an area with a lot of organic farms!

    Thank you so much for your sweet well wishes! They were very much appreciated!
    joan

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