Infusing a Hand Selected Bouquet with Aromatic Herbs

I am expanding my herbal offerings this season. Last year I planted 50 rosemary plants in the flower garden. I took 144 cuttings of the rosemary plants in November, and they have been slowly growing in the extra bedroom upstairs. I trim them occasionally and use the trimmings in my cooking and for shrubs (a healthy drinking vinegar). A large percentage of those 144 cuttings will be planted around the garden this year so visitors can cut and add this aromatic herb to their hand selected bouquets. I will be adding several kinds of basil (because that also makes incredible shrub) and adds so much to a bouquet. I have used apple mint in bouquets in past years, but because they are so aromatic and lovely I intend to add a larger variety of herbs to the garden so guests can add these aromatic herbs to their bouquets this season.

I trimmed and potted 60 of the rosemary plants yesterday. The trimmings went into a new batch of rosemary shrub. I also planted a cut and come again container of cilantro. Cilantro bolts really quickly in my garden. Basil is next. I plan to start basil this weekend. Genovese, Emily, Cardinal, Lemon, Lime, Thai…and the list could go on. There are so many wonderful options for basil. I would like the plants to be decent size and pruned at least once before I set them out this summer.

Then come the sweet peas. Our clay soil is wet here in the spring, and it is hard to get into workable soil as early as sweet peas need to be set out. This year I am going to start them in toilet paper rolls inside. That will give them a good head start and should prevent transplant shock since I can plant the whole roll and not disturb the roots. Sweet Peas are some of my favorites because they have such an incredible aroma. Many cut flowers have no scent, or such a faint fragrance that it doesn’t waft when the wind blows. I’m planting them on all corners of the garden, so no matter what direction the wind is blowing, visitors can smell the sweet fragrance drifting across the garden.