The North Shore Herb Group 1 October 2016 Written and Compiled by Minette Tonoli October 2016 Newsletter

Inside this issue: Last meet In the Garden

The September meeting October is probably the best month to sow and plant Next meet 1 was all about bees to co- almost anything that your heart desires in your herb Last meet 1 incide with National Bee garden, or vegetable garden and is undoubtedly the In the garden 1 Aware Month. busiest season for gardeners: Bee Herbs 2 Preparing soil in new garden beds, or revitalizing old Members enjoyed a bee beds and containers with good compost. Herb Honey 2 quiz which was won by Starting seeds of most plants, although some may Lemon Herbs 2 Carolyn, who has her still require warmer soil and air temperature before own hives. germinating. Watching out for new growth of perennials, espe- cially those that are completely died down (e.g. French Plants useful in a bee Next Meet Tarragon and Stevia) or lay dormant in winter (e.g. garden was discussed Lemongrass and Lemon Verbena). Monday, 10 Oct, while nibbling on honey Pest control is paramount with the abundance of new 7.30pm & ginger cookies. growth that is visible everywhere. Snails and slugs take Milford Primary advantage of seedlings, while other pests will feast on Helen: 479 7344 weaker plants.

SWAP MEET Sow seeds of Angelica, Anise Hyssop, Balm of Gilead, Basil, Bergamot, Borage, Calamint, Calendula, Catmint Plants, seeds, and Chamomile. Chervil, Chicory, Chives and Corian- books der as well as Dill, Fennel, Feverfew, Lovage, Parsley, Sage, Salad Burnet, Tarragon, Tansy and Valerian.

Plant THESE for the BEES Many herbs are great bee-friendly plants, and can be a good source of nectar for these important pollinators. Companion planting with bee attracting flowers will ensure a good crop! And a healthy ecosystem in your garden. Anise Dill Parsley 30 herbs Anise Hyssop Echinacea Phacelia and cottage Basil Fennel Poppies garden flow- ers that are Bergamot Foxglove Rosemary particularly Borage Hollyhock Sage suited to bee- Catnip/Catmint Hyssop Scabiosa and-butterfly Chives Lavender Summer Savory gardens Comfrey Lemon Balm Sunflowers Cornflower Marigold Thyme Dianthus Marjoram/Oregano Yarrow louisejewell.net Written and Compiled by Minette Tonoli Herbs Honeys

Thank you to Helen for submitting Add a little more honey to fill the plant (T. citriodorus) with dark the following recipe and ideas on jar to the very top. Cover tightly green leaves, golden-variegated T. Herbal Honeys. and label. citriodorus aureas or the silver- Your herbal honey is ready to use variegated T. citriodorus ‘Silver Fresh plants that can be used to in as little as a day or two, but will Queen’. make herbal honeys: be more medicinal if allowed to sit Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla)  Anise hyssop for six weeks. Herbal honeys - This deciduous shrub (or small (Agastache foeniculum) made from aromatic herbs make tree) may take a long time in wonderful gifts. spring to show  Comfrey leaf (Symphytum off.) new growth, so  Fennel seeds be patient! De- (Foeniculum vulgare) liciously lemon  Garlic (Allium sativum) scented leaves  Ginger root (Zingiber officinalis) can be used in cooking or as a  Horseradish tea. (Armoracia rusticana) Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrratus)  Lavender (Lavendula off.) - A native to Asia, the leaves are  Lemon Balm (Melissa off.) used for tea, while the base of the  Lemon verbena Lemon Herbs stalks are used in cooking. (Aloysia triphylla) Inspired by Dittany 4, 1983 Lemon Basil (Ocimum spp) - A  Marjoram (Origanum majorana) tender annual with mouthwatering Adair Genge from the Southland lemon scented leaves. Used in  Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Herb Society said in Dittany 4, Thai and Indonesian cooking.  Peppermint (Mentha pipperata) 1983: “I suppose we all have a particular natural fragrance from Lemon Scented Pelargonium  Rose petals (Rosa) the garden which we prefer to any (Pelargonium spp) - A number of  Rose hips (Rosa) other, whether it be rose, pepper- these fragrant shrubs exist with a lemon scent such as ‘Lemon Fan-  Rosemary (Rosmarinus off.) mint, musk or lavender. One of my particular favourites is the cy’, ‘Lady Mary’, ‘Mabel Grey’ and  Sage (Salvia off.) scent (and taste) of lemon.[...]” ‘Rober’s Lemon Rose’. Pelargoni-  Shiso (Perilla frutescens) um leaves can scent jellies and creams or line  Spearmint (Mentha spicata) Here are a few herbs Adair men- tioned, and a few extra ones. All sponge cakes to  Thyme (Thymus species) with that unmistakable fresh zingy impart fra-  Yarrow blossoms lemon scent. grance. (Achillea millefolium) Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) - Lemon Bergamot (Monarda citri- an herbaceous perennial in the odora) - A fast growing annual herb with lemon scented leaves How to Make the Herb Honey: mint family with strongly lemon scented leaves. and whorls of pink flowers. Use Coarsely chop the fresh herb of Great for tasty for teas. your choice (leave garlic whole). calming teas. Other lemon herbs include: Lem- Put chopped herb into a wide- Lemon on Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora), mouthed jar, filling almost to the Thyme (Thymus citriodorus) - A Lemon Mint (Mentha x. aquatica top. Pour honey into the jar, work- delightful thyme in the garden ‘Citrata’), Lemon Savory (Satureja ing it into the herb with a chop- whether you have the species montana citriodora), and Lemon Cat- stick if needed. nip (Nepeta cataria ssp. Citriodora).