herbs to grow ........

[Still Kate]

hello everyone,   Sorry I haven't been around for a while, had fun and games here as usual and I also had an exam for my Counselling NCFE certificate and an interview for my Social Work course so I've been rather busy.
Now it looks like the Spring is here I'm thinking about the garden.
I'm going to make a circle out lined with stones with tealights around it in the evenings. I want to grow some herbs too, I've got the usual kitchen kind sorted out, Basil, parsley, corriander, mint etc ..... but has anyone got some ideas for the more unusual kinds ? - easy to grow and not illegal, and where I can source the seeds or seedlings.  
thanks for your help in advance.  
Best wishes         Kate. xx

[RedRonin]

What sort of "more unusual kinds" are you thinking of?

Incense or other fragrant types?

Visually aesthetic ones?

Other?

[Still Kate]

Hi Red,
             I'm thinking of ones that I can use for scents, drying and burning,  and also for cooking.
As I said, I have the basics, I'd like to try Chamomile, angelica, wild garlic and maybe violets (the Victorian eating kind) so any other ideas will be appreciated.
The weather here in the summer is very warm and I have a sunny south facing garden with some shade provided by a huge willow tree.   I'll grow most of the herbs in large pots as I seem to have very hungry snails.
Thank you.
Best wishes
Kate. xx

[Lark]

Hi Kate,

You might try some lavender, and perhaps some of the scented thymes, lemon balm, rue, and basil.

With the lemon balm, remember that it is a member of the mint family, and as such it will try to take over your garden.  So be sure to plant it in a large pot with several inches of the pot sticking above ground to keep it contained.  It smells lovely though, and it is great in either hot or iced tea.

-Lark-

[Fillionous]

Just a warning about Lemon Balm... it is like mint, very invasive and is best contained in a pot ... unless you want it all over your garden. That being said we had loads in our garden and very sucsessfully used it to make lemon balm wine.

Rue is excellent with white fish and was much used by the Romans. But the sap is caustic when it gets on your skin in sunlight.

You might like to try curry plant, not only has it got beautiful fine silver foliage and bright button like yellow blooms but it is great for imparting a mild curry flavour to cooking and will impart the same smell when bruised.

Another thought might be to look at some of the ancient British herbs, things like English mace (which has a peppery flavour in its serated green leaves) bay, walnut (a light tree introduced by the Romans to the UK) nastertiums (whose bright flowers are edible in salads) Weald (a plant famous for the yellow dye it produces), Woad (a blue dye plant), rocket and goldenrod.

Or you could branch out from strictly herbs and prehaps consider fruit bushes, currents, gooseberries, strawberries and blueberries, even apple all can be grown in containers... things like medlers, Quince, rubarb, blackberry, sloe, raspberries, need full soil.

All these plants have historic uses... be it food, sweet smells, dyes, magic, medicine... Just thoughts...
BE bright, be bold
Fillionous

[Still Kate]

Thanks for all your ideas ......   I got a few books out of the library yesterday,  magical Herbs by Margaret Picton and Tradditional Herbal Remedies by Michael Howard.
Along with all your suggestions Im also going to grow Marigold, Dill and Borage.
I'm going to mark out a large circle with stones and plant all my herbs within this, then in the evenings I can set small tealite candles on the stones and enjoy the herb garden - hopefully whilst Jon is busy on the BBQ.
Best wishes
Kate. xx