I've always loved herb gardens and recently discovered that so many herbs are deer resistant. Hurray!

This is what I've planted they that the critters (including rabbits and groundhogs) haven't touched.

Thyme (lemon and savory)

Sage

Rosemary

Lavender

Oregano

Basil

Cilantro

Dill ( although something did eat it once and since it has grown back nothing has nibbled it)

Tarragon

Hi Birdi,

            I really love herbs, too. It's my plan to plant a medieval herb garden next spring. I'm preparing the soil this fall for it. I'm really excited…I love herbs just as much as I do my flowers. Maybe even a little bit more. I also press them in a flower press and make collages. Have you come across any good books on the subject?

My other two favorite herb gardening books-  Your Backyard Herb Garden by Miranda Smith.  It includes some garden designs and info on cooking and crafting with herbs.  It's a well-illustrated book, too.  The Herbfarm Cookbook by Jerry Traunfeld is also a really extensive resource for cooking with herbs and lots of descriptive info.

I have some, and hope to expand next year. Currently we are growing: echinacea, yarrow, spearmint, chives, garlic chives, horseradish, and garlic.

I also wildcraft dandelion, plantain, elderberry, chickory, elderflower, teaberry/wintergreen, and pursulane. I hope to learn more about the wild plants and their uses.

Theresa

I learned to gather herbs in the woods — from a person we referred to as a witch!  She wasn't, but she really taught me a lot!

I don't live in an area where I can't really gather — I'm surrounded by concrete — but grow as many as I can for cooking.  What I don't grow, I can buy locally.  Due to climate conditions, I grow many things indoors — so I don't grow as many things as I'd like right now.  I'd rather have a real garden.

My rabid squirrels eat my cilantro, spearmint and peppermint.  Please don't tell me that they won't — I've seen them doing it!

Birdi,

        Do you have a technique for drying your herbs that you can share? I have so much thyme and rosemary that I thought it would be nice to dry it and package it up beautifully for Christmas gifts this year.

Beats me…maybe you have to say “me lady” a lot or “off with their heads” when you weed or something.

oh my gosh GeorgiaZ that is so stinkin funny!!!!!!!!!  I haven't even read Suzanne's response yet and I am laughing so hard i went straight to reply……. I had to respond…i am still laughing my head off…..”Off with their heads”  when you weed or something….

that is hilarious!!!!!!!!!!   

I am still cracking up………….

Tresh

I like Georgia's explaination better than any book.

I will share with you my method of drying herbs and it may very well give a chuckle….not the tying part but where I put them. 

I gather the herbs and tie them with twine in small bunches.  Then I hang the little bunches upside down with a push pin to the edge of my kitchen celing.  My door is always open and warm so there is always ventilation and its far enough to be out of the sun.  The most amusing thing is that my hubby's recliner is directly under this conglomeration on the celing.  When he is reclined and looks up…it looks like a forest.  WE chuckle about it all of the time.  Its equally amusing to us, because he is a logger by trade and he has his very own forest to look at. 

It really works very effectively though.  They dry in about 2 weeks or so.  I just reach up and tickle them.  You can hear when they are dry.  It gives the house a delightful smell as well.  With basil especially i break it into much small bunches so that it does not turn black.  I use a dehydrator to dry cornsilk in and a few others during big harvests.