Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary is a popular herb that grows well in sandy, dry soil. I use it frequently with lamb, beef, and poultry — it’s one of my favorite herbs. I’ve had bad luck with drying it for later use, but have had very good luck with chopping and freezing it.

Historically, Rosemary has had several connotations. It’s been used as a sign of fidelity and fertility in wedding ceremonies during the middle ages, and also at any ceremony that was in memory of a person or event. Indeed, herbal medicine often associates Rosemary with increased memory recall. And modern science shows some evidence that the chemicals present in the herb actually *do* increase recall and help stave off Alzheimer’s and dementia; maybe my absent-minded nature is why I like it so much…

Care and Chores

  • Being a Mediterranean plant, like Lavender, Rosemary will prefer drier conditions with well-drained soil as opposed to the wet and/or poorly drained environment the rest of my garden will have.

My Notes

  • Seeds did not take on the first attempt. I’m probably going to end up breaking down and buying a seedling from a nursery. While my plans are to keep the herbs in the side yard, I’ll probably actually keep the Rosemary in a pot and keep the pot indoors or on the front porch. It definitely doesn’t need to be watered as much as anything else. 12Feb09