I did manage to harvest and dry Bay Leaf for friends.... I use fresh all year 'round. But, you've reminded me that I should be harvesting and drying Thyme and Oregano for winter use. I might try doing some Vinegars as well.

I'm eagerly awaiting a shipment from Richter's so I can finish a "Menopause Planter" for my older Sister. It should show up sometime this week!!

I real has just been bumming around debating which planter to use for which herb. I did up pot many of the rosemary, lemon grass, mint, thyme, ginger and lavender. The bay tree is a monster one and I must just go ahead and trim it down then repot it. The last two that sadly need attention also are kaffir lime and galanga.

Darn it, it would be incredible if it does rain!

I just got my new food dehydrator, so this weekend I'll be drying some sage, oregano, and basil.

Could I dry garlic slices at the same time, or would everything just end up smelling like garlic?

Outside of having about 30 too many cinnamon basil plants (an experiment that worked too well LOL), we're mostly just enjoying our herbs picked pariicularly for that night's dinner or dessert still.

Now, for those who want new ideas of what to do with your herbs (and other plants) that will keep you enjoying them for a few years, you might want to try your hand at making wreaths during the winter. Here's some past projects that might get your creative juices going.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/AtWhatCost/kitchenwreath.jpg[/IMG]This is the wreath that got me growing my own herbs! The cost for materials ran over $60, when I made it five years ago! We STILL have dried bay leaf left over. LOL Almost everything on this wreath are flavorings, except for the dried flowers, ribbon and (fake) apples. Obviously the leaves around the outside are bay, but the black pods between them are vanilla beans, the "nuts" are really whole nutmeg, short cinnamon sticks are tied up in it, as are whole anise stars. The mushrooms are dried, and the small green and white "flowers" are really wasabi beans. It has lasted at least five years in the kitchen, but I will need to replave the bay leaves and ribbon soon, since the cooking greases have faded them over the years.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/AtWhatCost/garden.png[/IMG]
I'm in the northeast, so winter is too long for this gardener. One day when I was longing for springtime, I made this wreath.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/AtWhatCost/Lynns.png[/IMG]
I read some where that everyone should make a wreath about their hobbies. Wreath making came before gardening became my second favorite hobby. My first favorite hobby is still my teddy bears (as can be seen on my wreath), and thankfully they like gardening, too. LOL If I'm cold, everyone should be cold, so in the winter time, I make my clothes for my stuffed animals -- thus the pieces of cloth that cover up most of the wreath. At first I hand sewed their clothes, (thus the bobbins of thread), but have since laerned how to crochet, so put little balls of yarn on it.

OK, yes, I think these wreathes turned out very well, but that's not why I've uploaded them. Wreath making can be a fairly cheap hobby, if you use supplies easily available to you. Just wanted to present an unusual way of using our herbs, just in case anyone else has ever considered making wreaths. I hope you try it too, particularly in those long dreary months in between gardening.

I sure hope these photos work, since I can't see them in my preview window!

Ack! The pictures didn't show up and there is no option for editing. Sorry 'bout that. Hopefully these links will let you see the pictures --

herb wreath http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/AtWhatCost/kitchenwreath.jpg

spring wreath
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/AtWhatCost/garden.png

hobbies wreath
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/AtWhatCost/Lynns.png

I've just been cutting and hanging branches and sowing seeds in flats for winter. Have a lot of pesto frozen and several bottles of vinegar "in process" and the dehydrator is busy with veggies. Really need to get all the chives divided and moved/potted up, and need to divide and pot up the mints, as well. Also must remember to pot up a few catnip volunteers or else my name will be mud with They That Rule the House.

Westelle, I'm jealous of your bay tree! I have one in a pot, but it is little and I must bring it in for the winter. I did live in the Mojave for a time and fondly remember being able to grow rosemary outdoors year-round. Kathy, let us know how your sister likes her planter. Lilacs, I would dry garlic on its own. It does have a tendency to permeate everything. Are you drying whole bulbs as well? Valentine, I'm not getting the links to work, will try again. Tosser, I'm giggling over your "They That Rule the House" comment. Do your kitties like catnip better fresh or dried?

Over the weekend, I gathered more seeds, made pickled cherries with hyssop, made basil pesto and sage pesto, weeded my 250+ herbs, and now am getting stuff together for the hand-made incense class I'm giving tomorrow night. Should be another nice day so will make lemon basil pesto, cinnamon basil jelly and gather some catnip. Elderberries are almost ripe enough to make syrup and jelly. Yummy!

In the Southwest fall is planting time. I will be experimenting with rooting cuttings from various native plants, particularly flowering sages. I also want to take cuttings from my lavender. I need to harvest my lavender.

I want to do some experimenting with dried flowers. The climate here in New Mexico is so dry, I doubt I'll need to use any orris root (dried iris root).

The pickled eggs and pickled cherries mentioned by two people sound really good! Pickled watermelon rind is good, too.

I have a non-electric food dehydrator. It is a series of plastic grid-type shelves suspended in a zippered net. It works well with herbs and beef jerky. I was successful in drying sliced shallots. My one attempt at drying sliced apples was a flop. I dipped the slices in honey mixed with lemon--didn't work!

I prefer fresh basil to dried basil. As some other folks mentioned, I will be making basil pesto for freezing. I like to use pesto as a sandwich spread, as well as on pasta. I had a good crop of basil this year.

Thanks for starting this thread! I haven't done anything yet except enjoy some fresh herbs. Bought some jars for vinegar making. We moved this year to a home with lots of sunny garden space so my herb garden is in its first year. Plants that I transplanted from my old garden are grateful to have more sun. I notice what looks like nasturtium seeds lying on the ground. Can I save these for next year? I have had calendula self seed but since I will start another new herb garden next year it would be nice to save some seeds to start indoors. I also love lemon gem marigolds. I have been dead heading the calendula. Can anyone tell me how long the seed should dry on the plant before I pick them? It's almost Sept 1 so I better stop deadheading or I won't have any volunteers either. Does anyone dry lemon verbena for winter use in the kitchen?