Annie, glad you got the package! Sorry, I ordered a while back on the othervthings! Didn't even think to have them sent to you! But I also had quite a few! But will get out as soon as I get!

Urooj, I was so happy to receive the other packet of seeds you sent me directly from Baker. Feverfew has been on my list for a very long time and I am happy I will be able to grow it now in my garden. Thank you!!! And, Baker always sends a free packet of seeds with each order, so I am going to also enjoy the Canary Bird Yellow Zinnia which will be a great addition to my cutting flower garden. Both items are just perfect!!!

Annie - great job on listing the companion plants...130 points earned since you combined each with herbs.

Jayeanne - I technically was looking for companion plants, and was going to ask for plants that did not get along well as tomorrow's discussion. So, I will go ahead and award you 130 points also.

Open still for discussion for 5 points for each listing or 10 points for each listing for any companion plant listings or non-companion listings...please post your answers by Saturday evening.

Bingo word for today is Lemongrass.

Enjoy your evening everyone!

Didn't we already have lemongrass picked? Hope everyone has great day!

A few more her/veg companion pairings...

Rosemary and parsley

Rosemary and chives

Basil and asparagus

Basil and beans

Basil and beets

Basil and cabbage

Basil and chili peppers

Basil and Bell peppers

Basil and eggplant

Basil and oregano

Basil and potatoes

Basil and tomatoes

Basil and marigolds....not sure if this counts

Lemongrass....I have only used when making stirfry;s and the stalk when making soup.

More pairings.....

*Tarragon and eggplant but...they say Tarragon is good with just about anything...deters pests

*Sage and cabbage

*Sage and carrots

*Basil and Okra

*Marjoram and pumpkins

*Peppermint and zucchini

*Dill and Zucchini

*Oregano and zucchini

*Catnip and zucchini

*Lemon Balm and zucchini

*Marjoram and zucchini

*Mint and zucchini

*Parsley and zucchini

*Borage and zucchini

*Parsley and zucchini

Lots of great companion plant listings!

I just got home after a day trip with the family. Hope everyone had a great Saturday.

Not many bingo words left, somebody must be getting close.

Today's bingo word is: Sage

Susan (Happy Ohio Gardener) your fantastic package to me arrived today and what a wonderful swap package! I'll post details and take a picture tomorrow. You have done an absolutely fantastic job as hostess this month! Thank you so much for the swap package and taking over for the month of February.

I'll recheck my Bingo words, but I think I still have 2 that haven't been called.

As for lemon grass, it's a beautiful plant. I have used it in soups and stir frying like Annie said and it also gives a nice flavor to tea.

Bingo!!

congratulations Melinda!

Congratulations on Bingo, Melinda!

A picture of the wonderful swap package I received from Susan.

Susan sent a garden flag (I've never had one before) so this and everything in the package was exciting, dish towel, garden gloves, hand lotion (so needed this time of the year), plant labels, a card, seeds (Anise, Marshmallow, Basic Minette, and Kohlrabi), a jar of McCormick's Grill Master Montreal Chicken Seasoning, and a recipe for Italian Herb Marinated Chicken which sounds delicious. Susan, thank you so much. This package was fantastic and really cheered up my day!

Glad to see your package arrive safely Jeanne. I have enjoyed hosting this month. It has been a delightful experience with this great group of gardeners. Everyone has been so wonderful sharing suggestions and recipes too. Not to mention the packages are all amazing! I love the excitement when everyone shares pictures and comments with the group.

I will be tallying up the points and sending prizes out by the end of the week, and will continue to keep track as the final packages are sent and received.

Thanks to everyone for participating in the games and discussions this month. As we wrap up, please continue to keep the conversation flowing. We learn so much from one another. Though we have discussed various topics related to herbs and spices, with the wealth of information out there, we have only scratched the surface.

I will try to share a little something interesting each day, and will call it "The Tip of The Day". Please join me in posting your own tip of the day. I like this type of discussion because it always results in sharing great ideas and some out of the box thinking. It's great to learn things from another person's perspective and experiences.

The Tip of the Day

In addition to the companion and non companion plant pairings, sun exposure and watering requirements are also considerations when growing herbs. Cilantro, tarragon, and basil, like most herbs love full sun, and all require more moisture to be happy. They grow well together since you can keep them watered at the same rate. Many herbs like thyme, sage, rosemary, marjoram, oregano and lavender however, prefer sandier, drier soil, and will do well when planted together. Did you know there are also plenty of herbs you can grow in partial shade? Chives, flat leaf parsley, lemon balm, wild bergamot, tarragon, thyme, golden oregano, anise and cilantro are just some of many choices that will grow well in partial shade.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend. Happy Sunday!

Jayeanne, so sorry to hear about your accident. That sounds awful to be going through. Recovery can be slow, but you have the right mindset, one day at a time. Sorry you didn't get to visit the colleges.

I had an illness a long time ago that took me a couple of years to work through and I had some great days and others not so great, but here I am, and thankful for each day.

I was happy to host and glad you enjoyed participating. I pray you will be all healed and ready for some gardening soon.

Good morning everyone! Happy Monday!

As promised yesterday, I am posting the Tip of the Day each day this week. Please feel free to add your own tips or discuss these on the thread. Please bear in mind, my tips are sometimes a few rolled into one topic. I hope this information is useful and helpful to somebody.

The Tip of the Day

We learned about some non-companion plant/herb combinations this month. But, did you know there are also some herbs that don't play nice together? In some cases, the growth may be stunted or halted when a certain herb is planted next to another.

Although it may be difficult to keep everything separated, try your best to keep non-companion plants away from each other. Your yields may increase dramatically and flavor may be much better as a result.

Anise, Dill and Rue

These three herbs are beneficial companion plants to several other vegetables and herbs, but there are some herbs and vegetables they may harm. Anise and dill will inhibit the growth of your carrots, and dill can cause harm to tomatoes. Rue is beneficial to figs, but should never be planted near cabbage, basil or sage. Anise is beneficial to cilantro/coriander, and dill will improve the flavor and growth of cabbages, lettuces and onions.

Fennel

Fennel should always be planted by itself. Other herbs and vegetables will not grow well or produce a good flavor when planted near it. Now before you go throwing out your fennel seeds, you should know all isn't lost. It attracts pollinators to your yard because of its nectar.

Garlic and Onions

Garlic and onions will improve the growth of beets, cabbage and roses. However, they will inhibit beans and peas. Most plants are not harmful to garlic and onions, but sage can inhibit the growth of your onions.

Wormwood

Wormwood is another loner in your herb and vegetable garden. The benefit of wormwood is a spray you can create with it to help discourage damaging pests like snails and slugs.

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday!

The TIp of the Day

Some herbs make great companions for other plants. Annie listed many of them during our game earlier in the month, so I won't focus too much in this area. I will just mention a few herbs and their ability to improve your garden.

Basil

Basil is often used as a companion for many plants in the garden due to its pest-control properties. Basil repels or deters white flies, mosquitoes, hornworms, flies and aphids. Did you know it will also improve the flavor and growth of your tomato plants?

Bee Balm

Bee balm(Bergamot /Monarda) also improves the flavor of tomatoes, and it attracts beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden.

Comfrey

Comfrey makes the soil rich. It is also said to have medicinal properties.

Nasturtium

Nasturtium is a great choice if you need help with pest control. Not only is it grown as a trap crop for aphids, it will help deter white flies and squash bugs too.

There are plenty of other herbs that I could mention here, but I will leave that up to you to research as everyone's herb growing selections vary greatly, and I'm supposed to be sharing a Tip of The Day, not writing a book, LOL. I am going to use these strategies when I plant this year, and I hope you find this information useful.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

decided to start my seedlings today. i dont know if im late or early but decided that today was the day. Annie this is the Basil you sent me and i cant wait for it to come up. come to think of it, perisan basil and dill for rice would be a good combo.

what happened to jayeanne? i dont see a post about an accident and i looked through them all twice. will send her a message.

good job on bingo melinda. ive needed only 1 word for the past week now but you beat me to it!

susan, im glad you liked the extra goodies. i didnt know baker sent an actual seed packet... i thought it would be like those wildflowers we get from the farmers market or something. im glad you got the herb youve wanted... i decided that since it sounded the most strange, i would go with that one!

thanks for a great swap. i had a fun time and learned a lot. my husband was marinating lamb chops yesterday and i said we need thyme for that but he ended up using cilantro. will eat them tonight and update!

Urooj ... sent you a message ....not sure where my post went no surprise. I think its perfect timing for starting your seedlings .... just make sure to keep your soil damp so your seeds can sprout =)

Congrats on BINGO Melinda!

Jayeanne....are you OK??

So many times I have heard the tip to always plant marigolds in your vegetable garden. I, of course, have never done this.....marigolds always seem to get consumed by the rabbits in the flower gardens so I have not put them with vegetables. My question....do you find that marigolds fight off problems in your vegetable garden?????

Susan, such a fun and informative swap this month. You have been a lovely hostess with the mostess! Thank you!!

Annie

What a sweet picture, Melinda.

Jayeanne, keeping you in my prayers.

Melinda beautiful baby girl. she is gorgeous! What a blessing, enjoy this time with her. They grow up so fast.

Annie thank you for the kind words.

Jayeanne. I am hoping you are doing well.

The tip of the day is a short one

The Tip of the Day

Remember to put a date on your purchased or harvested herbs and spices. Generally herbs have a 12 to 24 month shelf life and lose their potency after that. Spices on the other hand are usually good for 3 years ground and 4 years if whole. Infusions and extracts vary greatly on how long they last. I will leave the research up to you depending on what type of infusion you have. Fresh oils can have a very short shelf life and extracts with alcohol can last up to 3 years.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Hi All!

I believe I'm the host for March. I am wondering if anyone would like to co-host with me. I have a theme and postings ready, but no games. Would anyone like to be Game Queen for March? We could both post. I'm going to post the new thread and I'll ask on that thread, too. Heidi

Melinda - What a little baby doll Rylie Jane is. A baby is the most precious gift in the world.

Enjoy that little one. Your pkg should be delivered tomorrow.

Jayeanne - Sorry to hear about your accident and praying for 100 percent healing.

We had some really nice sunny days and now a cold front is coming through....YUK

Hi there Heidi. I wish I had more time to help you host. i hope someone can help out with some games and cohost with you. March is going to be very busy for me. If nobody signs up to help I will do my best to help you out there.

Tip of the day #5 - More on proper storage and expiration dates

In an earlier post I mentioned the shelf life for herbs being a year or two, and whole spices 2 to 3 years. It's important to remember the following storage tips as well.

Be sure your herbs and spices are stored in an airtight container (glass containers work best) in a cool dark place under 70 degrees Farenheit. Store away from microwaves, stoves and dishwashers due to extra moisture and heat which can cause premature spoiling. The best storage places are in the cupboard or in the pantry.

Open shaker bottles will not preserve the herbs or spices properly and they will soon lose their flavor and potency. Test whether or not your herb and spices are still potent by gently shaking the container with the cap on. Wait a moment, then remove the cap and smell the container to see if the rich aroma is still present.

You can store a large amount of herbs and spices in the freezer to prolong shelf life. This only works if you only open the package periodically. Each time you open the package moisture enters the contents and will end up accumulating and ruining the batch after a while.

This is one we probably all do on a regular basis. Don't add herbs and spices directly into something you're cooking because of the heat and moisture that is being omitted from your food. Put them on your hand first, then put them in your food.

I know we are winding down the month and I hope I haven't lost my audience completely. Hope these tips are helpful for everyone.

The day has been cold and snowy here in Ohio. Since being outdoors in this weather is not possible, I had to order a couple of packets of seeds from Parks with their free shipping offer I shared above. Who could resist?

Wishing everyone a great evening and a wonderful Friday!

Happy Friday!

Today will be the last posting for The Tip of The Day.

We could go on and on but alas my time has come to a close.

We didn't get a chance to talk about all the artsy/crafty things you can do with herbs....flower pressing, sachets, soaps, candles etc. and that could be an entirely different topic on its own.

If you get a chance though check out The Garden Glove website ideas here for additional ideas in that area: https://www.thegardenglove.com/clever-projects-made-using-herbs/

I also wanted to leave you with some resources and I was able to find some free ebook downloads.....free is always good...right?

Mountain Rose Herbs offers their ebook here: https://info.mountainroseherbs.com/free-herbal-ebook

The Complete Herbal ebook by Nicholas Culpeper contains some amazing information and is available here: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49513

There are so many more options to explore, but I will leave that up to you.

I hope you have enjoyed this month's theme and swap. I had a lovely time hosting. Prizes will be going out in the mail on Monday and I am finishing up packaging over the weekend.

Now, let's leap into March and visions of spring with Heidi. Check out her FOTESS March round robin exchange posting...Trends to Try....sounds like lots of fun and adventure awaits.

One more thing....forgot to post the update for packages mailed/received status. I will check back and look forward to seeing the final package confirmations when they arrive

1) Brittneysgran sends to Melinda - sent

2) Pinkiris sends to Brittneysgran - sent and received

3) Melinda sends to canyonwind - sent and received (herbs still pending receipt)

4) Canyonwind sends to jdmom78_8a - sent and received

5) Sandlapper_rose sends to pinkiris - sent and received

6) jdmom78_8a sends to Happy Ohio Gardener - sent and received

7) HappyOhioGardener sends to Sandlapper_Rose - sent and received

Sorry, I received my package from Shirley yesterday! Loved it! Had a 24 hr. Stomach bug! Will post contents tomorrow!

I got great package from Shirley!! She knows me well!

2 pot holders

Devotional booklet for women ( always love these)

Freesia bulbsb

hydrangea and peony hand cream

burger seasoning for meatloaf

Spearmint, peppermint and thyme seeds

2 beautiful cards!!

Shirley, I keep thinking of the 100's of daffodils and jonquils left at place in country! I sure miss so much of that there! I know they are already starting to bloom!

Hope everyone has great weekend! I am better and have a lot to do!

very nice package received Melinda.

Glad you are feeling better.

Thanks for this great month with herbs and spices, Susan. You were a wonderful hostess!

Thank you Jeanne! It was a lot of fun hosting.

Melinda, I received a FUN little envelope from you yesterday.....and inside a very nice card and seeds......You did not have to send to me as you already sent me a wonderful package in February. Great seed selection....awesome!!

*Marshmallow

*Sweet Pepper Pimento

*Sweet Pepper Alma Paprika

*Flax

THANK YOU so much!! Happy March!!

Annie

Very nice herbs Melinda. i think we are all wrapped up.

thanks for a great swap Susan. i had a great time. just went over and signed up for March!

All the prizes should be delivered by Friday or Saturday. Please let me know when you receive them.

omg best mail day ever! I got a surprise from susan! I dont remember winning anything so I was like... what?!?!

thanks for the goodies Susan, couldn't wait to put up our new flag! im on a roll with my seeds this season so i will plant my petunias tomorrow!

Urooj. I had a bunch of games and a spreadsheet to keep track of the winnings. probably overkill but just the way I am. I know you participated in a couple and everyone won something. I am so glad you received your package. The frog looks very much at home in your landscape. Happy Gardening!

Susan ... OMG osh ... THANK YOU very much for all the FUN gifties you sent my way ... You did not need to send all those, but I really appreciate the thoughtfulness and generosity, very much appreciated! a lovely card and note ....LOVE the beautiful FLAMINGO hand towels, those are already out and hanging, the fantastic assortment of seeds in the cutest little bag, wow! I plan to get these sown probably Monday ... seasoning, flamingo luggage tag, journal, crossword puzzle book, trident gum, handcream, lip gloss set, honey vanilla chamomile tea bags - cant wait to try this! THANK YOU so much Susan .... I had lots of FUN with your herbs and spice swap Susan and enjoyed learning from your postings!

You’re welcome Jayeanne. You earned all of those prizes fair and square. Thank you for your participation. I am so glad you found the information useful, I really had a good time hosting. Wishing you bountiful blooms. Enjoy!

I received fabulous package from Susan for winning Bingo!! Thanks so much! Will post pic tomorrow!

I received my prizes. Thank you so much! Such a wonderful package.

So glad your package arrived Jeanne. Enjoy!

Melinda, congratulations again on your Bingo win. So glad it arrived safely and that you liked it. Enjoy and Happy Gardening!

ProblemsPostingContentsFromSusan...

I am on another computer. Hopefully, I can post the contents of Susan's wonderful prize package.

*everything was in a black and white box....great for seeds

*two darling kitchen towels....dog theme....love these

*two silicone pot holders....these are great

*herbal tea

*travel size first aide kit....perfect, I needed this

*two year pocket planner

*3 pack of mini tongs.....fantastic

*seeds...petunia double cascade, viola petunia, bok choy, forkhook giant swiss chard, ruby red swiss chard, vates blue curled kale, pumpkin small sugar and they were in a little pouch

*and a very nice card

Susan, you were far to generous. I was not deserving of anything. Thank you so much!!

Annie

So glad you liked the package Annie. Enjoy and happy gardening!