It’s December 28th here and I hope all of you are pouring over your seeds catalogs just as I am. Right now is the perfect time to order seeds before the Feb through March rush. Ordering now will allow you to have the best selection and you’ll be able to start your seeds indoors and have them ready to plant come April 18th (frost free date for zone 6).

If you can’t wait to have fresh herbs for your cooking pleasure, be sure and start some indoors with your own culinary herb garden kit. These kits make it easy to grow culinary herbs.
Assortment of 12 Culinary Herb Seeds Each packet of seed contains much more seed than is needed for the kit. Experiment inside with Parsley, Thyme, Cilantro/Coriander, Basil, Dill, Oregano, Sweet Marjoram, Chives, Savory, Garlic Chives, Mustard, Sage.

The convenient, no-mess way to start seeds. Just add water – pellets expand to form pot and soil in one. Canadian sphagnum peat moss provides a rich, high quality growing environment. Transplant directly into the ground or larger containers-minimizes transplant shock and root damage.

What better way to add zest to your foods without salt!

A bee skep with a hole cut in the bottom of the handwoven skep in which a strong branch was placed inside, lured the bees to set up housekeeping. Shortly afterward, the bees produced a comb full of wonderful honey

Although used only as decoration in gardens today, there’s still nothing as charming as seeing a bee skep nestled among the sweet smelling herbs.

This is our first year have real bee hives in our garden and it’s been a real joy to see which herbs the bees enjoy.

At the moment, they are loving our Mountain mint and porcelain berry vine (Ampelopsis glandulosa). I love hearing the constant hum of busy bees knowing that we will reap the benefit of their hard work.

I have also noted in my journal that they love the Six Hills Giant mint, chives, anise hyssop, hyssop, sage, and thyme.

I found this herbal honey recipe in the wonderful book called  The Pleasure of Herbs: A Month-by-Month Guide to Growing, Using, and Enjoying Herbs by Phyllis Shaudys and thought you might enjoy it. You may use store bought honey if you don’t have your own bee hives as we do to achieve the same effect.

Herbal Honey Recipe
Place a fresh, washed leaf of rose geranium in a small, sterilized, glass jar. Warm the honey, and pour it over the herb leaf. Cap the jar tightly, and allow about 24 hours for the flavor of the herb to permeate the honey. Serve as a sweetener for tea.

If you would like to learn more about growing and using herbs, please visit our website for a free download of my most recent book entitled Herbs for Your Health: How to Grow and Use Them.

Bees love our anise hyssop

Here is our bee skep with a wonderful skep house a friend made for us

Our own bee hives