Ok, so I don’t really know how to speak French and had to google ‘delicious’ to find ‘delicieux’, but I do know a thing or two about growing French Tarragon, especially here in WA. French Tarragon has a mild aniseed flavour that is amazing with chicken, fish and egg dishes as well as most vegetables. […]
Of all the herbs in my garden, thyme has to be my favourite. I just love its versatility in the garden and in the kitchen. For me, the must-have is Pizza Thyme with its glossy deep green leaves and burgundy blush. It has the most aromatic perfume that really does smell like a pizza so […]
Every garden should have peppermint growing for herbal tea, spearmint for Asian dishes, culinary mint for traditional mint sauce and any of the countless others growing just for their foliage and fragrance. All mints, Mentha, are moisture-loving plants and except for a few, are perennials that are usually propagated by cuttings or division. Most who […]
Ladybirds may appear to be beautiful and harmless but, in fact, are ferocious predators with a voracious appetite for sap-sucking insects. Aphids and other sap-sucking insects are common in our West Australian gardens, feeding in large colonies on the plant juices of the new buds and shoots on roses, fruit trees and other valued plants. […]
Bay Laurel is a dense evergreen shrub or small tree with leathery pointed leaves. Insignificant clusters of small, cream-yellow flowers appear in spring followed by dark purple berries. Bay Laurel is native to the Mediterranean so is well suited to the hot, dry summers and mild winters of Western Australia. Bay prefer well-drained soil in […]
Although horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a perennial it is best grown as an annual. The leaves are long, dull green ovals with jagged edges and the root is long and tough. Since horseradish is not a very attractive plant it may be best grown tucked away at the back of the garden. Horseradish grows in […]
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) conjures up wonderful images of summer brunches sipping on wine and dining on bruschetta spread with pesto, salads drizzled with basil dressing and tomato, basil and rocket pizzas. When the fragrance of basil fills the garden we know that it’s not long until summer arrives. To the ancient Greeks and Romans, basil […]
Sage, with all of its’ wonderful variations in colour, is probably the most useful of all herbs in landscaping the Western Australian garden. In a mass planting, sages are so eye-catching that passers-by can’t help but stop for a look and are often puzzled by the wonderful leaves that look so familiar. Many gardeners know […]
A plant closely related to ginger, turmeric (Curcuma longa) grows from a large rhizome from which grow large broad oblong leaves up to 1 metre tall. An occasional pale yellow or white flower may grow from the centre of the clumps. Turmeric rhizomes can be a little difficult to find at the green grocer but […]
Galangal (Alpinia galanga) is a member of the ginger family and forms a clump of leafy stems up to 2 metres tall. The leaves are a glossy, bright green and about 50cm long. The plant is native to south-east Asia and the rhizomes are popular in many Indonesian, Thai and Malaysian dishes. Galangal needs full […]
