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the Garden of Grace.

Grace Weaver, long-time NKHS member and Certified Master Gardener, loves sharing her insights from a lifetime of living with herbs. New growing tips, recipes, herbal lore, or musings are posted each month.

"My grandmother taught me all about herbs and gardening. I helped her pick them, weed them, and scour the forest for them -- wild beet, leeks, wild onions, wild lettuce, and water cress. -- Using them, she dosed us for all illnesses: colds, flu, coughs, headaches, cuts or bruises. Willow for headaches; wild cherry bark for coughs ..."

Ten herbs to consider planting in 2012

The National Garden Bureau and the Herb Society of America recently issued a joint recommendation of the 10 best herbs for planting in home herb gardens during 2012. Most are long-time favorites of the Northern Kentucky Herb Society, so we're sure to be talking about them during our meetings and on our website during this year.

If you haven't already made plans to plant them, perhaps you should. Here, very briefly, are my summary impressions of each of them for your consideration.

BASIL

Basil is easy to grow and can be started from seed indoors or, after all frosts are over, can be sown in the ground. It loves a sunny window but is not fussy. The more you trim it, the faster it grows. Read more about basil in the Favorite Herbs section of our website.

CHIVES

Chives are a cheery herb, growing indoors and out. Snip them all year around for a light, onion-flavored addition to a recipe. Chives make a great garnish for food. They have beautiful purple flowers which are also edible. They are a very easy herb for the beginner to grow.

CILANTRO

Cilantro is refreshing and bright tasting herb. It likes cool weather, so plant it early in the spring and fall. Planting cilantro in successive sowings will let you have plenty for all your needs.

DILL

Dill is another beloved herb. We all know its taste from our favorite pickles, but it is also great with fish dishes. Grow dill indoors and out. The new Fernleaf Dill has an abundance of leaves to use while you’re waiting for the large Dukat Dill to flower. Make successive plantings of dill to have enough on hand all the time. Read more about dill in our Favorite Herbs section.

LAVENDER

Lavender – you either love it or hate it for its scent. True lavender has a scent that is in a class of its own. There are many varieties; some are perennial and some are not, depending on your growing zone. While we usually think of lavender for its scent, it is also delicious in cakes, cookies, and lemonade.

LEMON BALM

Lemon balm’s foliage is quite striking, and it has a pure lemony flavor. It's great in lemonade drinks. It is a prolific grower and part of the mint family, so it should be grown in pots, or somewhere it can be allowed to grow and spread. Place pots of it on your patio to scent the evening air.

MARJORAM

Marjoram is a milder herb than its cousin oregano. The flavor is so heady you need only a tiny bit to flavor any recipe. No matter what time in the season you harvest it, marjarom does not become bitter. It grows well in a sunny window indoors.

PARSLEY

Parsley, a bright, easy to grow herb for the indoor window, has come a long way from the days of being "just a garnish." It has a bright, green flavor and is great in soups and pesto.

SAGE

Sage is important for any herb garden! It dries well, is easy to store, and makes a great rub when mixed with other dried herbs. It is a must in poultry dishes. And, sage tea, with a little honey added, is a soothing remedy for sore throats.

THYME

Thyme offers a rich, savory flavor to many soups and stews. It is a must-have for meat dishes, especially those cooked low and slow. It keeps its scent and flavor while dried, and it is very easy to grow. It is a perennial and will appear ready to go each spring. Keep a pot growing on your window sill as well as in your garden. Read more about thyme.