Rosemary - The herb of love and remembrance. Strongly flavored, needle-like leaves are used in poultry stuffing, lamb, and pork dishes. Toss a few branches on Bar-B-Que coals for a different flavor. Often found in potpourri and homemade cosmetics. Grows very slowly from seed. Companion plant to cabbage, beans, carrots, and sage. Repels cabbage butterflies and slugs. Attracts bees. Prefers a dry, sunny location. Do not over-water. Maturity: 85 days - Habit: Perennial - Preservation: Dry

Oregano [vulgare] - The pizza herb. Essential ingredient in Italian, Spanish and Mexican cooking and any tomato dish. Start indoors in January by sprinkling seed on top of sterile soil. Cover with plastic until germinated. Cutting back plant before flowering will encourage bushing out. Harvest for drying when plants bloom. Mulch in winter. Companion plant for beans and cabbage. Prefers sunny location and regular watering. Maturity: 90 days - Habit: Perennial - Preservation: Dry

Florence Fennel - Grown and used like celery but with a strong, anise-like flavor. The bulb at the base must be heaped up with soil to blanch. Use base cooked or raw in salads. Seeds are used to flavor pastries, sauces, and soups. Tender young top leaves combine well in cheese and fish dishes. Stalks, leaves, and seeds may be combined to make tea. Seeds should be allowed to partially dry on the plant. Deters slugs. Prefers a dry, sunny location. Do not plant near dill or coriander. Maturity: 90 days Habit: Annual Preservation: Seeds, dry

Dill [Bouquet] - Easy to grow. Sow directly in the garden. Use leaves before flowers form. For pickles, best harvested while flower heads and partially mature seed clusters are abundant and green. Seeds are flat and brown when ripe. Add to dishes just before serving for maximum flavor. Distinctive added flavor for sauces, soups and salmon, carrot, and egg dishes. Chopped leaves are tasty with sour cream and cucumbers. Companion plant for cabbage, lettuce, and onions. Prefers a dry, sunny location. Maturity: 70 days Habit: Hardy Annual Preservation: Save seed, freeze

Cress - Extra curled or Pepper Grass. Produces an abundance of finely cut dark green leaves with a pungent flavour. Sow early and often for a continuous supply of fresh leaves. Delicious in salads, soups and sandwiches. Finely cut, dark green leaves make an attractive garnish. Maturity: 45 days - Habit: Hardy Annual - Preservation: None

Coriander [Cilantro] - Attractive, finely cut foliage. Distinctively flavoured leaves [cilantro] are used in Chinese and Latin American cooking. Seeds [coriander] are used in potpourri and to flavour beans, chilli sauces, curries and fish. Plant early and often. Repels Potato bugs. Maturity: 90 days Habit: Hardy Annual Preservation:Dry Leaves

Chives - Very fine onion like leaves add delicate flavour to omelettes, salads, soups and stews. Lavender coloured flowers attract bees. Companion plant for carrots, roses and tomatoes. Prefers dry, sunny location. Repels aphids. Harvest by cutting near base with scissors but be sure to leave a few stalks. Flowering plant is quite decorative. Maturity: 80/90 days Habit: Perennial Preservation:Freezing

Chives Garlic Oriental - Flower stalks are tubular with bright, decorative white flowers. An ornamental asset. Leaves are flat and arching. Long flat stalks are an irresistible combination of onion and garlic flavours. Harvest by cutting near base and freeze. Maturity: 80/90 days Habit: Perennial Preservation:Freezing

Catnip - Foliage is greenish-gray. Small blue flowers attract bees. Dried leaves sometimes used in making tea that helps induce sleep. Processed plants used as a tonic for cats. Also called cat-mint. Maturity: 75/80 days Habit: Perennial Preservation:Drying

Basil (Lemon) - Small pointed leaves have a distinct lemon flavor combined with the spiciness of regular basils. Treat like regular basil. Size - 45 cm (18") Maturity - 80 days Habit - Annual Preservation - Dry or feeze

Basil (Sweet) - Easy to grow herb adds spicy flavour to tomato dishes, soups, stews and salads. Essential in pesto. Can be grown indoors on kitchen window year round. Start seeds in early April. Repels aphids and asparagus beetles. Companion plant for peppers, asparagus and tomatoes. Pinch off flower buds to encourage bushing out. Needs bright sun and shelter from wind. Leaves can be frozen for up to six months. Dry leaves for winter use. Size - 46 cm (18") Maturity - 85 days Habit - Annual Preservation - Dry or freeze

Thyme - Easy to grow, compact plant is an attractive and useful addition to the garden. Use fresh or dried with any kind of fish. Adding a pinch or two flavours stews, soups, vegetables and sauces. Companion plant for cabbage, potatoes and tomatoes. Repels white flies and cabbage butterflies. Prefers dry, sunny location and doesn't like to be crowded. Prune and mulch for winter. Maturity: 85 days - Habit: Perennial - Preservation: Dry