A SPICE TO REMEMBER…….

Upright rosemary

Rosemary, she’s a great old gal!! She not only spices up lamb, pork and olive oil, but she was also used to remember, invigorate, memorialize and decorate! 

The name is from the Latin “Ros” for dew and “Marinus” for sea, so essentially “Dew of the Sea.” It is believed that because this lovely herb grew especially well near the sea and thus benefitted from the moisture in the sea air, it “was of the sea.”

Another fable about how rosemary got its name is that the Virgin Mary laid her cloak across a white flowered rosemary bush while resting. Upon removing her cloak, it was seen that the flowers had turned blue (most rosemary shrubs have blue-ish flowers). It then became known as the “Rose of Mary.”

Trailing rosemary

It is truly a Mediterranean herb, enjoying sun, difficult soil situation (usually rocky, dry or a combination of both) it is truly a hard worker. Not a friend of wet 'feet' this herb can be grown in full sun or part sun and in drier soil and good drainage. Don't fertilize too often, maybe once a year unless it is in a pot, then twice a year with a good liquid fertilizer. This is a good herb for those difficult places that won't grow pretty flowers but you need something for the spot. Rosemary blooms throughout spring and summer, in blue, pink or white. All three types of rosemary (upright, trailing & ground cover) are hardy; meaning drought tolerant and pretty forgiving. They do well in pots and have been used in both the kitchen and in the landscape as a decorative addition. They can be susceptible to cold (after all, they are Mediterranean) and you should give them protection by either placing them in a garage or covering with a light sheet or blanket for the nights that are below 45 degrees.

The evergreen needle-type leaves are used in cooking; making herbal teas, poultice, as an aid to preventing nightmares and in soap; while the hardy wood has been used for constructing furniture, fires and various containers. The planting of rosemary around the house was said to repel witches. Scholars wore it around their heads when studying in the belief that it helps with memory. It really is a handy little plant to have around!

It has also been associated with both weddings and funerals. In weddings it was often worn in a headpiece by the bride and the groom & wedding guests often wore a sprig of rosemary. This eventually evolved into a love charm. If the couple planted the sprig and it grew, it foretold a good union and family.  However   if the rosemary grew too well and was prolific in the garden, then it was considered that the woman ran the household!  By the 16^th century many men were known to rip out much of the rosemary in their home gardens in an effort to show they were in control.

Rosemary sprig

 For funerals, they often laid a sprig of rosemary in the casket to help mask the smell of the body. Each mourner carried one to inhale as often as necessary to protect their sensitive noses. So glad things have changed since then! I love rosemary but to be reliant upon it as an air freshener might be pushing it!

 Upright rosemary can be grown as hedges, trimmed into topiaries, and as focal points. The standard shrub grows typically 3-5 feet, depending on your area. The deep green leaves and blue, white or pink flowers are very prolific in the spring and summer.  I do want to warn you though, bees like them too so be alert if you have allergies. (Refer to my earlier blog about bees and their importance in our gardens.)

Prostrate rosemary

There is also a trailing variety (rosmarinus procumbens) and a ground cover variety (rosmarinus prostrate) that work well on hillsides, over rocks and walls, around roses and in pots. They are edible as well; however I don’t personally feel that the ground cover variety has as good a flavor as the upright or trailing. It may just be a personal choice though so check it out for yourself.

Australian rosemary - non-edible

Word of caution:There is a variety of plant called Australian Rosemary that is NOT edible. It is not actually rosemary, but resembles it in coloring and growth habit. This one is called Westringia fruticosa. It is a gorgeous and hardy ornamental plant, but not a culinary plant!

So, ‘remember’ to plant rosemary, enjoy the scent, the taste and the sight of this beautiful shrub for many years to come!

Happy gardening!

Mary