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The Huron Expositor, 1997-04-16, Page 26tivs values (parsley for potassi- um). n fact, doctors of yesteryear relied heavily on their herb gar- dens for curing ills of their patients. Nevertheless, it's best not ..xperiment too much with medicinal herbs unless you really know what you're doing. Some common herbs having medicinal properties are quite poisonous if ingested (foxglove or digitalis, castor bean and rhubarb leaves). HERB NOVICES If you're a novice with herbs, stick to something easier like making herbal vinegars for home use or gift giving. All you do is add fresh leaves of your favorie herb to a pot of vinegar just below the boiling point. The vinegar must not boil or the acetic acid which preserves the herb's essen- tial oils will be destroyed. Herb jellies (mint, sage or tarragon) can be made by adding a sweetener, vinegar and fruit pectin or clear jelly. Or if you're interested in mak- ing your own fragrant potpourris for gift giving, almost any sweet - scented herb can provide the dried petals, leaves, seeds and stems necessary. Lavender is a must. • It's best to select flowers at their peak of bloom and leaves at the height of the growing season. Pick them in the early morning when CUSTOMWVNDVS STINCTIVE 1600 choose from our... OPTIMUM RIES VINYL PLUS RIES LOW E ARGON GAS •Warm Edge Spacer -.Reduced chance of condensation 'Inward tilt of the sash for easy year round cleaning •No painting or staining....ever OUR FOUNDERS PRODUCT... A full five years (5), all components, and including service calls to effect a change or repair. GLASS... A further five years (5), (ten in total), against failure of the sealed unit. INSTALLATION... A full five years (5), including caulking flashing, cladding and other installation materials. PG. 10 -HOME & GARDEN GUIDE GROWN INSIDE AND OUT Many re -discovering uses of herb gardens Here's an idea for you. Perhaps you have an empty space in your garden and aren't quite sure what to fill it with. How about planting a complete old-fashioned herb garden? Although an herb garden is not the absolute necessity it was in bygone days, many people are rediscovering the pleasures and multitude of uses afforded by herbs fresh from the garden or dried for winter. Whether grown outside or inside the house, there's nothing like fresh parsley, rosemary or chives to add zest to your kitchen's cui- sine. People on salt -free diets can mix up their own special season- ings to accent the natural salts in meat and fish. Parsley and savory are particularly useful in making herb salts. Some herbs, like lemon balm, mint or German camomile make delightful teas said to have soothing qualities, and many herbs have extremely high nutri- LOW E ARGON GAS •Warm Edge Spacer -Reduced chance of condensation REPLY %RASO FISHER GLASS & MIRROR LIMITED the concentration of essential oils is greatest, and store in a dark, well ventilated area until dry. To fix the scent, add two teaspoons of powdered °nit root to each quart of dried flower petals. Thoroughly mix ingredients and store in a lid- ded jar for two to three weeks, allowing nature to cure your pot- pourris. Mixtures using tansy and artemisia ma. excellent drawer sachetsas they will repel moths and othW insects. The most widely used annual herbs are anise, dill, summer savory, fennel, coriander and bor- age. The most popular perennial herbs include lemon balm, winter savory, sage, mint and tarragon. Parsley and caraway are really biennials but are generally treated as annuals. In general, herbs are not partic- ular about the soil type as long as it is well drained. Poor soils pro- duce highly aromatic foliage while richer soils provide more abundant, less fragrant foliage. Most herbs prefer at least four to five hours of direct sun but there are a few which will grow well in shady areas (mint, woodruff, sweet cicely, and chervil). The planting bed, especially for peren- nial herbs, should be prepared to a depth of eight to 12 inches. Add sand to increase drainage and peat moss to condition the soil. SEARS* Kenmore Appliances Canada's #1 Brand Seller Your One -Stop Appliance Shop Washers • Dryers • Freezers Refrigerators • Vacuums TVs • VCRs BBQs Riding Lawn Mowers Push Lawn Mowers • Dishwashers • Stereos Microwaves & More You coul WIN A FREE BBQ at the Show! Apr. 18, 19, 20 50 The Square, Goderich 524-5301 •