Rosemary

For anyone that relates to scents like I do, I want to recommend planting Rosemary. When we lived in our old house in Milledgeville, I had planted a little spring no taller than 5 inches beside our porch. We lived in our house for about 6 years. When we moved that bush was about 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. An accidental brush against the bush filled the air with a lovely woodsy, herbal scent.

So, when we moved to our new home I quickly planted 3 sprigs of Rosemary in the ground. They are now over a foot tall and wide. Today while it rained and we sat out on the side porch, the rain hitting the bushes released that beautiful Rosemary scent into the air. Sitting out on the porch,watching the rain and smelling the Rosemary could not have been a more pleasant experience.

Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis

MEDICINAL: Rosemary is a stimulant of the circulatory system. It is used to treat bites and stings externally. Internally it is used to treat migraines, bad breath, and to stimulate the sexual organs. It is also used to treat nervous disorders, upset stomachs, and is used to regulate the menstrual cycle and to ease cramps. Mix the crushed leaves generously into meats, fish, potato salads, etc. at your next picnic to prevent food poisoning. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy as an inhalant and decongestant, and to enhance memory and clear concentration. It is also used in lotions to ease arthritis.

GROWING: Rosemary is a perennial that prefers mild climates, so it needs to be grown indoors where the winters are harsh, or very heavily mulched. It reaches 2 to 4 feet in height, and is tolerable of poor soils. Cut back after flowering to keep it from becoming leggy.