Moultrie Scene May 2023 | Page 96

| gardening |

4 hardy perennial herbs to grow in your garden

Perennial herbs are easy to grow , enhance your cooking and return year after year with little effort . Here are four hardy herbs to try growing .

• Chives have a mild onion flavor , similar to leeks , which enhances the taste of soups , dips and baked potatoes . Beyond extra watering in sweltering weather , chives need almost no attention .
• Oregano is a Mediterranean must-have . Its mellow , earthy flavor goes well with various dishes , including pizza , pasta and vinaigrettes . Oregano happily grows in the ground or a container .
• Thyme is a grassy herb with floral notes . It holds its flavor in cooking , pairing well with ingredients like garlic , olive oil and tomatoes . Thyme is relatively drought-tolerant and trouble-free once established .
• Mint is a tenacious herb with a robust , refreshing flavor that complements lamb dishes , peas and cocktails . Mint can be invasive , but you can contain the spread by growing it in pots .
Pick up everything you need to start your perennial herb garden at your local plant nursery . n

Did you know ?

Without pollinators , more than 100 crops grown in the United States would not be able to thrive . Plants , including various fruits , vegetables , nuts and more , rely on pollinators to ensure to transport pollen . Though many plants are self-pollinating and others are pollinated by the wind or water , many others rely on insects and animals to become pollinated . The U . S . Department of Agriculture says birds , bees , bats , butterflies , moths , flies ,

beetles , and small mammals all can work as pollinators . Examples of crops pollinated by pollinators include apples , squash and almonds . Animals and insects help pollinate more than 75 percent of the world ’ s flowering plants , and nearly 75 percent of all crops , according to the U . S . Fish & Wildlife Service . Unfortunately , pesticide use can diminish the number of natural pollinators . Natural gardening and pest-control can help protect the habitats of pollinators . n
96 MoultrieScene MAY 2023