The Love of Herbs | Peggy's Little Corner

September 25, 2014

Walking into a full herb garden on a hot summer morning is like smelling some kind of heavenly herb bread being baked, and only Mother Nature knows the recipe. Oregano and thyme smell deep, spicy, and heady, sinking low amongst the flowers, the true superstars of the herb boxes. Meanwhile, basil tends to float in bright, sweet, aromatic clouds, hanging high near your nose. Chamomile smells even sweeter in the sun than it does in the teacup, something akin to fresh cut hay. Rosemary, mint, and lemon balm are welcomingly clean scents, a reminder of the dew that has just left their leaves. Chives, parsley, dill, and tarragon, smell appropriately green and conjure images of cold sandwich spreads. It’s difficult not to get hungry while walking through each box. With each new breeze the smells are mingled and wafted towards your nose, and all the blue borage stars and chicory blossoms, large pink and white cosmos, and long purple lavender spires go nodding in the wind. This is why there is no better time to garden than in the early morning.

Gardening so early, does have its perils, though, as I found to my pains. One morning, as I was enjoying the pleasantries of being amongst so many wonderful smells, and weeding my patch, my faithful companion and garden warrior, Dobby, found himself a wee garter snake. To Dobby, all snakes are rubber toys to play with, and definitely not allowed on his premises; so, he proceeded to bark and bark at it, until the poor thing was covered in foam. Seeing he was amused, I didn’t bother him, but went back to pulling out an offending weed. However, about that time, Dobby had had enough talk, promptly pulled the snake out of the box, and began to shake it ferociously back and forth. Feeling he had sufficiently slayed the “garden dragon”, he gave one mighty toss in my direction, and to my uncomfortable surprise, sent its cold rubbery body coiling around my bare ankle! Dobby came bounding to me, all breathless, tongue lolling and eyes twinkling at me, as though he had not only saved his lady fair, but had given me the greatest gift. Now, I am no coward around snakes, but it took everything in me to unwind the “gift” with a smile on my face and say “good boy, Baby,” before returning to my task. Feeling thoroughly pleased with himself, though, Dobby took a proud seat beside my knee, and waited for me to pull the rest of the weeds in peace.

When Harry finally began joining me in the garden, he also had his own snake experience. Harry likes to help dig holes for new plants, and on finding a garter snake, also proceeded to bark at it. The only problem is that Harry did not know that snakes bite, and the snake, being rather grumpy in the early spring, put two holes in the end of his wet black nose. He looked at me so offended, as if to say, “Mommy, why did it do that to me?” and his feelings were so hurt, he has yet to bother another snake again. Life with dogs!