Cooking and crafting herbs with a holiday flair need time to grow, whether in kitchen pots or herb beds and gardens. A variety of herbs have flavor or beauty that enhances holiday dishes, ornaments, even mini gift ideas.
Whether starting with seeds or young plants, the planting process is only the beginning. The herbs and plants will need to be harvested (and several varieties dried) before use.
Thanksgiving (and Christmas, too) traditionally employ herbs in forming a savory stuffing or dressing for the holiday dinner. While these herbs are readily available in containers or even premixed stuffing, many gardeners prefer to grow and dry their own.
Rosemary, sage, and thyme are the most common choices for flavoring stuffing, in the nature of the traditional “sage and onion” English side. Easy to grow and dry, the leaves are pungent in flavor; many herb lovers dry additional flavors, including basil and parsley for spicing up stuffing.
Mint plants, the most common of which is peppermint, are popular choices for the Christmas season, both as gifts and as flavor choices, with fresh leaves topping desserts or crumbled in tea or cocoa. The choices of mint flavors are varied and should be taken into account before selecting one. Chocolate and spearmint are just a few of the flavors which may entice gardeners who are considering holiday herb choices.
The sweet scent of dried herbs can inspire simple Christmas ornaments for outdoor or garden-themed trees. Bundles of sweet herbs like lemon basil, rosemary, or pineapple sage make simple ornaments when tied with ribbons and hung from the tree’s branches. Weave fresh cuttings into mini wreaths or tie upside-down in the traditional drying sheath.
The herb harvest yields potential gifts for craft enthusiasts who enjoy giving out handmade items. Divided plants or potted cuttings make thoughtful gifts for aspiring herb gardeners. Dried lavender tucked in a sachet or scented pillow makes a perfect small gift (especially when accompanied by a package of seeds for next year’s planting).
Cat lovers will enjoy a set of handmade pet toys stuffed with dried catnip from the herb garden. Sew a simple fabric mouse and fill with dried leaves from the true catnip plant before sewing closed. Add a securely-sewn cord for dangling the toy for playtime.
Using herbs for holiday dishes and decoration keeps a piece of the garden present at all times, even with the herb beds finally disappear until the season chill of frost. From thoughtful gifts to delectable dishes, herbs for the holidays are as vibrant in cuttings and dried form as fresh from the garden bed.
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