My Richter's catalog finally came. Besides being a catalog it is a great reference on herbs. I have a passion for herbs, having cooled down from a true obsession. I don't feel like I have to collect every herb on the planet any more, but I still love them. Laurus Nobilis is the herb for 2009. Isn't that just about the classiest Latin name ever? I suppose that has to do with the laurel wreath thing. I used to use dried bay leaves in cooking thinking that they didn't add much flavor, if any. Once I obtained my first bay plant and used the fresh leaves that all changed. You would not believe the difference. The leaves still need to be removed before serving They are quite stiff and I have read dangerous to swallow.
Bays are a bit fussy about chills. They are the first pots to come in in the fall and the last to go out in the spring. They can up and die on you with just a chill let alone a frost. Their other common problem is scale. Many's the time I've scraped the disgusting little things off the underside of the leaves and painted the plant with insecticidal soap. The past couple of years that has not been a problem. This plant is truly worth it all, if you ever use bay in cooking. Yes, I have two. They stay in their pots and sit on either side of the stone patio when they have their time in the garden.
