What to do with all those herbs: Sage

My sage (salvia officinalis) is growing like crazy. My friend, Susan, was telling me the other day that she wasn't sure what to do with all of her sage. Sage is a perennial herb that has a strong and earthy taste. It has light green almost velvelt-like leaves. Its a perennial in our area and is evergreen, so you can look foward to enjoying it year round!

This recipe for Chicken and Proiscutto (with sage) is delicious! My husband made this for me while we were dating. Love at first taste! Its from the Dean and Deluca Cookbook.

If you aren't up for eating your sage, try this display idea....Line a platter or serving tray with sage leaves for instant decoration.

What do you use your sage for? Click "Comments" below and share!

Shopping at Grannys

A few weeks ago, we returned to my grandmother's in Fuquay for some yard work. My husband commented that while we were working in her yard, that at every turn she has an unexpected focal point or creature peeking out at you. Its true and truly an amazing place! Here are a few more pics of her yard:

Fortunately, her yard is suffering from being overgrown whereas mine is just getting started! So, I did some "shopping" and learned about some new plants. Here's what I returned with:

• Mockorange - We were spraying for weeds in the driveway, when I noticed a tree-like shrub bursting with delicate white blooms hidded behind an overgrown evergreen. It was a mockorange. A new plant to me, I've learned that its a fast growing easy plant to grow that performs well in both sun and part shade. It will likely outgrow where I've planted it, but I can't wait to see how it performs.


• Trumpet (Coral) Honeysuckle Vine - We had this vine growing up, so I was excited to be able to get some of it from one granny had growing on a lamp post. I've planted it on a bird house post in the back yard. Its probably not as sunny at the plant would like, but I'm optimistic for blooms and the hummingbirds they attract!


• Dead Nettle Lamium - This perennial evergreen ground cover was peaking out from underneath the Mockorange. At first, I thought it was a Rex Begonia but I later learned it was Lamium. I love the variegated foliage!


• Jerusalem Sage - I was hesitant to take this one, mostly because my herb garden is already bursting at the seams, but she insisted!! It does have a beautful yellow bloom, so I didn't really resist. It also is much taller than my other sage plants, however apprarently its not a true sage or herb.

Not all Hostas are Created Equal

I've gotten to know Hostas fairly well. They are a great perennial that thrive in the shade. Even though they are a perennial, they aren't evergreen, so don't be surprised when they die back and go underground in the Fall.

Among hostas there is a ton of variety. Here are a few things I've learned to pay attention to:

• Size - some are nice and small and others are ginormous! Check out this hosta at my mom's transplanted from an older homesite in Raleigh.

For scale that's my size 10 gardening clog!

• Color - I love the variety of colors that hostas offer: from blue hues to limey green to hunter green and then there are lots of variegated options. The variegated options can work very nicely in the shade to give the appearance of dappled light. One of my favorite looks is to line an entry way to a shady area with variegated hostas.


• Appearance in the garden - I've noticed that hostas "surface" in the Spring at different times. I have some wide brim hostas that are just peaking through and others that are fully "out".

This perennial is rampant in garden centers in the Spring and typically is harder to find in the Fall. Here are some tips I try to follow when buying hostas:

1. Look for plants with more than one stem in the pot. Here's what I mean:
You can often get 2 or 3 plants for the same costs and divide them immediately when you get home.

2. When you are buying hostas be sure to check the estimated width and height for that variety and space them accordingly.

Got hosta tips or favorites? Let's here 'em. Comment below.