This morning everything outside was encased in ice from last night’s winter mix.  I saw a wonderland of  shimmering glass highlighting each branch, leaf, seed pod and stick in our garden.  My son saw a huge glass playground to shatter with his walking stick.  He whacked and watched as ice pieces slipped off branches and leaves then crashed to the ground.  I reminded him to be gentle with the vulnerable plants.   Although, I was not too concerned about our rosemary bush because it is tough enough to handle almost anything!

Our rosemary bush is the most hardy and helpful plant in the raised bed below our deck.   Even covered in ice, I could smell our rosemary’s sweet fresh woody scent and see its deep green needle-like leaves.  It flourishes in cold icy winters and hot dry summers.  During the summer its pungent scent repels deer and mosquitoes.  I am convinced that deer do not come to our garden and eat our figs and daylilies because our rosemary bush is planted at the edge of the raised bed.

Our rosemary bush helps in our home too. It gives me a fresh herb to cook with all year round.  I sprinkle crushed rosemary leaves on my homemade focaccia bread and pork roasts and add rosemary sprigs to soups and stews.  I read that simmering a couple of lemons and a rosemary sprig on the stove top will freshen the house. I’ll try it this winter.

Rosemary has many uses and is always available in my garden.  No wonder it is considered the herb for remembrance and friendship!