The herb garden offers a galaxy of different flavors for making 
tisanes. When you tire of the sweet fragrance of Peppermint, Catnip, 
Bee Balm or Chamomile, try mixing them together for new effects. A 
combination of equal parts of Pineapple Sage and Peppermint with 
half as much Lemon Balm and a few leaves of Lemon Verbena makes 
a delightful cup, far more pleasing to drink and inhale than regular 
tea. To clear the head and chase a cold, before it has you in its grip, 
a strong infusion of Sage tea flavored with Lemon Thyme is quite 
infallible and very tasty. Wild strawberry leaves may be used alone 
or blended with Balm and Peppermint for a dark, rich tea. 
To brew herb tea use a china, pottery or enamel pot. Metal is 
affected by the herbs, thus leaving a bitter taste. Use one heaping 
tablespoon of dry leaves or flowers to each cup of boiling water, plus 
one for the pot. If the fresh herb is used, several handfuls will be 
needed for six cups. Pour boiling water on the leaves and let steep for 
ten to fifteen minutes in a warm place. Some teas, such as the young 
twigs or Birch or Spice bush and Mate, are actually boiled for a few 
minutes. Lemon and honey are the ideal accessories. Sugar may be 
preferred by some people but cream is taboo. 
GIFTS FROM THE GARDEN 
BBE providing savor and sustenance, an herb garden offers 
many inspirations for the most welcome of all gifts, home-made 
remembrances. Representing more than mere thoughtful spending, 
they are a generosity of time which can never be repaid. 
Sweet bags and sachets are ever popular. Dried leaves of Rose 
Geranium, Lemon Verbena, Lemon Balm, Pineapple Sage and Rosemary 
can be brightened with the pastel hues of dried Rose petals, Lavender 
flowers and Violet and tied up in transparent organdy bags with match- 
ing ribbons. If the mixture is to be put in silk or satin cushions, a 
fixative such as orris root or gum benzoin will be needed to strengthen 
the delicate herb perfumes. For a friend who collects Victorian pieces, 
you might pick up an old pot-pourri jar to fill with the real thing for 
Christmas. 
The old-fashioned bouquets, called tussie-mussies, borrowed heavily 
from the herb garden for the meaningful flowers and herbs which 
carried a sentimental message from a shy admirer. Love’s rosebuds 
were surrounded by Forget-me-nots and Rosemary for remembrance 
and framed by a filigree holder. 
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