Rosemary - the "Herb of Remembrance"

        At this time of year, in plant nurseries and the front of large grocery stores, you will see "Rosemary Topiaries" in the shape of Christmas trees. They are "loss leaders" at the grocery stores. Buy a couple of them for your garden. They are shaped from the upright varieties of rosemary. It's other varieties are "prostrate", laying down and looking dramatic on stone fences, in rock gardens, and in large garden pots and decorative urns.

        Rosemary is a wonder herb. With over 100 varieties to choose from, you'll probably be offered only three to five at your local nursery. They are all an aromatic welcome to your home that neither you nor your guests will forget. And that is appropriate as rosemary is the "Herb of Remembrance."

        It is used at both weddings and funerals to mark the event of a passage. A precious two-inch tip cutting can be used as an enclosure in Christmas Cards, a reminder from the sender to the recipient of the good times had over the past year. It can be used in sympathy cards, get well cards and celebration cards of all kinds. It is central for sentiments in the "Language of Flowers".

        "Rosmarinus officinalis" is its Latin name, meaning "dew of the sea". It is well known as a Mediterranean coastal herb, but it flourishes in other climates as well, and does very well throughout Texas. The different varieties show no major differences in their culinary use. There is one unusual and striking variety to look for, R.o. "Gorizia", and if you can find one, get it, It is the most dramatic of the upright rosemaries. It's branches may grow to two feet in length. It has long leaves that are noted for being a rich dark green on the tops and a light gray-green on the bottoms. Strip the leaves off one branch and put them in a marinade or in vinegars, or chop them coarsely and put them in bread or biscuit dough, or put them over chicken or a roast. Removing the leaves, you have a long stick left: the very best natural shish-kabob skewer in the world, adding rich rosemary flavor to tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and any meat skewered on it, beef, chicken or pork.

        Or you may want take a 6 to 9 inch branch from any of the upright varieties, strip all but the last two to three inches of rosemary leaves from the branch's tip, twist-tie a couple of sprigs of thyme, sage and oregano to the tip and you have just made the best bar-b-q brush in the world. Dip it in your sauce to spread onto grilled meats and vegetables. When you have cleared the grill of what you are cooking, lift the grate, toss the "brush" on the coals, put the lid down, walk away and let the smoke drive your neighbors crazy with curiosity as to what you are cooking..

        But what has this got to do with Rosemary Christmas Trees? There is a legend about the rosemary bush hiding the Holy Family from Herod's army, explaining how the white flowering rosemary came to have blue and purple flower varieties. It is an interesting piece of mythology that surrounds this wonderful plant. (Rosemary has played a part in many different cultures' histories.) But what you must know is that rosemary really flourishes this time of year. A variety know as "ARP", discovered in Arp, Texas, by Madalene Hill, has been known to be in full bloom in winter and to survive snow and Texas winters.

        The rosemary's prominence as a "Christmas tree topiary" is that it can be shaped to resemble a Christmas tree, and that's all. Rosemary is a member of the "Mint Family", as are also all the mints, thyme, marjoram, oregano, sage, and so many others. I can be shaped into a small tree.

        When you get the rosemary "Christmas tree" home, most folks like to decorate it and put it on a table. One word: Don't.

        Most homes in Texas have central air and heating. This can dry out the rosemary, but worse, it takes the moisture out of the soil in the 6" or 1 gallon pot it is planted in, and that is certain death. The rosemary plant was put into that pot three to six to nine months ago and put into a green house to grow tall. It was fed and watered on a regular basis in the green house and thrived. As the plant produced branches, it was allowed to get as wild as possible, then taken into a barn and given a shaping haircut to the branch tips to form the Christmas tree shape. That having been done a couple to times, it is ready to go to market, to you, perfectly healthy and usually happy.

        When you bring it home, it has probably not had a drink for a week. It is root bound in the pot you bring it home in. Put it in a small tub of water and let it soak up moisture for about 30 minutes. This insures that the entire root ball is watered. Take it out and let it drain. Then you can move it in if you want. And every three to four days, take it back out and give it another drink of say 15 minutes. It will stay green as long as it is happy, but watch it carefully: too much water, the bottom stems turn black; too little water, the bottom stem turn brown.

        Repot the rosemary at your earliest convenience into a terra cotta pot about 2-4 inches wider than the pot it came home in. (Soak a terra cotta pot for about 10 minutes in water so that it is saturated wet when potted.) Use a potting mix of 1/3 playground sand, 1/3 compost, and 1/3 potting soil, WITHOUT the "miracle water crystals". Herbs prefer dry feet.

        Rosemary is a full-sun 12 months of the year kind of plant. Rather than bring it in to decorate a table, buy two of them and decorate the entrance of your home. Put little red bows and small colorful balls on them outside and they will last all through Christmas, through winter and all year as a plant to help you remember this season. And there is nothing like cooking with Rosemary, but that's another edition.

Michael Bettler

LUCIA'S GARDEN

2216 Portsmouth

Houston, Texas 77098

michaelsgarden@juno.com