That looks like a terrificly fun and different combination of herbs, Steve.

Just a question, digit, will you dry these, or do you plan to steep them green? I don't know how this is done, but I think it sounds intriguing.

Wishccr, I've had the catnip in the yard for about 12 years. I just break a nice size piece, rinse it, and drop in a cup of water.

A minute and one-half later, the microwave has brought the water to boiling. After a few minutes of steeping, I can enjoy a nice cup of catnip tea.

That's been my approach so far - if there's an abundance of these herbs, I should be able to dry them just hanging a bunch upside down in the kitchen. Hopefully, they'll all compliment each other and be good companions in the garden, as well.

All perennials.

D'S'

It seems like the pot or it's products would make a GREAT gift. Unusual and thoughtful for a(n) (herbal) tea lover.

Will you please post pics as it progresses? Really cute!

Two things
1. Are catnip and catmint the same? I have heard yes and no. Does anyone know for sure? I think they are.
2. Catmint/catnip repels ants.

B

Hi Billie,

TheyÂre both/all Nepeta, but true catnip is Nepeta cataria, and other species of Nepeta are usually referred to as catmint. Some cats seem to have a preference for a particular species. Wikipedia has a pretty good article about it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Catnip

Repels Ants!! Now, I know another reason why I like to drink catnip tea!

I doubt if the tea garden can get thru the season in this bowl. However, I'm looking around for a larger container.

DigitS'

This evening I'm having my first cup of herb tea from the dried leaves.

As I related elsewhere, I had quite a few of these plants so was able to put about 6 to 10 of each into the garden. Some really got ahead of me in running to seed but I was able to harvest what amounts to one lunch bag of dry leaves off each of the sweet fennel, catnip, anise hyssop, and Korean mint.

I didn't care for the wild bergamot - too medicinal. And, the lemon balm isn't to my liking, tastes like lemon Pledge smells. I should have known this since it has grown in my yard for the last 10 years.

I haven't destroyed any of these and am looking forward to trying the wild bergamot flowers since that was the part suggested to me for tea use. It didn't bloom this year.

The sweet fennel leaves are a little less than I'd hoped for flavor-wise. The plants have pretty much gone to seed now but the seeds are not mature so guess that I may lose the opportunity to try the seeds in tea. (Of course, I could stop by a spice rack and pick up a can of fennel seed. ;o)

Supplementing this combo is another lunch bag of lemon verbena. I've developed a taste for this herb and certainly prefer it to lemon balm. With only a few of these plants, it was necessary to wait until late September to allow them to grow as large as possible before harvesting. The lemon verbena will need to spend the Winter on the floor of the greenhouse again.

So, here's to the Rocky Mountain Gardening forum, thankful for your help in past seasons and hopeful for all of our success in the future!

digitS'

You seem to be missing a review of the dried anise hyssop. I'm curious to see whether you have the same opinion of it as I do.

Well, Cnetter, I found the anise hyssop and Korean mint very similar. The Korean mint is a more robust plant and has a more robust flavor. I think in that flavor, I finally found the similarity between mint and licorice. That relationship has always seemed an obscure one.

As far as the anise hyssop goes, it is the best of the lot, in my opinion. I grew it about 10 years ago, specifically so that I could enjoy it as an herb tea. Then I checked a book out of the library on herbs and was dissuaded from using it. Of course, by that time, I had a big bag of the leaves and had been sampling it fresh thru the growing season.

The author claimed that it wasn't considered safe by some researchers in that it may cause hemorrhaging. I was taking an anti-inflammatory and decided that I couldn't add to the risk. DW turned my anise hyssop into sachets - I still have a couple (in my "lingerie" drawer ;o). I think she's probably thrown hers away by now . . .

Remarkably, I have NEVER seen this notion that anise hyssop may be dangerous repeated. A google search this evening for "hemorrhaging 'anise hyssop'" turns up nothing related.

Another name for anise hyssop is licorice hyssop. If we want to read cautions regarding "hemorrhaging licorice" they are out there in abundance. However, anise hyssop and licorice are not related plants.

I'm only sorry that I missed out on enjoying this herb.

Steve's digits