I don't see how you can ID that plant from the picture. It looks like many of the Mentha species, but could be something else. Just considering Mentha, though, you would have to know if the flowers are clustered in leaf axils, or whether they are mostly or entirely in racemes at stem tips. You would also have to know if the calyx tubes and lobes are glabrous, the length of leaf-like bracts subtending flower clusters, petiole length, whether stems and leaves are glabrous, aroma when plant is crushed, etc. to distinguish.

I'm not familiar with other forums and how active they are but perhaps Google (yes, another search suggestion *grin*) can help you turn up other offerings although I suspect you may find similar posting patterns. I've been a regular in one online forum or another (most not gardening or herbs) for 20 years. It is my opinion that most forum threads are started by the folks who want their question(s) answered and then they leave. The regulars are the few folks who usually answer all the questions with perhaps a few others throwing comments in here and there. And as Daisy said, it is often the same questions over and over so how long regulars stick around really has alot to do with their patience and their desire to share the things they are passionate about or to teach others. I personally can't lament the state of this forum too much. While I answer tons of stuff, I don't start many threads and I've found the best way to engage more people, readership, and increase posting is to create more posts yourself. That goes for anybody. And especially posts about different topics - definitely about stuff other than cilantro bolting, basil dying, and trying to grow indoors under poor lights! ;) So whether or not you stay here, you may wish to consider how to help improve forums yourself to attract more posting and conversations. I'm not trying to be snarky or snotty. I'm honestly trying to give you a suggestion on how to get more of what you want out of the forums you visit. It's really that old adage about "being the change." Good luck - I hope you find what you are looking for! FataMorgana

First off, lemon verbena won't survive zone 6 winters, so planting it in a pot is a good idea in case you want to bring it inside to overwinter. Thyme, as with sage, seems to survive anything and its growth habit depends on the type you bought. Do you have the cultivar name? Oregano generally survives my zone 6 winters, but seems to decline with old age. Mine needs replacing every 3 years or so. Also, its growth habit depends on the cultivar, but I would say in general it isn't too invasive to grow with pole beans, but you might not want to plant it with bush beans for two reasons: it probably wouldn't get the sun it needs and it might make it difficult to harvest the bush beans and also might overcompete with the beans a bit. I have grown herbs just about everywhere in my gardens but I seem to be happiest with them in 12 inch pots on my porches and deck. They are handier to harvest and you'll use them more and tend to take better care of them. That and bringing them in to overwinter, which can be done in an unheated garage for the most part. Don't give your herbs too rich a soil, deprive them a little of water and attention and they will do fine. There's some more people on this forum who'll be along in a little with more 'sage' advice for you, I'm sure. Marcy

Hey Songbird, I found a great resource online a few years ago for seed starting. Some seeds need darkness to sprout (like when they're buried in the ground) and some need light (like they're laying on top of the ground). Some need warmth and some need coolness. So I found several websites that had copied a document Thompson and Morgan used to print, with a long table of plant species and what their light and temp requirements are. One version of it is at the link below. Also, I started sprouting my seeds by putting them between two moist paper towels and sealing them in a ziploc bag. Sometimes they sprout overnight this way! But of course, some take longer. If they need warmth, I pile several ziplocs on top of a heating pad (usually set on low, but put a thermometer on it to make sure it doesn't get too hot!). If they need dark, I put them in a drawer. You have to watch them every day, because if they sprout fast and you don't plant them right away, their little roots can start to penetrate the paper towels and will break when you pull them out (that doesn't necessarily kill them -- depends on how much broke off). Actually, I have a long post on this at my personal garden blog. It has photos, too. Here is a link that might be useful: Seed sprouting lists