Bay Laurel - The Aromatic Evergreen

Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

One of the cooking herbs we grow in our garden is Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis), also known as Bay Leaf.   It is an evergreen plant, producing a continuous supply of leaves year round.  This image shows newer growth at the end of a branch.

The new growth leaves are soft and tender, but do not have much flavor for cooking compared to the older leaves.  We do use fresh bay leaf in cooking, and we also harvest some leaves from time to time and dry them.   The dried bay leaves are not quite as pungent as the freshly picked ones, but each form has its uses.

Fresh Mint from the Garden

Mint (Mentha sp.)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Several years ago, my neighbor gave me a mint plant in a small pot to look after for her while she was away for the summer.  The plant grew steadily, and we finally transferred it to a larger pot.  When my friend returned she was amazed at how much the little mint plant had grown.  She said, "I think that plant likes you better than it liked me, so you should keep it."

It has since been repotted twice more, and it's still flourishing in the middle of my herb garden.

You're Chivin' Me

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

In addition to flowers and vegetables, we also grow herbs in our garden.  It's so nice to have fresh herbs for cooking.  One of those is chives, grown in a big pot, located conveniently near our kitchen door.

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are the smallest species of the onion family.  They are perennials; ours have been growing continuously in the same pot for years.  They are flowering right now.  The blossom reminds me of a fluffy clover flower.