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There's Something About Rosemary

by Gay Ingram   

Just the name evokes mystery and romance. Its Latin name means literally ‘dew of the sea’ and this herb has been steeped in traditions and folklore for centuries.  The Roman, Pliny, recommended rosemary for failing eyesight, jaundice and the healing of wounds.  Although it was introduced to England by Queen Philippa of Hainault in the16^th century, it already had been mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon Herbal of the 11^th century. 

The students of Ancient Greece supposedly wove twigs of rosemary in their hair to help them remember for examinations.  In the Middle Ages, people depended on sprigs of rosemary to ward off demons and evil spirits.  In some parts of Wales, mourners at funerals are still given a sprig of rosemary to be cast on the coffin as it is lowered into the grave, for rosemary is best recognized as the herb of fidelity and remembrance.  Because it is the symbol of friendship, remembrance and love, rosemary has traditionally been a wedding guest.  Brides wore wreaths woven with rosemary or carried rosemary in their bouquets.  Anne of Cleves wore such a wreath at her wedding.  A rosemary branch, richly gilded and tied with silken ribbons used to be presented to wedding guests. 

The sea-sprayed hills beside the Mediterranean, Portugal and northwest Spain are some of the native habitats of rosemary.  It is a half-hardy evergreen perennial that likes a sheltered, sunny position.  It prefers light, well-draining soil and the most important thing I can say about growing rosemary is DON’T LET IT DRY OUT.  Its many tiny, shallow, hair-like roots are especially susceptible to dry conditions.  Once the plant becomes too dry, it will not recover.  On the other hand, make sure the soil drains well also; soggy soil is sure death to rosemary because wet roots will cause a fungal disease.  A year-round covering of the soil with mulch will help protect the root system from both cold and drought.  It responds well to manure tea or fish emulsion.  In times of drought, rosemary will especially benefit from a brisk spraying of its tops.  This will freshen up the plant and discourage red-spider mites which are the only insect problem rosemary seems to attract. 

Rosemary can be grown from seed but the seeds are slow to germinate.  The seedlings may require up to three years’ growth before blooming.  The easiest way to propagate rosemary is by cuttings or layering of the lower branches of an older plant.  If a plant makes it through our sometimes difficult winters, you may discover some branches naturally layering at the next summer’s end.  These may be detached from the mother plant and potted up separately.  If you are fortunate enough to live where winter temperatures are more reliable, another way to propagate an older, well-established rosemary is by root division.

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