| Planting an herbal garden that includes scented | | | | rose geranium tea to help you relax. |
| geraniums is not common to container gardening. Most | | | | There are many culinary uses for the scented |
| gardeners think of scented geraniums as a floral plant, | | | | geranium to delight your taste buds. Chop up the |
| not an herbal plant but the species, called pelargonium, | | | | leaves and mix with your other favorite herbs such as |
| is an herb with many uses. This delightful herb has | | | | chives or chervil or thyme to make interesting flavored |
| many different aromas and gorgeous colors to delight | | | | butters or dips and spreads. A really clever way to |
| your senses. The scented geranium is best used in | | | | use the leaves is to line a baking pan when making |
| container gardening for two reasons. One, you can | | | | pies, puddings or cakes to impart a wonderful flavor to |
| control the soil and moisture, and two you can bring it | | | | your desserts. Use them for desserts, syrups or |
| indoors when a frost is imminent. | | | | custards for another unique flavor. You can even |
| The scented geranium was found in Africa in the | | | | make flavored sugar by layer dry, fresh leaves with |
| 1600's and shipped to England where it became most | | | | sugar. Let them sit a few days, remove the leaves |
| popular. The gardener of King Charles I grew a variety | | | | and store the sugar in an air tight container. This can |
| of scented geraniums in the royal greenhouse. The | | | | be used in teas, baking goods, or as a sugar scrub. |
| Victorians thought they were geraniums rather than an | | | | They are delightful in baths and infused in water to |
| herbal plant but if you look at their asymmetrical leaves | | | | rinse your hair. |
| you can see the difference between scented | | | | The scented geranium is a great as a room freshener |
| geraniums and regular geraniums. | | | | or added to potpourri. Try adding some to your |
| The scented geranium is truly a herbal plant for all | | | | vacuum bag or put them in a mesh bag and add them |
| seasons. It grows and has a lovely aroma throughout | | | | to your dryer for a new fresh scent for your clothes. |
| the spring and summer and when the chilly winds of | | | | Scented geraniums are grown from cuttings taken |
| autumn threaten this sturdy herbal plant will gladly | | | | from the mother plant. Cut three to four inches just |
| co-exist inside with you. Nothing could be better when | | | | above a leaf. Strip the lower leaves off and place in a |
| container gardening includes scented geranium with | | | | rooting medium, such as a mix of sphagnum peat |
| their exquisite flowers, lovely scented leaves, and | | | | moss. Place your cutting in bright light and keep it moist. |
| sturdy characteristics for year round enjoyment of | | | | When roots have been established it is time to place it |
| your senses. | | | | in your container garden. Make sure the soil is porous |
| True to their name scented geraniums come in a | | | | and fast draining. |
| multitude of fragrances. Seemly, the favorite is the | | | | When the scented geranium is indoors it is necessary |
| rose scented geranium but others are gaining | | | | to feed it once a week to ensure full leaf growth. |
| popularity quickly. Some of the more robustly planted | | | | Pinching back the plant not only encourages bushy |
| are the apple scented, peppermint scented, wood, like | | | | growth but releases a delicious aroma into the air. |
| cedar or balsam, nutmeg and citronella (also know as | | | | Keep the soil evenly damp; do not over water them |
| the mosquito buster.) You can plant a whole container | | | | as this will kill them. They can come back from overly |
| garden with this one type of plant and have a beautiful | | | | dry situations but not wet ones. |
| diversity. Their leaves alone will contrast interestingly to | | | | Now it is time to add this multi-talented plant to your |
| give you a spectacular container garden. The tiny | | | | container garden. Just one word of caution, once you |
| smooth leaves of the nutmeg scented geranium, or | | | | get to know the scented geranium your herbal garden |
| Lady Mary, to the large musk scented leaves of the | | | | will never be without it. |
| Lady Plymouth. | | | | Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved. |
| The rose scented geraniums are gaining popularity for | | | | This article may be distributed freely on your website |
| calming and are increasingly used in mediation and for | | | | and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, |
| healing purposes. The plant truly releases a delicious | | | | copyright notice, links and the resource box are |
| rose scent when rubbed against or crushed. Just brush | | | | unchanged. |
| the leaves to release their scent or make a soothing | | | | |