Herbal Topiary

Learn how to make miniature topiary from herbs. They do take a little time, so patience is needed. For a never ending supply, use the trimmed stem cuttings to propagate more plants. Herbal topiary looks lovely in a simple clay pot. The herbal art can be sold at craft shows, farmer's markets, decor shops and garden centers. Package with tags and instructional information on how to care for the plant. The best herbal topiary are made from shrubby herbs like rosemary.

Herb Plants and Products

Propagate a variety of herbs and sell the plants themselves at farmer's markets and elsewhere. If planted in little clay pots, buyers can keep them on their kitchen window sills for constant use. Investigate other products you can make using the herbs you grow, such as herbal vinegars, soaps, facial scrubs and potpourri.

Herbal Literature

Use the knowledge of herbs to write articles for newspapers, magazines and specialized websites. The herb gardener will be paid for her efforts and expertise. There are numerous books on writing for print and internet searches will offer up information on writing for every medium.

Herbal Knowledge

Herbal knowledge can lean to teaching classes. Subjects could include herbal lore, growing herbs, using herbs and herbs for health. Many communities have evening classes available in a variety of subjects. Do a little research and offer ideas to the organizers.

The opportunities for herb growers are endless. The herb gardener's knowledge of herbs is valuable, so let those years of experience with these pungent plants work financially. There are numerous books available on growing herbs to sell. Local libraries will surely have at least one to help the herb gardener get started. All it takes is a little imagination, a little hard work and a good size garden space to fill with the herbs she loves.

Back on Long Island, the November garden was a dreary mass of matted oak and maple leaves and the occasional surprise burst of orange from a marigold that had somehow escaped the frosts. It's different here in south central Virginia. Although we'd had some cold nights and one good, rip roaring frost (27 degrees F), the days zoom back in the 60's and '70s. The rolling hills and sheltered spots also seem to produce amazing micro climates. I've got cool weather annuals like my snapdragons just fine and dandy back by the garden shed, but a few were nipped in the flower garden next to the driveway. Ditto for the petunias; they're still blooming next to the garage, but just green out in the flower garden.

And the vegetable garden never ceases to offer surprises. The garlic is doing well, sending up robust shoots that are making my mouth water with thoughts of Italian recipes to make next year, but so is the Chard. Not unexpected, but it's rapidly overtaking the bed again. The spinach struggled along, strangely so, since I expected it to be more vigorous, but the biggest surprise has been the calendula. It's an herb whose flowers are used for skin balms. I looked out the kitchen window this morning and saw some orange peeking out from behind the catnip. And there were new calendula blossoms on a plant I thought was dead. The picture today is my little bed of calendula. I harvested the blossoms, and have them in a Mason jar next to my lavender; both will come in handy this winter.

I'm loathe to dig up anything right now. Plants that look dead revive under a few days of warmth and rain, and plants that "should", according to the garden books, be dug up and discarded are still going strong, so I'm just leaving everything alone and enjoying the long slide into winter.