An Herbal Window

The North Kitchen Window is where the herbs reside in the winter -- always chives, always a rose geranium and always parsley.   In some years, we add other pots -- this winter a pot of thyme is doing nicely as is a pot of basil (actually, the second pot I've bought for the window this winter) for it reminds us of our stay at Blue Row in the Cotswolds where I kept pots of basil in that kitchen window!    It may, perhaps, become a tradition at Linderhof -- the basil in winter!

The summer of 2010, I lost my bay tree that I had had forever.    I bought another last year but it acquired scale (I would say that it came with scale, but I will not quibble) and so it was discarded.    For I did not want a scale infestation inside!

I am bay leafless -- having to buy dried leaves from Penzey's.     But then, a dear friend, gifted me this Christmas  with this:

a bay leaf wreath.   It smells divine!    It lived in December in the dining room windows, hanging from the curtain rod with a red ribbon (and which reminded me that I should next year add another live wreath to my Christmas greens for a wreath in that window is a perfect Christmas decoration!).

Come January, we moved it to the herb window in the kitchen where it's fragrance leaves a heady aroma in the kitchen and the leaves are easy to snip to flavor a stew or a roast or a meatloaf or even a ham, potato and leek pie.

It's a beautiful wreath and a daily reminder of a dear friendship.

It's Wednesday and I'm joining Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.