I Failed You, Herb

Plant your own herb garden, they said. It will be fun, they said. You will make homemade dishes with lots and lots of herbs, they added.

I fell for this. It all started out so passionately. I researched herbs online for hours every night. I pinned like crazy on Pinterest. I knew all sorts of things about window box herb gardens. I had recipes for fresh salad dressings and roasted potatoes and cold soups.

And for awhile... All was good in the world. My herbs were lush and green. The mint smelled divine. I would walk out my door and stop to smell the mint! The lemongrass thyme was all citrusy with adorable little leaves. The basil plant was tall and pretty. We had a gallon jug of water with spearmint in it and we drank all the water that the health experts say you should drink in a day.

And then it got hot out. Like really hot.

And we went on vacation. My dad came by and watered the gardens. It was probably the most water they'd seen in days. Because I sort of had a lot of work to do. And it was really stinkin' hot out.

The mint started to dry out. The spearmint leaves fell off the brown branches. The lemongrass thyme leaves got yellow. (Hint: They're not supposed to be that color). The basil plants, both of them, sprouted these pretty white flowers. Guess what? You're supposed to prune them before that happens.

Whoops.

I failed you, my little herb garden. Forgive me.

I pruned you this weekend, as the weather is now a little cooler, and I can go outside again. You're looking pretty pathetic, but I hope you will come back to life somehow. Maybe the answer lies on Pinterest.

I better get on there and research. Every night. For a few hours.