Vetiver
A large hedge of  Vetiveria zizanioides grows in Round Top, Texas.  Found on the grounds of Festival Hill, it was planted to prevent erosion in a sloping flower bed.  It is a six foot tall clumping grass, Ann Marie always considered it (and its three foot deep roots) to be a THUG....and then....magic happened.  One of Ann Marie's friends told of how, as a little girl, she would hold her mother's hand as they walked in New Orleans' French Quarter.  They would go to a tiny shop and her mother would purchase a small bundle of dried up roots, tied with a pretty blue bow.  The ugly roots were then taken home and layered amongst the sheets and pillowcases in their linen closet,  doing double duty of repelling insects and scenting the sheets with a scent that is often described as "woody".  What were these useful plant roots?  They were vetiver!  Suddenly this member of the grass (Poaceae) family seemed attractive to Ann Marie.  In the fall she admired it's beautiful seed heads and even took a small root back to her own yard.  She now dreams of a future with vetiver scented sheets and roots tied with pretty blue ribbons.

Vetiver is native of tropical Asia with many historical and modern uses.  In India an essence made from the roots is used to flavor candy and drinks.  Oil from the roots is also used as a fixative in "earthy/woody" scented perfumes.  The insect repellent effects of vetiver are put to use not only by layering the roots in linen closets, but also in screens and mats that are woven from the dried roots.  Grow vetiver in full sun, it will survive either dry or damp soil.  It is reliably hardy to USDA zone 8b.  When selecting a site for vetiver keep in mind that the roots are very deep and hard to remove...be sure you want it as a permanent planting!

Seeds to Start
New Year's Day starts with black eyed peas and champagne for Ann Marie and Eric, but another tradition is the planting of seeds.  It is the day to dream of spring and start sowing treasures for the summer.  Planting will start indoors with pepper seeds on January 1st and continue for the next several months or so with all sorts of interesting seeds, many obtained from The Herb Society of America's seed exchange.  Ann Marie starts her seeds in four inch pots of fresh potting mix by pressing the seeds into the mix.  She then covers the pots with a single layer of newspaper.  The newspaper provides cover, helps retain moisture at the surface and prevents the soil from being disturbed when watering.  The pots are checked daily and removed from under the newspaper as soon as seedlings appear.  For seeds that require light for germination the pots are covered loosely with plastic wrap which is again removed as soon as the seeds begin sprouting.  When the seedlings have their first set of true leaves they are transplanted to individual containers and treated to a drink of 1/4 strength fertilizer.  Ann Marie learned the newspaper trick while volunteering in the greenhouse at Festival Hill.  It really works!