Summer in Texas demands that one find a cool drink, a shady spot and a good book.  Ann Marie follows this guide to survival, with a copy of Rob Proctor and David Macke's "Herbs in Pots" in hand she plans to curl up by the pond, enjoy the songs of cicadas and dream about future plantings.
Hot Veggies
Despite, or perhaps, thanks to the heat the garden is still producing.  There are tomatoes, lima beans and green beans.  The fig tree is loaded with sweet fruit but the trick is beating our feathered friends and squirrels to its bounty.  Habanero peppers are beginning to brighten up the garden with their beautiful orange fruit and other peppers are producing a few fruits.  Heat loving basil is in its prime and that means it's pesto time!  Snip, snip, snip, keep it from going to bloom.

Teucriums
Ann Marie has been a big fan of wall germander, Teucrium chamaedrys, for a number of years.  It is an excellent landscape plant in Texas whose small, glossy, leaves excel at filling in between larger plants.  Historically used for formal, knot garden borders, it will also work as a carefree ground cover.  Prune once in the spring to increase bushiness.  Wall germander remains evergreen in the South and is hardy through zone 5.  It may even delight owners with pink flowers, although Ann Marie has never had blooms, perhaps because most of her plants are in shady locations.

Three new teucriums are being experimented with at Horsetail Haven.  First, the gray, creeping Teucrium aroanium (obtained from High Country Gardens) has been placed in a sunny, well draining location.   Its needle like leaves make an interesting ground cover.  At some point in time it should brighten the garden with rose colored blossoms.  Currently it is doing well, but if at some point it should appear to require an even drier location it will be moved to a hanging basket.

A wonderful gift from a fellow herbie was a lovely Teucrium fruticans plant.  Nicknamed "tutti frutti", this tender perennial with gray leaves has the potential to develop into a four foot tall shrub.  Ann Marie plans to prune it into in a spherical shape.  It is hardy through zone 7.

The fourth Teucrium added to the garden this spring is wood sage, Teucrium scorodonia 'Crispy'.  A striking, bright green plant with highly frilled leaves, this teucrium has been placed where it will receive afternoon shade.  So far, it has remained under twelve inches tall.  It is reported to be hardy to zone 6.

Combine all ingredients except tomatoes and mozzarella.  Mix well and form into patties.  Grill or broil until done.  If desired, after cooking is complete top each burger with a slice of tomato and a slice of mozzarella and cook until cheese is just melted.  Makes 6-8 burgers.