Romaine's Garden

Kitchen Garden

Enjoy one of the most delightful herbal teas as you browse this page.

Lemon Verbena Tea: Add a handful of leaves to a pot and brew for five to ten minutes. Lemon Verbena ( Aloysia triphylla) is also a wonderful landscaping plant. It is an attractive shrub with delicate, lacy, white flower spikes in summer. It will withstand dry conditions and thrives in dry, exposed, sunny areas in a well drained, limey soil. If I ever stopped picking from this semi evergreen shrub, it could reach as much as three metres. However, I enjoy drinking my tea too much, so its unlikely to be given that chance.

Lifeless the Duck

Lavender,Mint and Sage

Trespassers will not be composted in this garden, it is friendly and edible. This is also a service area where I hang out the clothes. However, the aroma of French lavender, mints and sages often becomes an enormous distraction to me because I feel the need to start gardening. I know instead I should be continuing with the drab, necessary, domestic chores I walked out the back door in the first place for. Yes! you guessed it, I smell the flowers pick up my spade and later enjoy another cup of herbal tea.

List of Herbs in the Kitchen Garden

Aloe vera		Lemon thyme var	thymus citrodorus 'aureus'
Basil sweet	ocimum basilicum	Lemon verbena	aloysia triphylla
Calendula	calendula officinalis	Liquidamber	liquidamber styraciflua
Cat thyme		Marjoram	origanum majorana
Catnip	nepeta cataria	Mint apple	varigata
Chamomile		Mint apple	mentha suaveolens
Chives common	allium schoenoprasum	Mint basil
Chives garlic	allium tuberosum	Mint chocolate
Comfrey	symphytum officinale	Mint corsican
Costmary	chrysanthemum balsamita	Mint pennyroyal	mentha pulegium
Evening primrose	oenothera biennis	Mint pepper	mentha & piperita
Feverfew	chrysanthemum parthenium	Mint spear	mentha spicata
Garlic	allium sativum	Mugwort	artemisia vulgaris
Geranium musk		Mulberry	morus nigra
Geranium rose	pelargonium capitatum	Nasturtium	tropaeolum majus
Geranium nutmeg		Parsley	petroselinum crispum
Geranium peppermint	pelargonium tomentosum	Rose Cecil Bruner	rosa spp
Honeysuckle	lonicera japonica	Rosemary	rosemary officinalis
Jasmine	jasmine polyanthum	Rue	ruta graveolens
Jasmine star		Sage blue	salvia clevelandii
Lamb's ears,betony	stachys byzantina	Soapwort	caryophyllaceae
Lavender French	lavandula dentata	Southernwood	artemisia abrotanum
Lavender green	lavandula viridis	Strawberries	fragaria spp
Lavender cotton	santolina chamaecyparissus	Tansy	tanacetum vulgare
Lavender English	lavandula angustifolia	Thyme	thymus camphoratus
Lavender Spanish		Thyme caraway	thymus herba barona
Lemon	citrus 'Eureka '	Violet	ordorata
Lemon balm	Melissa officinalis	Violet native
Lemon thyme	thymus citrodorus	Wormwood	artemesia absinthium

Flowers and herbs have many wonderful properties and can provide us with many possible uses. One of which includes the use of Essential oils. Though completely natural, Essential Oils are a highly concentrated form of the natural plant and many substances are toxic or irritating when used in excessive amounts, therefore care should be taken. I have included the profiles of some of the useful essential oils, extracted from plants, made here in Australia.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) Steam distilled leaves, Australia. Refreshing, stimulating, clearing, strenghening effect on the mind, aids concentration. Very antiseptic and relieves muscular and rheumatic conditions. Cooling in fevers. Powerful cleaning and healing effect on respiratory system, throat infections. A valuable oil with many uses.

Lavender (Lavendula officinalis etc) Steam distilled flowers, Australia and France. The most popular and widely used oil. Refreshes, balances, soothes, calms mind, relieves anxiety, headaches and insomnia. Pain relieving in muscular and arthritic aches and pains. Helps respiratory system, bronchitis, asthma, colds, infections. Deodorising. Insect repellent, antiseptic, cooling effect on skin, balances sebum. Helps in burns, acne and eczema. Good to use in bath for relaxation and healing.

Lemon (Citrus limonum) Cold press rind of fruit, Australia. Refreshes, stimulates, clearing, strenghens nervous system, relieves mental tension. Tonic for immune system, stimulates circulation and white corpuscles, cleanses and vitalises body, aids in anaemia. Counteracts acidity, aids digestive system, kidneys and liver. Antiseptic, useful in colds, infections, sore throats, strong germ killer.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia, latifolia) Steam distilled leaves, Australia. The famous Australian bush remedy with amazing healing properties. Powerful antiseptic, germicide, fungicide without damaging healthy tissue. Stimulates immune system, antiviral. Relieves bites, stings, burns, cold sores, wounds, athletes foot, dandruff. Respiratory inhalant for chest congestions, bronchitis, coughs and in colds and flu.

Now you have finished browsing this page try a piece of my favourite chocolate cake

then make some for yourself. It's a melt and mix cake and is very yummy!

Moist Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:125g(4oz) butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa, 1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 cup milk, 1 egg, 1 and 1/2 cups self raising flour.

Combine butter, sugar, cocoa, soda, water and milk in pan, stir over heat until butter is melted, bring to boil, remove from heat, allow to cool to room temperature. Add egg and sifted flour, mix well until smooth. Pour into well greased 28cm x 18cm (11 in x 7in) lamington tin, bake in moderate oven 30 minutes. Stand few minutes before turning on to wire rack to cool. Ice with your favourite icing. I hope you enjoy it!