Well today we really profited from the unusual February heatwave, 25c on the 3rd of February, a tad unusual. Working out side in a T shirt I had a little trip round the Mediterranean basis and beyond courtesy of the plants, firstly Italy by up potting Helichrysum italicum tip cuttings I had taken in November. These aromatic herbs are principally used in the perfume industry to fix the second layer of perfume, a great plant for a dry garden as their water requirements are minimal, they have a green/silver leaf and small yellow flowers that hold their colour, and aroma when dried. Here in France the principal region for growing them is the rocky and dry Corsican mountain slopes, for the perfume industry based in Grasse. If memory serves me right they are the fourth most expensive essential oil in the world, although the plant is heavily perfumed, smelling of curry, it takes a tonne of flowers to make a liter of essential oil.

Next stop was up potting some Syrian Marjoram the seeds I planted last Summer and promptly forgot about were still going so finally they got a new home ready for market. Syrian Marjoram is often called za’atar beacuse of it use in the famous za’atar herb mix which is the basis of much Magrebhian food, indeed a couscous is not a couscous without za’atar. It is another aromatic herbs that thrives in a dry garden, it silvery leaves minimise water loss, and the sun concentrates it’s essential oils really bringing out the strong oregano flavour. Wonderful in vegetable stews, lamb and chicken dishes.

Caroline in a decidedly optimistic mood also sowed a box of Za’atar seeds, it the temperature drops, as it will tomorrow they may have to go down into the poly tunnel.

And onwards to Iran, an Iranian client a few years back gave us a cutting of Iranian Mint, sometimes called Persian mint his family had fled Iran after the revolution and one of the only things they took with them from home was a mint plant. It appears to be a form of pepper mint, but has a lighter more delicate taste, a bit like Moroccan Mint but definitely peppery. More to the point it is a ferocious grower, barely pausing in Winter and already coming back. The mother plant pot is packed and needed pulling to pieces. Mint is a doodle to reproduce. Rather than do tip cuttings I simply pulled up the plants by it’s roots, pulled the roots to pieces and replant. Takes minutes and looks great very quickly, two to three weeks.

Back to France to up pt some tumbling Rosemary cuttings,and take some new cuttings from the mother plants.

Finally back to France Caroline planted some winter thyme seeds and I up pot some lemon thyme tip cuttings I took in December.

With the temperature finally falling the February Heatwave was over, time to put my shirt back on and head in doors. Came back into the house to be met by the wonderful smell of Moroccan pumpkin and chickpea stew, and a large glass of Kir  it’s a hard life.