Lemon Verbena - Growing and Using......

..........I am back to do a new post after quite a long break. I want to apologize to my followers for such a delay without any explanation. There has been nothing wrong, just busy with other things. And, I guess I didn't think it would take this long to get back..........

 

Yesterday I put one of my favorite plants, Lemon Verbena, up on this birdbath. The birds never seem to use this one and I like the way the plant looks here. I will just need to watch and not let it sit in water too long. At the beginning of summer I had two small Verbena plants (not to be confused with the ornamental with the same name) but one died. This one is almost like a sprawling vine and was partly lying on the ground.

 

It is not a favorite because of the way it looks (has no significant blooms) but because of its use. Because of its fragrance and the way lemon verbena tea tastes.

 

 

I have never found it especially easy to keep growing here in Central Florida. And it is not real easy to find a replacement. It goes semi-dormant in our coolest weather.

 

 

I like the way it looks now nestled here in front of two Nandinas and the hanging birdcage with Ivy. 

Thinking about most of its leaves falling soon, I decided to trim it slightly and make some tea.

 

 

 

I use two  handful's, stems and all to steep in hot water, along with one bag of black tea and one of mint.  When I have plenty of fresh mint growing I use just a sprig or two of it instead of the tea bag. If you don't have Trader Joe's peppermint tea you may want to use two bags of your brand or it could be left out. I just recently discovered this kind and it is so fresh and pungent! The best I have ever had. The same thing can be said of the black tea bags I now use..........

 

 

PG tips from England is the best ever!  I had to cut down on the amount I used because it has such a rich strong flavor. My son-in-law is from England and this is his daily tea of choice. It is sold at Publix on their International isle. After steeping, I add about a third cup of sugar, optional. The lemon verbena is a sweet lemon.

 

 

So, I got my tea brewed and put it in my favorite old pitcher, put a fall-looking cloth over a little table and prepared to have a great glass of lemon verbena tea.

 

 

 

I wish you were here to have a big glassfull along with me.

 

 

I always save a sprig for the glass - the fragrance adds to the enjoyment immensely!

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A big welcome back to my regular followers and if you are new to my blog Welcome and I hope you will check it out on a regular basis. You may want to check out some of the older posts listed on the right near the top - archives. I also have several other bloggers listed that you can click on.

I hope to get some posts done on a regular basis now. But, with the holidays just around the corner, it will probably not be more than one or two a week.