in my rose bushes, along with creeping myrtle. I will never forgive the person who gave me that mint when I first started gardening years and years ago. All I can do is keep it pulled away from the desirable plants and ignore it elsewhere.

I guess that if you are free to take the roses, you are the one who cares the most about those bushes....the owners don't seem to bother. This is your payment for the use of the flowers, I suppose. Don't let it get so out of hand next year is all I can say.

He's affirmatively appreciative of whatever I do.

Right, will keep an eye on it in future, but of course weather's been so unpleasant I haven't been as aggressive as I might have been.

Well, then, you'll never have enough mint, despite your colorful description of how you do.

You can dry it for the winter or use it in the summer. I just cut it at ground, then wash it in big tubs outside. Cut it up and put it in a crockpot or two (outside because of the heat). When it's brewed, take out the mint and put it in the compost pile.

Refrigerate your tea in jars and you'll always have plenty of cool, refreshing drinks for the summer.

I occasionally put in a few bags of regular decaf tea, just for a flavor variation.


Cher

but I am willing to try this. Not that it will eliminate the mint---since when you dig it out, if you leave a tiny fragment of rhizome, it just keeps on growing. It rather sounds like you are taking about just water and mint, and that sounds refreshing. I think I'll get some now---it is a chilly day today and a good time to brew it up.

At the dent you make in that mint. I found out that certain weeds in my garden are edible and have started using them in salads and other recipes. Now my garden is practically weed-free!

It started with purslane, which I found one day at a farmer's market in Manhattan. Yes, a package for $3.99. I said, "This is growing in my garden!" So I went home and picked what I thought was $3.99 worth and used it in a salad. It was delightful--texture-wise, taste, etc. Then I found out how healthy it was. Here I was taking omega 3 fatty acids in the form of supplements, and this weed growing in my garden is the single best source of it!

My absolute favorite is lemon balm tea, which grows like crazy and goes to seed all over the place. This tea has a very calming effect. After I drink a glass of it, I feel this smooth feeling. It is like all the rough edges of the world have gone away. I wish it lasted longer.

As much lemon balm as I had, I am out and waiting for my next crop.


Cher

My mother in law was recently to the house and being a helpful person began to pull out the "weeds" growing in our rose bed. These weeds include cilantro, banana mint, chocolate peppermint, chamomile, and two types of thyme. My adult daughter finally got her to stop by repeating several times that we had herbs growing there. She moved on to organizing the garden tools.

It sends out long runners (white 1/8" ones) and quickly consumes everything in sight like a small version of kudzu. You HAVE to get out the runner roots or it will keep coming back. It only takes 1/4" of runner to produce a new plant. DO NOT COMPOST IT! It goes in the regular trash. I won't give away any plants from the infected area for fear of spreading the offending vine.

and I sure don't compost it, I put it in plastic garbage bags and TRASH IT! As its in a neighbor's yard, and I'm not there every day, I can't be as vigilant as I'd like, but I did get back there yesterday and pulled some more. Clearly its going to keep coming back. Gives me exercise!